tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42540623237877384802024-02-22T00:21:08.726-08:00Night WriterMyrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.comBlogger248125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-39597873741200568772020-04-09T07:06:00.000-07:002020-04-21T05:15:22.454-07:00A Poem for National Unicorn Day (and Spring Fling)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm entering this poem in the <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/springflingwritingcontest/main?authuser=0">Spring Fling Writing Contest</a>. Today is National Unicorn Day, so I'm sharing a story about a goblin. And a fairy princess. Okay, there might be some unicorns. I hope you enjoy it.<br />
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And I hope that wherever you are, you feel safe and well. *hugs*<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="240" src="https://giphy.com/embed/6UnY08CphV8tO" width="480"></iframe><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/forest-white-6UnY08CphV8tO">via GIPHY</a><br />
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Three Unicorns Choose Riders<br />
(127 words)<br />
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Here they come, horns all shining<br />
with the last rays of day.<br />
I’m the only goblin waiting<br />
in a long line of fey.<br />
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As the first girl is chosen,<br />
It’s hard not to compare.<br />
She’s a fairy, wearing flowers<br />
and a crown in her hair.<br />
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I’m an outcast, a goblin,<br />
but I want this so much!<br />
Two unicorns have chosen<br />
their new riders by touch.<br />
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So, I drop my eyes, waiting.<br />
I hear hooves closing in,<br />
and suddenly the hairy,<br />
hot breaths tickle my chin!<br />
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And these unicorn kisses<br />
fill my mind with new dreams<br />
of a lively, real friendship<br />
and surprising race schemes.<br />
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When I leap to ride my partner,<br />
she makes sure I’m all right.<br />
Then we race the other riders<br />
underneath Moon’s kind light.<br />
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Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-52640805138716731582019-01-01T00:42:00.002-08:002019-01-01T02:34:14.154-08:002018 in Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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2018 was a rough year at our house, but it had a lot of bright spots. While you're on the roller coaster, the heights can be as scary as the depths. But looking back, it's easier to see the good.<br />
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In January, we dropped Robyn off in another state to attend her first semester of college.<br />
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Near the end of the month, I helped with out regional <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/">SCBWI </a>conference in Las Vegas. That was both more rewarding and more exhausting than I expected it to be. <a href="http://redfoxliterary.com/aboutus.html">Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary</a> critiqued one of my picture book manuscripts through that conference, although she wasn't able to attend. Karen asked if she could send the manuscript to some editors without signing me as a client, and I agreed. She doesn't represent fantasy, which I write a lot of, so we agreed that we weren't a great long-term fit. I have really enjoyed working with her, though. She doesn't seem to procrastinate anything. I never felt neglected or ignored.<br />
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In February, the Poets' Garage accepted my application for membership. This lovely group of people definitely created some bright spots. I'd never had a poetry critique partner before, and suddenly I had a whole group of published children's poets offering advice and encouragement. I wrote A LOT more poetry in 2018. Through the Poet's Garage, I learned about the Madness! Poetry Tournament that happens annually in March, and I applied.<br />
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I also developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in February. Not so fun. I was two or three weeks into a drawing class that I'd really been excited about. On the bright side, it's an online class through Storyteller Academy, and I can retake it anytime. On the dark side, I now have a history of fear and suffering associated with drawing.<br />
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In March, I made it to the Sweet Sixteen round of the <a href="https://madnesspoetry.com/">Madness! Poetry Tournament</a>. If anyone reading this voted for my poems, THANK YOU!<br />
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The first weekend in April, we spent a weekend up at Ben's parents. Robyn caught a ride to Salt Lake, so we all hung out for a couple of days before she had to go back. And then she came down for Spring Break between her two semesters. This is probably the first year that we've missed the Clark County Fair since we've lived in Nevada.<br />
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By the end of May, my carpal tunnel had healed and I'd been released as primary president (heavy burden lifted). I visited Nellis Airforce Base with a bunch of fifth graders.<br />
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We attended Gwenyth's last May Day Dance.<br />
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In June, we visited the elephant seals and zebras in San Simeon, CA. Hearst Castle is incredible. I highly recommend the area as a vacation spot. That trip made me realize that I need to visit the ocean more often.<br />
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Robyn finished her second semester in July, so the kids and I went on a grand road trip through six states. We picked up Robyn, visited Yellowstone, and spent some time with their grandparents. I also recommend Yellowstone.<br />
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I started off August by quitting the part-time job I've had with Clark County Parks and Recreation for the last eight years.<br />
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I attended a SCBWI picture book critique group in Las Vegas for the first time. Our Illustrator Coordinator, <a href="https://www.rabbleboy.com/">Ken Lamug</a>, runs the group, and he always invites me. It was a great experience. They gave me excellent feedback, and it was really fun to see everyone. I edit/coordinate the <a href="https://nevada.scbwi.org/newsletter/">newsletter for SCBWI Nevada</a>, so I already knew most of the group from email interaction.<br />
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I also read some of my children's poems (by invitation) in a big community event, and I started taking a 12-week in-person business class. Both were outside my comfort zone. Both proved rewarding.<br />
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I started reading self-help books in September, which led to using affirmations and ended up being more helpful than I expected. The friend (<a href="https://www.annieleavitt.com/home">Annie Leavitt</a>) who recommended the books started a local self-help book club, which I joined. I'm hoping to figure out meditation in 2019.<br />
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Also in September, I started moderating workshops and taking on various other jobs for Arree Chung at <a href="https://www.storytelleracademy.com/">Storyteller Academy</a>. He gave me the green light to start posting on the blog again. Working for Arree and immersing myself in Storyteller Academy again turned out to be just what I needed.<br />
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At the beginning of October, my friend Annie challenged me to set a date to query agents with my YA fantasy, so I wrapped up that revision by the end of the month and started personalizing queries.<br />
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November brought the completion of my business class, Arree's Black Friday Bootcamp, and his launch of <a href="https://www.storytelleracademy.com/makers/">Makers</a>. If you want to (or already do) write and/or illustrate picture books, and you haven't checked out Makers, you absolutely should. And no, I don't get paid any kind of commission. I have a high opinion of the instructors and curriculum.<br />
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Aside from giving me a double dose of the flu, December had some encouraging moments. If any of them lead to something I can tangibly call success, I'll let you know in 2019.<br />
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How was your 2018?<br />
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Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-29880034953698381602017-10-02T16:47:00.002-07:002017-10-02T16:47:28.417-07:00Keep a Morning Journal as Self-Care<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I wrote <a href="http://www.storytelleracademy.com/keep-morning-journal-self-care/">a post for Storyteller Academy</a> today about keeping a morning journal as self-care. I also talked a bit about the shooting in Las Vegas. </div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-3838320395520857972017-04-28T11:20:00.000-07:002017-04-28T11:21:49.549-07:00Revising Myself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.storytelleracademy.com/">The 12-week class</a> that I mentioned in my last post finished last night with an interactive discussion with Editor Kate Farrell. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say the class has been life-changing. The instructor, <a href="http://arree.com/">Arree Chung</a>, spent more time focusing on our creative process than anyone I've ever taken a class from.<br />
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He's the sort of person you can't say "can't" around without being told not to limit yourself. </div>
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Isn't that the coolest book trailer? </div>
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Arree worked for Pixar before he started creating picture books.</div>
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I bought into his class with the expectation that I'd complete my first picture book dummy by the end of it. I'm coming out of the class with so much more than that. </div>
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Yes, I completed (and revised) my first picture book dummy, and I learned facts about design that will forever change the way I approach my picture book manuscripts.</div>
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I also gained an amazing critique group that will continue to meet, good friends whose work I believe in.</div>
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But my most important takeaway has been a change in the way I approach my work, both writing and illustrating. The morning pages Arree had us write clear away my anxiety, making it easier to work, and I'm finding solutions to story problems through taking walks and through drawing. Meeting regularly with a group of people who are working toward the same goals has been incredibly motivating. It's a healthier approach to creating stories. </div>
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I feel like I'm revising myself as much as I'm revising my stories. It's a great feeling.</div>
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Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-5366064715969280612017-01-24T17:05:00.001-08:002017-01-24T17:05:10.225-08:00Crafting Outside My Comfort Zone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, I did something kind of crazy today. I signed up for a 12-week picture book author/illustrator class where (if I understood correctly) I'll share picture book dummies with my instructor and a critique group every other Thursday. The class starts this Saturday. <div>
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<a href="http://www.storytelleracademy.com/p/spring-2017/"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVZNwUG_jStv-TmqjNq-jhJPpEesCm64T9i-RrqLWkzIhyphenhyphen2nWERcqAA-2Y5wv2CPGMZ1NZDE71Q6nn2-jP_NY6YXdgkRalLY2_0wDDMdCC2gVVbCih7imp0GMdHWVPNuILsO_mAmLPzo/s320/MakingPictureBookStories.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am not an illustrator. </div>
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BUT, I've been doodling and sketching for as long as I can remember, and I've wanted to learn how to make picture book dummies for years. I've attended workshops on it. I've purchased how-to books. Last year, I even joined a picture book critique group composed of mostly author/illustrators to push myself in that direction. </div>
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But I only shared manuscripts.</div>
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I'm totally a chicken about sharing any sort of art with people. I can share my writing. But I have this block about art. My older sister is the artist in our family, and she's amazing. My style, if you can call it a style, will never be anything like hers. </div>
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Maybe that's okay. Maybe that's even a good thing. I'm excited (and apprehensive) about where this class might take me. </div>
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Are you trying anything this year that's outside your comfort zone?</div>
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Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-61564978566866306052016-06-08T18:56:00.001-07:002016-06-08T18:56:55.322-07:00Remodeling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
About a month ago, Dax discovered a damp, moldy patch of carpet under his little sister's bed. We had a sneaky leak in the bathroom that ran under the vinyl tiles and through the wall. Gross.<br />
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The wall and the floor in the girls' room was visibly in a lot worse shape than the bathroom, but the bed had hidden the damage. So, the girls slept on couches for a few weeks. We replaced the moldy bits. Their room doesn't look any different than it did before the damage.<br />
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The bathroom, on the other hand, needed more of an overhaul. Ben took out the toilet (that just kept finding new ways to leak) and the shower (that had mold growing underneath it). Dax pried up the vinyl floor tiles. A large section of the wooden floor had to come out, as did some of the sheetrock. They've been replaced. When we've painted and put in a new toilet and shower, it will look and function SO much better than the bathroom we've had for the last 13 years, but it's going to take a lot more time and money than the bedroom did.<br />
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I've been thinking about how, as a writer, I've found that different stories need different kinds of remodeling at different stages.<br />
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Last year, I added two point-of-view characters to my YA fantasy. It was a rip-out-the-tub-and-toilet remodel, and it took a couple of drafts to nail down the characters. I'm getting notes back from readers on my latest draft that indicate my next draft will be more of a mud-and-tape-the-uglies job. Then I can finish it with a shiny coat of new paint. At least, that's the plan. I'm currently 15 drafts into this story.<br />
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A little over a week ago, Shelley Moore Thomas (AKA The Storyqueen) announced her intent to write seven picture book drafts in seven days, asking if anyone wanted to join her. I didn't need seven new drafts. Thanks for Julie Hedlund's 12x12, I already have a bunch of drafts that need revising. So I told Shelley that as long as the drafts could be revisions, I was in.<br />
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We both cranked out seven drafts. Yay! Some of my revisions were more drastic than others. I killed some darlings, especially in the manuscript I thought had the most potential, and my picture book critique group agreed that it was submission ready when I shared it a few days later.<br />
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Currently, I'm expanding a picture book into a chapter book series. It may even end of turning into a middle grade series, but at this point I think it makes more sense as a chapter book series. The picture book was written in first person, present tense. I'm rewriting it in close third, past tense. The main character has a different name, and now the story is rooted in the real world. I like it. I think it will be well worth the effort when I've finished.<br />
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And so will our bathroom. :o)<br />
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Are you tackling any projects this summer?</div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-43405676499289569172016-01-11T10:48:00.000-08:002016-01-11T10:48:42.882-08:00Monday Writing Fun <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Did you catch <a href="http://ala.unikron.com/2016/">the ALA awards</a> this morning? I hope you saw some of your favorites listed. :o)<br />
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It's been a good morning so far at my house: One picture book revision down. One MG chapter revision to go. I'm going to squeeze this blog post, some laundry, and an upper body workout in between.<br />
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If you write picture books, today is the last day you can sign up for <a href="http://megmillerwrites.blogspot.com/p/revimo-2016.html">Meg Miller's Revise More Picture Books Challenge</a>. It's free. If you're participating and want to swap revisions for critique, let me know in the comments. I'm shooting for five PB revisions this week.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTj9n7NegygCbuH9HJjbE6nzS2LB3mnWaB5o_no4jzeTxJZdWwIvHCsyt_sMNpB2aRUuCfy-_MLUNWAVs1ssWhwrovkeC25yM4S-NYtNcsLu7oARcfFL1IoXBId3A3OL5fW4HgsWQeM4/s1600/blog_top2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTj9n7NegygCbuH9HJjbE6nzS2LB3mnWaB5o_no4jzeTxJZdWwIvHCsyt_sMNpB2aRUuCfy-_MLUNWAVs1ssWhwrovkeC25yM4S-NYtNcsLu7oARcfFL1IoXBId3A3OL5fW4HgsWQeM4/s400/blog_top2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tomorrow, <a href="http://12x12challenge.com/?mc_cid=f8ec6d174d&mc_eid=7e8b3dba69">Julie Hedlund opens registration for new members of 12x12</a>. This one isn't free, but the price includes monthly webinars with awesome writers, editors, and agents. Last year, Jane Yolen's webinar was by far my favorite. This year, I'm most looking forward to the webinars by Tara Lazar, Miranda Paul, and Peter Reynolds.<br />
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Speaking of Miranda Paul, have you seen Emily Arrow's take on WATER IS WATER?<br />
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And if you aren't already subscribed to KidLit411, they're giving away prizes all week for their annual <a href="http://www.kidlit411.com/2016/01/Kidlit411-Birthday-Giveaway-2016-Free-Books.html">Birthday Bash</a>.<br />
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What are your favorite writing challenges or support groups?<br />
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Happy Monday!<br />
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Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-965399223058768412015-12-31T15:38:00.000-08:002016-01-11T10:49:23.007-08:00A Happy Ending<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I made real changes in 2015. </div>
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I gave my notice at work in January, telling them that I'd finish out the school year and that I'd be willing to sub for whomever they hired. I loved my teaching job, but it was time to quit. </div>
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I also signed up for a membership with <a href="http://12x12challenge.com/">Julie Hedlund's 12x12</a> in January. </div>
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I have this driving need to write picture books, so I thought I'd better do something with it. Writing a couple of new picture book stories a year just wasn't helping me master the craft. Julie's challenge to write 12 new picture books in 12 months was exactly what I needed. I wrote them. I revised over and over and over again. I went from getting no response or a form response to my queries to getting compliments from agents. The last half of the year, I stopped querying to just focus on my craft because I could see my writing improving. I even wrote a few rhyming manuscripts, something I haven't managed in over five years. Poems and rhyming picture books are different art forms.</div>
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In February, I used Scrivener to revise my MG space opera. I'm still not an expert at using the new software, but after many years of using MS Word, I wouldn't say I know everything about Word, either. I'm like the software, and I'll use it again. I might even be good at it someday. :o)</div>
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In March, I had an unexpected conversation with an agent at <a href="http://writingforcharity.blogspot.com/">Writing for Charity</a>. She'd written out a page and a half of fantastic notes for my picture book manuscript, and I went into our session thinking that we'd be discussing picture books. She steered the conversation around to my novels, specifically the YA fantasy that I hadn't touched in almost a year. By the end of our conversation, I knew how to revise it, and she asked me to please send it to her when I finished. Then she sat by me at dinner, and we discussed picture books. I actually met with two agents at Writing for Charity. I wasn't impressed with the second one. It was a valuable experience for me because now I know what I'm looking for in an agent. </div>
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I didn't finish that beastly revision of my YA fantasy until November, but I DID finish it. It isn't ready for agent eyes yet. I did the heavy lifting, and I'll fine tune it in 2016.</div>
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Meanwhile, I'm revising the space opera again. Going back to a story after months away makes it so much easier to see what it needs.</div>
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Looking back over the year, quitting my job was exactly what I needed. I'm still helping out at the preschool. Next week, I'm subbing for the teacher all week. But quitting that job allowed me to change my focus. I made a lot more progress the second half of the year than I did the first six months.</div>
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By the middle of the year, I'd started joking with my husband that I was having a mid-life crisis. Quietly. I'm a quiet sort of person. I told him that I'd rather come out of it with a weight set than a new car, and he played along. He even bought some of the weights and started lifting them with me. Exercising regularly and eating better has done more to combat my insomnia, anxiety, and depression than anything else I've tried. Sleep is my new friend.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibPcWgaT94rbNIgSgW7mLZ2BNgdkUb9T5DThuf2LAAH-M2P8pVJtbwsy3Z6fiEdVPS6t-zO7U9RGjD93dVtIcniFqSD9w-G3JAbimW3SXhSMCOfAzyZzwvRC_yOOtpx9dRZ_C-zxv66U/s1600/IMG_0547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibPcWgaT94rbNIgSgW7mLZ2BNgdkUb9T5DThuf2LAAH-M2P8pVJtbwsy3Z6fiEdVPS6t-zO7U9RGjD93dVtIcniFqSD9w-G3JAbimW3SXhSMCOfAzyZzwvRC_yOOtpx9dRZ_C-zxv66U/s320/IMG_0547.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">If you're interested, I'm following the program outlined in BODY FOR LIFE, by Bill Phillips. The workouts aren't very long. I'm alternating an intense 20 minute aerobic workout with weight lifting for six days a week. You don't have to count calories or starve to follow the diet. It's about eating the right fuel to get the most out of your body. I'm not into before and after photos or anything that makes people feel shame about their bodies. But I do love feeling better. I don't use the author's products because I found better ones. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aF_YhX2g7pXPOwXHtoE9LSRuSx6C4ocU6dFGU5OdcjLBnswrL2QXKQdf65rfliHOogTKzA4p3hki8tP_g-O71CKDKRmUYiREBVNQFAbVolqxQ_j24dIekZjWXRgKSMdOIw5mNYAZ6Pg/s1600/1120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aF_YhX2g7pXPOwXHtoE9LSRuSx6C4ocU6dFGU5OdcjLBnswrL2QXKQdf65rfliHOogTKzA4p3hki8tP_g-O71CKDKRmUYiREBVNQFAbVolqxQ_j24dIekZjWXRgKSMdOIw5mNYAZ6Pg/s320/1120.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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If you're looking for great vitamins and protein shakes, Plexus has the best ones I've tried. No added sugar of any kind and they actually taste good. They have free shipping today. They're also running a great deal on membership if you're interested in buying their products wholesale. There's a huge price difference for customers versus members/ambassadors, so that's what I do. If you want to check it out, you can follow this link: <a href="http://shopmyplexus.com/myrnafoster/">http://shopmyplexus.com/myrnafoster/</a></div>
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Full disclosure: If you buy or sign up through this page, it will benefit me. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I will probably never mention this on the blog again because it f</span><span style="text-align: left;">eels too much like selling, and that's not what my blog is for. However, BODY FOR LIFE and Plexus have contributed to changing the quality of my life (physically, mentally, and emotionally) this year. I work better when I'm healthy. </span></div>
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Wishing you all the best in 2016! xoxo</div>
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Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-73161991149309590682015-04-20T01:37:00.000-07:002015-04-20T01:37:13.737-07:00MMGM: THE SOUND OF LIFE AND EVERYTHING (With ARC Giveaway!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.kristavandolzer.com/">Krista Van Dolzer</a>'s debut novel (from Penguin Young Readers), THE SOUND OF LIFE AND EVERYTHING, releases on May 5th! I love, love, LOVE this one, and I have a signed ARC that I'm giving away to one lucky winner.<br />
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<a href="http://www.rosewongart.com/">Rose Wong</a>'s cover art reflects the diverse story within. The jacket copy reads: <i><span style="color: #b45f06;">Twelve-year-old Ella Mae Higbee is a sensible girl. She eats her vegetables and wants to be just like Sergeant Friday, her favorite character on Dragnet. So when her auntie Mildred starts spouting nonsense about a scientist who can bring her cousin back to life from blood on his dog tags, Ella Mae is skeptical—until he steps out of a bio-pod right before her eyes.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #b45f06;">But the boy is not her cousin—he’s Japanese. And in California in the wake of World War II, the Japanese are still feared and despised. When her aunt refuses to take responsibility, Ella Mae and her Mama take him home instead. Determined to do what’s right by her new friend, Ella Mae teaches Takuma English and defends him from the reverend’s talk of H-E-double-toothpicks. But when his memories start to resurface, Ella Mae learns some shocking truths about her own family and more importantly, what it means to love.</span></i><br />
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Ella Mae's voice grabbed me from the first sentence. The family dynamics (especially interactions with her parents and between her mom and her aunt) rang true. This book made me laugh aloud in many places, but it also made me go find a box of tissues.<br />
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Krista and I have been reading each other's manuscripts for about five years, and I've read this story more times than any other manuscript I've critiqued. For anyone. It has changed dramatically from draft to draft, but the scene with Takuma and Ella Mae that makes me cry has been there since my first read. And it makes me cry (tears leaking down my face) every. single. time.<br />
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If you have a U. S. mailing address and would like to be entered in the drawing, please comment below before Thursday, April 23, at 10:00 pm PDT. I'll give an extra entry to anyone who shares an interesting historical fact or even their favorite time and place in history. :o)<br />
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If you need a less biased review, here's one by <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-399-16775-1">Publisher's Weekly</a>.<br />
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And if you're interested in reading more Marvelous Middle Grade reviews, <a href="http://www.shannonmessenger.com/">Shannon Messenger has the links on her blog.</a><br />
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Thanks for reading!</div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-68452932184388918132015-02-16T15:40:00.000-08:002015-02-16T15:40:41.174-08:00Resources for Picture Book Writers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">I'm just popping in to share some picture book resources that I've found helpful. Most of them are things I've discovered recently, and most of them are free.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">The biggest thing I'm doing this year actually did cost money. It's Julie Hedlund's 12x12. You commit to writing 12 picture book drafts in 12 months. She has three levels, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. I signed up for Silver because it means I can watch the monthly webinars (mini-classes by other writers, Jane Yolen for example) for free. Many of the other 12x12 members have already sold picture books, and they're willing to answer questions and advice. I'm only a month in, and I already know I'll be doing this again next year. It's less expensive than taking an online class or going to a conference, and it gives me access to mini-classes and manuscript feedback all year. Registration is open until the end of this month. If you don't want to invest the time or money this year, you can still subscribe to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/to%20http://juliehedlund.com">her website</a> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">for free. That's how I started last year.</span><br />
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<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">But I have two brand new picture book manuscripts already, and the 12x12 material Julie sends to my inbox is fabulous. <a href="https://juliehedlund.leadpages.net/pbvideos/?mc_cid=083cdc9b02&mc_eid=7e8b3dba69">This video</a> that I watched today made me realize how I need to revise my current query, and Julie gave us permission to share it. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">It's the first in a three-part series that you can watch for free. I think the videos are only available for 10 days, so if you're interested, don't put off watching it.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">I've been subscribing to <a href="http://www.taralazar.com/">www.taralazar.com</a> for a couple of years. Everything that she does is free, and she has a lot of great resources for picture book writers. One of my favorite things is <a href="http://taralazar.com/2009/02/22/picture-book-construction-know-your-layout/">this post on picture book layout</a>. I've come up with some of my best picture book ideas by participating in her PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month) the last two Novembers.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><a href="http://www.kidlit411.com/">KidLit411</a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">is an AMAZING resource that I just discovered last month. They interview writers and illustrators every week, but the best thing they do is round up links to other relevant information and opportunities. Totally free.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">And something new I'm going to try next month is <a href="http://www.carriecharleybrown.com/reforemo">Carrie Charley Brown's Reading for Research Month</a> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">(also free).</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Let me know if you end up checking any of these out. :o) Also, if you think I'm missing out on something, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!</span></div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-59559389853427678982015-01-28T01:05:00.000-08:002015-01-28T01:05:11.627-08:00Second Draft of MG Finished!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I saw a tweet from Shannon Hale not that long ago that compared writing a first draft to shoveling sand in a sandbox so that she could build a castle with it later.<br />
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For me, writing a first draft is more like sketching a picture I'm going to paint with a pencil. That first sketch is limited, and I put in things that I know will have to change, even before I start layering paint. The eraser is my friend.<br />
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The last couple of first drafts I've written have been in notebooks. I haven't transferred Nightingale from the notebook to the computer yet, but tonight I finished my second draft of the MG space opera I wrote in the fall. At 20,998 words, it's slight, but it's longer than the 75 written pages it started out as.<br />
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It may double in size.<br />
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Some people write a lot of words in the beginning, cutting them later. I spend the first draft finding my characters and plot. Then I add layers. Either way, a lot of words get deleted or painted over.<br />
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This draft was my first experience with Scrivener, and I'm going to keep the story there for one more draft. Then I'll switch over to Word. I'll blog more about learning how to use Scrivener later. But at this point, I'm sold; I'll be typing Nightingale into Scrivener later this year.<br />
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What have you been up to this month?</div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-61932034843104363542014-11-24T14:41:00.000-08:002014-11-25T09:34:12.513-08:00Picture Book Idea Month <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Picture book writer <a href="http://taralazar.com/">Tara Lazar</a> runs Picture Book Idea Month every November. This year, I've read fantastic posts from picture book writers, illustrators, and agents. Reading through the posts is like taking a free class. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in writing picture books. </div>
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Last year, I came up with twice the required 30 picture book ideas. I was SO excited to write some of those ideas during 2014, but then I put the notebook in a safe place and forgot about it. Four to six months later, I went looking for my idea notebook, but I still haven't found it. I remember some of the ideas, though, and have worked on a few of them.<br />
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PiBoIdMo is kitten approved!</div>
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This year I've approached it differently. Instead of using one of my many ordinary notebooks, I decorated a spiral bound book of notecards. I like writing poems on notecards, and I wanted the notebook to be something small and easy to recognize. Instead of trying to amass as many ideas as possible, I'm trying to visualize and flesh out some (not all) of the ideas as they come. I've even written a few manuscripts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwvT2cg3MjmgZftyRPVTQjxPr-eE5CeTcJjaoRnP8fVgoTpIGLTKo4jXbmKARu3Z1fhyphenhyphenUQFa8txGbLdptVLzuEeBnmkITwCpLnQxWQJMPvMGBxfNGytezA_2sBa7jMW9toJHxgoRomzM/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwvT2cg3MjmgZftyRPVTQjxPr-eE5CeTcJjaoRnP8fVgoTpIGLTKo4jXbmKARu3Z1fhyphenhyphenUQFa8txGbLdptVLzuEeBnmkITwCpLnQxWQJMPvMGBxfNGytezA_2sBa7jMW9toJHxgoRomzM/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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Parakeets prefer picture books!</div>
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I sent the best one off for critique today. :o)</div>
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Hope your week is filled with friends, family, favorite foods, and all the right words!</div>
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Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-38366183068731766312014-11-11T23:00:00.001-08:002014-11-11T23:00:51.783-08:00Treats from a Tree<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, I have a poem in the November issue of <i>Highlights High Five</i>, and they actually pronounced my name correctly on the audio version. :o) I'd say this never happens, but hey, it just did.<br />
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If you'd like to hear it, you can click through to the <a href="https://www.highlights.com/your-child-and-you/high-five/audio/2014-11"><i>Highlights</i> website</a>. My poem is <i>Treats from a Tree</i>, page 16. Or you can check out Alex Paterson's delightful illustrations (including the one with my poem) on <a href="http://illustratorpod.co.uk/?portfolio=orchard-2">his website</a>.<br />
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Once again, I'm thrilled to see the finished product. If you're interested in writing for children's magazines, I can't over recommend submitting to <i>Highlights</i>. They offer the best pay, and they will make you look great. But by far, the best part is working with fantastic editors.<br />
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Thanks for reading!</div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-57831808413055060462014-10-22T15:00:00.001-07:002014-10-22T15:00:22.825-07:00Winners and Another Happy Thing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
First, I love that everyone who entered told me how they found my blog. Thank you!<br />
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Second, while everyone entered the drawing for ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER, Krista Van Dolzer was the only person who wanted the magazine, and Mariah Ellis was the one one interested in a critique. So they automatically won those giveaways.</div>
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Determining the third winner took a bit more work on my part, but we have one.</div>
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Katherine wins the book (and buttons)!</div>
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Thanks so much to everyone for the happy wishes and entries! Mariah and Katherine, please email me at myrnabobfoster at yahoo dot com. Krista, I'll be over your way next week for a high school soccer game. Hopefully, we can swap illustrated brain children then. :o) If not, I'll mail it to you.</div>
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Third, on a completely unrelated note, I finished my first draft of the first book in a middle grade space opera series. I wrote this draft in the notebook underneath the chest in the picture. There's nothing quite like finishing a first draft. It still needs lots of work, but I totally love it (which means I'd probably better work on a different project before I revise it).</div>
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Happy Wednesday! Mwah! </div>
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Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-16003740567850201372014-10-13T12:15:00.001-07:002014-10-13T12:34:23.215-07:00Five Year Anniversary of Night Writer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I wrote my <a href="http://myrnafoster.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-broke-my-toe-on-wednesday-playing.html#comment-form">first blog post</a> on October 10, 2009. That little post had two commenters: <a href="http://naturalartificial.blogspot.com/">Stephanie Perkins</a> and the mysterious Q. I thought it was fun that some of our avatar photos in the comments are actually the ones we used back then.<br />
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Steph was one of the reasons I started blogging. I interacted with Steph through her blog for quite while before started my own. I still love Steph and her writing, so I'm giving away a signed copy of her latest novel, <a href="http://www.stephanieperkins.com/books.html#isla">ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER</a>, (and the three buttons in the pic) as part of my anniversary celebration. Steph's lyrical writing, the intense longing, awkward situations, hard decisions, and authentic voices make for an amazing read. Plan on not being able to put it down once you start.<br />
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Isla was so easy for me to relate to. I read blogs for a long time before starting my own because, as Isla states, "social networking has always felt like a popularity contest to me. A public record of my own inadequacies."<br />
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But after I jumped into it, I made the most amazing friends. All of my regular critique partners are people I encountered through blogging. I've met up with <a href="http://www.kristavandolzer.com/">Krista</a>, <a href="http://windedwords.blogspot.com/">Jackee</a>, and Q, but<a href="http://www.alsonnichsen.blogspot.com/"> Amy</a> and <a href="http://www.adamheine.com/">Adam</a> live farther away. Adam lives much, MUCH farther away (Thailand). If the only benefit I ever received from blogging was the influence these five people have had on my life and writing, it would be worth it.<br />
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I could tell great stories about any of my CPs, but I'm going to single out Q for a moment because, like Steph, she commented on that first blog post. This time of year, last year, we (along with another friend) were engaged in a writing challenge where we reported to each other on a daily basis. It was awesome. We both finished first drafts. In March, we attended a writing workshop that <a href="http://metteivieharrison.com/">Mette Ivie Harrison</a> hosted at Sundance as part of <a href="http://www.writingforcharity.blogspot.com/">Writing for Charity</a>. The workshop included a critique and private conversation with <a href="https://twitter.com/joemts">Joe Monti</a>, Executive Editor of <a href="http://www.sagapress.com/">Saga Press</a>. That was kind of incredible. Joe Monti's questions and comments were intelligent and insightful, and I believe that anyone would be fortunate to have him for an editor. However, the best part of the experience was hanging out with Q, talking about writing and books all day. Discussing ideas in person is a completely different experience than a novel critique.<br />
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Although I often critique writing for others, I don't usually give away critiques on the blog. In fact, it's probably been three or four years since the last time. But if you've written something (poetry, PB, MG, or YA) for children or teens that you'd like me to critique, put a brief description in the comments. I'll pick the description that most appeals to me. I've written everything listed in parenthesis. I've <i>sold</i> several poems to <i><a href="https://www.highlights.com/your-child-and-you/high-five">Highlights High Five</a></i> and lots of newspaper articles (mostly on assignment).<br />
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In fact, I have a poem coming out their November issue. If you'd like a copy (it's a preschool magazine), put that in your comment.<br />
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I'll choose winners of the <i>Highlights High Five</i> magazine and ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER randomly. You may enter all three giveaways if you'd like. Because of the nature of this post, I'll give a bonus entry to anyone who comments about how they found my blog. Comments must be posted before midnight (PDT) on October 20th. Also, I'm sorry, but this one isn't open internationally.<br />
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Thanks for reading!</div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-36845259938091775822014-08-05T23:04:00.000-07:002014-08-05T23:04:35.555-07:00Starting a New Project<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We took the kiddos to see "Guardians of the Galaxy" last night, and all of us loved it (though, that beginning was just rude). Quill reminded me of one of my favorite nephews, a nephew who was in trouble* with his parents a lot when he was growing up.<br />
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And today, the main character for the MG space opera that I outlined last spring started talking. Probably not a coincidence.<br />
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I outlined the first two books in the series last spring. I've just been waiting for the character's personality to show up. So, I'm going to see where this takes me. I've never written a middle grade novel before.<br />
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I'm excited about this project, though.<br />
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*I just realized that most (but not all) of the nieces and nephews who voluntarily hang out with me have had <i>interesting</i> stretches with their parents. I'm not going to analyze that one. </div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-49655494597381511902014-06-23T14:50:00.001-07:002014-06-23T14:50:27.994-07:00RED BUTTERFLY Winner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.marycronkfarrell.net/">Mary</a>, you've won a pre-order for A. L. Sonnichsen's RED BUTTERFLY! Congratulations! Please contact me with mailing information.<br />
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The book's release date is February 3, 2015.<br />
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Happy Monday!</div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-40096119891112989412014-06-16T17:52:00.000-07:002014-06-16T17:52:11.501-07:00"My Writing Process" Blog Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.motherwrite.blogspot.com/">Krista Van Dolzer</a> tagged me last week in her post, so I'm going to answer some questions about my writing process.<br />
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<b>What am I working on?</b><br />
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I'm splitting a YA fantasy in two and adding two more POV characters. There are three main characters, and I think that giving each of them a voice will eliminate inconsistencies.<br />
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<b>How does my work differ from others of its genre?</b><br />
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I haven't read any other ghost stories with sea serpents. Have you?<br />
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<b>Why do I write what I do?</b><br />
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I write different things for different reasons. I'm still revising THE BINDER'S WEB because I want to understand the characters and find out what happens. Basically, I'm in love with the world and the characters. If I could visit, I totally would. But I'd want to schedule that visit before or after the events I'm writing about take place.<br />
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<b>How does your writing process work?</b><br />
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I have to have a character and an idea before I start, and I always think I know how it will end. Ha! The story always comes out differently than I think it will. Characters come and go, and everybody evolves as I revise. In other words, my first draft is an unsightly thing that bears little resemblance to the finished product. I don't usually let anyone see my work until the third draft.<br />
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And maybe I shouldn't admit this in public, but I use gimmicks to get through tough drafts. The first draft of a novel I ever finished, I put up a post-it note every 1,000 words to show how far I'd gone. I wish I'd taken a picture those post-its when I finished. For the draft I'm working on right now, I used Excel to print out a bunch of plain (painfully boring) calendars. For every hour I spend working on TBW*, I get to put a Sandra Boynton sticker on my calendar*. I <i>love</i> <a href="http://sandraboynton.com/">Sandra Boynton</a>.<br />
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This tour has been going around for long enough that a lot of people have already been there, done that. If you haven't been tagged, and would like to participate, let me know in the comments. Thanks!<br />
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* Just writing doesn't count because I write nonfiction almost every day for work.<br />
**<a href="http://www.lainitaylor.com/">Laini Taylor</a> has a sticker calendar. Only, if I remember right, she has to write 1,000 words to get a sticker. Anyway, I found the idea on her blog.</div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-33023559887785183622014-06-06T10:19:00.001-07:002014-06-06T10:27:35.241-07:00Cover Reveal and Giveaway!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm excited to share a critique partner's middle-grade debut with you today. RED BUTTERFLY releases next February. Yay! :o)<br />
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So, here's Amy's official bio:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMkny_-H81e32j00PC_qbms6BtD5EEoHM0EsPn_3m1Dt4l_mR2gjFAh66glAE6QcHbE-PwdMn76BNf9_MnMDuchsGmDgu-rhYPMQ6e4Ks57wGzH-sLkHaJ0VaLG3Cp_584qEqXlQYYsI/s1600/Amy2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMkny_-H81e32j00PC_qbms6BtD5EEoHM0EsPn_3m1Dt4l_mR2gjFAh66glAE6QcHbE-PwdMn76BNf9_MnMDuchsGmDgu-rhYPMQ6e4Ks57wGzH-sLkHaJ0VaLG3Cp_584qEqXlQYYsI/s1600/Amy2.gif" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://alsonnichsen.blogspot.com/">A.L. Sonnichsen</a> grew up in Hong Kong and then spent eight years in China as adult. She now lives on the dry side of Washington State with her dashingly handsome sidekick, five talented children, and a luxury cat. Red Butterfly is her first novel. Learn more at alsonnichsen.blogspot.com.</i><br />
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And this her debut:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2wN5wQ-cBkchSgyJ-FRuh6Yqi3LxZuyiquMWulmCVDHui7dLoNRxJXQItDOpybUI0r8ssX0g6GuFdRpeqcftuYEYJj202XdchwCkHjbISuomX0xzffFcRpht5zWDf5inCTLB6NA1lZI/s1600/Front+Cover+-+Red+Butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2wN5wQ-cBkchSgyJ-FRuh6Yqi3LxZuyiquMWulmCVDHui7dLoNRxJXQItDOpybUI0r8ssX0g6GuFdRpeqcftuYEYJj202XdchwCkHjbISuomX0xzffFcRpht5zWDf5inCTLB6NA1lZI/s1600/Front+Cover+-+Red+Butterfly.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<i>Kara never met her birth mother. Abandoned as an infant, she was taken in by an elderly American woman living in China. Now eleven, Kara spends most of her time in their apartment, wondering why she and Mama cannot leave the city of Tianjin and go live with Daddy in Montana. Mama tells Kara to be content with what she has … but what if Kara secretly wants more? </i><br />
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<i>Told in lyrical, moving verse, Kara’s story is one of a girl learning to trust her own voice, discovering that love and family are limitless, and finding the wings she needs to reach new heights. </i><br />
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Isn't that a beautiful cover? <a href="http://www.laurentlinn.com/">Laurent Linn</a> designed it, and <a href="http://www.amybates.com/">Amy June Bates</a> illustrated it, as well as the inside of the book. I can't wait to see the rest of it.<br />
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I also can't wait to see what's become of the early draft I read that already had tremendous potential. It's had quite the journey. If you want to add the book on Goodreads, you can find it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21927701-red-butterfly">here</a>. Krista Van Dolzer interviewed Laurent Linn about the love and detail that went into it <a href="http://motherwrite.blogspot.com/2014/06/an-interview-arc-giveaway-and-cover.html">here</a> (Great interview!), and she's also giving away an ARC.<br />
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I'm giving away a pre-order. If you'd like to be entered, just let me know in the comments. The contest is also open to my international readers (as long as Book Depository delivers to your address) and will end on Friday, June 20, at 11:59 p.m. PDT.<br />
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Have a great weekend!<br />
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Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-81310685187026759782014-06-02T22:29:00.001-07:002014-06-02T22:29:38.628-07:00Plot Twist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A couple of weeks, the owner of a local newspaper offered me a writing job, and I took it (assignments, and deadlines, and paychecks, oh my!). I started work last week, and so far, it's going well.<br />
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I should still have time to write fiction and poetry, especially during the summer months. Journalism is a different type of writing in that it allows little time for agonizing over word choices. I think it'll be good for me.<br />
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I still plan to teach preschool during the school year. It's only two days a week, and I love it. Teaching builds me up emotionally and mentally. I don't have time to second guess my decisions, so it's pretty much the opposite of writing novels. If I find that my new job conflicts with teaching, I'll make a decision then. But I'll definitely be teaching this fall.<br />
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Are you trying anything new this summer?</div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-19405168708450530682014-04-16T15:42:00.001-07:002014-04-16T15:42:59.608-07:00Year of the Wooden Horse*<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With roses that dwarf my fruit trees<br />
in a spring that would tear open summer,<br />
I outline stories for a wooden horse.<br />
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He gallops,<br />
heedless of my mistakes--<br />
of my need to perfect<br />
something,<br />
<i>anything.</i><br />
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Little green apples swell,<br />
ripen,<br />
but the horse will not touch them.<br />
Not yet.<br />
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*It's National Poetry Month. :o)<br />
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I've been outlining a lot for a pantser (no, Autocorrect, I am not a panther) lately. I've outlined and written synopses for two books in a MG space opera series, and I've been outlining some pretty major changes to TBW.<br />
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I've also been researching Constantinople and trying to perfect a couple of picture books.<br />
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In the world outside my head, I've been gardening, mothering, volunteering at the local fair, and teaching little kiddos to read. I love it when they put things together near the end of the year and get excited about reading.<br />
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What have you been up to this month? </div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-7232997560138965072014-03-06T22:51:00.001-08:002014-03-06T22:53:16.117-08:00Goldi Rocks Release Giveaway!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Putnam released GOLDI ROCKS AND THE THREE BEARS earlier this month, though I was lucky enough to score a galley in December. Written in limericks, by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Beth Coulton, it tells the story of the Three Bear Band's search for a soprano. I especially enjoyed the nod toward tryouts for shows like American Idol. It's a fun read.<br />
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<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780399256851_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Goldi Rocks & the Three Bears" border="0" class="product-image image img book" data-expand-image="1" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780399256851_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="302" id="rnd-286698632" itemprop="image" width="260" /></a></div>
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Corey Rosen Schwartz's THE THREE NINJA PIGS (also written in limericks) ties with Mo Willems's GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS for my favorite picture book retelling. It's hilarious.<br />
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<img alt="The Three Ninja Pigs" class="product-image image img book" data-expand-image="1" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780399255144_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="337" id="rnd-288516473" itemprop="image" width="260" /></div>
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I'm excited to read the sequel that's due to release in July, NINJA RED RIDING HOOD.<br />
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<img alt="Ninja Red Riding Hood" class="product-image image img book" data-expand-image="1" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780399163548_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="335" id="rnd-189947723" itemprop="image" width="260" /></div>
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So, to celebrate the release of GOLDI ROCKS AND THE THREE BEARS, I'm giving one of the above away. The winner may choose which picture book they'd like, but remember that NINJA RED RIDING HOOD won't ship until July. To enter, tell me which fairy tale character* intrigues you most. I'll throw in a bonus entry if you tell me why. You have until noon on March 15th (the Ides of March) to enter.<br />
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*I'm not going to be strict about this. If you want to use Mr. Darcy as your fairy tale character, that's fine by me. ;o)<br />
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Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-73004657987407351272014-02-17T16:14:00.000-08:002014-02-17T17:03:36.504-08:00Backup Plans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Earlier today I finished my twelfth draft (103,718 words) of TBW.<br />
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And I would just like to remind you to make sure you have some kind of plan in place to retrieve backup files on your computer. The Mac I'm working from is less than a year old, and I didn't realize that I needed to activate <a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US">Time Machine</a> if I wanted to be able to access older files. Lesson learned. But I lost my eleventh draft.<br />
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There are worse horror stories out there. I still had the tenth draft to work from, and my youngest arranged her Totoro figurines on my desk to cheer me up.<br />
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But make sure you have a safety net in place. If you don't mind sharing, I'd love to hear what you use. </div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-23361318392925081222013-12-06T07:58:00.000-08:002013-12-06T07:58:02.600-08:00Music and Writing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
At 103,644 words, my tenth draft of TBW is finished. Reward: my favorite chocolate and Laini Taylor's latest offering, NIGHT OF CAKE AND PUPPETS, await.<br />
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But today, I want to discuss finding inspiration in music. There are a lot of people who listen to music while they write. I am not one of those people. However, over the course of writing TBW, I'd occasionally hear a song that would remind me of a character and flood me with insight into who she was, and it was always the same character. She isn't the POV character. In fact, she started out with a minor role, but over the course of many drafts, she's become my favorite of the three main characters. <br />
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As I hadn't experienced this musical phenomena while writing any of my other stories, I'd attributed it to the character and let it go at that. Having access to music that drops me into the story has been great for revision.<br />
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But then, yesterday, I heard a song and thought, "That's HIM. He doesn't have a name yet, and I'm going to kill him off, but THAT is my character." This character had a minor role in my first draft of Nightingale (so minor that I didn't bother to name him), but now I'm excited to see how his story evolves. :o)<br />
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And now I'm curious. Does music play a role in your creative process?</div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254062323787738480.post-59870106629923280702013-11-25T15:52:00.001-08:002013-11-25T15:52:31.237-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm one picture book idea away from completing PiBoIdMo, and I'm excited to explore my new ideas with Ann Whitford Paul's WRITING PICTURE BOOKS. I've only read the first chapter (which was excellent), but I've been excited to work my way through it since reading <a href="http://www.underdown.org/writing-picture-books-review.htm">this review by Harold Underdown</a> (though maybe not <i>quite</i> as excited as I am for this week's pie and cheesecake).<br />
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May your week be delicious!</div>
Myrna Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13534358757278599925noreply@blogger.com3