What a week. I can't believe how fast it went, and am grateful for the new friendships made and the new things learned. This is one the best conferences I've attended and the most fun.
Alane Ferguson was definitely a daily highlight. She kept me laughing in her class, while showing how to critique manuscripts well. Learning from her was more like an osmotic-process than a bottling process, if that makes any sense. Here are a few Lanie-isms that I enjoyed walking away with:
"That is absolutely one of the unbreakable rules, except for the fact that it will be broken next week."
"My curtains are always closed, because I know there are people like me out there."
"Does he glitter? I get a lot of gratification when people glitter."
"I'm the rebel, but I'm also so compliant."
"That is brillance in action, people."
"I'm giving you the Lanie Guarentee. Editors will love this."
............ I can only hope!
I also attended break-out sessions. Here are a few words of wisdom.
"Sometimes what your characters don't say reveals more than what they do." -- Ann Dee Ellis (Everything is Fine)
Mette Harrison (The Princess and the Hound) wasn't there, but she was quoted. "Clarity first. Pretty words second."
"Does each scene move the plot forward? Does each scene deal with internal/external conflict?" -- Ann Cannon (The Loser's Guide to Life and Love)
I took a few notes during Krista Marino's address. Krista is an editor with Delacorte. She highlighted 4 books from her list and discussed why she had chosen them. They were:
The Witch's Alphabet by Caitlin Kitteridge (Feb 2010). A "steam-punk novel described by her as A Great and Terrible Beauty meets The Golden Compass, which was the original steam-punk novel.
The Owl Keeper by Christine Brodien Jones. Described as The Penderwicks, as perceived by Tim Burton.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner. Described as The Lord of the Flies meets The Hunger Games.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth, which is a love story with a zombie threat, described as 28 Days Later meets The Hand-Maids Tale.
The best part of the conference was the send-off extravaganza, in which Carol Lynch Williams and Cheri Pray Earl danced and sang and Will Terry showed the story of The Little Red Toyota. I have pictures, and as soon as I get them downloaded, I will add them here.
"The answer to all writing, to anything, is love." - Ray Bradbury
Thank you Shaunda for keeping those of us who didn't go up-to-date. I really didn't have the money and was exhausted after school let out this year. Thanks for your notes from Alain.
ReplyDeleteSheri Rad
I wish I could have been there. Thanks for sharing your fun quotes with us.
ReplyDeleteYou'll both have to go next year! It was so worth it.
ReplyDeleteAnd David Hulet made an amazing powerpoint that was funny, brilliant, and breath-taking all in one.
ReplyDeleteC'mon Shaunda! I want to be recognized too! :P
How how how did I miss that?
ReplyDelete