SIWC 2009 - the aftermath, Nanowrimo and other such writerly things =>

Okay, so due to a certain subject in school *cough Physics 11 cough* I have been unable to post as much as I wish. But I'm here now and here it goes.

The Surrey International Writer's Conference was unbelievable and once again surpassed any of my high expectations. In fact, if it's possible, it was even better than I remember it being last year. Probably because I got to go all 3 days and go Thursday afternoon for Donald Mass's "Writing the Irresistible Novel". That, along with every workshop I went to see through out the course of the conference, was brilliant! Donald Mass's master class really resonated with me more than anything though. Probably because of the point I was at in the process of writing my latest manuscript Auburn Queen. I am finished my rough first draft and I'm in the middle of making larger changes. Moving, cutting, and adding scenes and chapters mostly. When my friend Sophia and I arrived at 3:30 Thursday afternoon I was stuck. It had been a little over a year since I began Auburn Queen (I remember because it was right before SIWC 2008) and I hadn't written anything else for that long because I can only work one big project at a time. I was out of ideas and resistant to working on the ones that were staring me in the face. But after three hours listening to the genius that is Donald Mass I had a fresh perspective, a new character to save and a new character to kill, lots of questions to ask myself about my manuscript and EVEN the answers to some of those questions (gasp I know!). The conference was off to a good start. Friday was just as brilliant (although standing on stage receiving my Young Writer's Scholarship Award with Sophia was a little awkward I'm just not used to having peoples attention on me. Plus, coffee likes to spill where it's not supposed to, like all over our awards right before the ceremony. => Thanks to Lisa Rector-Mass's quick thinking it all worked out and we walked up on stage replacements in hand ). Saturday and Sunday I volunteered which turned out to be just as awesome as attending the conference itself. I still got to sit in on a couple of the key workshops I wished to see and when i wasn't in a workshop I was helping were I could and meeting people. My most surreal moment came Saturday. Robert Dugoni, one of the writers speaking at the conference, walked by and recognized me. I'd been to two of his workshops, one Friday one Saturday, and I have nothing but good things to say about them. It was kind of him to take the time to say high to someone like me, and when one of the other volunteers told him I'd placed 3rd in Lisa Rector's scholarship he even congratulated me saying he wished he'd started when he was my age. It felt great. All in all SIWC is always the highlight of my year, and every time I go I learn more in a couple of days than I could in a classroom in a year. I want to end my segment on SIWC by congratulating Sophia Ma, a close friend of mine who won the Lisa Rector scholarship for the second time in a row this year, and Lin who Sophia and I met for the first time at the conference and who placed an impressive second. Finally, thank you to KC for the link to my blog on the SIWC website:    http://www.siwc.ca/

Another little tidbit...

NANOWRIMO

This international month of novel writing begins today. It is my second year taking part but I did not make it to 50 thousand words in November 2008 so we will have to see if I do better this month. for those of you who don't know what it is nanowrimo occurs every November and  your goal is to write a 50 000 word novel (or 1667 words a day) by the time you hit midnight on November 30th. if you want more info check out this link:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/

happy writing!

To those of you looking for a writing contest...

Here's one I think you would do well to enter and the best part is it doesn't take long at all. Just enough time to throw 25 words together so do it and you could end up published in an anthology! I know I'm entering...
here's the link with all the information on rules, guidelines, winners from past years, and how to enter.

http://www.robertswartwood.com/?page_id=8

but hurry! the deadline is August 30th which is creeping up fast!

Editing is Painful

especially when u have gozze (sp?) in your mouth because you just got all four wisdom teeth out today. Nevertheless editing waits for no man it must be done. still, it hurts to see all those crossed out paragraphs and circled words. So how do you deal with the pain of having to edit? What do you tell yourselves? here's what I suggest.

*give yourself some time (the longer the better) before starting to edit once you've finished your first draft. This will create space between you and "your baby" so you can see more clearly.

* Once you've done that, especially if it is your first time seriously editing a novel, do some research so you know what to look for and what editors and agents will be looking for when/if you pitch it to them. I know it's hard to wait but space is crucial.

*get someone else (beta readers, a trusted writer pall) to read it and make suggestions. No matter how much time you give your writing before you edit you will still be very close to it. After all, you've spent a long time writing it, dedicated hours of your life. That's competely normal. Which is why you need someone with a less biast eye who can honestly look at your work and tell you what's good about it and what stinks. It hurts, but it'll be better in the end and you'll thank yourself.

*give editing the time it deserves. Don't be fooled. Editing is just as important as the writing itself. It can be the difference between another rejection or finally becoming published.

Editing can be hard, make sure you have a strong suport team going into it who will be there to support you when you need it and also give you the strengh to be ruthless in ripping you novel to shreds and piecing it back together again. Good Luck.

whirlwind blows the house down

okay not really but now that I have your attention. My 10 year old cousin arrived yesterday and he does NOT sit still. If you can get him to stay in one room for more than 5 minutes then you're doing well. We had planned to take him to an amusement park today to get all that whirly energy out but of course the clouds have decided to open up and pour their contents out on Vancouver so we won't be going anywhere today. WHAT DO WE DO! if we have to try and house him inside our house for a day there won't be any house left but what do you do with a ten year old boy if you can't take him outside? My family is out of ideas so if anyone has any let me know. He's supposed to be here for a week and it's supposed to rain almost every day! HELP!

SIWC 2009

Yes, it's almost that time again! I attended the Surry International Writer's Conference for the first time last year and found it invaluable on my way to becoming a writer. I am ecstatic to be going back again this year and for anyone who has not gone yet or isn't sure I fully encourage you to go. No matter what your age or level of experience it is an amazing conference that is well worth the money spent on it. For me, being 15 when I went last year, the whole thing was a huge learning experience. It gave me a chance to experience what it was like for people who are actually writers on a day to day basis and it made me realise that this can in fact happen. If I work hard it is not an impossible goal. It also gave me advice that has forever improved the state of my writing. It's strange, I can't believe it's almost been a year since I last went. The moment my friend and I left last year we said we wished it was time for next years already and it looks like we're finally getting our wish.

back

so it's summer and i'm back. Sorry I haven't posted on this blog in like forever but life has been much too busy. Unfortunately that ALSO means my writing has fallen by the wayside just a tad...any suggestions for how to keep yourself on track with your writing. As you can see i'm finding ANY chance to distract myself. So many distractions so little time :)

It's been quite a while and for that I appologize. I have been busy getting back to school and working on my manuscript. I'm sick today though so I have some time. I want to post here the entry that ended up getting me 5th Place in the Surry International Writers Conference 'Lisa Rector's Young Writers scholarship' so people can check it out if they want. http://www.siwc.ca/blogs/kcdyer/alison-burns-wins-lisa-rector-young-writers-scholarship-honourable-mention

I also want to post the winners entry here, she is a good friend of mine and VERY talented.

http://www.siwc.ca/blogs/kcdyer/sophia-ma-wins-lisa-rector-2008-young-writers-scholarship

Please take the time to check out her post if anything she is an incredible writer and this piece took my breath away.