INSPIRATION...TIMES 3!

Ok, so it was roughly a week after the SIWC convention, and I was STILL running on pure adrenaline from it! I decided to put some of that energy into writing, of course, and I penned two poems I'm very proud of--one of which I think is contest-worthy for next year's SIWC contest. I have a second that I edited as per Patricia Young's suggestions, so that may be my second poetry entry.

Then I looked at the criteria for the writing for young readers challenge, and saw the 1500-word limit. 6 typed pages, eh? I started thinking about the kind of story that could be told in that small space. I started with character, then created a slightly humorous, slightly macabre situation to put her into, and then came up with a twist ending that can be interpreted two different ways. The end result, after many edits and much fine-tuning? My entry into the YA category for next year's SIWC contest! SWEET!

I don't think I'll try the nonfiction category, although I have published magazine articles and personal essays in the past. That leaves the storyteller category. I'm taking my time with that one--not rushing anything. I'm planning on reading PILES of short stories between now and then, studying pacing, setting, character, imagery, symbolism, figurative language--everything AND the kitchen sink, basically (hey, I have some good kitchen sink ideas, ok?). IF I come up with something I think can win it, I'll enter. If not, I'll chalk it up to more experience and learning for my writing obsession.

But three new pieces that I'm proud of? In a week? I LOVE SIWC! It's the energy drink for writers...

I.........won? ... I won............... I WON!

Ok, so when winners for the SIWC poetry contest were SUPPOSED to be e-mailed by the 15th, and the 17th rolled around and I STILL had no e-mail, I had gone through basically all 7 stages of grief and (sort of) moved on. THEN, I got THE e-mail. The one that said, NOT that I had won an honourable mention, but that my poem, "Silver Anniversary," had WON THE CONTEST! $1000 and publication. It accomplished two of my writing goals in one shot:

1. To win a major writing contest.
2. To be paid $1000 for a single sheet of paper.

But what I learned that was even better was:

1. Being acknowledged in front of 800 or so other writers--what a rush!
2. Having people ask me to sign their anthologies who told me how much they enjoyed my words while I was autographing their book. I mean, poets being asked for autographs? How cool is that? Tricia and Dana, you made my weekend!

THE GOOD NEWS...THE BAD NEWS...THE GOOD NEWS...

Ok, so the good news is that SIWC 2011 is finally here! The bad news is that I was so fired up about it that I woke up at 2:45 a.m. The good news is that means I have a quiet house at the moment and more time to write today. The bad news is that by the time the evening meal and awards banquet roll around, I would have been up for, oh, 16 or 17 hours? I'm not sure I'll make it to the night owl session...

I'm really excited about pitching to Kaylan Adair today. She's an editor with Candlewick Press, and they handle every kind of writing I do--picture books, chapter books, and YA novels. So the good news is, this is exactly who I need to pitch my work to; the bad news is that I only have 10 minutes, which is about enough to pitch, oh, one of my six books. I'm hoping she'll agree to see me outside of the pitch times so that I can show her all that I've been working on in the past year : Joanie Ark: Dragon Slayer, and If Volcanoes Spewed Tomatoes (picture books); The Abracadabra Amulet and Galaxy Girls: Fire and Water DO Mix! (chapter books); and One-Way Ticket and Arietta: Summer of Blades (young adult novels).

WE'RE ALMOST THERE AT SIWC...AND I'M SUPER EXCITED!

Ok, in two days, the yearly SIWC event will be GAME ON in Surrey again! I'm hyped about it for several reasons (one of which I'll blog about AFTER the first day of the conference), but I'm thrilled to have so many works I'm proud of to pitch to agents and editors: two picture books, two chapter books, and two novels. I hope I can get appointments to see the agents and editors I want to see...

I am the most prepared I've ever been for this conference this year, so I know it'll be a busy time and it will FLY by in no time. I'm hoping that agents and editors will request partial and full manuscripts and that I take that next step to seeing my books in print! I know I'm getting close...I have a few small publishers who have expressed interest in two of my earlier works, although I still don't have any contracts in hand. I'm hoping 2011 / 2012 will be my breakthrough year and I'm going to do all in my power to make that happen!

JAZZED about SIWC...

Ace Baker

ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID...

Ok, so the 15th has come and gone, and I've not had an e-mail from SIWC, so that means even though my poetry was shortlisted for their contest for the SECOND time, I've come away again with no prize.

"Pity party of one, Mr. Baker? We have a seat ready for you...it's an electric chair."

So...just a little more self-pity before I move on. My picture book, Joanie Ark: Dragon Slayer scores a 97% at PNWA this year, and still doesn't make finals. I've been shortlisted for poetry at the Vancouver Readers and Writers Festival...and won nothing. I've been shortlisted at SIWC twice now...and won nothing. It's a wee bit frustrating to come so close and still walk away empty-handed.

A small publisher has told me they're interested in my chapter book series for the end of 2012, but I still don't have any contract in hand for The Abracadabra Amulet.

A query I sent out last week to a small publisher for my contemporary YA mystery/thriller, One-Way Ticket, came back the very next day with requests from two of their editors for a full manuscript, which I promptly sent. I'm hoping for a little good news...from somewhere? For some piece of writing I've done?

That's why I'm gearing up for SIWC. I'll be pitching two novels, two chapter book series, and two picture books. I also have two new writing deadlines for novellas I'm working on for novella contests in November and December of this year. So I'm going to turn that self-pity into determination--into making sure that my writings are so compelling that they're irresistible to all who read them.

If you need me, I'll be in Dreamland for the next few months...after all, I'm back to writing! ;-)

SIWC 2011 POETRY CONTEST: I MADE THE SHORTLIST!

Ok, it's been a while since I've added to this blog, but I just received news that my poem, "Silver Anniversary," has been shortlisted in the Surrey International Writers Conference contest! Top prize is $1000 and there are also honourable mention prizes of $150. The trouble is, I have to wait until the 15th to find out if I won or placed. I try not to get myself too excited over these things (I was shortlisted in this contest once before for poetry and ended up winning nada), but it's tough. I really believe my poetry is breaking through to new levels, so it's quite hard pretending that I don't care what happens--I WANT TO WIN! Ahem, ahem. In the meantime, I'll continue what I do to earn my regular paycheck...inspire young minds...but I want to win. :-)