Colleen Ryckert Cook

Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:06:39 GMT

After weeks of scrounging the internet for free clips, I broke down and bought the season pass on ITunes.

*Happy sigh* Life has meaning again.

Help this guy make history and help make a better world

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:14:29 GMT

He's got my vote.

Fun with statistical analysis

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:12:43 GMT

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more graph humor and song chart memes

Editorial Anonymous answers your questions

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:29:16 GMT

head over to the ICL chat board and ask EA your burning questions. Sample of a great answer about synos (lizzy, did you see this?)

"When I look at a synopsis, it's only after I've read your sample chapters and
a) they were so promising that I want to know where this is going.
b) they were so confusing that I want to know if you know where this is going.

So a synopsis doesn't need to tell me the whole story. It needs to convey the conflict, any important themes, the MAIN plot points (ie, the big ones, not every one). And (very importantly) how the story ends. You'd be surprised how many people don't know how to end a story--or simply haven't yet. (Don't send me your WIP!). And it all needs to make logical sense, so don't leave out the details that make it make sense.

Don't send me a list of these points, either. You're a storyteller; you should be able to tell me a short story about your novel.

There are great, great examples of good and bad queries on Query Shark, and the good ones are basically the first part of a good synopsis."

Enjoy, and learn lots!

Old news, still good news

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:11:26 GMT

Go Dara Torres!! I watched you in the trials, and you rock!

Must take kids to skateboard park now. We have a good two hours before the teens show up :)

Happy birthday ECB!

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:13:48 GMT

Swing by

elizabethcbunce

and wish her another year of wonderfulness.

another tool for your writer box

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:02:28 GMT

As my struggle with show vs tell continues...

Check out 101 Best Scenes Ever Written: A Romp Through Literature for Writers and Readers Alike by Barnaby Conrad. He includes books and screenplays, compares the written scene to what appears in movies and movie adaptations, and more. Sprinkled among the excerpts and analysis are anecdotes about the writers. Enjoy!

Midweek distraction from real work

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:52:23 GMT

What does that song have in common with these eight?

“GirlShapedLoveDrug” by Gomez

“Everyday People” by Sly and the Family Stone

“Waiting for Wednesday” by Lisa Loeb

“Lurch” by Buen Chico

“Fester” by Joe Deans

“Props” by Pugslee Atomz

“You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate

“Goody Two Shoes” by Adam Ant

Come on. This one is really easy...

(Inspired by 99.7 The Boulevard's "Nine at 9" theme-based playlist.)

Family reserve

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:57:51 GMT

Next week will start and end with two family reunions, at least the way my family tends to reunite: at funerals and weddings.

Monday we will say goodbye to Roy, my Aunt Katy's husband of twenty years, a wonderful and loving man who lived to 86, survived two strokes with humor and determination, and once jumped the rails with his daughter for an afternoon ride through western Colorado. He'll be buried with full military honors, having served in the army during WWII. Cousins I haven't seen since my own dad's funeral six years ago will be there. Six years is too long to reconnect.

On the other side of the family, my cousin will marry off her daughter on Saturday. Her father, my uncle Joe, is the last surviving sibling out of seven children. A true Catholic family who procreates as best it can, it's produced more cousins than I can count. I asked my mom to join Husband and I at the reception, saying it will be great to visit with everyone whom, again, we haven't seen since Dad's funeral. Her reply: "There isn't really anyone left anymore."

My sisters and brother and I, we are laughers. We will laugh at Melissa's wedding and reception. We most likely, through tears, will laugh at Roy's funeral too (and he, I believe, will be laughing with us). But that comment, from my mom? Couldn't laugh at that.

Just a few weeks ago my sisters, brother and mom gathered our own families together for a portrait sitting. We laughed throughout it, of course, and I think it shows in the final shots. Our children are close, closer even than I once was with my own cousins so many decades ago. They spend the night at each other's houses, they consider themselves best friends.

I wonder: In thirty years, will they only see each other at funerals and weddings?

Pithy!

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:28:26 GMT

Here's a one-word meme, designed to let you avoid real responsibilities. Feel free to play along!

1. Where is your cell phone? countertop

2. Where is your significant other? work

3. Your hair? untamed

4. Your mother? flighty

5. Your father? remembered

6. Your favorite thing? laughter

7. Your dream last night? seeking

8. Your favorite drink? tea

9. Your dream? peace

10. The room you're in? chaotic

11. Your hobby? daydreaming

12. Your fear? kidnapping

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? published

14. Where were you last night? lounging

15. What you're not? rigid

16. Muffins? topped

17. One of your wish list items? bathroom

18. Where you grew up? nearby

19. The last thing you did? joked

20. What are you wearing? slippers

21. Your TV? overpriced

22. Your pets? increasing

23. Your computer? working

24. Your life? improving

25. Your mood? determined

26. Missing someone? dad

27. Your car? cliche

28. Something you're not wearing? pantyhose

29. Favorite store? book

30. Your summer? noisy

31. Like someone? Tobin

32. Your favorite color? yellow

33. When is the last time you laughed? earlier

34. Last time you cried? recently

35. Who will resend this? unsure

Judy Freaking Blume just sent me an email

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:11:51 GMT

Yes, that's right. THE Judy Freaking Blume, in my in box, thanking me for reading her books and telling me to not give up.

Holy cow. Judy Freaking Blume.

I must go wipe my eyes now.

Serenade

Sat, 31 May 2008 19:08:42 GMT

Overheard just now:

No. 2 son, singing: “Shot to the heart and you’re too late, and the monster comes, you (mumble mumble).”

No. 1 son: “No, it’s ‘Shot through the heart and you’re to blame. You give love a bad name.’”

No. 2 son: “You name love Batman?”

Agents Galore! Join JWKC for another great event!

Thu, 29 May 2008 14:31:57 GMT

Agents Day

with Juvenile Writers of Kansas City

September 20, 2008

9 am to 4:30 pm

Kansas City Public Library, 14 West 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105

Join us for Agents Day! We’ll welcome three agents to speak about the children’s book market, answer questions, and take individual appointments.

Tina Dubois Wexler, from International Creative Management, will speak on “All About Agents.” In today’s marketplace, it has become increasingly difficult to find publishing houses that accept unsolicited material; most editors will ask that you secure representation first and then submit through your agent. But is an agent right for you? And how do you get one? Or, now that you have one, what happens next?

Linda Pratt, from the Sheldon Fogelman Agency, will teach the basics of “Hopscotch: Making it Through the Course as a Children’s Book Author One Square at a Time.” You’ve landed on the first square by deciding to write for children. How do you keep your balance, avoid the lines, and keep moving forward to the next squares in your writing career? This session will address key questions that one agent asks in helping her authors create a career plan. It will touch upon writing in various genres, industry conditions, assessing one’s own goals and needs, among other things.

Jennifer DeChiara of the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency, speaks regularly to writers about writing query letters, book proposals, and picture books, and will be on hand to share her expertise.

The afternoon features two sessions: In the panel discussion “Building an Identity,” agents will discuss how writers can create a professional identity and use it as a marketing tool. And, back by popular demand, our “First Pages” critique session will let attendees have the first page of a manuscript read aloud and critiqued by the panel of agents.

Find out more about our guest agents here

Schedule:

8:30 Registration opens

9:00 Welcome

9:15 Tina Dubois Wexler

10:00 Linda Pratt

10:45 Break

11:00 Jennifer DeChiara

11:45 Follow-up questions

12:00 Lunch

1:00 “First pages” critique session

2:15 “Building an Identity” panel discussion

3:00 Meet-n-greet

4:00 Agents Day ends. Thank you for joining us!

Earlybird registration (by June 30): JWKC Member: $90. Non-member: $100.

After June 30, member cost is $100; non-member $110.

Get a registration form here. Questions? Email DianeFrook@gmail.com

American Idol

Mon, 26 May 2008 14:38:02 GMT

My husband, David Cook, has been riding the David Cook craze for the last several weeks. Thought I'd give you all a peek at my very own American Idol:

And here is his new producer:

Have a peaceful Memorial Day.

Why I adore Paul Rudd

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:08:47 GMT

Contemplating Show vs Tell

Fri, 09 May 2008 22:09:23 GMT

I confess. The words “Show, don’t tell” make me cringe. I think I’m showing, and still someone will say “too much telling.” I see what I think is telling all the time in books that I love, to the point that I now wonder if I know what "show" is.

So tell me: How do you recognize when you are telling, rather than showing? And how do you know when you've shown?

Hello Live Journal world!

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:46:57 GMT

I’ve been away only a short time but it feels longer. Spring break passed in a whirlwind, although at the time it too seemed much longer...

Fort building with Mom - my hideout for much of Spring Break

Other highlights in my world:

Regan (my laptop) and I compromised. I pretend she isn’t possessed by evil forces intent on destroying my world, and she continues to inexplicably freeze or shut down just when I need her most. OK, not much of compromise, but I’m afraid of her. She knows I hope to replace her. She’s seething.
Women’s Health magazine featured several six-word memoirs from Not Quite What I was Planning, and guess who the editors included? Yay! They created fabulous artwork for my memoir. Check out the April issue, page 94. I tell you, seeing this was even a bigger thrill than finding out I’d been chosen to be in the book. The editors read it, got it, and celebrated it. *happy sigh*
No. 1 son turned 11.

He’s growing into quite the future man.
No. 2 son built a worm farm.

Isn’t he entrepreneurial?
My wifi router died, another reason I’m not online often.
I’ve had tons and tons of freelance work, which is much needed because…
Husband and I finally bought a king-sized bed!

Picture this: A six-foot tall reverberating snorer. A six-year old sleep talker who flails. Me contorted in the middle. All three on an incredibly shrinking, eighteen-year-old double mattress. I usually awoke to numb arms and multiple aches because I couldn’t move.

No longer, my friends. I’m still stuck in the middle, but I have room to languidly move arms and legs at will. The snores seem farther away, as does the morning breath, and the dervish that is No. 2 son asleep causes nary a blip during my slumber.

Granted the oversized-- and did I mention pillow-top? -- bed in our late 1930s bungalow means we have about 32 inches on two sides of the bed and about 38 at the end for furniture and traffic flow. But who cares when we’re finally getting sleep! Well-worth dealing with Regan and no wi-fi for another several months.

On the horizon: A book launch celebration for elizabethcbunce this Friday! A writing powwow Saturday afternoon with

lizzy_lynand kidlit_kim! KU in the Final Four! The Police with Elvis Costello in May!

Must return to freelance work. The credit card statement that includes the bed and new bedding purchases arrived yesterday. Shudder. Happy Spring, all!

March Madness!

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:05:47 GMT

I've been away for a plethora of circumstances. I'll give you a little peek into my world these last eleven days:

1. My computer, henceforth to be called "Regan", taunts me each time I power up, freezing for no reason, shutting down without provocation and doing everything short of spewing split pea soup at me. I threatened her with replacement but she merely laughed in my face, knowing full well I don't have the money. Right now she's watching, waiting, storing up an electrical charge to get me...

2. We're on Day 7 of Spring Break. Today is only the second day of sunshine. The count thus far: five full-blown wrestling matches, seventeen screaming fits, three losses of computer privileges, two one-on-one basketball games with No. 1 son, four forts built with No. 2 son, and one breakdown by Dad to purchase the Transformers Movie.

3. Go Jayhawks!!

4. In others' news, my friend Deanna received an email from from Ze Frank, geek extraordinaire (insert binary solo in his honor), who asked about this painting. My friend Angie won a "Healing Through Art" award for her poem "LIttle Girl Lost."

5. That's all for now. Regan has been very patient while I posted. I don't want to wear out her good humor, as I must check my email periodically.

Happy Vernal Equinox, everyone!

Happy Birthday Heidi!

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:17:13 GMT

A cranky computer and intermittent online access has made me late to the game, but the wishes are sincere!

And now I must log off before my computer crashes -- again

I'm a best-seller!!

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:34:09 GMT

Well, me and a thousand others. Not Quite What I Was Planning made the NY Times Top-10 list. It's the closest I'll likely ever come to hitting the big time, so Whoo hoo!

Another debut book release!

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:07:10 GMT

And another good reason to get to a bookstore pronto!

Congratulations, Jody Feldman! jodyfeldman

Get out of the kitchen and soak up every second of this day!

Hark!

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:01:00 GMT

Get thee to a book store today and buy this:

by my dazzlingly talented friend Elizabeth C. Bunce.

In fact, don't stop at one! Buy them for your mom, your best friend, your cousin in Sioux City! Buy them by the truckload and revel in the glory!

And if my incessant gushing doesn't convince you, read these reviews:

http://misserinmarie.blogspot.com/2007/12/curse-dark-as-gold.html
http://sarahmillerbooks.blogspot.com/2007/08/curse-dark-as-gold-spoiler-free.html
http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=books.review&review_id=11512

Now, don't you want to read it? :)

Happy March, all!

Guilty pleasure secret #27

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:35:48 GMT

I crush on Edward Cullen

Star Wars A New Hope in 1.5 minutes

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:02:40 GMT

Commercial literature

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:27:26 GMT

I’ve been thinking all morning about HarperCollins’ new line of commercial fiction for 8 to 12 year old girls. After much pondering, I’ve come to this sort-of cohesive perspective.

When something goes against much of my values, I try to look at it from the other side. Why do the HarperCollins powers that be think this venture – books that promote specific products in order to potentially build a sort of “sponsored by” relationship – is a good idea?

OK, the first obvious choice for any venture is money. Yes, this scheme could potentially make money, lots of money, for book publishers fighting for consumer attention. More money means more flexibility to sign that wonderful new writer whose work might not have mass appeal but certainly is so stunning it needs to be out there. In an ideal world, that happens.

I do have faith there are editors out there who will continue to fight for excellent work that might not have mass appeal, and those who still recognize the diamond potential despite the more prevalent rough in new writers. Extra money could open more doors for these manuscripts. But I worry that making easy money will increasingly drive publishing decisions. It’s human nature: Take the easy path, even if it’s not necessarily the best road for the long run.

A possible second reason to pursue this product line is to build literacy. OK, I get that too. Commercially driven stories bring familiarity, or as the HC editor called it, authenticity. I’ll put aside my argument about defining it as “authenticity” for now and instead consider how such books might improve literacy.

Sure, a nonreader might pick up a book that mentions her favorite clothes, television shows, toys and so on. She might even read another. And if the planets align just so and we all hold our collective breath, perhaps she might even pick up a Paula Danzinger, or a Judy Blume, or – dare we hope it? – any one of the amazing new writers out there too.

I see the benefit. My boys devour Star Wars books. Kids like familiarity. But again, I worry about quality. Just like television, fluff rises to the top while more complex offerings that require thought or depth to fully appreciate get left at the bottom.

I struggle every day to teach my sons to think critically about the world around them and see the worth of their own opinions, mistakes, growth. It’s a battle to help them recognize the real goals of ever-prevalent advertising and marketing. I want them to value human qualities of loyalty, honesty, courage and compassion rather than appearances and material wealth.

I believe product-driven books demean everything that literature and reading stand for: independent thought, creativity, imagination. This venture promotes something that ultimately will lower the standards for what literature can and should accomplish.