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Nov. 18th, 2006 09:56 pmI've got another event to prepare for before tomorrow, and I plan to put up more detailed notes about the Munich SCBWI conference, but I'm back and it was wonderful! A great friendly, professional atmosphere, I got to meet people in person who I'd only met cyberly before, and all in all it was an excellent experience. First half Markus Zuzak talked and did a workshop, and the second half was crit exchanges. I was glad to see my partner's crit of my pages and see that I've maybe finally figured out some things. In earlier drafts the voice took awhile to come out, and that elusive emotional attachment of the reader was something I wasn't quite getting. I don't know that it's perfect yet (is it ever?) but the things she spontaneously said were working for her were the exact things I'd labored over because they were weaknesses. So I'm glad to see improvement! (And of course she had plenty of other improvements for me to make--but I'm happy to listen to that kind of criticism when I know the reader gets my main points.) And finally, I have to thank my husband for watching the kids (and the kids for watching out for my husband!) so I could go. Have I mentioned how cool it is to be married to a guy who loves books and understands writing?
Like I said, I plan to put up more detailed notes when I get a chance, but it was interesting to hear Markus Zusak talk. He was a great speaker, very entertaining and humble, and his talk and workshop were useful on an educational level. I guess I was expecting a famous author talk ("Buy my book for only $14.95 on the table in the hall!"), and instead it was a cool discussion on writing. (I bought the book--but it was because I was impressed with his writing process, and wanted to read his stuff myself. Besides, it was on my to-read list before I moved, only I never got that far.) Anyway, after the conference I barely made it to my train. Once I leaped on and found a seat, I opened the new, crinkly pages and settled back. The quiet electric high-speed train pulled out of Munich Hauptbahnhof just as Liesl and her mother and the book she stole from the gravedigger pulled INTO the Munich Bahnhof in 1939, and I sped past Dachau as books burned in 1941. I'd love to stay up all night and finish, but I have commitments to take care of first. (Like sleep!) But first chance tomorrow...
Like I said, I plan to put up more detailed notes when I get a chance, but it was interesting to hear Markus Zusak talk. He was a great speaker, very entertaining and humble, and his talk and workshop were useful on an educational level. I guess I was expecting a famous author talk ("Buy my book for only $14.95 on the table in the hall!"), and instead it was a cool discussion on writing. (I bought the book--but it was because I was impressed with his writing process, and wanted to read his stuff myself. Besides, it was on my to-read list before I moved, only I never got that far.) Anyway, after the conference I barely made it to my train. Once I leaped on and found a seat, I opened the new, crinkly pages and settled back. The quiet electric high-speed train pulled out of Munich Hauptbahnhof just as Liesl and her mother and the book she stole from the gravedigger pulled INTO the Munich Bahnhof in 1939, and I sped past Dachau as books burned in 1941. I'd love to stay up all night and finish, but I have commitments to take care of first. (Like sleep!) But first chance tomorrow...
