Reflection of Knowledge–Sidewalk Style

At the end of each school year, Son#2′s school requires each student to prepare a Reflection of Knowledge Presentation. The purpose of the ROK is to have the student reflect on their subjects and classes during the past year to help identify strengths and weaknesses in order to improve next year.

I know it’s only May, but I have created my own Reflection of Knowledge to share with you:

The first five months of this year have been the busiest I can ever recall. I am in the middle of a huge revision for my current WIP, I am serving as a writing mentor for 4 authors and I was on the planning committee for the Children’s Book Festival in La Mesa. If you add to this, my normal freelance graphic work, carpool for the kids, homework and (blech) housework, I have had a very full plate.

Here is what my life should be when it is in balance:

This chart represents the perfect balance between taking care of my family, finishing my work/writing and yes the dreaded housework.

I have known for quite a while that when the balance is disturbed something has to suffer. If you are too busy working, you don’t have to the time to spend with your family and the house gets messy.

Here is a chart to show how the balance can be disturbed:

As you can plainly see, when one area takes over, the delicate balance is destroyed. Leading to frustration:

And even exhaustion:

So here is my Reflection of Knowledge:

WIP– I have revised 7 chapters of my 15 Chapter manuscript and I am taking a little break. I would like to have the revisions completed before November, so I still have time and I need a little rest.

Mentoring– I have completed 3 of the 4 mentorships and I am looking forward to finishing the last one some time in June. This has been a tremendously rewarding experience and I am looking forward to my mentees doing wonderful things. These dedicated women are working hard to improve their craft and I am honored to be a part of the process.

Children’s Book Festival in La Mesa Planning Committee– The event was last weekend and I have to say that it was a great event. I have never been involved in something of this scale, and I would say that my greatest learning came from this event.

I have discovered that when faced with a job to do and no one to step up to do it, I find myself volunteering. While this is good for the event, this is not good for me. I must learn to say “No” and mean it. 

I also discovered the value of having friends and family around, not only help, but listen when I have bitten off more than I can chew. So thanks to everyone who helped me out, I truly appreciate it.

My greatest discovery, was the inspiration I received from talking with other authors and illustrators. Working in the green room with my blog buddy Sarah, we had a great opportunity to speak with many different traditionally and self published authors. I am amazed at how hard they work to help promote their writing. You will be seeing several author and illustrator spotlights in the coming months for many of these dedicated people.

Overall I am glad that I was on the committee, but I also learned that an event of this sort takes me away from what I think is truly important, my family, my work and yes even my dreaded housework.

So I will keep practicing saying “No” and try to get my life back in balance. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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The Changing Landscape of Publishing– Part 1

As a blogger, I enjoy reading the comments we received from our followers. It is a great way to stay in touch with people across the country and exchange thoughts and ideas. One of the interesting trends I have noticed in our comment section is how students use our blog to attempt to contact authors we feature in our spotlights or book reviews to help them write book reports.

Here is a sampling of some of the comments we have received in regards to the book Slob by Ellen Potter:

• Hey thanks for writing this great book! I’m 13 year old boy and I just now finished the book and I was looking for somewhere I could leave a comment. Loved the ending, weird twist. Great book overall, any idea what the theme would be?
• Whats the resolution to this book?
• hey ellen wat is the theme and symbolism of this book

I remember clearly when both of my sons had to do book reports for school and we struggled to help them figure out the theme or symbolism for their book. We certainly didn’t have email to contact the author or access to blogs to read reviews of the book. This new availability is contributing to what I call “The changing landscape of publishing.”

This new access also gives people the opportunity for information exchanges. Here is a little exchange we had in the comment section for the book Trash by Andy Mulligan: 

• what is the mood?
• i know the mood will u tell me the theam if u know it and i will tell you the theam

So here is my question for you, do you think the access to technology helps or hurt a students learning? I’d love to hear what you have to say.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Revising What I Can

Less than three weeks until the girl child graduates from high school.

It’s hard not to feel like I’m running out of time with her. Hard not to look back and think of things I wish I’d handled differently. Starting way back to when she started kindergarten. She was one of the youngest kids in the class – and only four years old. She was bright, and determined to do anything her older brother was doing. She did well – bright and determined goes a long way. But… if I hadn’t sent her then, she’d still have another year of high school. I’d still have another year of her at home.

Ugh, she says.

No matter. We don’t get to revise life the same way we revise our writing. And really, I don’t know that I would, even if I had the chance. Too many ripples into unknowns. Everything would be different. What’s better, what’s worse? Do we end up with the same destiny no matter how we get there?

But with revision in mind…

I am finding I simply can not rush the process. I think I have to walk my way through revision. I work on a chapter, then walk and think of what I missed and what I still need to do – and/or, depending on the walk – look ahead. Then work again, walk again. Repeat.

I am loving Cheryl Klein’s “Twenty-five Revision Techniques” in her book, Second Sight, but so far most of them are theoretical for me. I’m not quite ready. I’m still in the work big stage – still trying to get the plot right. Trying to follow all of those ripples each revision sets off.

But, looking ahead to fine tuning, one trick/technique I’m intrigued with using is a word frequency counter. Here you can paste your text and receive a breakdown of the number of times a word is used. Be sure to look for those crutches and fallback words.

Although I’m looking back at my story, I’m also looking ahead to the girl’s bright future.

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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A Mish Mash

My brain is a mish mash of distraction at the moment. I haven’t been able to settle on one post topic, so here goes a mash and mish.

1) Happy Birthday to my dear sweet hubby! The world is a better place because he’s in it. He’s looking awfully nifty today…

2) Congratulations to my Super Blog Buddy and the rest of the crew who put together the first ever Children’s Book Festival in La Mesa – a fantastic collection of creative and passionate people presented and celebrated children’s books.

3) It’s always a treat getting together with a friend who lives far away – but it was a treat with sugar and spice on top visiting with writer rock star, Kelly Bennett! Thanks for the moonshine lullaby, Kelly!

4) I’ve been thinking of antagonists, and forces of antagonism – and what that looks like. Whatever makes your character want to give up – try to avoid real life versions.

5) The daughter child is wrapping up her high school life. Graduation looms. On that note, here’s a video from her team’s recent Dive-a-thon. The getting back on the board from the water is harder than it looks.

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Children’s Book Festival in La Mesa Countdown: 3 Days

Yikes! The book festival is only three days away.

I mentioned in a previous post that I am on the planning committee for the Children’s Book Festival in La Mesa here in San Diego. Time is closing in on us and the festival is only three days away.

Are we ready?

Only time will tell. We’ve ordered stages, arranged for tables chairs, a DocuCam for the illustrators, and yes… PortaPotties. We’ve contacted vendors, authors and illustrators for booths, delivered hundreds of thousands of bookmarks, and made countless telephone calls. Time is closing in on us and the festival is only three days away.

What’s left to do? 

There are a million and two last minute details that need to be completed before Sunday. Double check the space for the green room, print programs, pick up the t-shirts, contact the authors with last minute schedule changes and plan the author meet and greet dinner. Time is closing in on us and the festival is only three days away.

What’s happening at the event?

Along with the author/vendor booths, we will have face painting, hands on illustration demonstrations from Samantha Cerney, Terry Naughton, Billy Martinez, Steve Gray, Rich Arons, and Mark Ludy. The Bilingual Village features; crafts, bilingual story tellers and authors Mara Price, James Luna, and Rene Colato.  Our Storyteller stage will feature professional storytellers, a dance troop, local dignitaries sharing their favorite children’s book and authors Kathryn Cloward, Henry, Josh and Harrison Herz, Donald Samson, Kevin Gerard and Eleanore Garner.  The Main Stage will feature; Ned Vizzini, Lin Oliver and Theo Baker, Tom Kirkbride, DJ MacHale, PJ Haarsma, James Burks, Kelly Bennett, a drama group doing Doctor Seuss songs and me. Add a little PGA Neighborhood Golf, and Reading to Rover and you have what we hope is a full day of fun and entertainment. Time is closing in on us and the festival is only three days away.

So I’m off…

It’s time for some last minute emails, shopping, Facebook and Twitter posts.

Time is closing in on us and the festival is only three days away.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Mother’s Day with the Gabors

On Saturday we celebrated our 2nd annual Gabor Mother’s Day Celebration. Now I must admit right here, I am not actually related to the Gabor family. This is just a nickname that I have lovingly given to my mom and aunts based on their behavior when they get together.

To make my point here were some of the topics of conversation at the table on Saturday:

•  Shopping
• Plastic surgery
• Ex Husbands
• What to expect from a man
• Make up
• Entertaining and Food

Here is a picture of the real Gabor sisters playing piano. I’m not sure what they are playing, but I’m sure it’s fabulous. (Note the way they lift their chins to avoid the saggy neck look.)

The Following were NOT topics of conversation:

• Current events
• Cooking (Gabors don’t cook, they order in daahling)
• Cleaning (Not that I blame them, it was just never mentioned)

It was a wonderful day with family and the weather was perfect. It’s was nice to take a moment out of our busy schedules to touch base and reconnect with who we are. We even made plans to have more Gabor gatherings throughout the year. I can hardly wait.

Til next time daahling,

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Dark Night of the Revision

I’ve been using Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat beat sheet to plot my WIP.

Number 12 of 15 beats is the “Dark Night of the Soul” moment.

This is “the darkness before the dawn. It is the point, as the name suggests, that is the darkness right before the dawn. It is the point before the hero reaches way, deep down and pulls out that last, best idea that will save himself and everyone around him. But at that moment, that idea is nowhere in sight.”

-Save the Cat by Blake Snyder)

I always seem to have that moment – or moments – in writing also. That moment when I don’t know what the heck to write next. The moment when all doubt bubbles up and makes everything seem trivial and pointless and just… bad.

But Blake knows this. His suggestions include having a nice meal, getting a good sleep and letting your brain work over night. He also says, “If you really take the time and push yourself, surround yourself with a writers group who will tell you the truth, then your head might explode for a day or two but in the long run your story will work.”

This happened to me last night. Yay! This week I’ve been working on revising a scene. I knew it wasn’t working, but I didn’t know why. It’s a big moment that takes my character from one place to another very different one. The shift is crucial to the rest of the plot. It felt like the right things were happening and in the right place. There was action. Important dialogue.

But…

Blah.

Frustration hit. Despair.

But then this morning I woke up and realized what was wrong – the WHY. I’d forgotten about my character’s deepest desire. THAT was really why she acted the way she did.

Joy! Even if it’s a dark moment for her, I get to have a moment of yay.

For those of you in the midst of head explosions, here are some of the ways that Blake Snyder (in Save the Cat Strikes Back) says fear, hesitancy, lack of confidence – and faith – may bog down your plot:

• Spidering: When a writer doesn’t stick to the premise. All sorts of distracting extra stories take hold – making the story expand sideways, instead of moving forward.
• Half-stepping: The story moves forward with small and insignificant steps. Your hero is tip-toeing when he/she should be running and leaping.
• Blurry Beats: The moments are there, but so quiet, so soft, so indefinite, we can’t see them. The character slips into Act Two.

Wishing you head explosions followed by joy,

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Gotta Have Friends

I absolutely need my friends.

But right now I’m thinking about literary friendships – and I gotta have those, too. Friends are so handy when trying to make a character come to life.

A few ways friends can help tell a story:

• A good friend shows your character is likable – even when they are going through a rough and potentially unlikable time.
• Friends can provide backstory and history for your main character.
• They can be good for measurement. How does your main character compare to his/her best friend? In what ways are they different? Who’s changing and how?
• They can motivate your main character.
• They can cause tension and stress.
• They can raise the stakes.
• They are something to lose or gain.
• A friend – new or old – can be the catalyst to start the action.

Here are some of my favorite friendships in middle grade and young adult novels  – eliminating the romance factor (which seriously shortens the list). (Dogs provide another kind of friendship!)

• Max and Kevin, from Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick, become a new and improved version of themselves when they combine Kevin’s brains with Max’s brawn.
• Curt changes and saves Troy’s life in Fat Kid Rules the World by KL Going – and then Troy returns the favor.
• When Sal tells her grandparents stories about her friend Phoebe, she is able to unwrap her own story at the same time in Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech.
• Stanley and Zero make everything right by joining together in Holes by Louis Sachar.
• Colin and Hassan are hilarious in John Green’s An Abundance of Katherines – John Green, a master storyteller in so many ways, writes superb friendships in all of his books.

Hmmmm… I just noticed Sal and Phoebe make up the only female friendship here! I better add the girls (Tibby, Carmen, Lena and Bridget) from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares and also Cassie, Lydia and Emily from The Year of Secret Assignments.

Who have I forgotten? Who are your favorite (and platonic) friendships?

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Levels of Rejection- Looking for the positive when receiving a rejection notice

The other day I received a rejection letter for a manuscript I had submitted a few months ago. This one was from a very well know publisher and despite my initial disappointment I was thrilled to receive this letter.

Why would I be thrilled?

Was I crazy?

No, I haven’t gone crazy. In my years of submitting and getting rejected I have categorized the types of rejection into four different levels. I have listed them below:

The Four Levels of Rejection

Level 1- No response

This could mean that your work is rubbish, it didn’t fit with their list, or they don’t want to read another duck story etc… there really is no way to tell what was wrong and this will leave you guessing.

There is no cure for this type of rejection, because you simply don’t hear from them again. The best course of action is to wait a reasonable amount of time and resubmit the story to another house.

Level 2- The Form Letter

This is the most difficult to decipher, they could just be polite or they may have looked at it briefly and decided against your story. There’s no way to tell.

The good news is you can feel free to submit the story to another house and you have a great excuse to indulge in a little pampering to help your bruised ego. I suggest cinnamon rolls or a trip to the movies, but you can choose anything you’d like that will help you cheer up.

Level 3- The Personal Rejection

This comes to you in the form of a letter addressed to you and makes reference to your manuscripts name. This means they have read your manuscript and are aware of your story.

Whoo Hoo! This is a great cause for celebration. This may still be a form letter, but if they’ve taken the time to include such personal information you’ve risen a little higher in that slush pile. You can feel confident sending this manuscript to another house and maybe it will be the right match. Don’t forget to pamper yourself as well, after all you did receive a rejection, I would suggest a nice dinner or a walk on the beach.

Level 4- The Personal Rejection with Revision Tips

This is the best form of rejection. It’s even better if they would like to see the manuscript again once it’s been revised.

By giving you revision tips, the editors have given you a huge clue to what they are looking for and how to fix your manuscript. Take advantage of this opportunity and make your manuscript shine.

Once again a rejection like this requires a certain level of pampering, it’s tough when someone says “NO” so do something special for yourself and then get your butt in gear.

I sent my manuscript out to 5 publishing houses. I received three Level 3 rejections and my most recent one was a Level 4! I’ve already had my cinnamon roll, so I am working on the revision now and hopefully this time they will say “Yes.”

Happy Writing,

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Your Personal Canon- What Books Inspire You

As an author, one of the writing tips I hear quite often is “Read, Read, Read.”  We are encouraged as writers to read recent releases to keep abreast of what’s happening in the industry and keep up with current trends.

Last month when Lin Oliver spoke to our local SCBWI chapter, she took that advice and expanded it even further. Lin suggested that we should develop a personal canon of books. This canon would include books that we love and inspire us.

This was a new concept to me, and I am still working on my personal canon, but here are a few books on my list:

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Mrs. Twiggley’s Tree by Dorothea Warren Fox

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox

Slob by Ellen Potter

Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Do you have a canon of books? I’d love to hear what they are.

Happy Reading,

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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