BOCK POSTS

The Chapter Map.... Writing Insight

05/18/2012 09:18:00

Reading this morning about "Giving Birth To Blue," in the PW Children's Bookshelf (free newsletter!), and came across this paragraph, which about the editorial process. This is an exchange between fabulous fantasy author, Kristin Cashore, and her editor and is very telling about what editors are looking for -- from any author (bestselling or not!) and how they read manuscripts:

"...Following receipt of the letter, the editor and author spoke on the telephone. Dawson told Cashore she had started a “chapter map” for Bitterblue, a document she creates for every book she edits, which she uses to test whether a chapter is doing enough. “These are down and dirty notes for me so I can make sure each chapter has a reason to exist,” Dawson says. “I keep track of plot developments and reveals. There’s got to be a reversal or a transformation in each chapter, otherwise it’s not really a chapter..." Read entire story at www.publishersweekly.com

Truly, from the author of LIE,

a critically-acclaimed

realistic young adult novel,

(and a reader who loves

fantasy too!)

Some Truthful Advice for College Students and Recent Graduates from the Author of LIE

05/15/2012 14:14:00

This spring, I taught a terrific group of students Corporate Public Relations and Public Relations Writing, and I learned what I didn't know about what they didn't know. I learned a lot. So, here's four quick pieces of advice for the college student or new graduate:

*Learn how to write a professional business letter

*Learn how to write a professional business memo

*Learn how to write a professional business email.

This is about writing clear, concise, focused, grammatically-correct, proofed works -- based on your own ideas and insights. It's about knowing how to present oneself in writing as a professional. It's about being able to say with confidence that you know how to write and think critically about an issue.

Yes, there is a place for five-page essays and 10-page research papers. I'm a former English student and a recent MFA graduate in Creative Writing, how could I think critical papers were not important?

However, with 20 years plus of experience in Corporate America, I also know most adults will never write an essay. But they will write an one-page letter, a memo or email.

Our fast-moving, 21st century society is about making the complicated less complicated -- and that often means being able to summarize and distill ideas into shorter works, especially for professional organizations. Those "shorter works" are often letters, memos or emails. Learn how to write them well and you will go far.

I promised four pieces of advice:

*Learn basic business interaction -i.e. how to stand up straight, look someone in the eye, have a solid handshake- and talk in a sincere, thoughtful manner that says: I care, I want to be part of what you're part of and I plan to work hard at it today and each day that I am employed here. (Leave out these phrases: "whatever," "like," "don't know," "you know," and so many more along those lines that scream: I seem to be having trouble holding a professional conversation).

Maybe this is all old fashioned -- I mean, we have spell check and grammar check, we text vs. talk, we connect via social media, but I strongly believe that the lack of basic professional writing and oral skills is what leads so many in business to believe that young people aren't entering the workforce prepared. And we, teachers, as well as parents, should be instilling these skills.

One last thought:

A terrific website -- sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor -- on careers and career-building is www.onetoline.org.

Congratulations to the class of 2012!!

Truly, the author of LIE

Yes, a novel.

Buy and read.

Great Art Can Be Great Business

05/10/2012 16:00:00

"Even though we love publishing as an art, we very much know it's a business too. And that is we do our jobs right and get a little lucky, that great art can be great business." -- Chip Kidd, award-winning book designer.

I found this as part of a wonderful interview post on GalleyCat (a must-read publishing site for anyone interested in the intersection of business and art). It's smart. It also makes me think what makes a business -- and what destroys a business, and in doing so may destroy art too. What destroys? Free destroys. Free downloads for example, especially if they are illegally obtained. But even if the downloads are legal, even if the artist is giving away his or her work

( I make exception for short term promotional giveaways), I think, in the long run, this free giveaway of creative work erodes the value of all the published worked out there. If we, as writers, want to keep our business and our art vital, we need to be paid for it.

Where does this mini-rant come from? -- reading posts on various writers' sites, lamenting that they must self-publish, that no agent will represent them or editor "buy" their books that, at the end of day, few people will pay even minimum for their books, and that they must give them away for free. If you are determined to self-publish, or to published with a digital vanity press, and there is a value you put into your writing, ask your potential readers to understand that value.

I want to shout out that it is a business, one that is changing, but one that cannot survive with the word "free download" attached to it.

I like Chip Kidd's thought a lot -- great art can be great business. It's going up on the wall next to my desk.

That said, buy a copy of my debut novel -- LIE.

Truly, author of LIE.

Where the Wild Things Are ...R.I.P. Maurice Sendak....What Children's Stories Inspired You?

05/08/2012 12:17:00

Why do I picture Maurice Sendak on a private boat?

As Max, making mischief, exploring once again,

where the wild things are, the king of all wild

things? Sailing into the night?

May this transformational children's writer rest in peace.

May his stories live on and inspire future generations, as they

inspired me and so many others.

What children's story inspired you? Where the Wild Things Are ?

Truly, author of LIE.

Random Fun Note - and Hello to New Readers in the Netherlands

05/02/2012 20:00:00

I think most of the world's LEGOS are actually at my house. And to all my new readers of LIE in the Netherlands -- welcome!! I'd love to hear what you think of my debut novel. Truly, the author of LIE.

I Carry Your Heart...

05/01/2012 19:04:00

The other morning I was walking through Harlem -- on my way to teaching at The City College of New York and saw this poem by ee cummings written in chalk on the sidewalk. So I stopped to take a picture and a blind man swung into me and I said I was sorry as if I was fault. He asked where was I going and I said campus and he said I could walk with him the rest of the way, and so I did, and we talked about how walking was better than driving any day. All along I was thinking: what a strange, wonderful day so far and what does a blind man know about the thrill of driving a fast car? I started thinking of how he became blind, was he always? did he lose his sight in a car crash? was acid thrown on his eyes, turning them white, scarred, useless? Did he know I was there and bump into me on purpose? Why did he leave me with a "be safe" as if I was the blind one on the streets of Harlem? And who the hell wrote on that sidewalk: I carry your heart/I carry it in my heart. Anything strange and wonderful happening out there in cyberspace today?

Truly, author of LIE

Astrology and the Writer

04/23/2012 16:00:00

I am a skeptical believer when it comes to all things astrology. What does that mean? I read my horoscope religiously. I have even had my “chart” done -- by the insightful and thoughtful Madam Lichtenstein. But even so, I question how much is in the stars and how much is in ourselves when it comes to the creative sphere.

In trying to figure this out, this week, I interviewed Madam Lichtenstein aka Charlene Lichtenstein, author of HersScopes, now in its ninth printing with Simon and Schuster, and creator and writer of the must-read astrological blog Madame Lichtenstein’s Cosmic World at www.thestarryeye.typepad.com.

Which astrological sign is the most creative? Please make it my sign: Scorpio.

Every sign has a certain level of creativity. For example: Libra in the social sphere --creativity through beautiful things; Sagittarius --more international and cosmopolitan; Taurus – might be inspired food or food writing in particular; and with Scorpio in the area of passion and intensity. Something mysterious should inspire the Scorpion.

Okay, I’ll take that. You are disciplined and prolific with your blog, have you ever faced writer’s block? Do you have any advice?

Don’t force the writing process. Sit down and try free thinking automatic thinking. Just write anything. But of course, there are some days that are more conducive to writing than others

For me stress adds to writer’s block. Is there something that you would suggest to alleviate a writer’s stress?

Aromatherapy. Citrus. Grapefruit or orange energize and activate the brain.

Going back to your comment about days that may be more “conducive” to creativity -- as a woman there are always times of the month that are more productive creatively, but I don’t think you mean that, do you?

Not exactly -- but I believe what you are speaking about the “void of course moons.” You can be more creative during the void of the moon. What is the “void of course moons?” The moon changes signs every couple of days and at one point it will go through “tunnel” one side into the other. Those are not great times for decision making. Those times signal the strong possibility of cloudy thinking, of the propensity to focus on wrong things. But it’s a great time to focus on other things, especially in the creative fields such as writing. I have a chart of the “void of course moons” on my website.

When do you write?

With HerScopes, I found that I wrote much better in the middle of the night. I would work all night: 11 o’clock I would sit down -- and I’d write until 5 o’clock in the morning – in those moments of supreme quiet.

Speaking of night time writing, I noticed on your website that the moon as a symbol in astrology may be an important one to writers?

I always think of a T.S. Elliot line about “bleeding between two lines” when I think of the character of the writer. You have your real life and then you have your created space in the world that is of your writing – so writers naturally bleed between two lives. For example, if you are writing your memoir you are writing your life and leading it at the same time. The moon has this duality – and it could be related more closely to writers.

Do you do readings for writers? Should I get my Tarot Cards read? My chart updated?

Yes, I do it all! Tarot Readings. Charts. See my website for details.

Your astrological writing has been described as honest, insightful, but also a bit “biting” or “snarky.” Would you agree?

I hope it’s fun to read – I like to have fun with it – I even like being a little spicy too. Though people take astrology seriously, and so do I. I can be very analytical. I believe I have this kind of writing in me because I have a mixture of Scorpion and Sagittarian energy in me.

Last question: in preparation for the week ahead, what do the stars tell us?

Horoscope for the Week of April 23, 2012

Starting this week, as the Sun enters Taurus and conjuncts lucky Jupiter, the cosmos unleashes a chain of fortuitous events that are bound to have long term implications for us. Not a moment too soon! Don’t accept anything except first class. You will traveling on this particular dream for a while and will need more leg room. (reprinted from Madam Lichtenstein’s Cosmic World – for more details on your sign go to thestarryeye.typepad.com)

I wonder if it’s the right time to start a new piece? The stars seem to say so! Are the stars in your writing plans?

Truly, the author of LIE

NEVER QUIT!

04/22/2012 18:13:00

Never Quit! That's what my fortune at the Chinese restaurant said tonight. Not quite a fortune, but a command I try to live by.

I drew the right fortune cookie. This past week, I had one of those weeks -- I taught two upper level communication classes at The City College of New York; gave a speech on writing fiction for young people that is "ripped from the headlines," to 50 or so wonderful young adult librarians in Suffolk County; and wrote a daily "guest editor blog" for the inspiring websiteshe writes (check out my blog entries... from "what we talk about when we talk about Titles" to rejection letter immunity!).

In between it all, I was chief cook and bottle washer in the personal lives of an active 12-year-old (stressed from three days of state testing) and a 6-year-old (with a packed social calendar). I squeezed in some thinking (in the car) and creative writing (early in the morning) on a new idea and checked in regularly on my elderly dad (lunch time). So, I had to laugh when I got this fortune. I don't have time to even consider quitting. It's not an option. And most of all, I like my life -- it's my good fortune!!

Truly, the author of LIE.

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BOOK TITLES

04/16/2012 23:38:00

Writing is easy… just a matter of staring at blank page until your forehead bleeds-- Gene Fowler.

Gene Fowler was a screenwriter during the Golden Era of Hollywood. Today, we’d have to modify his quote to read “staring at a blank screen.” But the idea is the same. We struggle as writers. The screen stays blank. We wish for blood. Worse yet, we have no one else to commiserate with except other writers (thank goodness for she writes). We obsess. I obsessed about the title for my debut novel and even changed it after it was sold to St. Martin’s Press.

My novel was originally titled: L.I.E.

......the rest of this article can be found at www.shewrites.com -- where I am the guest editor all week!! This is an amazing website dedicated to building a community online for women writers. Check out the rest of my article on "What We Talk About When We Talk About Book Titles" at www.shewrites.com.

I will return to my poem -- "Idiot Box" -- next week!!

Truly, the author of LIE.

More poetry. Truly, from the author of LIE, the novel about the murder of an innocent young man of color. Inspired by true events.

04/11/2012 20:36:00

I love television. I worked in cable television for 20 years. However this is what my father called our T.V. -- "The Idiot Box." Even so, I'm thinking that perhaps I should name this poem something else perhaps -- "Dirty Dishes" --see why toward the end. What do you think? New section of this long, narrative poem highlighted in bold.

The Idiot Box

My father called it

the Idiot Box

like it was a nickname, or

term of endearment.

I was twelve.

He called me

Toots, a nickname,

a term of endearment.

Sometimes,

Ignoramus.

T.V. was always the Idiot Box.

The Idiot Box:

knobs, broken off,

a pair of pliers plucked the channels.

The Idiot Box:

black and white,

rabbit ears,

sculpted wire coat hangers

caught the signals.

The Idiot Box:

a Buddha on a woman’s

long dresser, my mother’s dresser,

along the wall in the living room,

bowed to a pair of plaid easy chairs,

and a burnt orange couch.

In front of The Idiot Box:

my mother

peed

through

the bottom of her wheelchair

and was taken away,

a bad puppy,

out of sight.

5, 7, 9 and 11,

the four channels of the Idiot Box.

Don’t think we were far from the City.

We were the ‘Queen of the Sound,’

45 minutes from Broadway,

home of Tom Paine, author of “Common Sense,”

a city founded by Huguenots, who fled

France and religious persecution –

New Rochelle;

an intersection of past and future,

a T.V. antennae perched precariously

on our roof because who the hell needs

more than four channels of television, anyway?

We didn’t.

We could watch, easy,

four or five hours of T.V. every day.

“The Courtship of Eddie’s Father.”

Families could be happy

with only a father
if they had a butler;

“The Brady Bunch.”

Fathers and mothers could remarry

if they had even numbers of girls and boys;

Stop! Stop! And look around:

“The Partridge Family.”

Pile us on a bus

and we could be famous, live happy,

if we could only sing.

4:30 movie Godzilla destroyed Japan

4:30 Godzilla destroyed Japan

Godzilla destroyed Japan

Godzilla destroyed

Godzilla

Life was arbitrary.

Somehow, we knew that already.

After school,

we fretted,

free, not free,

until we’d turned off the T.V.,

and raced outside to greet him,

swore our homework was done,

that we had spent the afternoon

playing in the sun.

I’d fix us supper.

He’d switch on the news.

Soon enough, he’d grunt:

What the hell is up!

I’d shut my ears.

Serve up peas.

Damn Idiot Box.

Pass the meatloaf! Eat your peas!

Children are starving overseas!

What channel are they on? We’d laugh,

flee.

Dirty dishes.

My life is a pile of

dirty dishes.

In our house, a war was always on,

Vietnam,

strewn over the evening news, or

my father’s favorite:

“World At War.”

On rainy Sunday afternoons,

he’d pull a plaid chair smack

in front of the Idiot Box.

Only he could do that.

My sister claimed his lap.

My brothers dug at his feet.

I’d climb up on the back,

flung my legs over his shoulders –

sure, we had other places to sit, the other plaid chair,

the orange couch, but nobody ventured there.

The Siege of Stalingrad,

or the Battle of Britain

unfolded on newsreel after newsreel,

the Idiot Box, suddenly wise.

This was worth seeing, he’d instruct us,

suddenly the all-knowing father.

Pay attention. Learn

Something.

We had seen it before,

but maybe this time,

Russia or Britain, or us,

would stop fighting the Nazis,

even though my father claimed

that we shall go on to the end….

we shall never surrender.

But what if they did? and what if we did?

And what if the Nazis storm New Rochelle?

And take us?

Or our father,

like our mother?

We clung to one another.

Stay tuned! More soon! Truly, the author of LIE

the critically-acclaimed young adult novel --about

the murder of an innocent young man of color--

-- from St. Martin's Press.