Diversity in YA’s Boston Visit

We were lucky enough in Boston to be a stop on the Diversity in YA tour, which made its way from California to Chicago, and then from Boston to NewYork:

http://www.diversityinya.com/2011/05/we-are-on-tour/

The tour was spearheaded by Cindy Pon and Malinda Lo, two great authors who are doing everything they can to promote more diversity in YA books. The fantastic event in Boston was held at the Cambridge Public Library, around the corner from both Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School and Harvard University, and included authors Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan, Deva Fagan, Fransisco X. Stork, along with Pon and Lo.

Moderated by Roger Sutton from the Horn Book, the panel discussed the need for diversity in YA books. As Sutton pointed out, all the authors on this particular panel except Stork write Science Fiction and Fantasy, but between them, they represent Asian, Latino, biracial, LGBT, and disabled characters in their books.

One of the things they spoke about was wanting to read about characters like them. Another of the discussion points was about cover images: will a white kid pick up a book that has a black or Asian kid on the cover? How do we get them out of their comfort zone? The panel–and audience–were divided on this. On the one side, some felt diversity could be sneaked in. If the book isn’t about race, then it’s not necessary to show. At the same time, some felt that YA readers haven’t been given enough of a chance to choose for themselves.

Stork’s take was that putting characters into universal situations makes a book less about race and more about characters that everyone can understand. He wants readers to accept books that are different to what they’re used to and not just about race.

So why is diversity in YA important to me–a white, straight writer? Having lived in other countries and immersed myself in other languages and cultures, I know what it’s like to be an outsider. It’s difficult, but it’s also interesting. I personally am less interested in reading about “normal” characters, and prefer to be thrown out of my comfort zone entirely.

I was glad to see the panel members agreed. While everyone acknowledged that it’s important to reach beyond stereotypes and do your research when writing beyond your experience, they agreed that diverse characters–even from non-diverse writers–are welcome. In the words of Fagan, “Don’t let fear of making mistakes stop you. Embrace the potential to fail. Do your research and be aware.”

Revising? Try Second Sight by Cheryl Klein

Truth: revision is difficult.

Truth: revision makes manuscripts stronger.

Truth: revision is necessary.

It’s sometimes hard to know where to begin when you sit down to revise. This is especially true when revising your first draft. What aspects of the manuscript need the most attention? Are there any easy fixes?

The good thing is that most writers have tools available: critique partners, books about craft, and writing classes. Critique partners will help you work through the problems specific to your manuscript, will help you brainstorm possible fixes, and will tell you both what you’re doing right and what areas need work. Books about craft often focus about a single aspect of a manuscript, such as plot or character, that you know you must strengthen. Writing classes can likewise focus on a single aspect or a more macro approach–entire manuscript, or novel-writing in general, with a teacher–a mentor–to guide you.

For me, reading SECOND SIGHT was like having all of these tools at my disposal at once. It was like having a great critique partner or teacher–and not just anyone, but the well-known editor Cheryl Klein–in the room with me as she walked me through examples by authors whose work I admire, showing me what I needed to look for in my own work. From the macro to the micro, this book spoke to me about where to focus my revision.

While not a workbook in the traditional sense–like Donald Maass’ WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL WORKBOOK–this book contains real how-to information that writers can immediately apply to their own WIPs. I was personally only a few chapters into the book when I began to scribble my notes on the sides of the pages. My scribbles increased as I progressed. My notes weren’t about the text I was reading in the abstract, but about my own manuscript, for example:

What is the point? (Great question!) *scribble, scribble*

What are the main character’s flaws? *more scribbles*

What are the Escalating or Complicating Events? *scribbles running on to next page*

SECOND SIGHT might not be the best first book about craft to read. It does assume that its readers have some basic knowledge about the novel-writing process. Also, it’s probably most helpful to those who already have a completed draft, who are looking for techniques to revise and improve it. I’ve already found it to be a great help, and I’m sure I’ll be referring to it again and again for future writing!

It’s Monday! It’s May! It’s #Wipmadness!

Welcome to the spur-of-the-moment continuation of the fantastic writing challenge that Denise Jaden started in March!

Denise and her awesome writing buds Angelina Hansen, Shana Silver, Shari Green, and Craig Pirrall kept a bunch of us motivated with daily posts as we slogged through new drafts, revisions, or related writing and reading goals that we set at the beginning of the month. They also offered up some fantastic prizes at the end, and boy, was I thrilled to win mine (wheee!).

In April, Denise continued with Monday checkins on her blog, but it’s time to give her a break and pass the torch. I know it’s late in the day on Monday, but consider this the first checkin for May! What are your goals for #wipmadness this month?

Mine: FINISH THIS REVISION!!!

See you all here next week! Happy Monday and good writing vibes to all!

Kip

Failing Better

Today on her reading and writing blog, Kelly Hashway shared her thoughts about good not being enough in her own writing: http://www.kellyhashway.com/apps/blog/show/6558076-good-is-not-enough

I totally identified.

As I told Kelly, I’m always trying to improve my writing too, and I listed a few of the things that I routinely do to get there:

Reading great books (that “This!” moment when you see what an author has done so well). Recent a-ha moments have come from these amazing books:
- Plain Kate by Erin Bow – poetic beauty in the sparsest of language
- Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur – amazingly authentic voice
- Matched by Ally Condie – a masterpiece of conflict and tension
Getting feedback on my work (critique partners, beta readers etc.). Everything from “I don’t think you’re starting this manuscript in the right place” to “You know, you use this word way too much.”
Attending conferences/retreats and reading craft books (learning from great authors/editors about how to succeed). Separate post on my favorite conferences/retreats to come!

Then I realized that this whole thing reminded me of Samuel Beckett’s words: “Fail again. Fail better.”

It’s the writing of course. My writing. The time, the effort, the work. The only way to get better is to continue to do it.

Why I Wish I Spoke Japanese

There are lots of good reasons to learn Japanese. A few have hit me over the years. I wish I could see the original versions of Hayao Miyazaki’s films, for instance. It’d come in handy at the sushi bar. And it just sounds pretty cool.

But the main reason is the literature. Some of my favorite authors are Japanese: Haruki Murakami, Banana Yoshimoto, and Yoko Ogawa. The images are so crisp, so unique. They stun me with their prose.

And the food – the food! How can you read KITCHEN and not immediately call your favorite Japanese restaurant to order up some pork katsudon? And who doesn’t crave grapefruit marmalade after reading PREGNANCY DIARY? I made it – it is good.

But of course I might be deluding myself. I don’t speak Japanese – except “the girls are eating” and similar variants. It might just be spectacular translation. But somehow I don’t think so.

book review: StarCrossed (Elizabeth Bunce)

StarCrossed is a wonderfully-told story that already has me itching for the sequel. Ms. Bunce pulls the reader directly into Digger’s world with a fantastic voice that never had me doubting anything she told me – although it was certainly helpful to have the glossary in the back!

Digger is a lovable heroine with great weaknesses and a boatload of secrets. She (and Bunce) give us some bones along the way, making for an exciting read, but they also manage to hold some inside until very near the end, where she spills to exactly the right person.

The secondary characters are likewise completely believable and intriguing, each with his or her own set of issues that interact so perfectly with Digger’s. The action leading up to the climax had me turning pages to the exciting and satisfying ending.

Well, almost satisfying. Because all I can say now is: “Pox! Now I have to wait for the sequel!”

book review: Secret Keeper (Mitali Perkins)

I’ve been meaning to read some books by Mitali Perkins for a while, since she is an active and helpful member of the New England SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), and since I am always interested in books with an international flavor.

I started with Secret Keeper, an amazing young adult novel set in Calcutta, India, in the 1970s. The heroine, Asha, is at once steeped in her life in India, and desperate to escape. She is strong and sympathetic, and you can tell that there has got to be something great in store for her, even though everything is pointing to the opposite. Without spoiling the ending for anyone, she gets both her shares of joys and disappointments, including some absolutely heart-wrenching disappointments, told with absolute authenticity.

Mitali’s beautiful writing, along with her interesting insights to life in India as a teenage girl, made this book a page-turner for me – I breezed through it in just two evenings.

I can’t wait to read more of her books! So excited about the launch of Bamboo People in a couple of weeks!

book review: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

I have had this book on my to-read list for quite some time, ever since I heard an interview with the two authors on NPR. The book is written in dual POV, with one author tackling each POV in alternating chapters – very well done!

The title itself intrigued me as well, because of the playlist, and because of the pairing of the names – can it be coincidence that the authors used the same names of the ultra-chic and romantic couple of the 1930’s Thin Man movies? (played by Myrna Loy and William Powell)

As far as the plot and characters go, it couldn’t be more of an in-the-moment glimpse of two young adults on the verge of stepping off into their futures. Norah, who turns down an admission to Brown to elect to head to South Africa to chase down a stupid ex-boyfriend who instead shows up outside of her favorite club in NYC, where she has become the five-minute-girlfriend of Nick, who is pining away after a classmate of Norah’s who doesn’t care a lick about him or his wicked cool song lyrics that have been making Norah swoon (without knowing who he is) all year. Nifty sexual encounters include a run-in between the two girls in the bathroom at Velseka (borscht!) and a very close call next to the ice dispenser in a Marriott between Nick and Norah.

What will happen next? Without a sappy-happy ending, you know that these two have started something big, something which will continue to grow as they set out on their own lives. Very cool book.

book review: Washington at Valley Forge (Russell Freedman)

Russell Freedman’s exceptional research and writing skills have once again hit the mark with his latest work published by Holiday House. This book focuses on the tough winter endured by George Washington and his troops at Valley Forge from 1777-1778, framing the winter’s events within the scope of the entire American Revolutionary War, from Lexington and Concord all the way to Yorktown.

Using direct quotes from Washington and his men, Freedman seamlessly feeds the reader details about the difficulties the Continental Army faced, including the overall situation: “Washington had warned Congress that without adequate supplies, ‘this army must … dissolve.’” Another informative perspective Freedman weaves into his book is that of Private Joseph Martin, who, after the war, “was known for miles around as a popular yarn-spinning veteran of the Revolutionary War.” Freedman includes quotes from Martin at strategic points in the book, including several references during the winter, as well as some both before and after the freezing months at Valley Forge.

The picture Freedman paints of this difficult winter meshes with the legends we’ve all heard: soldiers marching out in the snow without shoes or boots, hungry men unable to get much in the way of food from surrounding farms, and a ragtag group of individuals who learned discipline and gained strength under the leadership of Washington, his generals, assistants, and military trainer Baron von Steuben.

Complete with reproductions of paintings and engravings created during and after the war, this excellent book places the reader behind the eyes of the soldiers who were there, as well as inside the head of the commander who eventually led them to victory.

kip’s new book reviewing gig

For Children’s Literature: Independent Information and Reviews:

http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/home.html

They do a lot of non-fiction, especially for the educational market.

I did my first stack a couple of weeks ago, and have another batch to do before Spain. They didn’t have a military reviewer, and they had a huge stack of military books, so that was right up my alley. I’m hoping for some on language, culture, and history soon too.