When people learn what I do for a living, they often tell me about half-finished novels and wonderful picture-book ideas they plan to complete. So how can they put their plans into action? Check out my six tips for aspiring creators:

Get to Work
“Put your bottom in the chair and pick up your pencil.” That’s what my mother, who taught grade 1 for twenty-five years, would say to her students. She has a theory that adults are just six-year-olds in big bodies, so perhaps her simple directive can apply to us, too. How many people do you know who plan to write or illustrate a book – one day? My mother’s idea is if you “pick up your pencil” you’re more apt to do something productive with it.

Everyone needs to find his or her own creative groove, but I try to write every day, and I know illustrators who try to sketch daily – like Debbie Ohi who aims for a daily drawing, which she posts online at DebbieOhi.com. Even during a busy day, I usually have time to jot down 200 words – the minimum daily output I aim for when writing a first draft. The words don’t need to be well-written – a first-draft always needs revision. But it’s a start. And daily writing or illustrating helps to keep the creativity flowing.

Make Connections in Person
Since I most often write in the quiet of my home office, I have to make a conscious effort to commit to events that will connect me with others in the industry. But whenever I do hoist myself out of my chair and get out there, I’m inevitably glad that I did.

I’ve found that other creative people can offer invaluable support, encouragement and even mentorship. It’s also helpful to share knowledge, techniques and experiences. Even better, I set up mutual critique exchanges with other creators to determine how to revise a work-in-progress.

Publishing professionals can provide valuable insights into how the industry operates as well as trends and current issues. Ideally, these connections can lead to that first publishing contract – and many more.

Obviously, formal events like CANSCAIP meetings and conferences are a great place to make connections, as well as informal one-on-ones over coffee or at critique groups.

Make Connections Online
Social networking is your friend. YouTube is a forum to showcase your work. A website or blog is a valuable promotional tool, whether you’re published or not.

Online connections are as important as in-person ones, and they can provide numerous opportunities to connect with other creators and even publishing professionals. It’s also an opportunity to connect with your audience – the kids or teens you’re targeting as well as librarians, booksellers and others who make decisions about books for kids. In addition, publishers like authors and illustrators to have a strong online presence, even before you’re published.

My advice for making online connections is to find a balance between sharing personal experiences and professional ones. We need to market ourselves and our work, yet show a personal side, too. Avoid over-sharing, and respond to others’ posts to help make connections.

Perfect Your Craft
Mastering the craft of writing or illustrating can take a lifetime. Part of the challenge of a creative life is that every project brings new obstacles to overcome.

I periodically ask myself: What can I do to improve my craft? Maybe a course would help refine a particular technique. Maybe a conference would give insights into a particular genre. Maybe a critique group would help polish a work-in-progress.

Another option for getting feedback is CANSCAIP’s Blue Pencil Mentorship Program. It puts you in touch with a professional children’s author or illustrator (for a fee) to receive a personal critique of your work.

Go Deep
First thoughts are only a starting point. Every creative idea can be taken further, explored in more depth, mined for gems.

A common mistake of aspiring creators is to submit work to publishers before it’s ready. Considering that you typically get one shot with a publisher, make sure it’s your best work.

With that in mind, I suggest you revise, revise, revise. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Put the work away for a few days or weeks. Then try to view it with fresh eyes. What works and what doesn’t? How can it be improved?
2. Get constructive feedback from people whose opinions you trust. Evaluate their feedback to determine how you want to revise your work.
3. Revise.
4. Repeat this process until you can’t possible make any further improvements. Then repeat it one more time.

Keep at It
Once, when I was an unpublished writer, I sent an impulsive email to an author I admire – Karleen Bradford (KarleenBradford.com). Since I was feeling discouraged at the time, I was looking at her website because she had useful information for emerging writers. In my email, I asked her for advice on how to get motivated to continue writing after a rejection letter from a publisher. I never really expected an answer, but I got one quickly. Karleen wrote something like, “A writer’s greatest talent is sheer pig-headed stubbornness.” Her words helped me pick up my pencil and return to my story once again. I’ve found Karleen’s words to be true over and over again.

Sarah Raymond‘s YA novel, Signs of Martha, is a fast-paced read with a quirky cast of unique characters. In it, 16-year-old Martha Becker is a daydreaming pickle-grower with an artistic bent. When a zealous sign painter lands in Martha’s agriculturally-inclined world, she finds a dream, a mentor, and a whole lot of trouble.

I guarantee that this book will have you laughing out loud as well as worrying for Martha as she gets herself in trouble by painting opinionated signs about her neighbours and friends in her rural community. Sarah has created a stellar cast of characters with dialogue that suits them perfectly.

What I learned from Sarah is how to revise. Sarah can wonderfully re-envision a scene over and over until she finds the ideal mix of ingredients to create a masterful story. I think of Sarah when I need to ditch a troublesome scene and find the insight to completely re-imagine it in a new and exciting way.

Pat Bourke‘s novel for children ages 9 to 14, Yesterday’s Dead, is a perfectly paced historical fiction with finely crafted, likable characters. It’s about 13-year-old Meredith Hollings, who travels from small-town Port Stuart to Toronto to work as kitchen help in a doctor’s home to help support her family. She hopes to train as a teacher one day, but when Spanish Influenza invades Toronto, Meredith may have to give up that dream forever.

This compelling novel brings history alive, with realistic dialogue, believable characters, and insightful historic details about the harsh realities of the Spanish Flu epidemic in1918 Toronto. A detailed teacher’s guide is also available for Yesterday’s Dead.

What I learned from Pat is how to meticulously craft every word. While I’m busy imagining the full breadth and scope of my work-in-progress, Pat is reminding me to pay attention to details. I think of Pat when I dive into the nitty-gritty of how each sentence is constructed.

When any member of my group achieves a success – from a well-written scene to a published book – we all celebrate. Yet I’m also grateful for the behind-the-scenes look I get into how they craft their words.

I can’t wait to see what my writing group will produce next.

In Toronto, about fifty book-lovers met at Union Station at 4 pm to silently read our books and then “pay it forward” by sharing that inspiring book with a friend or a complete stranger. Why? Just to remind them that the world is an amazing place. My book was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – a fabulous book.

Thanks to Toronto organizers Nancy Runstedler, Linda Granfield and Christie Harkin!

PIF Toronto organizer Nancy Runstedler

Below are some of the participants of the Pay It Forward Toronto Flash Mob. Our hands are empty because we’ve just given away our books! Other participants included author Marthe Jocelyn, publisher Paul Kropp, author Rebecca Upjohn and many more.

Some PIF Toronto participants, including me, author Mahtab Narsimhan, illustrator Debbie Ohi, and author Cheryl Rainfield.

Zombies and other horror stories were popular with this group, as we wrote stories and poems based on the eerie photography of Gregory Crewdson. We also wrote from objects – my collection of old keys – and using my word box, as well as writing from a given sentence.

My word box

There is nothing better than an afternoon of writing games, unless it’s reading what these fine writers can produce in the Toronto Public Library’s annual magazine of teen writing and art – the Young Voices magazine.

Teens between the ages of 12 and 19 who live in Toronto are invited to submit poems, stories, rants, reviews, illustrations, and photography to this quality magazine. The submission deadline is March 31, 2012. For guidelines and how to submit, click here. To read the Young Voices 2011 Magazine, click here.

I attended to sign copies of The Yo-Yo Prophet at the Orca Publishers booth. I also I joined 34 other authors to present the book at CANSCAIP’s annual OLA book launch for Canadian children’s books.

It was great fun to meet so many enthusiastic librarians. I can chat all day with people who share my love of quality books for kids and teens.

I also learned some exciting news at the conference. Each year, the OLA Best Bets Committee selects the top Canadian picture books, fiction and non-fiction for children, and fiction for teens. I’m pleased to announce that The Yo-Yo Prophet is a 2011 OLA Best Bets Honourable Mention. For the full list of titles, click here.

To get the most out of your reading, here are a few tips:

1. Form your own opinion.
   Try to approach a book with an open mind. Although you may chose to read a particular book because of a review or word-of-mouth recommendation, try to set aside the opinions of others and determine your own opinion of how well the books works.
2. Read for pleasure.
   Don’t take notes or mark passages when you read a book for the first time. Simply enjoy the ride that the author has created. You can analyze later. With a well-written book, you’ll be compelled to experience the characters’ emotions, and all thoughts of analysis will be banished.
3. Monitor your reactions.
   After you read a book, consider how engaged you were when reading. Where was the greatest energy? Where did your interest fade? Monitoring your reactions will help you determine how well the book met it’s goal of satisfying the reader.
4. Analyze your reactions.
   Ask yourself why it works – or doesn’t. How could it be improved? You may even want to discuss the book with others, or consider the opinions expressed in reviews. How do others view the book differently?
5. Read it again.
   When a book evokes a strong reaction from you, read it more than once. On a second reading, you will likely discover aspects of the story that you didn’t notice the first time. You can also evaluate the details of the story – character,  structure, plot, dialogue, and so on.
6. Pitch the book.
   If you had to sell this book to a reader, how would you do it? Try to write a one-sentence synopsis of the story that would compel someone else to read it. Your sentence should answer the question, “What is the story?”

To register, contact Ken Sparling at 416-397-5970, or ksparling@torontopubliclibrary.ca.

After the workshop, don’t forget to submit your writing to Young Voices – the Toronto Public Library’s annual magazine of teen writing and art. Poems, stories, rants, reviews, illustrations, and photography are all accepted. The submission deadline is March 31, 2012.

For guidelines and how to submit, click here. To read the Young Voices 2011 Magazine, click here.

Interested in more workshops? Check out the upcoming Young Voices Art Workshop with illustrator and teacher Michael Brown and the Young Voices Poetry Workshop with Matthew Tierney.

“The urban characters are diverse and the relationships feel authentic. Krossing’s descriptions of bullying are powerful. Students 7th grade and up will connect with this story about finding our real family and owning our actions.”
Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Material Review Group

“Calvin is a strong young man whose resilience and growth through the book will endear him to caring readers. Recommended for middle and high school libraries.”
Tri State Young Adult Book Review Committee

“Krossing’s light, straightforward style presents the “big” issues of bullying, self-discovery and loyalty in accessible and inspiring ways. Watching Calvin cope with each of these issues invokes empathy and instruction. Her description of yo-yo tricks is exceptionally strong.”
Resource Links

Because of this trend, one of my goals when I wrote my latest novel, The Yo-Yo Prophet, was to write a book that young male readers would want to read. When I received this message from a mother of a 12-year-old, I was thrilled:

“My son LOVED The Yo-Yo Prophet and read it in record time. He even started playing with his yo-yo again and then recently made one. He highly recommends this book to his friends. It has initiated him reading every night at bedtime again and I am truly grateful for that.”
Lynn E.

I’m so glad that The Yo-Yo Prophet inspired Lynn’s son to read again, and that it encouraged him to get his friends’ hooked, too. I hope that well-written books can repeat this pattern over and over again.

Finding literature to interest young male readers can be difficult, and some of us are guilty of picking books for boys that we think they ought to read, rather than books that reflect their interests.

James Moloney says in Boys and Books: “A good book for a boy is one he wants to read.”

If you’re looking for books for a young male reader, my suggestion is to take him to a bookstore and/or library regularly so he can pick books for himself. You can also encourage him to check out www.guysread.com, a website developed by author Jon Scieszka to connect boys with books.

Happy reading!

• “East York Author Pens Fourth Book for Teens,” by Danielle Milley of the East York Mirror (November, 17, 2011)
• “Writer Has a Few Yo-Yo Tricks up Her Sleeve,” by Britney Brady-Maginley of the East York Observer (December 9, 2011)

It’s particularly meaningful to me to be recognized in the community where I live and write.

In an era where community newspapers are facing hard economic times, I’m grateful that these newspapers can showcase people, events and businesses in the local area. I particularly like how community papers make room for the “good news” stories of the day.

The obsession began slowly, with only the original version of magnetic poetry – which is a collection of tiny magnetic words, in case you don’t know. I quickly needed more, leading to an injection of Shakespearean words, as well as Romance, Art and others.

I’m not sure that magnetic poetry is really useful for writer’s block. I’ve never written a sentence using it that sparked a story or even a line in a story. But it does remind me to play with words, to treat them with irreverence, to stir them into new combinations. For me, that’s an important thing to remember.

I also love seeing what messages people who visit my home might leave behind. These days, the word board speaks of a “frantic concrete flower” and how to “balance above a metaphor” – a tricky task.

It also instructs me to “breathe rhythm,” “explore wild magic” and “embrace poetry.” As for the latter, I think I already have.

Volunteer work like this can be draining at times, and I must admit to getting volunteer fatigue as the conference approached. But the joy at connecting with so many people who share a love of creating for children quickly reminds me why I volunteer.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this day. It was a pleasure to share it with you.

Thanks to the youth librarians at the TPL for all they do. I’m glad to be a guest editor of this fine magazine.

The deadline for next year’s entries is March 31, 2012. Please help to spread the word to young Toronto artists and writers. For more information, go to the TPL’s Young Voices page.

“Karen Krossing has created a fresh and engaging story that was intricately crafted, yet easy to follow. Of particular note were the different terms and descriptions for yo-yo tricks and techniques. The explanations and descriptions of the different yo-yo skills that Calvin was adeptly practicing and mastering were done in such a way that I could easily envision what he was doing. This particular element would be especially useful for readers as evidence of effective descriptions of potentially foreign concepts. I also appreciated the realistic portrayal of high school life. As Calvin’s confidence increased and as he sought to fit within the high school hierarchy, aided in part by his successful yo-yo performances, he weaved his way in and out of difficult decisions, with some being more successfully resolved than others….

“A large component of the success of The Yo-Yo Prophet lies in its innovative plotline coupled with superior character development. The reader is privy to Calvin’s fascination and aptness with a yo-yo, adding an enhanced level of playfulness to this highly enjoyable read. Highly Recommended.”

To read the whole review, visit Canadian Materials.

Feature Author Interview

For more of my online author interviews and a participant review of my writing workshops, click here.

If you’re disappointing you didn’t win, you can read the first fifteen pages of the book below. I hope that helps.

Need a reason to run out and buy your own copy of the book? Here’s the latest review:

“Calvin is a likable character who is struggling to keep it together under the mounting stress, the relationship between Calvin and his grandmother is realistically portrayed, and the eventual resolution with Calvin’s dad feels authentic. Meanwhile, the yo-yoing scenes are surprisingly vivid and keep the action moving. Readers will root for Calvin to stand up to Rozelle and triumph in the end.”
Booklist (American Library Association)

As an author, I have a love-hate relationship with performing. Once I get to a book reading or writing workshop, I’m eager to interact with my audience. But there’s often a moment beforehand where I’m dreading it – mostly because I’m worried about how an audience will react to what I have to offer.

Managing an audience is not unlike taming wild lions. Not that I’ve ever tamed lions, but the two are linked in my mind. A performer tries to work with the audience, to control its reactions – get people to laugh at the right part and fall respectfully silent when needed. In The Yoyo Prophet, 15-year-old Calvin faces his audiences head on. He feels the joy of successful performances as well as the horror and shame of public humiliation.

Today, the effect of public humiliation and success can be multiplied a thousand-fold through online exposure. With instant fame possible through viral videos, instant defeat can be just as swift and harsh. Calvin experiences both in the novel, and finally has to find his judgments about himself from within.

Street performers, like Calvin, are a different breed, since they need to capture the attention of a mobile and possibly indifferent audience and compel them to watch as well as pay for an unsolicited performance. The inspiration for writing about a street performer grew from my love of BuskerFest, held every August on the streets of Toronto. With a spectacular stunt, a joke or original music, buskers can transform an open street into a dynamic performance space.

To check out my video book trailer for The Yo-Yo Prophet, click here. To enter a draw for a signed copy of the book, simply comment on this post, or send me an email through my website before September 20th.

Pull out a yo-yo, toss a few tricks and most people want to give it a try. There’s something compelling about manipulating a yo-yo up and down a string, never mind mastering more complicated tricks. Is it the satisfaction of achieving desired results? All I know is that when I successfully throw an around-the-world or trapeze trick, I’m thrilled – and eager to try more advanced tricks.

Modern yo-yo design and construction has changed what we can do with a yo-yo – like the new ball-bearing system that allows for unprecedented spin times. Yo-yos can sleep for minutes, rather than seconds, allowing for infinitely more complicated tricks, like Buddha’s revenge. The yo-yo has catapulted from cheap toy to high-tech wonder.

So it’s no surprise that an underground yo-yoing movement exists.  Websites such as yoyoexpert.com or yoyonation.com offer advice on which yo-yos to use for which type of tricks as well as video instruction on specific tricks. And if you thought yo-yo contests were a thing of the past, check out the World Yo-Yo Contest in Florida and the National Yo-Yo Contest in California, which includes qualifying regional contests.

Personally, I think the appeal of yo-yoing lies in the ability to coax that carefully crafted construction of plastic, aluminum and string into doing what I want it to do.

To check out my video book trailer for The Yo-Yo Prophet, click here. To enter a draw for a signed copy of the book, simply comment on this post, or send me an email through my website before September 20th.

The early reviews have been wonderful. Here’s a sample of what reviewers had to say:

“A captivating and believable portrait of a young boy coming of age.”
Kirkus Reviews

“Intimate and authentic … a clever and quiet coming-of-age story about developing confidence and doing what’s right.”
Publisher’s Weekly

“Karen Krossing really knows how to bring readers in.”
Portsmouth Teen Book Review

The beginning of a story is usually fun to write — I feel inspired and enthusiastic. But after I write the first chapters, writing can slow down and it can be hard to keep going. A novel can take so long to write that it’s sometimes hard to imagine it will ever be done.

So when I’m writing a first draft, I like to set myself targets. When writing is tough, I aim for only 200 new words a day. On good days, I can get 500 to 1500 new words, although 200 words a day becomes 73,00 words in a year — enough for a novel! It may add up slowly but there’s usually time to write 200 words on most days. It’s also easier to keep my head in the story when I write a little bit every day, rather than a lot only once or twice a week.

I don’t have to write 200 “good” words. I let them be rough and polish them the next day because it helps me get into the next 200 words.

Here’s a good quote about getting through the first draft:

“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something — anything — down on paper.”
— Anne Lamott (from Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life)

I also have an extremely supportive writing group. There are five of us who share our writing to get constructive feedback on it, and we encourage one other when writing is tough. I know authors who have writing partners to help motivate them (they meet to write together once a week ). I tend to write alone, although I find that a writing retreat with other writers brings a fresh burst of material — as well as fabulous conversation.

Basically, I do whatever works to get that first draft down. The rewriting and polishing stages will take care of the warts.