Girl In NY

My steamy hot cup of NY :)

How was NY? Exhilarating. Exhausting. Kinetic. Satisfying. Overwhelming. Invigorating. Short. Fast. Insightful. Fruitful. And the single best thing I could have ever done for my writing career.

The burning question, did I snag an agent? No. But that's not to say I didn't meet my future agent at this conference. I had some very fruitful chats with agents and editors, not to mention made personal connections.
So, if you didn't get an agent, why was it the "best thing" you did for your career?  With each conference, I gain more confidence, become reassured and brave the shark infested waters.  I no longer lurk around editors and agents, I inject myself in their conversation.  Why didn't I do that before?  Because I thought to be around them, I had to talk about my book and my writing and the industry and blah blah blah.  But the truth is, the second a writer does that, these agents and editors clam up and start looking for a way out.  The next thing you know, another hyena sees their lack of interest in said writer and pounces for the kill.  Another opportunity is gobbled up by the competition.  By lurking, I've witnessed a lot of feeding frenzies.  I made a different approach.

Me and Times Square

Each editor or agent I approached differently.  Some, I complimented their speech, session or panel they participated in, noting the specific thing that intrigued me.  Or maybe I loved their broach and asked them about it.  Sometimes it was as simple as talking about their next project they were excited about.  The whole point, I did not make it about me, stalking them, picking their brain and leeching onto them like a blood  sucking writer.  Coming off desperate, looks just like that.  Things that do not come off naturally or genuine will seem forced or fake.  Take the your writing out of it and just make it conversation.  I did exactly that, and had an agent joking with me instead of running for the hills.

What did I learn? The material presented as SCBWI is copyrighted, so I will only be able to speak in generalities. The editor panel was very interesting (which was presented on the Writing Intensive days that cost extra.) They talked about how they sold projects. How they only took on projects they loved because if you don't love it, you won't work or fight for it. And that's the type of editor you want. They talked about their editorial letters to the author. Some were a three pages, others were 18 to 20 pages. Every editor had their own process and it was interesting to hear their logic behind the methods to their madness. Which actually made them appear a little less shark-like.

Ara Burlund and Me
(BTW...hate this pic of me.  Gag!)

Who did I meet? For professional reasons, I'm not going to give you the skinny on the agents or editors I talked with.  But fellow writer wise, my CP and wingman, Ara Burklund. Stuck to her like glue and she helped me wade the shark infested waters. Ara is a great friend and awesome fellow writer.  I couldn't have asked for a better NY cohort.  I also got to finally met in person Karen Akins, her blog is Novels During Naptime. Let me just say, my fellow southern gal had me twanging by the end of the night.  We shared a kindred spirit.  I also met the fabulous Lee Wind.  He's the regional advisor for SCBWI's LA.  He is fun, encouraging, and a wealth of publishing knowledge.  I can't wait to see him at future events.

That's all for now.  Stay tuned this week for more SCBWI inspired posts:
Editors and Why You Need to Stalk Them Too
Duh, You Don't Have to Be Gay to Attend LGBT Talks
Who Said What At SCBWI NY and Why It Stuck 


BTW...if you have not checked out my Sunday Download from yesterday, get over there.  It's good love making music.

Sunday Downloads - "Lay It Down" by The Rubens

Apparently I have an affinity for Aussie bands.  More than half the tunes I've downloaded lately are from Australia. (The other half, UK.)  If you like The Black Keys, you'll love The Rubens.  They have a swanky, bluesy feel.  That makes you feel like you in a heavy layer of smoke, in the back of UK dive bar in the middle of no where.  Where you can bump and grind with a hood like Johnny Castle (Twenty bonus points if you know who that is.  No internet cheating.)


To download it for free on soundcloud, go here:
lay it down // the rubens

To download more of their tunes for free, go to:
http://www.triplejunearthed.com/Default.aspx

(Be sure if you download, you move the file from your TEMP files and put it in an iTunes file.  Because if you ever delete your temp files, you will loose the downloads.)

Lyrics for "Lay It Down" by The Rubens

And I don’t mind
Cause I speak my mind sometimes
And I think it’s time for me to try
To lay the blame where blame lies

I’ve been searching for whoever made me feel this way
I’m not liking where it’s leading or who it’s leading too
‘Cause it’s you
‘Cause it’s you
‘Cause it’s you
‘Cause it’s you

And so I said I would speak the truth
But I didn’t think it would be to you
I guess I’m sorry I have to lay you down
But no one gets to push me around.

I’ve been searching for whoever made me feel this way
I’m not liking where it’s leading or who it’s leading too
‘Cause it’s you
‘Cause it’s you
‘Cause it’s you
‘Cause it’s you

‘Cause it’s you (repeat)

Sunday Downloads - "Sail' by Awolnation

Let me just start off by warning you, I've picked another obscure song.  I love the heaviness in this song.  Him screaming.  The buzz of the guitar.  The grit and grime.  But the video lags for me.  This is the official video and its...meh.  It doesn't really tell me what the song is about.  Unless the song is about getting abducted?!?   So maybe don't watch but just listen.



Lyrics "Sail" by Awolnation

SAIL!

This is how I show my love.

Made it in my mind because

Blame it on my ADD baby

This is how an angel cries

Blame it on my own sick pride

Blame it on my ADD baby

SAIL!

SAIL!

SAIL!

SAIL!

SAIL!

Maybe I should cry for help

Maybe I should kill myself

Blame it on my ADD baby

Maybe I’m a different breed

Maybe I’m not listening

Blame it on my ADD baby

SAIL!

SAIL!

SAIL!

SAIL!

Lalalalala

Lalalalala

Lalalalala

Lalalalala

SAIL!

SAIL!

SAIL!

SAIL!

SAIL!

SAIL!

Ready for NY?

Ready?  It's all relative, right?  I mean, are we ever fully ready for anything we do in life?  For those who may not know, I'm going to NY at the end of this month for the SCBWI conference.  I paid extra for the "First 500" manuscript critique.  Those first 500 have been looked at by several peepers.  I've gotten solid feedback that has helped me tweak and perfect my first 500 words.  I have the final polish to make from my last feed back but this is it.  What they see is what they get.  At this point, I'm ready to dawn on my ceremonial robes as have a bonfire with the pages if I have to look at them again.  Which tells me I need distance from this intro.

Besides the first 500, what else do I need to do to be ready?

Wardrobe.  California girl needs to buy some close-toed shoes, because I don't think flip-flops will cut it big city.  Plus it doesn't scream professional.   Warm clothing would be nice.  Girl needs to go shopping.  And why girl has decided to speak about herself in third person is beyond me.

Elevator pitch...my stomach just did a loopty-loo.  At past conferences. I have purposely never written an elevator pitch because my MS wasn't ready.  What's my excuse now?  I have none.  I've tried to come up with a solid pitch, but they all sound stupid.  For the most part, I think its because of what I say when the normal "Joe Friend" finds out I'm a writer. You know what I'm talking about. Friend, who is not a writer (and does not have a clue about the industry) finds out you are a writer.

"What's your book about?"  (cue Elevator pitch)
Then you tell them it's an urban fantasy about blah, blah, blah.
Their response "You always did like that weird stuff." Judgement dripping form their words.  But then they ask,  "Can I read it?"
Then you have to explain you're not published and hurriedly rush into the whoas of how one gets published and by the time you get to the how many years before it would see the shelf, their eyes glass over.
"Why don't you just make into one of those e-books?"
You try not to reach out and choke them, screaming Really?!? Brilliant idea!  I'll just email Amazon a copy and it will be up for sale by the afternoon!  Instead you simply say, "Well, it's a little more complicated than that.  How's your family been?" Smile, as you change the subject.  


What else?  Getting my expectations in check.  I would be lying if I said I hadn't fantasized about finding my agent at conference.  Conference in NY, capital of the publishing industry, of all places!  And you know what, it's okay to dream.  Realistically, I'm going to learn and make connections, everything else will be icing.  It's all exciting and scary but I'm ready....I hope.

Sunday Downloads - A Joy Formidable

I know....Sunday Downloads on Wednesyday?  What's the world coming too? It's the best I can do.

"A Heavy Abacus" by A Joy Formidable

There is so much passion and soul into the music and vocals of this song.  It's one of those songs that reaches and touches you in a way you can vocalize, but after you hear it, you want to live, really live.  It screams wake up, before it's too late.  The lyrics are ridiculously poetic. (Which I love.) It took several listens to grasp the looming regret but it took someone else's interpretation before the song hit me like a ton of bricks.

In short, I believe she is trying to say that we can spend our days in our "plastic lives," being something we are not and our nights partying for that brief high.  But in the end, the abacus of life keeps ticking off the wasted days.  And the chances we could have taken, will be just memories.

Here's the video:




(Below is a line by line well done interpretation of the lyrics.  Pretty cool.)

Lyrics for "A Heavy Abacus"

Here we are bending feet
In the dark before dreamless sleep
Cloaks that spot, that shiver, that breeze
Throws you in the dark

Happiness, it won't last long
And this child behind stores it all
The failed man's curse
And the cost of nonchalance

I thank you sly, watchful gene
A plastic life up my sleeve
If you've followed this far
You've realized nothing

Now your world is here
Watch it disappear

Abacus haunting me
Abacus watching me
Abacus haunting me
Abacus watching me

And it all plays out
And it always comes around
The message fades but the mess prevails
You reckless thing leaving you in our hands

Abacus haunting me
Abacus watching me
Abacus haunting me
Abacus watching me

All we have is this chance called memory
(Haunting me)
All we have is this chance called memory
(Watching me)
All we have is this chance called memory
(Haunting me)
All we have is this chance called memory

Here are the lyrics interpreted by two people.  Both seem pretty accurate.

Sunday Downloads - My Body Is a Cage

There's a new movie with Disney coming out called "John Carter."  This film is about cowboys and aliens.  A juxtaposition I love. (Though the rest of the country does not, with the flop of "Cowboys vs. Aliens.") The preview for the movie features a Peter Gabriel song "My Body Is a Cage."  As most of you already know, Peter Gabriel has a very imaginative sound blended with an orchestra.  This song is so poetic, full of longing and pain.  I love it!

I first heard this song on an episode of "House" last year, but for the life me I could not find who sang it.  And since it doesn't sound like the classic Peter Gabriel voice we grew up with, I did not recognize his voice. But now I have discovered it and want to share it with you.

Here is the Peter Gabriel version during the "House" episode.  It will not let me embed the video so click here to watch.

Well, you know how I love multiple versions of the same song...Here is Arcade Fire's version.  Edited with one of my childhood favorite movies "Once Upon a Time in the West"  (Charles Bronson was da bomb!) One of the best Saturday Matinee movies on television, with the coolest twist ending.  (Movie spoiler if you've never seen it.)



Lyrics to "My Body Is a Cage" by Peter Gabriel

My body is a cage that keeps me

From dancing with the one I love

But my mind holds the key

My body is a cage that keeps me

From dancing with the one I love

But my mind holds the key

I'm standing on a stage

Of fear and self-doubt

It's a hollow play

But they'll clap anyway

My body is a cage that keeps me

From dancing with the one I love

But my mind holds the key

You're standing next to me

My mind holds the key

I'm living in an age

That calls darkness light

Though my language is dead

Still the shapes fill my head

I'm living in an age

Whose name I don't know

Though the fear keeps me moving

Still my heart beats so slow

My body is a cage that keeps me

From dancing with the one I love

But my mind holds the key

You're standing next to me

My mind holds the key

My body is a

My body is a cage

We take what we're given

Just because you've forgotten

That don't mean you're forgiven

I'm living in an age

That screams my name at night

But when I get to the doorway

There's no one in sight

I'm living in an age

That laughs

When I'm dancing

With the one I love

But my mind holds the key

You're standing next to me

My mind holds the key

Set my spirit free

Set my spirit free

Set my body free

Set my body free

Set my spirit free

Set my body free

Eyes Are Good!

My eye surgery went well.  First night home was rough, but after that has been really fine.  This surgery was to strengthen my corneas so I might get the corrective laser surgery next year.  I'll still be in glasses/contacts until then but one day I will have freedom from lenses.

Hopefully this week, starting today with my Sunday Downloads, I want to get back on a regular blogging schedule.  (Regular as in, not abandoning my followers, kind of regular.)

Thanks for all your well wishes.

Before I lose my sight, I better post.

I haven't posted since just before Christmas.  Sorry, been busy. Holidays.  Kids at home.  PREPARING MY MS BEFORE I GO TO NY SCBWI CONFERENCE THIS MONTH! *breathes*

For the the next three weeks, I have two agendas.  Get a fab wardrobe for NY and get my MS spit-shine clean.  So, posting has been put to the side.

And will be put to the side a little longer.

Tomorrow, I'm having eye surgery.  I have a cornea issues.  Without laying out my entire medical history, I will keep it at that.  Outpatient, low risk but scary.  Long story short, I won't be able to see for a few days.  My focus will be in and out, I may or may not be able to see to get on the computer.  So, I won't be posting for a few more days.

Thanks to everybody for understanding. I promise to be back soon and with beefier posts than I have been lately. (And no more torture about editing.)  And I promise when I start querying, I won't neglect y'all.  Too much.  (Which the fear of querying is scaring me into doing things like scrub the grout around the toilets, pick the crud off my bbq with a toothpick, and other non-important menial jobs.  All to avoid getting this MS done. Eick!)

See you guys next week!  Haha.  Literally.