Who's That Girl?

by Tanya Yvonne



Gigi, JaeLynn and Tanya Yvonne

 Only a few patrons were inside the eatery, Café Gutenberg when my daughter, JaeLynn, and me entered. Breathlessly I asked to be pointed in the direction of the nearest bathroom. As we rushed over to it JaeLynn spotted something she hoped would be yummy, a chocolate chip cookie. While she and I waited for Gigi to arrive I ordered that cookie which was indeed as yummy as she had hoped it would be. While JaeLynn sipped on her grape soda spritzer and me, my tasty white mocha a soft ding sound bounced around the space just before the sound of a voice. Soon after I found myself face to face with writer Gigi Amateau. While JaeLynn chatted her up a bit I could not help looking her over. Everything about her that day resonated the term fresh. From head to toe Ms. Gigi was clad in winter white. A look I wish I could wear but have had to set aside for a future when my daughter is no longer enticed with such things as red Kool-Aid or sticky, sour gummies. As Gigi marveled at my most prized possession her genuine smile caused my nerves to melt away. After gently shifting JaeLynn’s focus back to her cookie I began what would turn out to be an enlightening conversation.

I started off with a basic question about how she made the transition from non-profit work to writing. It was with this inquiry that I first got the sense of how much her relationship with her now 17-year-old daughter had influenced her decision to get serious about her writing aspirations. I saw myself in Gigi as she spoke of how she wanted to be an example for her only child as to why when there is something you want to obtain you should actively go for it. And that is exactly what she did. Unlike myself and most writers I know Gigi sat down and charted out a path to publication. At her day job as a grant writer she approached each proposal as if it were a short story. With great enthusiasm she briefly explained to me how what she was doing at the time, drafting grant proposals for non-profit organizations, was indeed akin to story writing because she was telling someone’s tale. She also did something you all may already have done and I have thought about doing, freelance work. Even after all this time her eyes danced as she recalled the feelings upon learning that an article penned by her would be published in a local magazine.

From writing for the pure love of writing, to freelancing, to achieving the ultimate goal of novel publication, Claiming Georgia Tate (Candlewick Press) Gigi’s debut young adult novel garnered a golden review by none other than queen of children’s books Judy Blume who stated this about Claiming Georgia Tate, “I was hooked on the first page and couldn’t put it down until I finished. Then I read it again.” Hello:!) This little tidbit is something I discovered during the course of my research. Miss Modest Gigi did not bring it up at all during our conversation. If it were me, I would have found a way to interject it in to the discourse at least a half of dozen times: ) Having received a rejection letter or two during the course of my writing adventures I pounced on the chance to hear a former aspiring novelist’s tales of rejection woe. But my hopes were soon dashed as she sheepishly told me of how she “got lucky.” After letting a friend (who loved it) read the manuscript that friend (who also loved it) then handed it off to someone who (that’s right, loved it too) handed it off to someone who eventually helped her to find a publisher. Now before all of your eyes turn green with envy, as mine had threatened to do, read on please.

Prior to all that luckiness Gigi received a type of rejection I would not wish on my biggest rival. She applied to a Master of Fine Art (MFA) program and was turned down. Recently I have been pondering making such a move towards an even higher education so this bitter morsel of information drained all green eyed emotions from me. As she spoke of how the rejection made her feel the pleasant smile faded, replaced by a brief look of sadness then an expression of determination. “I cried over it. Stopped writing for years.” Eventually of course (and luckily for us) the lure of the written word pulled her back. Still in the pre-published stage myself I wanted to know what advice Gigi would give her pre-published self. The kind smile returned as she took a moment to mull this over, “Not to worry so much about what others think. Not to take it personally use that criticism to better yourself.”

And on that note -of bettering oneself- the conversation shifted to the James River Writers Organization of which she has served on the board of directors for the past three years. Whenever I hear the words writing organization I immediately envision a quiet group of people sitting around discussing books. Something I naïvely told to Gigi who attempted to suppress a laugh as she quickly dispelled this myth. “The goal of the JRW is to encourage and help writers get out in to the community.” The organization holds and judges contest. Each fall a writers conference (which I will be in attendance this year) is held in Richmond, Virginia. Basically organizations such as the JRW, “They’re good for writers.” Alright I’m convinced and will soon be a member.

Before we said our goodbyes I managed to snag a little known piece of information about Gigi, she is going for her yoga teacher certification. At first I thought this to be very odd, from writing great YA to yoga instructor yet once again it did not take long for Gigi to enlighten me, “I relate it to writing…very personal.” All wide eyed trying to ignore my daughter who is growing more restless by the second I poised this final question, “What’s next for Gigi?”   

“I’ll continue to write.”
So who was that girl? Gigi Amateau of course: )
To stay in the know about all things Gigi submit your e-mail address here: add me to mailing list

Happy reading, writing or whatever: )

Standing Out

This past weekend I was able to steal a few JaeLynn free hours.  You think I curled up with a good book right?  Wrong, I opted for the easy pleasure of television.  After popping in the Sex And The City 2 DVD I settled back with the yummy takeout my honey had gotten me and prepared to be entertained.  After all I knew today was coming and I simply was not ready to think about anything that had to do with writing.  But as with most plans mine got derailed.

Deep in to the first thirty minutes or so of the chick flick and I found myself thinking about story.  Just the word and what it means.  It was during the scenes in which the graduated “It” girls arrived in Abu Dhabi that my mind began to wander.  You see this is where I noticed the story that had pulled me in during the first half hour shifted its focus from story telling to showiness.  Somewhere, someone must have stated that the second installment of the movie must be bigger or needed more, I’ll use Ms. Bradshaw’s word, “sparkle” than its predecessor.  Yeah I get it, in a vast sea of sequels they had to dream up some way for theirs to standout, but along the way they forgot about story.  And how a well written, relatable tale can pull in and take hold of an audience every time.

In college, for one of my classes, I had to write a paper on any story or play found in my literature textbook.  Already bogged down with a heavy work load I flipped through the book simply looking for the shortest story I could find.  Yet as I scanned the many first paragraphs it was the opening of an absorbing play that drew me in and won the honor of being the subject of my essay.  The play was, Mother Courage and Her Children it is a story about a woman who makes her living off of a war that she does not want her offspring to participate in for fear of losing them.

At the time I was a new mother and the text spoke to me just like that scene in Sex And The City 2 when Charlotte sought refuge in a kitchen pantry while her toddler cried for the sake of crying and after her eldest daughter purposely put red paint on her white, designer label skirt.  As writers we do want our work to standout but at times we have to remind ourselves that although "sparkle" is eye catching, it should never be used as the sole means when trying to draw someone in when there is always the tried and true good story telling.
Contest alert: Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award
 You can submit Adult and Young Adult manuscripts from 1/24/11 to 2/6/11.  Good Luck!

Happy reading, writing or whatever:-)

Writers Conferences

Here is a link to a website where you can find information about upcoming writers conferences for 2011: NewPages.com

Does This Genre Make My Writing Look Phat?

Prior to this year whenever I sat down to compose a new story I never thought about the category in which it would fall.  More importantly, I never considered whether I was even qualified to be writing in a certain genre.  Whenever I talk to writers about a story, they have written or are in the process of writing they always at one point convey that the story just came to them in some way.  At the writers conference I attended in September one of the authors stated how she was in the bathtub when the idea for her tale popped in to her head.  She relayed how she felt compelled to write that particular story.  Well that makes for a great water cooler moment but does it really chalk up to a good enough argument as to why she should write that tale?  Sadly, it does not.

With a new year fast approaching, I feel this is a great time for reflection.  Whenever I tell people, "I have written a science fiction novel."  A perplexed expression comes over their face.  I had always brushed off such doubts even when it came from those that know me well: ) until now.

With the school year in full swing, I now see the kids in my neighborhood with library books.  One day one of the girls proudly exclaimed that she was on chapter seven of the book she was reading.  I asked to see it and before I knew it, I was telling her about a story I was working on just for fun.  Her eyes got big and she wanted to know if she could borrow the book.  I had to try to explain to her about me being a writer and that it was not a “real” book yet.  She was confused but I think she got it. Anyway, talk about your light bulb moment. 

It was not until then that I even considered taking what I write when I need a break from my serious writing and try to build a career around that.  Duh, I tested the waters by mentioning the premise of the story to those who know me well.  I waited for the familiar perplexed looks to emerge but they never did, instead I was greeted with happy head nods.  Moreover, such phrases as, “I can picture that, yeah.  Can see you writing something like that.”

Yeah it was a duh moment for me yet think about it, how many of you took the time to even consider your qualifications for writing the story you are working on?  I did not.  Luckily, for us it is all about growing, getting better at this crafting fiction thing and all that other stuff.  No matter what stage you are in, please take the time to do a checklist about you and research the various major fiction genres as well as their sub-genres.  The whole point is to answer this question: Does this genre make my writing look phat?  In this case you want the answer to be yes:) 
Chick Lit
Children
Crime Fiction
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Horror
Mystery
Romance
Science fiction
Thriller/Suspense
Western

 


   

This Was National Novel Writing Month?

For those of you who make it a habit to be informed I apologize in advance for this blog post.  Oh my word I am sooooo late on this.  Oh well better late than never.  Anyway here we go.  This morning I found out that November has been declared National Novel Writing Month.  There is a whole website, nanowrimo.org dedicated to this cause and everything.  Who knew?  Maybe you.  Definitely not me.

You start writing on November 1st and hopefully by November the 30th you will have spewed out some 50,000 words onto all those awful blank pages.   I know, I know what about the mistakes that will undoubtedly be made?  30 days is not enough time to construct an okay story not to mention a good one.  Well no worries because the object of National Novel Writing Month is not to produce something query worthy it is to motivate you to write and write and write.  I wish I knew about this 27 days ago because this month I have done everything other than writing:)  Oh well there is always next year right:?

Happy reading, writing or whatever:)

What About Word Count?

I remember a time when I actually believed all that advice about how not to dwell on word count.  Wonderful sounding advice like, "Just focus on telling the story and when it is done, it is done."  Well such advice is nice to accept when you just want to write a story.  Yet when you try to go and sell that story you will soon find out that word count IS important.  Remember your book is your baby but it is their product.  And that product must fit inside the standards set by the industry.  Of course, there are those who ignored such guidelines and still managed to obtain some sort of success but such folks are a rarity.  Moreover, with the rejection rate for new submissions being high do you really want to take such a risk?  After some digging, I found the rejection rate to be over 90%.  Here are some general guidelines and links to help you with the word count dilemma: 
Adult Fiction:  around 80,000 but stay away from the 100,000 word count
Science Fiction/Fantasy: around 100,000 is ideal and 80,000 is considered short
Middle Grade: anywhere from 20,000 to 45,000 is good
Young Adult: around 50,000 to around 70,000+
Young Adult Sci-fi/Fantasy: can be longer than 70,000
The Swivet
Fiction Factor
Guide to Literary Agents

  And as always happy reading, writing or whatever:) 

     

What is Your Story's "What If" Factor?

I began writing “Alien Line” in 2007 now as year 2010 comes to a close it is complete.  Since declaring the manuscript done some months ago I have started this blog, done extensive research on how to write a query letter, on how to acquire an agent, on why writing conferences are important, on how to deal with rejection and read through numerous content posted on other writing blogs.  Great right?  In a way yes.  I must admit that this journey has helped me to hone my craft, something that is essential for a serious writer.  But still there are moments when I wish I could slip on a pair of glittering heels that would enable me to go back in time.  Back to year 2007 when I was staring at the dreadful blank page poised ready to type that first line.  I would tap that slightly younger me on the shoulder and relay as much of what I have learned about BANKABLE fiction as I could before those glittering heels pulled me back to the present.
And I would tell her to consider if the story idea is of the HIGH CONCEPT kind.  Meaning is this an interesting, simply understood idea that can be explained in a mere sentence or two?  I would even be so kind as to give her, me, whatever an example.
Resting after a long labor Sylvia wakes anxious to see her twin girls only to have her husband and doctor insist that she had been pregnant with only one baby. 
Easy to follow right?  And such a concept or pitch leads to a what if or why did type of question.  What if there was another baby?  Why did the husband and doctor lie to Sylvia?  As the glittering heels lit up, signaling that it was time for me to go, I would offer one last bit of wisdom: this is your baby but it will be someone else's product.  Write the story you have intended to write yet when the time comes know how to pitch this story.  Know your story’s what if factor.

Women in Science Fiction

I came across this intriguing post:  A look at the “all-new” science fiction reading list by Laurie Penny.  In her blog post Penny points out that a post by John Gray failed to include any female or minority authors.  She also touches on why the genre should be taken more seriously, that females are capable of writing noteworthy science fiction and want to read it too.  Happy reading, writing or whatever:)

Just Not That Into You

For about a month now I have been searching for an agent.  You know that moment in your life when you look around and declare you want to be single no more?  Maybe a change in hairstyle, hang out spot or the type of person dated soon followed.  Essentially putting a polish on the situation in hopes of attracting someone good to then lead toward a relationship.  And eventually someone comes along.  You go out and have what you think is a nice time only to never get a call for that all important second date.  Do you give up?  No.  You go on dating until you find that right someone.
Well that is what hunting for an agent is like.  You have this manuscript that you've spent a large chunk of time polishing in hopes that someone will one day want to make some sort of commitment to it.  When you get a rejection instead of that “second date” it’s easy to get sad and go back to what you were originally doing.  Yet, just like with dating, if you did that you would never find Ms. or Mr. Right Agent.  So with each rejection received just think of it as one step closer to finding that something right.
Query letter advice: Agent Query
                              Writer's Digest      
  

Here is What Happened in New York

As my little family of three drew near the city the landscape transformed from one covered with tall trees to one covered with towering buildings.  An absence of foliage, numerous man made structures, constant honking of horns, multiple lanes of bumper to bumper traffic and the throngs of pedestrians communicated to me that I was not in a city but riding along on the back of an unique beast.  Everything about New York City gave me the sense that it was indeed the place where mere dreams go to become a reality.  It is weird how quickly the city claims you.  By day two I was apart of one of the many moving throngs of people on the streets.  Okay, I will push my wide eyed aw for the city aside now.

The Algonkian Writers Conference I attended was held at the Ripley-Grier studios.  I was in Michael Neff’s group.  Day one was reading of the pitches.  All of us (except for J.P. :-) needed to rework them.  The pitch is basically your hook.  Over the next few days we continued to tweak our hooks and met with editors.  One was flat out not interested in my story but a couple seemed intrigued.  I mean they asked a lot of questions about the plot, characters and themes.  One even wrote down my blog url (Hi).  Right now it is a waiting game to see if anything materializes from the conference.  I learned a lot and was reminded that though this is an art form for me it is a business for them.  They want to know if you will make them money.  Right now I and many others are standing before the locked gate hoping someone will deem our work worthy enough for entry.  I have started looking for an agent and have at least begun thinking about book two.  I met some incredible writers at the conference and wish I could attend one every month.  It was such a kick in the ass:!)  Happy reading, writing or whatever.  And be nice about the pictures please.  I was caught up in the whole New York fashion thing…

      

 

Where are the Outcries for Gary?

    I have been asked repeatedly to write this post.  And after watching last night’s episode of Teen Mom how could I not?  I remember how when on season one of the Jersey Shore cast member Snooki was punched in the face and person after person wagged their finger at MTV for showing the footage.  While that incident was unpleasant to watch what is happening to Gary is down right vile.  Not only because he is being abused, verbally and physically, but because of the lack of outcry about it.

Last night Amber got in Gary’s face several times while hurling insults at him.  At one point she went up to him and made a gesture with her fist threatening to hit him.  Later in the episode she made good on that threat when she smacked him repeatedly in the face, as he tried to collect his belongings that she had set outside of her apartment.  Where are the domestic abuse advocates?  Where is Child Protective Services?  If the roles in the above account were switched every morning show would have led off with a piece about the episode.  Abuse is abuse.  Is does not matter that the abuser in this case is female.  Not addressing the topic is the same as condoning it.                

NYC Pitch and Shop Conference

Hello All.  This week I am off to New York for the NYC Pitch and Shop writers conference.  I am both nervous and excited:)  Full details, the good and bad, will be posted next week.            

You Won't Make any Money

Last week while waiting for my daughter’s preschool orientation to begin another mother sat down next to me and soon after a conversation ensued.  It started out kind of boring with her seizing the moment to brag about her eldest son.  How he also had went through this particular YMCA’s preschool  program and was now reading on a much higher grade level than his classmates.  Some more chatter along these lines when, just as I am deciding whether to suppress an impending yawn or boldly let it out highlighting my boredom, she steered the conversation away from her little genius, briefly on to herself and then to me.  She wanted to know what I do.  I gave her my spiel about being a stay-at-home mom and writer.  After which this stranger said to me, “You won’t make any money.”  I was shocked and amused that this woman who does not even know me, has not read one sentence I have written could so matter-of-factly make such an assessment.  Needless to write but the conversation came to an abrupt end as I wanted to put some distance between me and that negativity.  Yet maybe she is right.  Perhaps I won’t make any money threading words together.  Whatever.  

What that woman and others like her fail to understand is that an artist (first-rate writing is an art form) practices their craft not only because they want to but also because they have to.  If Mariah Carey was not  Mariah Carey  she would still sing and write songs.  Instead of belting out high notes in front of huge audiences she would probably do so while getting ready to go to that regular, bill paying job.  Today I am just Tanya Yvonne maybe in some tomorrow I will be Tanya Yvonne, but whatever.  Because no matter what I will still write.  So to all my fellow artists the writer, singer, songwriters, painters, photographers, chefs and so on keep focusing on doing what you do well:-) 
      

Revising, Nothing but a Bag of Bones

For me the real writing of a story does not take place until the first revision begins.  I liken the first draft to a bag of bones. This is where you would focus mainly on getting the plot down on paper, on computer, or whatever.  Imagine someone handing you a bag of bones.  And the only instruction given was to use the bones to create the skeletal shape of a dinosaur.  You would lay the bones out, then you would start to put this bone with that bone and so on until all of the bones have been pieced together.  Yet when you step back to admire your lovely work you realize that the head bones are where the tail bones should be.  So naturally you remove those bones and rearrange them until you have the desired form.  Right?  Right:-)  Same type of situation should occur when constructing your story.

During that first draft you should focus mainly on getting the basic story completed.  Just like you had to step back to get a better view of the completed dinosaur skeleton, you now have to “step back” from your completed first draft.  You do this by sticking the printed rough draft in a drawer or make a vow not to open the file for at least a week, though I really recommend two.  You do this so when you go back to do that all important first read you will easily spot any errors that were made.  Like with the incorrect placement of the dinosaur’s head and tail bones.  You repeat the steps until your dinosaur shape, meaning your story, looks as it should.  Oh, and VIOLET EYES has gone through four revisions: ) 

Happy reading, writing or whatever:-)          

  

Thanks:!)

I just want to thank those that have taken time out of their day to sign up to follow my blog:)
Thanks:!)

The Real Racism Problem

I am a writer so I guess it is my nature to be intrigued by language.  I don’t just hear what people say to me, I also “hear” what they don’t plainly come out and say.  You see, the way in which someone has articulated something can at times be more telling than what they have actually said.  As you probably know by now Dr. Laura Schlessinger used the N-word 11 times on her nationally syndicated radio show.  As a result the familiar debate about whether or not the N-word should be stricken from our vocabulary has again sprung up.  When people use such an emotionally charged word it is easy to pounce on them for doing so, and I get that.  Believe me I get that.  But what really bothers me about the exchange Schlessinger had with the caller is something I have labeled the real racism problem, rhetoric.  Everyone gets so caught up in the N-word, to the point that the real racism problem gets ignored.

So what Schlessinger used the N-word 11 times.  We all, well most of us anyway, agree that using it is wrong on some level.  What doesn’t get discussed, because of all the furor over a single word, are all those other insensitive words.  Used to form generalizing, offensive statements that are more harmful than the single N-word.

What Schlessinger Said:   
a lot of blacks voted for Obama simply 'cause he was half-black.  Didn't matter what he was gonna do in office
What I (Tanya Yvonne) heard:
Blacks do not know or care about the issues.  They operate like children where girls seek out other girls and boys seek out other boys simply because they are a like.  Meaning blacks looked at then candidate Obama and deduced, he looks like me so must vote for him.    
   
What Schlessinger Said:  It was a black thing.
What I heard:  Blacks are not individuals.

What Schlessinger Said:  You gotta know that. That's not a surprise
What I heard:  I know how you people are.

What Schlessinger Said:  I don't get it. If anybody without enough melanin says it, it's a horrible thing; but when black people say it, it's affectionate. It's very confusing.
What I heard:  I really don’t understand why you are feeling this way.

What Schlessinger Said:  Yeah. We've got a black man as president, and we have more complaining about racism than ever. I mean, I think that's hilarious.
What I heard:  We have a black president so I feel we no longer have a race problem.  I don’t care about how you are feeling.


Language is very powerful.  The Dr. Lauras of the world are masters of this rhetoric game.  Because it is never what they come out and plainly say that creates divides.  Only the residue.  That nasty stickiness that you can’t really see but somehow feel.  The N-word 11 times -clearly heard.  All those others words -kind of heard, but definitely felt.  Time to focus on the real racism problem.

Hook Me

Okay, so you have written a story that you want me to read.  I’ll give you one paragraph to convince me to read the whole story.  That’s it.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.  No worries right?  Because I know somewhere in that first paragraph of your story there will be a hook.  Delicious morsels constructed of words that will leave me and other readers with burning questions.  Questions that can only be answered by reading your story.  A hook.

The rain pounded hard against the window.  But I could still hear them.  The light footsteps of a child.  Alone in the darkness of my bedroom I thought about hiding, or even jumping out the window.  Yet I couldn’t move.  I was paralyzed by fear.  I thought back to what had brought me to that moment. 

Is the narrator male or female?

Why be afraid of a kid?

Is this one of the parents?

Why consider jumping out a window?

Is someone crazy?

I have to find out. 

Now I want you to set your story aside for a few days.  Once you have done this go back and read your opening paragraph.  Ask yourself, does it leave me wanting more?  Be honest:)    

 

"Alien Line" Poster

What will happen to Teah when she discovers the truth?

Here is the poster (NOT the book cover)
for "Alien Line" created by n*Vision Designs.