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It's Thanksgiving! The blog has been neglected, and I have a lot to be thankful for, so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone :).
2011 has been a fabulous year for me--both personally and in my writing. So behold, a list of 11 amazing blessings:
2011 has been a fabulous year for me--both personally and in my writing. So behold, a list of 11 amazing blessings:
- My healthy, beautiful son was born to my husband and me in June.
- My husband was ridiculously supportive and is pretty much the best husband and father. EVER.
- I had an easy pregnancy--I actually liked being pregnant!
- I prayed every single day: for my baby, and for the delivery to be as painless as possible. And it actually was!
- My son is meeting milestones left and right--he also started sleeping through the night at 10 weeks old.
- My maternity leave was a magical time full of baby bonding and writing, reading, and editing. Probably the best 3 months of my life.
- WriteOnCon! I learned so, so much, and I received some of the best advice on my MS.
- My new critique partners, Mandie Baxter & Jamie Manning! With their help, I've become
obsessed withmore active on Twitter, which has enabled me to enter countless awesome contests and get pub tips straight from lit agents. - Working with my cousin on this blog (even though we've both been neglecting it--boo work!)
- Getting four requests so far for my MS!!
- Getting into Authoress' Baker's Dozen Auction!!
 | ||
| Happy Thanksgiving from Anson :) |
My little sister, Annie Cox, is 16, and though the term YA may describe her age, it does not define her. Annie Cox was born to be an artist. I find myself often caught between awe and jealousy. She has what I often think of as the artist trifecta: technical talent, creativity, and dedication. She carefully and constantly observes the world around her, then spends nearly all of her free time trying to interpret it through the new (or newly popular) artistic medium of "sequential art."
Via email (because sadly my sister is currently hundreds of miles away from me), I interviewed Annie about her sequential art, her current reading list, and her involvement in the blog community. Below you will find an example of her art, a picture she created for me inspired by my novel-in-progress, The Looking-Glass House.
You can find more of Annie's work at Potluck Comics, here:
"Ghosts in the Bathroom"
If you enjoy her hilarious comic, please spread the love via Facebook, Twitter, or StumbleUpon (links are provided below the comic)!
Q1: Annie, you are a “sequential artist,” right? Could you explain what that means and describe some of the pieces you are working on?
A1: Sequential art is more or less a fancy term for comics in which images are placed in a sequence in order to tell a story. Currently I’m working on illustrating a story for this year’s issue of Hallowscream, an annually released online comic with various Halloween and horror themed stories. It’s a collaboration project between writers and artists and it has the possibility of going to print if enough people contribute to its upcoming fundraiser. My main project, however, is my original comic Hack Girl. Briefly described, it’s about a sociopathic vigilante who confronts online offenders (predators, cyber bullies, etc.) in person, exposing them for what they are when not hiding behind a screen, breaking their computers to prevent anymore of their idiocy, and, depending on the severity of their crime, roughs them a little (or a lot). I only have four pages completely finished, but the first story arc is entirely plot pointed and the first issue is scripted. I have endless enthusiasm for it and tons of future concepts, but haven’t really discussed it with family since it’s weird, dark, and contains copious amount of cursing (for natural effect mind you), but I don’t think fear of family approval should hold back your writing. Kelsey often discussed her worries of writing lesbian scenes in her novel with me and I can easily say without bias that The Looking-Glass House is one of my favorite books.
Q2: Comics and graphic novels have gained a sudden position of prominence in the literary world, particularly with young adults such as yourself. When did you first become interested in graphic novels, comics, and sequential art? What is it about the medium that you enjoy?
A2: I was always excited when a superhero movie was coming out and I started reading tons of webcomics (comics published online) in middle school while occasionally making my own comics. However, I didn’t really get into reading or drawing comics seriously until around last year. It’s a medium that permits my love for writing and drawing to work together. There’s something about how images convey character’s emotions and progress the story that can’t be achieved with simply words. And yet, in that same aspect, a challenge to do so correctly is presented which always adds extra incentive to improve my work. In addition, sequential art allowed me to discover my love for dialogue, something that had always been an awkward aspect of my prose.
Q3: Do you read for inspiration, and if so, who are some of your favorite authors/artists?
Q3: Of course! As for prose, I love Alice Hoffman and am starting the Jeff Lindsay Dexter books (of which I am already in love). A couple of my favorite books are The Catcher in the Rye and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest because they both have this very natural narrative and relatable/common way of speaking that somehow still achieves eloquent writing. As for comics, I keep up with over fifty webcomics. This is no exaggeration and I won’t start on titles because I have too many favorites. Seriously, some the best comic work can be found online for free by undiscovered artists. My favorite printed comic, however, is Chew by John Layman and Rob Guillory. It’s fantastically strange in story and has a really unique art style. I also love all of Mark Millar’s (Kick-Ass) work and my favorite superhero is Mike Mignola’s Hellboy.
Q4: Do you follow any blogs or participate in any artist forums, and if so, why?
Q4: I’m mostly active on Deviantart which is a great community for artists to share their work and help each other grow and it also includes a “journal” feature which I often treat as a blog to accompany posting my work. It’s just a really good way to receive feedback, give feedback, and make connections. I also follow a lot of artists on Tumblr, a short-form blogging site, but I don’t really post any of my own work there. Sometime I’d like to start a blog just to talk about my projects and ideas. The online community has its flaws, but it’s perfect for shared interests and getting your name out there.
Q5: What comes first, the visual art or the written story?
A5: Typically it’s the written story first as I write a script for myself, but images and panel layouts are already forming as I write.
Q6: Describe your usual writing routine.
A6: I write little blurbs alongside sketches and come up with various things I want to happen during a chapter or issue. Then I connect these events by plot pointing and write a script. Because I’m writing it for my own reference, some scenes are improvised when putting the comic in final form while others are more vivid in my head so all the dialogue is written out. My prose is much more spontaneous.
Q7: You have so much talent as a writer and as an artist. What do you hope for your future?
A7: Thank you! I’m working hard in school in hopes of gaining a scholarship to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design to major in sequential art. After that I’m unsure of the specifics and I know it won’t be easy, but I want to someday be able to work in collaboration with writers and hopefully find a company willing to print my crazy stories.
8) What advice do you have for other young artists out there?
Practice, practice, and practice some more! If you’re passionate and dedicated to art, you will make it the priority of your free time. Make a habit of drawing or writing and make it fun for yourself. It’s going to difficult, but it shouldn’t be a chore. Learn what you enjoy most about art but don’t avoid what’s challenging. Real life is the best reference and at the same time I stress the importance of developing your own style. Oddly enough, this quote comes from Bruce Lee but I feel it especially applies to creating your own style, “Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own.” Drawn on!
Via email (because sadly my sister is currently hundreds of miles away from me), I interviewed Annie about her sequential art, her current reading list, and her involvement in the blog community. Below you will find an example of her art, a picture she created for me inspired by my novel-in-progress, The Looking-Glass House.
You can find more of Annie's work at Potluck Comics, here:
"Ghosts in the Bathroom"
If you enjoy her hilarious comic, please spread the love via Facebook, Twitter, or StumbleUpon (links are provided below the comic)!
Q1: Annie, you are a “sequential artist,” right? Could you explain what that means and describe some of the pieces you are working on?
A1: Sequential art is more or less a fancy term for comics in which images are placed in a sequence in order to tell a story. Currently I’m working on illustrating a story for this year’s issue of Hallowscream, an annually released online comic with various Halloween and horror themed stories. It’s a collaboration project between writers and artists and it has the possibility of going to print if enough people contribute to its upcoming fundraiser. My main project, however, is my original comic Hack Girl. Briefly described, it’s about a sociopathic vigilante who confronts online offenders (predators, cyber bullies, etc.) in person, exposing them for what they are when not hiding behind a screen, breaking their computers to prevent anymore of their idiocy, and, depending on the severity of their crime, roughs them a little (or a lot). I only have four pages completely finished, but the first story arc is entirely plot pointed and the first issue is scripted. I have endless enthusiasm for it and tons of future concepts, but haven’t really discussed it with family since it’s weird, dark, and contains copious amount of cursing (for natural effect mind you), but I don’t think fear of family approval should hold back your writing. Kelsey often discussed her worries of writing lesbian scenes in her novel with me and I can easily say without bias that The Looking-Glass House is one of my favorite books.
Q2: Comics and graphic novels have gained a sudden position of prominence in the literary world, particularly with young adults such as yourself. When did you first become interested in graphic novels, comics, and sequential art? What is it about the medium that you enjoy?
A2: I was always excited when a superhero movie was coming out and I started reading tons of webcomics (comics published online) in middle school while occasionally making my own comics. However, I didn’t really get into reading or drawing comics seriously until around last year. It’s a medium that permits my love for writing and drawing to work together. There’s something about how images convey character’s emotions and progress the story that can’t be achieved with simply words. And yet, in that same aspect, a challenge to do so correctly is presented which always adds extra incentive to improve my work. In addition, sequential art allowed me to discover my love for dialogue, something that had always been an awkward aspect of my prose.
Q3: Do you read for inspiration, and if so, who are some of your favorite authors/artists?
Q3: Of course! As for prose, I love Alice Hoffman and am starting the Jeff Lindsay Dexter books (of which I am already in love). A couple of my favorite books are The Catcher in the Rye and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest because they both have this very natural narrative and relatable/common way of speaking that somehow still achieves eloquent writing. As for comics, I keep up with over fifty webcomics. This is no exaggeration and I won’t start on titles because I have too many favorites. Seriously, some the best comic work can be found online for free by undiscovered artists. My favorite printed comic, however, is Chew by John Layman and Rob Guillory. It’s fantastically strange in story and has a really unique art style. I also love all of Mark Millar’s (Kick-Ass) work and my favorite superhero is Mike Mignola’s Hellboy.
Q4: Do you follow any blogs or participate in any artist forums, and if so, why?
Q4: I’m mostly active on Deviantart which is a great community for artists to share their work and help each other grow and it also includes a “journal” feature which I often treat as a blog to accompany posting my work. It’s just a really good way to receive feedback, give feedback, and make connections. I also follow a lot of artists on Tumblr, a short-form blogging site, but I don’t really post any of my own work there. Sometime I’d like to start a blog just to talk about my projects and ideas. The online community has its flaws, but it’s perfect for shared interests and getting your name out there.
Q5: What comes first, the visual art or the written story?
A5: Typically it’s the written story first as I write a script for myself, but images and panel layouts are already forming as I write.
Q6: Describe your usual writing routine.
A6: I write little blurbs alongside sketches and come up with various things I want to happen during a chapter or issue. Then I connect these events by plot pointing and write a script. Because I’m writing it for my own reference, some scenes are improvised when putting the comic in final form while others are more vivid in my head so all the dialogue is written out. My prose is much more spontaneous.
Q7: You have so much talent as a writer and as an artist. What do you hope for your future?
A7: Thank you! I’m working hard in school in hopes of gaining a scholarship to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design to major in sequential art. After that I’m unsure of the specifics and I know it won’t be easy, but I want to someday be able to work in collaboration with writers and hopefully find a company willing to print my crazy stories.
8) What advice do you have for other young artists out there?
Practice, practice, and practice some more! If you’re passionate and dedicated to art, you will make it the priority of your free time. Make a habit of drawing or writing and make it fun for yourself. It’s going to difficult, but it shouldn’t be a chore. Learn what you enjoy most about art but don’t avoid what’s challenging. Real life is the best reference and at the same time I stress the importance of developing your own style. Oddly enough, this quote comes from Bruce Lee but I feel it especially applies to creating your own style, “Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own.” Drawn on!
I've recently returned to my work as a therapist on the psych unit of a hospital, and I've really been missing reading/writing/blogging. I had way too much fun on maternity leave with all my time (my son's an angel and would take long naps, allowing me to write all I wanted). So I was dragging my feet a little at going back. Much to my surprise, one of my coworkers had a writing assignment for me! She's putting together a meditation book for the patients--daily readings for a whole month written by the therapists. I thought I'd share what I came up with, based on a Dr. Seuss quote someone tweeted recently.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing’s going to get better. It’s not.”
–Dr. Seuss
Sometimes when depression strikes, we have a hard time caring. About loved ones. About ourselves. About life. It’s a struggle just to get out of bed in the morning. We have to force ourselves to do everything, even the basics, like eating and showering. It seems like a black hole is constantly waiting to swallow us up. Worse, not caring about anything saps our motivation. So how do we beat it? We make changes. Small ones at first. We get up in the morning and make our beds. Maybe the next day we shower. Little by little, we fight back. We get involved—maybe through volunteer work. We start to care about others. We start to realize we’re part of a bigger picture, and we’re not alone. We talk to people—maybe a counselor. We begin to work on the things that contribute to our depression. We start to remember that we are good people. Depression doesn’t define us. But most of all, we begin to care again. About ourselves. About our life.
Thought for the day
Today I will remember that the best way to get better is to start caring about myself again.
I love Twitter. It’s THE best place to find out about
awesome new blogs, contests, get pub tips, stalk follow lit agents, and
most of all, to connect with other writers. That’s where I found out about this
massive giveaway by new blog, YA Confidential. Here are the amazing prizes:
AGENT CRITIQUES
·
A query
critique by lit agent Sarah LaPolla of
Curtis Brown LTD
·
A five-page
critique by lit agent VICKIE MOTTER of
Andrea Hurst & Assoc.
ARCS
and BOOKS
·
ARC of SHATTER
ME by Tahera Mafi
·
Arc of THE
SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater (really
excited about this one)
·
Arc of LEGEND
by Marie Lu
·
Arc of CROSSED
(MATCHED #2) by Ally Condie
·
THE
UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle
Hodkin
·
FATEFUL
by Claudia Gray
It’s super easy to enter, too. They’ve got a form link, and
all you have to do it fill it out. You can rack up additional entries just by
spreading the word (i.e. on Twitter or your own blog). Then you can check off which
prizes you’d most like to win.
Be sure and check out the new blog’s weekly posting
schedule. Basically, it’s all about the teens. Critiques, interviews,
discussions. Yay for YA!
How is it Friday already?? I know why the time is going by
so fast for me. My maternity leave ends next Thursday. Booo. (Actually, “booo”
is a little flippant. It’s more like horrible mental screaming and anguish. Not
because of my job, but because of leaving my baby. Also the serious lack of
writing time I’m going to have from now on.)
So luckily I’m
reading a great book right now to help distract me. ASCENDANT by Diana Peterfreund.
I love unicorns—even killer ones, who knew?—and I’ve been looking forward to
the sequel. I’m also lucky in that the book I’m currently reading has an
awesome first line (*too lazy to paw through my bookshelves*). Technically, it
has two first lines. Because *gasp* it has a prologue. Sort of. More like a
little blurb in the very beginning to set the mood of the story. It’s
appropriately done, though, and I don’t
really mind prologues all that much.
Prologue’s First Line:
In ancient times, royalty
hunted unicorns for sport.
This makes me think of old
medieval tapestries. When I was little, I used to read through this set of Time
Life books my parents had just for all the cool pictures of the mythological
creatures. Especially the unicorns. It had the famous tapestry in it: The Lady
and the Unicorn. And of course, it’s the perfect set up for
a book about unicorn hunters.
 |
| The Lady and the Unicorn Tapestry |
The unicorn drew its last breath.
It goes along beautifully with the prologue, right? Both
sentences are very short, but they get their point across in a powerful way. It
would draw me in right away, even if I wasn’t already all set to read the
sequel.
So what are the first lines from the books you're currently
reading and/or your WIP?
Again, I love writing contests! So, here are a few more I found on Writer's Digest. These are particularly interesting because they are genre specific. Now these are not free contests. I think the entry fee for most is $20, but the first place prizes include $1,000, a feature in Writer's Digest, $100 worth of books, and the newest Writer's Guide to your genre! Talk about incentive!
The following contests are now accepting entries. Beside the genre, I have posted the entry deadline:
Science Fiction: Sept. 15, 2011
Thriller: Sept. 15, 2011
Young Adult: Oct. 1, 2011 (I know we have many YA writers listening out there!)
Romance: Oct. 15, 2011
Crime: Oct. 22, 2011
Horror: Oct. 21, 2011 (All Hallows' Eve, of course!)
Additionally, there is a "Short Short Story" contest ending Nov. 15, 2011 with a first place prize of $3000 and a trip to the Writer's Digest Conference! And a "Poetry" contest ending on Dec. 1, 2011 with a top prize of $500 and a trip to the conference.
All contests can be found at Writer's Digest.
If you know of any other genre-specific writing contests going on, feel free to post a comment!
Write on, fellow writers!
The following contests are now accepting entries. Beside the genre, I have posted the entry deadline:
Science Fiction: Sept. 15, 2011
Thriller: Sept. 15, 2011
Young Adult: Oct. 1, 2011 (I know we have many YA writers listening out there!)
Romance: Oct. 15, 2011
Crime: Oct. 22, 2011
Horror: Oct. 21, 2011 (All Hallows' Eve, of course!)
Additionally, there is a "Short Short Story" contest ending Nov. 15, 2011 with a first place prize of $3000 and a trip to the Writer's Digest Conference! And a "Poetry" contest ending on Dec. 1, 2011 with a top prize of $500 and a trip to the conference.
All contests can be found at Writer's Digest.
If you know of any other genre-specific writing contests going on, feel free to post a comment!
Write on, fellow writers!
