How to Schmooze

Tonight was the dessert reception before my first SCBWI conference tomorrow in Fredrick, MD. I have been to a few other conferences, but not any specifically for children book writers, or even ones just for writers. So, I had a little bit of an idea of what to expect, but I was still walking into the unknown.

I was able to meet quite a few wonderful writers and illustrators and I am completely excited to see what tomorrow brings. Something I learned about myself, or relearned rather: I am a terrible schmoozer. I feel like I am telling the same stories again and again. But I suppose they are new to each person I talk with, still I definitely feel a bit like a broken record at times. What I need to work on is maybe some different questions to make me more memorable. There's the standard: Hi, where are you from, do you write or illustrate, how long have you been doing this, are you published... Before my next conference (I know there is no hope of me coming up with something by tomorrow morning...) I want to make a list of questions, even just one or two, that are a bit outside the box but still pertinent to the profession. Any ideas??

Another way I am bad at schmoozing: I forget that I made these nice business cards to hand out to everyone I meet. I keep forgetting or the conversation shifts and it becomes SUPER awkward. Hopefully, I will be better at this tomorrow. Maybe I should put my cards in a place other then my purse. Or I can ask them if they have a card. Now that's a good idea, wish I had thought of that before RIGHT NOW.

All of tomorrow's presenters were there tonight and were nice enough to strike up conversations with any of us brave enough to say hello. The only ear I was able to snag was T.A. Barron's and he was so wonderful to talk with. It is so easy to forget that they had to start at the beginning too. Their beginning was awhile back and their success has been great, but they are still incredibly relatable and a joy to talk with. So, thank you Mr. Barron for listening to this preggo's ramblings at the end of the evening. You made my night.

Can't wait until tomorrow!! Looking forward to learning much and hopefully getting a little better at my schmoozing!

Dream Writing Space

As part of a conference I am going to in a little less then two weeks, I have started participating in their blog's Conference Challenges. There will be eight when we are all finished and I am playing catch-up right now since they are already on number six! 

I finished the first four so far. Each one only takes about half an hour and it has been really fun to take the prompts and get creative!

The third challenge was to describe our dream writing space, the ideal place for us to create. The challenge was to make the reader want to go there. It didn't take me long to decided on exactly where I would like to be:

With my journal in hand, I trek down the well-worn path away from the joyful clamor of a full house. As the shouts of laughter, and sometimes tears, blend then disappear within the melody of the soft wind and sweet refrain of the forest chorus, I find the wispy limbs and strong trunk of my favorite willow. My handmade quilt sewn from everyday memories is still warm from swaying on the line in the streaming sun. On the cold stone bench, I rest my jug of sun-kissed sweet tea in a cooler of ice and let my pencil fly with abandon in hopes of capturing the words before they slip away on the breeze. 

So, tell me, do you want to slip away too? Where do you dream your ideal place is?

The conference I'm attending is the regional Society of Children Book Writers & Illustrators conference for MD/DE/WV on March 23rd. You can find the blog for the MD/DE/WV region, SCBWI here. 

The Aftermath of the Food Fight!

Thank you so much for everyone who participated in the FOOD FIGHT last week! And thank you for allowing me to participate. Definitely glad I plunged in!

I had a great time working on this story as well as all the other wonderful food fight wars. Such a fun, creative way to get some ideas flung around! I am really looking forward to reading the finished stories and I know the Politician and PT are excited to hear them!

Here is my finished Food Fight Story! I would love to hear what you think. Thanks and enjoy!

On the Way Home From Grandma's

Everyone was tired,

cranky and upset.

And from the back someone yelled,

"why aren't we home yet??"

Mom was looking frazzled,

as Dad stared at the road,

these long drives back from Grandma's

were always worse when it snowed.

SCREECH! SHWOMP! KAPOOM! and HISSSsssss?!?

The windshield went solid white!

One look at Mom and Dad

said it'd be a longer night...

First, Dad pulled out his phone

to get a tow here right away.

But, "I'm sorry dear," he murmured,

"it'll be an hour or more delay."

"WE'LL STARVE!" Moaned sis behind me

through the baby's high pitched howl.

With Mom lost in a silent stare,

Dad's face began to scowl.

"At least we have the turkey,

with the fixin's, sides and sweets!"

As these words came out my lips,

Mom's stare turned on the backseats.

It's a look I've never seen before,

that one in my Mom's eyes,

still sis and I cannot forget her smirk

as she started throwing fries!

.                
Let’s get her!” I said laughing,

.                Then unwrapped the jello slow.


.                POP – Sis ripped off a lid.


.                I flung first – But Mom ducked the blow. Jennifer Young

.                 

.                
It met the windshield with a THWACK!


.                And slid down to the dashboard.


.                Before dear Dad could catch one bit


.                It hit my magnetic chessboard.

 Julie Rowan-Zoch

.                 

.                Dad tried to steer through jello smear


.                and narrowly missed a truck.


.                KERSPLAT, sis launched her chocolate Mousse,


.                Mom gasped and prepared to chuck.
 Joanna

.                 

.                I rolled the stuffing into


.                a gooey ball of attack


.                And let it fly at Mom's head But - WHACK –

.                it bounced right back!
 
Lauri Meyers

.                 

.                That must be some tough hairspray;

.                here Mom, my juicy juice will get through

.                 that beehive SQUIRT!
 
DonnaLouise

.                 

.                But Mom was the pro,


.                She was the one who made the food,


.                KERSCHLOOP, she scooped up her pie


.                And aimed it at her brood.
 Sylvia Liu 



.                 

.                Having started the day dry,


.                now all covered in pie,

.                we the children began to cry.


.                SPUTTER! SNORT! HONK!
 
Anonymous 



.                 

.                 
Whaa, whaa, wait a minute,

.                 I'm not wasting this." I wiped the pie from my face

.                 and PLOPPED it on a plate.

.                 Then I threw a radish at my sis-BOINK.
 DonnaLouise

.                  

.                 
A radish sticking from her face,

.                 Her scowl proved I was in disgrace;

.                 I ducked, she threw turkey innards

.                 SCHLEPPED, ooh Patricia Nozell

It was then, I’m sad to say it,

that dear Dad opened the door,

with big, wide eyes in a young man stared

and got more then he did ask for.

He said, as he stood dripping,

those turkey pieces all on the snow,

“I’m here to help and pull you out.”

It was finally time to go.

Sis and I cheered in triumph

the battle had been such fun

as we squeezed out into the cold

we each felt that we had won.

Silently, we all stood

sticky and gooey from the fight

while the tow truck hooked up and pulled

our car was stuck in that snow tight!

We thanked the young man quickly

as one by one climbed in our seats.

He nodded once and winked as he turned,

“those looked like real good eats!”

The car filled up with laughter

while Dad pushed it into drive.

“And we still have some safe for dinner,”

if there is any left when we arrive!”

SMACK!

FOOD FIGHT!!

In celebration of World Read Aloud Day this week, a fellow 12X12er and blogger, Marcie Colleen, has started the Inaugural FOOD FIGHT through her blog The Write Routine. So, as part of my dive into picture books this year, I am super excited to participate.

The rules for stories:

1. Begin a story and post it on March 4th
2. Your story should have a clear setting and at least one clear character.
3. Write your story up to the moment where the food fight begins. THEN STOP.
4. Get creative!

Rules for Food Fighting Participation:

1. Add to my story (and others linked here) in the comments through March 8th.
2. Read the story and all the comments that precede yours.
3. Post your comment
1. Your comment should build on and further the existing story.
2. The story should read as written by one person from beginning to end.
3. Your comment must include at least one word of onomatopoeia that has not already been used in the story (examples: SPLAT! SQUISH!) and one piece of food thrown.
4. You can comment more then once on a story, but you may not fight with yourself. Meaning you have to wait until someone comments after you to comment again. 

Over the weekend, I'll wrap the story up here and we will have a had a wonderful week of food flinging fun!

Let's get to the main event! Have fun!!

On the Way Home From Grandma's

Everyone was tired,
cranky and upset.
And from the back someone yelled,
"why aren't we home yet??"

Mom was looking frazzled,
as Dad stared at the road,
these long drives back from Grandma's
were always worse when it snowed.

SCREECH! SHWOMP! KAPOOM! and HISSSsssss?!?
The windshield went solid white!
One look at Mom and Dad
said it'd be a longer night...

First, Dad pulled out his phone
to get a tow here right away.
But, "I'm sorry dear," he murmured,
"it'll be an hour or more delay."

"WE'LL STARVE!" Moaned sis behind me
through the baby's high pitched howl.
With Mom lost in a silent stare,
 Dad's face began to scowl.

"At least we have the turkey,
with the fixin's, sides and sweets!"
As these words came out my lips,
Mom's stare turned on the backseats.

It's a look I've never seen before,
that one in my Mom's eyes,
still sis and I cannot forget her smirk
as she started throwing fries!