Children's Writers' Chat 4-24-01

<HTML>Children's Writers' Chat 4-24-01 
Guest: Donna Bray, editor at Hyperion 
 
WriterBabe: Tonight I'm delighted to welcome back one of our favorite 
guests-- 
WriterBabe: Donna Bray, editor at Hyperion. 
WriterBabe: Hi, Donna. 
MJBray: Greetings! I love this chat. 
WriterBabe: And we love you! 
MJBray: Aw shucks! GA 
WriterBabe: Well, Ms. Bray, you've stirred up a lot of excitement with your 
contest news. 
WriterBabe: So, right off the bat, I'd like you to tell us all about it. 
WriterBabe: What is it (for those who don't know)? 
WriterBabe: Why are you having it? 
WriterBabe: What are you hoping to find? GA 
MJBray: I'm so glad!! The contest is for a work of contemporary or 
historical fiction, set in the 
BOEDEN: (HJL114, please turn in your IM.) 
MJBray: US, that celebrates or relfects the diverse ethnic heritage of our 
country. Basically, 
HJL114: hjl114@aol.com 
MJBray: I wanted to find a way to make a broad appeal to writers around the 
country but in 
MJBray: a more targeted way. Since Hyperion does not accept unsolicited 
mss., I thought 
MJBray: we were missing out on a large percentage of writers who don't have 
agents for whatever 
MJBray: reason. I also wanted to target writers of all backgrounds, and get 
people thinking about 
MJBray: the broad range of possibilities when you're talking about ethnic 
heritage -- OUR ONLY MAY 
MJBray: AMELIA is a great example of a fascinating but under-written part of 
our history and culture 
MJBray: I'm hoping to find a brilliant writer (or more than one!) GA 
WriterBabe: Who will the judges be, Donna? And what is the time-frame for 
the contest? GA 
MJBray: The judges are the editors of Hyperion. In the future we may recruit 
guest judges -- authors 
MJBray: etc. The contest is from 5/1-8/31 but please obtain guidelines and 
an entry form -- alas 
MJBray: I forgot to bring one home! But Marilyn you have the info. GA 
WriterBabe: Yes, I sent it to our mailing list--where to get guidelines and 
an entry form. 
WriterBabe: If anyone hasn't received that info, you can write me and I will 
send the address. 
WriterBabe: Let's talk a bit about what makes a good novel. 
WriterBabe: What makes you want to publish one? What will you look for in 
the winning entry? GA 
MJBray: Well, I am always looking for a strong narrative voice first. I 
think I am repeating myself 
MJBray: from a long-ago chat, but I look for a narrator with whom I wouldn't 
mind spending time with 
MJBray: at the laundromat or something, that's how compelling they are. I'm 
also looking for a 
MJBray: sense of urgency in the story, which doesn't mean murder-mystery 
suspence necessarily 
WriterBabe: (Fine to repeat yourself. Good advice can never be repeated 
enough) 
MJBray: but a quality of the story that propels you through. I'm looking 
for an original approach 
MJBray: to subjects, or better yet an original subject! I'm looking for 
fully realized main 
MJBray: characters and well-sketched secondary characters. I'm looking to 
learn something and to 
MJBray: have an experience of another world. I'm sure you all have the exact 
book I'm looking 
MJBray: for! Please send it! GA 
WriterBabe: Speaking of repeating oneself, I've asked this question of every 
editor--more than once. 
WriterBabe: What makes a BAD novel? What frequent causes of rejection? GA 
MJBray: Hmmm. A flatness to the prose, unmemorable dialogue, characters who 
are cliched 
MJBray: or just boring (can I be that blunt?). In the more promising 
rejections (which I always 
MJBray: send back with an encouraging note or suggestions), there are just 
too many contra 
MJBray: dictions and unresolved issues for me to make an offer, but the 
writing is good and the 
MJBray: approach is original at least -- those books have a great spirit to 
them even if they are 
MJBray: flawed. But I would say that the great majority of the rejected 
novels just don't have 
MJBray: anything memorable about them. GA 
WriterBabe: How about too much exposition and no action? It's important to 
start with character, yes, 
WriterBabe: but compelling story also helps. 
WriterBabe: And compelling story isn't quite enough if the character isn't 
interesting. 
WriterBabe: Would you agree? GA 
MJBray: Oh, of course! Let's not forget the obvious. Character is 
paramount. 
MJBray: No matter what happens in a story the characters are key. And yes, 
you want to develop 
MJBray: those characters through action and interaction with other 
characters. That I think is one 
MJBray: of the best ways to develop character -- how do different 
personalities mix? There's no 
MJBray: better way of giving your reader info about your characters. GA 
WriterBabe: I'll never forget something a kid asked me: How do you make a 
story long enough? She 
WriterBabe: understood plot, but not sub-plot. 
WriterBabe: She could focus on her protagonist, but not other characters. 
WriterBabe: It's a tricky balancing act. 
WriterBabe: What novels do you recommend that folks read? 
WriterBabe: Which novels ahve you edited, and what do they indicate about 
your taste? GA 
MJBray: It is tricky. I think part of the key is developing and knowing all 
of the characters and 
MJBray: their concerns and relationships, and how what they do or don't do 
affects the pro 
MJBray: tagonists. A book is like a web. Oh, Marilyn, I knew you'd ask for 
recommendations! 
PHeeren: ? 
WriterBabe: Actually--someone else asked for them, too. 
WriterBabe: LOL 
WriterBabe: GA 
MJBray: Of course I can't think. But ok, I think read the works of Avi to 
see how a writer can work 
MJBray: so many different genres and get into the heads of different 
characters. Also notice that 
MJBray: the form of the narrative -- which in Avi's books is sometimes 
unusual -- always follows the 
MJBray: what the stroy requires. I'd look to the works of someone like 
Adele Griffin for amazing 
MJBray: character development. As for a writer with an incredible voice and 
original if flawed 
MJBray: work, Patrice Kindl (OWL IN LOVE). There are so many and I can't 
believe I can't name more! 
MJBray: My head is full of Louise Erdrich's latest adult novel -- talk about 
a brilliant writer. GA 
WriterBabe: You edit Adele Griffin, yes? How about Avi? GA 
MJBray: Yes. A little self-promotion, but they are the first 2 I think of 
since their books are on 
MJBray: my desk. Is that cheating? GA 
WriterBabe: Not in the least. 
MJBray: Full disclosure -- I also edit Louise. GA 
WriterBabe: I give high marks to OWL IN LOVE. Amazing book. 
WriterBabe: One last question, then I'm opening this to the audience. 
WriterBabe: What distinguishes Hyperion from other houses re: taste? GA 
MJBray: That's a tough one. I think we tend to be attracted to strong 
books, as opposed to 
MJBray: quiet books. Also our fiction list is relatively small and select, 
so we're not looking to 
MJBray: fill slots in certain categories, or publishing much midlist. We do 
publish a wide range of 
MJBray: voices, from Gretel Ehrlich, who has a very poetic voice and writes 
about nature, to 
MJBray: Sharon Flake, who writes tough contemporary African-American 
fiction, to Lois-Ann Yamanaka 
WriterBabe: (Folks, start typing ? and !) 
MJBray: who is Hawaiian and writes in this kind of electric pidgin-flavored 
prose. Also Bill 
PHeeren: ! 
Ddilcher77: ? 
MJBray: Nicholson, who writes cinematic, fast paced (but also warm and 
funny, with great character 
MJBray: development) fantasy. We publish more popular writers too, like 
Gordon Korman and 
MJBray: Dan Gutman. So there's room for a wide range of voices -- but no 
room for mediocrity!GA 
Rappaho: ? 
CMOONWRITR: ? 
WriterBabe: Thanks, Donna. 
WriterBabe: The crowd is itching to ask questions. 
WriterBabe: Pheeren, you're first. 
PHeeren: I am skeptical because most ya novels are written about taboos but 
I am not dure 
PHeeren: what my nieces would read about taboos in novels, of course, do you 
have a comment to my con 
PHeeren: cerns? 
PHeeren: ga 
MJBray: One thing I did not mention and I apologize -- the contest is 
RoxyanneY: ? 
MJBray: actually not for what is considered YA in publishing, 
MJBray: but is targeted for 8-12 year olds. But I'm not sure I understand 
MJBray: your question about YA lit and taboos. GA 
PHeeren: oops, I misunderstood you, I was referring to my nephews under age 
10 
PHeeren: ga 
PHeeren: I apologize 
PHeeren: ga 
MJBray: If you're asking if the subjects need be controversial, then 
MJBray: my answer is -- of course not! The novels don't need to be 
MJBray: tearjerkers either. I actually prefer a story with humor, even 
MJBray: if it is serious. Also I don't think a subject needs to be shocking 
or taboo in 
MJBray: order for the story to be powerful. GA 
WriterBabe: Ddil, you're next. 
Ddilcher77: So does one have to have an agent in order to get published with 
Hyperion? ga. 
MJBray: Normally, yes. Several houses have this policy for a 
MJBray: variety of reasons -- company policy on unsolicited 
MJBray: material, lack of staff to field unsolicited submissions, etc. 
MJBray: BUT the contest opesn the door to novelists without agents. 
MJBray: I think it's also a great way for a writer to start his or her 
Ddilcher77: Is this because of the large number of submissions you have? ga. 
MJBray: career with a big publicity BANG. GA 
WriterBabe: It sure is. 
Ddilcher77: Thank you. ga. 
MJBray: In our case, company policy. Also we have a small staff. GA 
WriterBabe: Rap, your turn. 
Rappaho: what makes a strong book, and what aboout picture books? 
MudderGG: ? 
MJBray: What makes a strong picture book? Well, a text that 
MJBray: suggests visuals but does not dictate them, for one. The 
MJBray: Picbook is a form like a sonnet (here I go plagiarizing myself 
MJBray: again). A picbook text has to work in a 32-page format, and 
MJBray: has to have a pace, a rhythm, that works with the content of 
MJBray: the story. It's hard to say all the things that make a good one 
Ddilcher77: ? 
CED64: ? 
MJBray: since there are so many genres within the picbook format. But 
Rappaho: and do they need agents too? 
MJBray: those are 2 general ones. GA 
MJBray: Just to reiterate -- all authors and illustrators we work with 
MJBray: at HBFC needs to be agented except for entries to the contest 
Rappaho: thank you so much. ga 
MJBray: we are sponsoring, which is only for middle-grade novels. GA 
BOEDEN: ©©©©~ 15 MINUTE WARNING ~©©©© 
WriterBabe: CMoon, you're up. 
CMOONWRITR: How do you feel about historicals for middle graders or YA? And 
do you consider 
CMOONWRITR: anything before 1970 an historical? LOL GA 
WriterRoss: ? 
MJBray: Love historical fiction for midgrade and YA. Heck, 1978 
MJBray: is history to readers today! GA 
CMOONWRITR: <thanks> 
WriterBabe: Roxy, go ahead. 
RoxyanneY: I'm hoping you'll talk a little about the role of agents adn 
editors -- 
RoxyanneY: is it possible to have the kind of career-nurturing relationship 
with my editor 
RoxyanneY: liek those of Ursula Nordstrom, or is the editor's mission these 
RoxyanneY: days more focused on finding commercially successful properties, 
RoxyanneY: leaving the career-nurturing to writing groups and agents? GA 
WriterBabe: (Great question!) 
MJBray: I absolutely think that an editor can nurture a writer's 
MJBray: career. I think that in a tough marketplace, everyone just 
MJBray: has to be more proactive -- writers, agents, publishers all 
MJBray: must take equal responsibility for a writer's career. Now that 
MJBray: the trade market is so important, and that the superstores 
MJBray: and mass market outlets are influential in a way that they weren't 
MJBray: before, and now that the Internet has made writers more 
MJBray: accessible -- we all have to be thinking strategically. Never 
MJBray: leave your career just up to your publisher, or just up to 
MJBray: your agent. You must manage your career and make sure 
MJBray: everyone is doing what can be done for you (within reason 
MJBray: of course!) GA 
BOEDEN: ©©©©~ 10 MINUTE WARNING ~©©©© 
WriterBabe: Give us an example of strategic thinking, please, Donna. GA 
MJBray: Considering the subject of the book and ways that it might 
MJBray: be positioned -- for instance, if you did a book on a particular 
breed of dog 
MJBray: and have contacts in the dog-breeding community, you 
MJBray: may have access to journalists or newsletters or groups that 
MJBray: can help promote your book to a particular market. GA 
WriterBabe: Thanks. 
WriterBabe: Mudder, your turn. 
MudderGG: Is there a page or word limit for the contest submission? GA 
MJBray: Frankly, I forget! I think it is no less than 100 pp. and no more 
than 
MJBray: 240. GA 
WriterBabe: Ddil, you're next. 
Ddilcher77: You said you are looking for cultural stories. Could this 
include a story about children 
Ddilcher77: of migrant farm workers? ga. 
MJBray: Absolutely! It could be about growing up Jewish in the 
MJBray: Bronx in the 1950s, a Chicana girl in contemporary LA, an 
MJBray: Amish family... doesn't matter to me. It's a pretty loose 
MJBray: definition so if you can justify it, I'll believe it. GA 
WriterBabe: Hey, I grew up Jewish in the Bronx in the 1950's! ;-) 
WriterBabe: Guess I can't enter the contest, though. 
WriterBabe: Pam, you're next. 
WriterRoss: Hi Donna: re: the New Voices contest: I take it you would not 
like to see characters 
MJBray: Hey, I grew up Catholic in the Bronx in the 1970s! 
WriterRoss: that are incidentally of a certain cultural background. To 
reflect and celebrate means 
WriterRoss: that the cultural background is integral to the plot and the 
conflict. Does this sound 
Ddilcher77: My mother's family were migrant farm workers in California in 
the 1020's. ga 
WriterRoss: right from your perspective? Thanks so much for opening the 
doors to Hyperion for 
MJBray: If the characters are of a certain ethnic or cultural background 
BOEDEN: ©©©©~ 5 MINUTE WARNING ~©©©© 
WriterRoss: us... and GA--- Pamela <g> 
MJBray: I would like to see this inform the story in some way. GA 
WriterRoss: I love it. Thanks. GA--- Pamela 
WriterBabe: Any final questions for Donna? 
Ddilcher77: Will this contest be available next year? 
Ddilcher77: ga. 
MJBray: If it is successful this year, then I'm hoping to make it an 
MJBray: annual event. GA 
WriterBabe: Whoohoo! 
WriterBabe: You heard it here, folks. 
Robnonair: ? 
WriterBabe: Rob, okay. 
Robnonair: Are illustrations allowed with the written word? 
Robnonair: ga 
MJBray: Hmmm. Why not? GA 
WriterBabe: We're about out of time. Any final words of wisdom for us, 
Donna? GA 
MJBray: I'd just love to see a strong representation from this community 
RoxyanneY: (So would we!) 
MJBray: in the contest. I really hope this is a big success, and I thank 
MJBray: you for your support. GA 
BOEDEN: ©~ ZERO HOUR © Time's up for tonight. ~© 
RoxyanneY: Superb workshop! I always leave here so enthused about writing. 
Thank you!!! 
CGaley: Thanks, Donna! G'night, everyone... see you next week! 
Ddilcher77: Thank you for inviting Donna. 
WriterBabe: Thank you, Donna! 
Pete n Gun: Thanks Donna! 
WriterBabe: You were fabulous, as always! 
ChloeB23: Thank you, Donna*** 
Ekbruno: night all ... 
MJBray: Thank you all again -- it was fun as always. Hope I answered your 
MJBray: questions. 
((end))</HTML>

Search This Blog

Strange Texts

Children's Writers' Chat 4-24-01

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WHAT THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA HAD TO SAY ABOUT WHAT WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE HAPPENED in 1874

Uninterruptable Power Source (UPS) FAQ

Blade Runner FAQ