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>

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