Monday, January 3, 2011

Happy New Year and Some Writing Advice

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope your Christmas holidays were joyful.

I'm always excited around this time of year. It's a time of back and forth.

Time to look back at the old year while looking forward to the new. Time for a fresh start and maybe a change in direction.

Last year was my most prolific and profitable as a writer, and I'm hoping 2011 will be even more prolific. Here's a recap of what kept me busy writing in 2010:

* My essays and short stories were included in six publications, including two Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and I had one acceptance late in the year for anthology to be published this spring.

* I won a few awards--and a bit of cash.

* Dozens of my reviews and author interviews were published on Bookreporter, Kidsreads and Teenreads.

What's neat about being able to interview authors is that I get paid to ask questions of other writers and learn from them. Here's a sampling of some of my 2010 interviews:

In this Jan 2010 interview, award-winning author Kathryn Lasky talks about her writing process and the important of research.

My May 2010 interview with Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author and illustrator of the Lunch Lady series, is one of my favorites. He talks about the influence his grandparents had on him and shares the exciting information about Lunch Lady being made into a movie staring Amy Poehler.

Here's some great advice from Cynthia Lord about first drafts--"dare to be bad" and "get it done." I love her book Touch Blue. Read the entire October 2010 interview here.

If you've ever wondered how to make your characters come alive on the page, here's a tip from a November 2010 interview with bestselling and award-winning author, Walter Dean Myers.

Hope you enjoy reading the writing advice from these experts.

Wishing you all many joys and blessings and a healthy, happy, and holy 2011.

10 comments:

  1. Congrats on all the wonderful publications and prizes last year, Donna! I'm sure you'll continue onward and upward this year, too!

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  2. Very cool! Congratulations on a fantastic 2010!

    Pat
    www.critteralley.blogspot.com

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  3. Congratulations on a prolific 2010! With the momentum you have going it stands to reason that your 2011 will be a wonderful ride!

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  4. Wow! Donna, you are on a roll. Thank you for this wealth of information. You are wonderful.

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  5. Hi Becky,
    Thanks. I was surprised when I sat down and reviewed my submission spreadsheet from last year.

    Hi Pat,
    Thanks.

    Hi Lisa,
    Thanks, and I hope you are right.

    Hi Linda.
    Thanks. Back at ya, girl!

    Donna

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  6. You are an inspiration. Thank you for your generous heart.You are always sharing helpful info. God's blessings on you in 2011.

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  7. OMG! You interviewed Walter Dean Myers! Did you talk to him over the phone, or was the interview done via email? Give me some tidbits! (I'm in awe of you, Donna!)

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  8. Hi Barb,
    Thanks. Same to you.
    Donna

    Hi Sioux,
    Aw. Shucks. Don't be in awe of me.
    I'm in awe of the authors, but I try not to get too excited when I come up with questions.
    It was an e-mail interview via my editor (Tom) at Bookreporter. After I get my assignment I come up with interview questions, send them to Tom, then he forwards them to the author. I don't get to read the answers to my questions until they appear on the Bookreporter website. But still . . .

    Donna

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  9. Sweet Donna, I love your blog. You are really the inspiration. And that craft room on my blog is only my dream craft room....wishful thinking.
    Love ya, Debbie

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  10. I'm so happy for your success, Donna. Hard work + Talent = Big Bucks...that's math even I can understand!

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