Léna is also a Regional Manager for Writopia Lab whose mission is to foster joy, literacy, and critical thinking in kids and teens from all backgrounds through creative writing.

"Well, the question is, what do you want to believe? Do you want to live in a world where things are possible, or in one where they aren't?" Cin, Edges.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Companion book to EDGES


I did it. Yesterday I sent off my manuscript to my agent. I dolled her up in PDF format with chapters, titles and page breaks. Oooh. Aaahh. Am I allowed to tell you what the working title is? I don't know - I'm feeling shy. (My working title for EDGES was different, but I'll save those details for another blog!)

It's supposed to be a weight off of my shoulders so I can focus on moving, right? WRONG. I am still thinking about my characters, thinking about whether or not I got it right, whether I cut too much here, or added too much there, whether I SHOW enough character development making the arc beautiful, taking my characters on a psychological, metaphysical journey.

The husband challenged me, and you can bet the agent will too. So, I wait.

And while I wait, I am reading again, finally. I am deep into my friend Stephanie's latest book, Claude & Camille, about the life of Monet and the rise of Impressionism as an artistic movement. I keep returning to the opening quote by Monet: I had so much fire in me and so many plans. I always want the impossible. Take clear water with grass waving at the bottom. It's wonderful to look at, but to try to paint it is enough to make one insane.

So that's what is going on with me! And maybe it strikes you too, and it's not just the royal "we" who struggle with our imaginations and the yearning to express ourselves, wanting to capture certain emotions, the nuances of a situation and our character's flaws without being preachy, redundant or trite. Indeed, it is enough to make one insane.

I wish that I had the genius and discipline of Monet, but what I do have is the urge to communicate with the world through writing. And Monet's quote leads my thoughts to the young, earnest writers I work with at Writopia and Girls Write Now with their "fire" and their "plans". Has aging made me any different? I hope not!

19 comments:

  1. Congrats on turning in the manuscript! It's an awesome feeling when you can hit that send button. Of course, then there's the waiting part, and that's always difficult. It sounds like you're keeping busy, though. :)

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  2. Congrats! I can't imagine sending anything I write to anyone, let alone a publishing agent o.O

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  3. Thanks guys! And Dannie, u r funny - you put your words out there on your blog every day! That's a free-falling feeling too, right? - so great-ful for both of (youze?) support!

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  4. Congratulations! Edges isn't even out and I'm thrilled to hear its companion is on the way (that way it won't get lonely).

    I loved the quote.

    On the subject of Edges, will you have a book tour?

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  5. I do hope that EDGES won't be lonely! But I'm sure that more work lies ahead . . . As for a book tour - probably not, unless it does really well. (Hope to be meeting with publicist soon!) My friend Rebecca didn't go on a boom tour until after she won the Newbery!

    *But* I will be in your area Kristi, for a few days in August when my family and I go to Busch Gardens/ Williamsburg. Maybe we can meet up!

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  6. Way to go, Lena...you did it. You met your own deadline. It's a good thing those characters are still in your head. That way they'll stay in the readers' heads too.

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  7. Here's hoping it's a smash and a book tour is on the horizon. Even if you don't get one this time around you'll have lots of followers heading into their local indies and talking up Edges.

    Oh, Williamsburg, three centuries of fun in one place. I'm sure your family will have a great trip. I would love to meet up!

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