| Inner child found |
[Sep. 24th, 2006|09:33 pm] |
I read an article the other day (okay, month--but it took me awhile to process it). It was about how parents freak out when their child would rather be by themselves than play with other children. Parents would then try to force their child into many failed playdates and the next thing you know, social time becomes punitive. "Oh, they're just shy" becomes the mantra for these parents. What are they worried about? Well, I suppose these parents are worried that their child will become loners and have no friends. They want them to be happy.
*sigh*-- as I was reading that article, it reminded me of, well, ME! I was that quiet child. I was socially awkward. I hardly spoke a word in 4th grade. (Heh, now you can hardly get me to shut up). People (and when I say people, I mean kids and adults) would always come up to me and ask me, "why don't you say anything?" My answer was, "I really don't have anything to say." At least that's the gist of what I said. Memories of my childhood tend to be a bit fuzzy. I doubt I was so eloquent back then.
So maybe, just maybe, these kids (the introverts) really are just happy being quiet, having 1 or 2 friends, and being by themselves. I have noticed that people get nervous when there is silence. I've bought into that. Someone just needs to talk. We are all expected to be extroverts. Well, you know, I like to observe, to listen, to think. Sometimes being in a room full of people for a long time tires me out. But I don't mind a party now and then. And sometimes, we do like to talk. Like now, I think I'm rambling ...
Well, I'm too old to be affected by this article. But I wonder how many kids out there are feeling the torture of having to participate in the social norms of our society. Man, that sucks. |
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| Bring it on! |
[Aug. 18th, 2006|04:35 pm] |
I think I did it. Or at least I"m on my way.
Although the SCBWI -LA Conference really inspired me, I took 2 weeks to procrastinate. I also allowed myself to fall into a self-deprecating mode. But I did start a blog. (And per Lisa Yee's suggestion, posted the same one on several blog sites). I also began reading blogs from other published and pre-published writers and editors. (I always get a chuckle from the discomermaids.)
So so far, I...
1. familiarized myself with different publishers. i looked at the catalogs i got from the conference and either looked at their website or read the discription. I kinda have a picture of which publishers i am able to submit to.
2. charted those publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts or query letters in the areas that I am also interested in.
3. read some of the books from the authors who lectured during the conference.
4. wrote down ideas and developed a few characters (only a mother could love... j/k)
5. found support in other author's blogs. I know I am not alone.
Well, school starts in a week. My students will be filing in eager to learn (yeah right). I see this as an opportunity to gather new materials. I do eventually want to write a story with characters with severe disabilities. I'm having a little trouble finding the delicate balance of being to obvious, but being truthful as well. I guess I could just observe my students a little more (if you haven't guessed, they have severe disabilities). I hope this all doesn't contribute to more procrastinating though.
Now all I gotta do is...WRITE THE DAMN BOOK. (in the sweet words of Jane Yolen) |
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| Truth is stranger than fiction... |
[Aug. 17th, 2006|03:52 pm] |
Okay, yay, they finally caught the suspect in the Jon Benet Ramsey Case (after 10 years). In fact he even admits to killing her, saying it was an accident. I still don't know how 10 year old evidence will hold up in court but we'll just have to wait and see. I mean, I too watch CSI and (heh) I know it won't be easy proving he's the killer especially after so many years have passed.
As morbid as this sounds, someone is going to write a book about this...it might even go for movie rights. Or both at the same time. Wasn't there already a movie out there ... ah, there was one called, "Getting Away With Murder: The JonBenet Ramsey Mystery" I assume they must do a sequel and call it, "ALMOST Getting Away with Murder."
Editors often look for the "hook" in new stories...I see several:
1. Teacher gone bad.
2. Pageant princess, wrong place wrong time
3. Parents create 20-year old from a 6 year old which attracted perverted teacher or ex-teacher rather.
Let's see how this tale unfolds. It's probably more interesting than any novel I can create.
Speaking of teachers...
Not exactly a teacher, but did you hear about the daycare worker guy who molested 2 kids in Orange County? One happened while he babysat and the other was on daycare grounds. Lawsuits and therapy all around. But wait..there may be more unsuspecting, innocent victims out there.
Oh, and don;t forget the coach that had a sex club at the high school.
Or did you hear about some of the female teachers that seduce their teenage students.
I'm not discounting the fact that abuse does happen and still goes on, but it seems like a focus on teachers. Maybe all this mandated stuff from the government have driven teachers bonkers that they feel the need to become child abusers and perverts. Or there is an equal amount of perverts out there but since there are so many teachers it just happens to be the luck of the draw.
I have to admit...I'm a teacher. I cringe whenever I hear one of my kind has committed a heiness crime. I don't understand how it happens. I remember going through 10 fingerprint tests and background checks before I entered the classroom. I understand that every accusation from a student, no matter if they are made up or not, gets taken very seriously. But I suppose you can't test for future child molesters when their background up to this point shows that they have a clean record. |
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| Procrastination is evil!!!! |
[Aug. 16th, 2006|02:33 pm] |
So many things are running through my mind...do laundry...set up dentist appointment...do my lesson plans before the school year starts...
BUT I should be writing on my time off. It's been about 2 weeks after the conference. I said I was gonna finish my story...I came up with a whole bunch of story ideas at the conference. I connected with people. I bought a whole bunch of books to inspire me. Have I read them...not yet. Have I finished something I could submit..not yet.
I have been doing everything ELSE, besides sitting and to quote Jane Yolen, "Write the DAMN book!"
So if anyone out there is reading this, please help me by giving me a stiff kick in the rear. |
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| SCBWI Conference |
[Aug. 10th, 2006|02:07 pm] |
Hi anyone out there. This is my FIRST, let me say that again FIRST time blogging. I'm not new to blogs in any way...I've been reading them and all, it's just new and weird to me. It feels like I'm talking to myself, but everyone can hear me. EEEk.
In any case, I made this jump to blog after attending Lisa Yee's workshop on "Why Blog?" at the SCWBI conference. This led me to buy her book...which led me to get it signed...which led me to do some small talk with her. To be very honest, I had no intention to start blogging. I attended her workshop because I was curious to listen to an author who happened to be asian (which had nothing to do with her workshop, but I wanted to be inspired by someone I can relate to as I am asian myself). Great workshop by the way. And I'm not just saying that because I have "friended" her and she may (or may not) be reading this. I'm still trying to figure out how to add more people.
But if she is reading this =) I just want to say that she seems like a very down to earth person. And not only that, I like her choice in men..i.e. Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt.
Okay, I need to say that Lisa was ONE of my inspirations at the conference. There were many. Sorry Lisa. I'm putting money on the fact that Lisa has probably forgotten about meeting me (and giving me writing advice), so that I can get away with writing this paragraph.
For a first-timer to this Writer's conference..I have to admit...I was scared. I didn't know what to expect or who was who. I mean, yes, there may be names you recognize, but it's harder to see a face with the name. It's not like TV or movies where we can see the talents and remember. Names are more difficult than faces.
Anyway, the first day was great. Lin Oliver and Stephen Mooser were the funniest people alive. I felt at ease and welcomed right away. Then we heard from Jacqueline Woodson and Mo Willems. I've never heard of them before, but it was great that they allowed us a glimpse of their lives. Okay, I'm a chicken, I'll admit it. For the first day I did not want to do a manuscript consultation nor did I want to approach anyone. For a whole weekend of networking potential, lets just say I spoke to no one that first day. Okay, I lied. I did speak to one person and basically, I mainly asked for her business card. It sounded contrived. But I was getting there.The workshops went well. All these new terms were buzzing around in my head.
On day 2, I fared better. I enjoyed Jarrett Krosoczka's presentation as it helped me better understand the whole publishing a book process (even though it was from an illustrator's perspective, I got the gist). The only frustrating thing was that for both workshop sessions, I wanted to go to 3 or 4 workshops happening at the same time. Dilemma dilemma. I decided on Justina Chen Headley's "Finding your inner teen" (yes, the asian thing again, but I did really like the topic) and Laura Purdie Salas "Educational Market" because well, I am a teacher.
Ah, day 3. And no, I did not go to the Jade Jubilee. I couldn't stay that late since I had to drive back to the OC. This is where I decided to go to Lisa Yee's Blogging workshop and now I have to say "Why NOT blog?" I also attended Mary Pearson's 7 1/2 truths for writing YA literature, which was also great. Day 3 tied a lot of what I was soaking in together.
Day 4. Last but not least. And signs of hope. The morning seemed all business. We listened as Connie Epstein informed us of the updates of publishing houses and watched an agent and an editor duke it out. I went to a revision workshop given by Alvina Ling and Justina Chen Headley...okay, this wasn't about the asian thing as much as I really wanted to know about REVISING. Really. I have to say it was great. I can only dream that someday I will have an editor...hehhe. Okay, I can only dream that someday I will have an editor who is fully supportive of my work and believes in me. We ended with SCBWidol, which was fun, and booksigning which was exhausting but exciting at the same time. It was kind've sad to see authors who had no lines or few in line. But I guess it was a matter of who gave speeches in front of everyone or had books for people to buy. I got some great pictures that I may put up as a personal goal for myself to be sitting there someday, looking out to those long lines of people wanting my autograph, putting on a stiff smile knowing that my hands are beginning to cramp around this pen that I'm holding, trying not to be too sloppy when signing my name. But I digress. |
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