Are there any omniscient narrators anymore?

I'm popping back in from vacation to ask for book recommendations:

I'm just getting properly started on the Great High School Theater Epic. This means I have an outline and I finally know who my characters are, so I'm digging into the writing.

Voice is always the hard part, isn't it? And this one's proving trickier than most, because I have several main characters. I have a dream of writing it from an omniscient point of view, but I'm so used to writing in either first-person or third-person-limited that I'm having trouble feeling it. I need to see how it's done.

Does anyone out there have any good examples of recent (well, recent-ish--say, since 1960) teen books with an omniscient narrator? Or, at least, a shifting point of view among multiple important characters?

I know you won't let me down!

--Kathryne

Even Blogs Deserve A Vacation

Due to travel schedules and deadlines, The Longstockings blog will be on vacation for the rest of the summer. You might see the occasional post, but for the most part we'll be pretty quiet.

(Online, at least. We're never really QUIET. Certainly not in person. What? Quiet? Us? Who?)

ENJOY THE SUMMER!

*caroline hickey

Save Pennsylvania Libraries! Yet Another Call for Action!

Hello friends!

I'm here to send out another SOS for help in fighting proposed budget cuts to the libraries in the great state of Pennsylvania!

This week is the state wide Call In, and I'm asking...NO BEGGING...residents to please visit PA LIBRARIES DOT ORG for telephone numbers for their particular representatives. Please take five minutes out of your day and support this vital resource!

Thank you thank you thank you!

-=siobhan=-

Retreat! Conference! Powwow!

This past weekend SIX of the Longstockings were reunited at a terrific SCBWI conference hosted by McDaniel College. Not only were we able to mingle with writer folk, consume vats of coffee and danish, and display our wondrous PowerPoint skills, we also got to just sit around together and shoot the breeze. The reunion was sorely needed, by this Longstocking at least!

We did a group panel where we discussed the ups, downs, ins and outs of a writing group, and in particular how ours has evolved over time. We also spent some time at a very classy establishment called the Texas Roadhouse, where we acquired a glass mug shaped like a cowboy boot that is now officially our mascot. (See pic above)

Siobhan and I had dinner Friday night before the NYC girls arrived, and sorted out each other's WIP plot problems over some carafes of wine. If you haven't tried this technique, it works. It also makes it hard to have a writing date afterwards, though we tried.

Check out the Longstocking books, all together!

I have a writing date with myself (aka, babysitter for the kid) today, but after a weekend of such fun with my girls, it will be hard and lonely slogging.

*caroline hickey

Harry Potter Fans -- DVR alert!

ABC is airing a special TODAY (THURSDAY!) about J.K. Rowling and the journey of the woman "who came from 'nothing' and created all of her own success."

According to abcnews.com:
The woman who created an imaginary world for millions, J.K. Rowling, allowed cameras extraordinary access during the year before the seventh Harry Potter book was published. From the one bedroom apartment in Scotland where it all began to a hotel room where viewers watch her type the last words of the Potter saga, Rowling lets millions of fans into her world. The documentary exposes her childhood sorrows, visits the church where she and her sister worked after school as janitors, and allows people to see her now as both the queen of a magical, alternative universe and an everyday mom.


Watch "J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life" Thursday, July 16th at 8PM EST on ABC.
:-)
~Coe~

A few words about Author Signings

In Publishers Lunch today there was a link to this somewhat contradictory article about local bookstore signings and how authors can contribute to making an event go well.

The article starts out saying bookstores can't do it all themselves! Promote yourself! Do all you can! Then it says, don't step on the bookstores' toes, they know what they're doing, trust them, back off, etc! Well, as an attendee or participant in quite a few bookstore signings, my opinion is that it's all a crap shoot, even with the best, most organized stores. I'm VERY hesitant to agree to do signings because getting a crowd in when you're not a bestselling author is incredibly difficult. It usually ends up being a few family and friends, and 2 or 3 people who happen to be in the store already. Even with a big store, even with big promotion, even with much bigger authors than I.

As a children's author, I find school visits an infinitely less nerve-wracking experience. I sell more books, and the crowd is built-in.
Who's with me??

*caroline hickey

Writing Spot of the Week

Sorry I took a short break from this, but I'm back. And I bring to you an awesome new writing spot. Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Picture this: a comfy bench to sit on, sunshine on your face but not so much that you can't see your keyboard, a view of the river and the sounds of water crashing against the rocks. Amazing, right?

I'm in love with writing outside. I get my best writing done when I can take momentary breaks to people watch and reflect. A window will do, but outside and fresh air is even better.

Even though my WIP takes place in the middle of winter, during a blizzard, I'm still finding that writing in the warm weather, outside, with sunshine leads to writing happiness.

xoxo Lisa GW

It Will Reach You

Back in the fall my writing buddy Rebecca Stead lent me the ARC of her second book that was coming out this summer. It’s a terrific story, as is her first book FIRST LIGHT, and I read it in one sitting, then told her all about how much I loved it and how I was sure it was going to get lots of good attention. Turns out I’m a genius because man, is WHEN YOU REACH ME getting attention! I mean real attention. You can’t look at a blog about Newbery possibilities without seeing her book mentioned as a big contender and it got five stars. Five! You can’t get more than that. As a result of this there are all kinds of fun ads for the book on the SLJ website, a spread in their magazine and a feature in Time Out New York Kids. I think this is just the beginning too. Because the thing is, the book is so terrific it truly deserves all this attention and love. Here’s the official description:

By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner. But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper:

I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own. I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.

The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.

Sounds terrific, right? Today is its release date and I urge all of you to get your hands on a copy as soon as you can- because trust me, it’s that good!

* daphne grab *

I know it's wrong, but it feels so right

Pretty much the first thing that happens when you submit for your first MFA workshop, someone--probably a few someones--will circle all of your very descriptive dialogue tags ("he laughed," "she exclaimed," "he wondered") with the note "distracting--use SAID." And I'm told when you finally get your book accepted by a publisher, you can get the same notes from your intrepid copy editor.

Well, either no one told P.G. Wodehouse that non-said tags were a bad idea, or they did and it really ticked him off:

But I need not worry you with a detailed recital of these men's grievances; it is enough to say that they all had it in for Ferdinand, and one night, after dinner, they met in the lounge to decide what was to be done about it.

A nasty spirit was displayed by all.

"A mere lad telling me how to use my mashie!" growled the Scooper. "Smooth and unhurried my left eyeball! I get it up, don't I? Well, what more do you want?"

"I keep telling him that mine is the old, full St. Andrews swing," muttered the Whip-Cracker, between set teeth, "but he won't listen to me."

"He ought to be taken down a peg or two," hissed the Snake-Killer. It is not easy to hiss a sentence without a single "s" in it, and the fact that he succeeded in doing so shows to what a pitch of emotion the man had been goaded by Ferdinand's maddening air of superiority.

"Yes, but what can we do?" queried an octogenarian, when the last remark had been passed on to him down his ear-trumpet.

"That's the trouble," sighed the Scooper. "What can we do?" And there was a sorrowful shaking of heads.

"I know!" exclaimed the Cat-Stroker, who had not hitherto spoken.

(From The Heart of a Goof, 1926)

This is what they mean when they say "rules are made to be broken."

--Kathryne

A Working Retreat

Next weekend, six of the Longstockings will be speakers at the SCBWI's MD/DE/WV Summer Conference at McDaniel College. We'll be doing a group panel about how we run a successful workshopping group, as well as each leading our own breakout session. (If you're in the area, come by!)

Since it's pretty rare these days to get six of us in one place, we'll also be doing some shop talk (hopefully over drinks) and discussing our latest projects and pitfalls. This is the stuff writers live for! It's solitary work, people!

Even though this'll be more of a working weekend than some of our previous get-togethers (the June 2007 retreat at the B&B with the pool and barbecue comes to mind...), I plan to make sure we leave some time for Longstocking-esque fun. Stayed tuned for updates.

P.S. These pics from that famed retreat. Sigh.

*caroline hickey

Kristof Keeps Recommending

In the comments on Siobhan's Monday post, Augusta Scattergood points out that Nick Kristof has followed up on his recommendations from Sunday's column. Best quote: "And of course Pippi Longstocking books were cited frequently, and she was my hero as well."

On the whole, though, the follow-up kind of provides us with more to grumble about. Kristof compiles the recommendations that popped up again and again in the comments, and while the recommended books are all terrific, none of them were published in the last ten years.

I've heard over and over again over the last five years that we are living in a New Golden Age of Kid Lit. If that's true, shouldn't the readers and writers of the New York Times know about it? I'm starting to worry that our New Golden Age is only shining on those of us already in the know. How do we get the word out past the kidlitosphere?

--Kathryne

Nicholas Kristof's Best Children's Books

In one of Saturday's NYT Op-Ed, Nicholas Kristof waxes on the subject of summer reading. He says...

In educating myself this spring about education, I was aghast to learn that American children drop in I.Q. each summer vacation — because they aren’t in school or exercising their brains.

This is less true of middle-class students whose parents drag them off to summer classes or make them read books. But poor kids fall two months behind in reading level each summer break, and that accounts for much of the difference in learning trajectory between rich and poor students.

A mountain of research points to a central lesson: Pry your kids away from the keyboard and the television this summer, and get them reading. Let me help by offering my list of the Best Children’s Books — Ever!

Unfortunately, Kristof's list (save for the Alex Rider and Harry Potter series) weighs heavily on the classics. Anne of GG, Charlotte's Web, Tom Sawyer. I read it and wished Kristof did a little more homework, maybe presented parents some option that were not the obvious reading list choices....perhaps a book or two specifically targeting the underprivileged youth he mentioned above.

I don't know. Just sayin.

-=siobhan=-

*UPDATE - Super sleuth Kathryne mentions in the comments that a bunch of these books are out of print! Everyone get thee to the library stat. How very useful, Kristof! *grumbles*

This Summer's Reading Controversy

Update: In light of Siobhan's excellent point above, I'm going to delete the top third of my post and just leave the important bit:

Teaching definitely changed the way I recommend books. Kristoff's list may have put me off recommending together. So here's my advice to parents who want to make sure their kids have some fun reading this summer:

1. Go to the library.

2. Let your kids loose (age-appropriately, of course).
2a. Do not hover.
2b. No matter how old your child is, do not send them back to the shelves with "oh, you've already read that one--pick something else." Some of us like to re-read.
2c. Do not under any circumstances say to your child, "oh, that one's too easy/hard/popular/controversial for you--pick something else." (If your kid wants to read a book that makes you nervous, you can read it too, or even just invite them to tell you about it.)

3. You may check out the books that you loved as a child, but if the kid isn't into it, DO NOT FORCE ANYTHING.

4. Plan for some reading time after the library. Go to the park or out for ice cream, or even home to the air conditioning, and give everyone a couple of hours to read their library books.
4a. EVERYONE reads. That means if your kids are reading independently, so are you.

5. Repeat step 4 as often as possible between library visits.

6. If you're going away on vacation this year, make picking out vacation books as important a part of the process as buying swimsuits and sunscreen.

What are your tips for raising readers?

--Kathryne

24 hours

My new book takes place over the course of 24 hours and I'm feeling a little stressed about the pacing. I'm only on the first draft and I know I won't have a great sense of the whole flow until I'm done but of course I'm stressing now.

What are some good MG or YA books that take place over the course of one day? I want to study their pacing and make sure I'm on the right track.

Thanks for your help and Happy 4th of July!
xoxoxo Lisa GW