Death Becomes Her
DFWWW Member Pam Skjolsvik has been doing a lot of living despite her self-proclaimed “Death Writer” title.Her most current essay, Saving Violet, can be found in Black Mountain Institute’s latest volume of Witness. It’s about her journey while adopting a feral cat from the Gatesville women’s death row facility.
She was also a recent guest on the Drunken Odyssey, talking about her love for the book Me Talk Pretty One Day, by David Sedaris.
Pam is, without a doubt, a renaissance author. Don’t miss her blog (The Death Writer), her essay, or her podcast. Because she write pretty, and she talk pretty too.
Queries, Loglines, and Pitches, Oh MY!
DFWWW member Rosemary Clement Moore is hosting a class which can take your query letter and pitch to the next level.
If there's a secret formula to a winning logline, Rosemary would have it. She sold the very first book she ever wrote.
The class is all online and runs June 17-24th. You can register at yarwa.com/programs. (This program is through the Romance Writers of America Young Adult Special Interest Chapter. If you don't write YA or romance, don't let that stop you from registering. Rosemary's invaluable advice doesn't discriminate.)
The cost for non-members is $20, and Rosemary promises a ton of interaction and feedback.
Happy log-lining!
The Art of Milking a Critique
A good critique group can take your writing to the next level. How can you assure your critique group is “good”?
- Practice your timed read. Choose a passage you can finish in your allotted time. Practice reading in a conversational tone and measured pace. It is difficult for listeners to give feedback if they cannot understand the monotone and rushed passage being mumbled from the other end of the table. Bonus- Hearing your own words makes errors and awkward passages more obvious. You can fix some of the problems before you even make it to the reading table.
- “Previously on Downton Abbey…” Provide a brief introduction that condenses the important info and gets you ready to pick up the action. You don’t have to review the previous 127 chapters, just genre, main character and recent action. This is also a great time to let listeners know if you are about to read erotica or potentially offensive material.
- Ask for what you need. Are you particularly worried that your vocabulary may be too advanced for a middle grade novel? Concerned that the dialogue is stilted? Don’t be afraid to let your listeners know if you are looking for specific feedback.
- Put on your big girl/big boy panties. Actively listen and take notes when listeners give their critiques. Do not argue, make faces or silently stew over their lack of literary genius. Comments are intended to help you, so take them in the spirit they are offered. Carefully consider all of the critiques and decide what is applicable to your writing. You may think that your character’s repeated use of “ya think!” is endearing, but if 9 out of 10 critique partners say it is annoying…maybe you should listen. Bonus- Listen to the comments given to other readers. You can learn from their mistakes and successes.
- Participate. The critique group only works if people critique. When you are not reading, listen carefully and offer constructive criticism and encouragement. If you never offer anything in critique group, don’t be surprised if the day comes that no one has a comment for you. No one likes a taker. The same principle applies to serving as moderator, timer, board member, cookie baker, etc… Find a way that you can give back to your group.
You may do all of these things and still find yourself in a horrible critique group. It happens; they are out there. In that case, take what you know and move along. Don’t poison yourself in a group that allows personal attacks, untimed reads/critiques or unprofessional behavior.
- Jodi Thompson, DFWWW Member since 2012
photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pupilasgustativas/2742294138/
Enough is not Enough
If you didn't get your fill of eachother at our amazing DFW Writers' Conference, then look no further than around town for some more excuses to hang out in the name of writing.
Coming up this summer...the LexiCon Writer's Conference in Denton, TX.
This conference has a nice list of classes and speakers, but none more exciting than DFWWW member Harry Hall. He'll be talking about researching historical fiction and non-fiction, and we suspect he might tell a joke or two along the way. That alone makes it worth the trip.
The conference is scheduled for July 12-14, 2013 and offers group rates. Any other information you're craving can be found by clicking here.
Coming up this summer...the LexiCon Writer's Conference in Denton, TX.
This conference has a nice list of classes and speakers, but none more exciting than DFWWW member Harry Hall. He'll be talking about researching historical fiction and non-fiction, and we suspect he might tell a joke or two along the way. That alone makes it worth the trip.
The conference is scheduled for July 12-14, 2013 and offers group rates. Any other information you're craving can be found by clicking here.
Mayday, Mayday...
Mark your calendars.DFWWW member Rosemary Clement-Moore's latest YA novel, Spirit and Dust, will hit the bookshelves on May 14th. The novel already has a glowing Kirkus review, which reads, in part:
"A CGI-ready climax pulls together all the metaphysical building blocks laid down in this mystery's tight worldbuilding (not to mention mummies, ghosts, animated tattoos and a bonus dinosaur). This likable, uber-competent heroine's adventure combines elements of paranormal romance and fast-paced thriller, while Daisy herself resembles a Southern teen version of supernatural PI Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher's best-selling adult series. Another smart Goodnight caper."
Of course it's smart! It's Rosemary's.
Click here to pre-order. Click here to add it to your want-to-read Goodreads list. Click here to visit Rosemary's website and see what else you've been missing.