Links for year-end "best" book lists

Many review sites publish year-end lists which bring books I might not have noticed to my attention. Since I live overseas and can't browse in a bookstore, I rely on word of mouth and lists like these for the books that I buy. (Books make great gifts for birthdays and holidays.)
There are so many books on these lists I want to read!

New York Times 2010 Best Illustrated Children's Books list
This list includes Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan--a great story with wonderful illustrations.

Kirkus: their complete best list.
Here is Kirkus' Fantasy and Science Fiction list. Kathi Appelt's Keeper, a memorable read, is on this list.
And here is a useful link to about 15 other categories, including picture books, graphic novels, historical, animals etc.

School Library Journal's 2010 Best Fiction and Best Picture Books. Keeper is again on this list, as well as Rita William Garcia's One Crazy Summer, both books which I enjoyed.

Also, Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Books 2010.

Fuse #8 at School Library Journal shares her favorite 100 books of the year. I've read several books on her list, including the stunning Palace Beautiful by Sarah DeFord Williams.

It is the time of year to snuggle up with a book, ideally in front of a roaring fireplace (which I don't have in my apartment, but I can imagine it), while the snow falls outside.

Frankfurt Holiday photos

I took all of these photos during the past few days in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

This is part of a window display in the Galleria on the Zeil. All the stuffed animals are moving: the bears sledding, the ducks pulling the sled, and more bears and other animals circling on the ski lift in the back left.
(The Galleria is a great department store with a wonderful bakery, a large chocolate section, a bookstore, and more.)



Downtown Frankfurt. The Römer, Frankfurt's city hall for 600 years, is behind the towering Christmas tree. The tree stands in a large square where part of the Christmas market stands.


I took this next photo in Grüneberg Park.



This is a trail I often walk on here in Frankfurt.



A cafe, open summers, in Grüneberg Park. I like the two snowmen, one standing, one fallen.



I wish the cafe was open in the winter. It would be a great place to grab a cup of hot chocolate and watch the snow fall.

Revision Process Thoughts

Recently, I have been thinking about how I approach revisions for novels and picture books. Each book is different, so each book will have different needs. Though I use some different techniques for picture books than other stories, in most ways my revision process is the same for each book.

While revising, I continually work through these three steps:

1) Sensing or detecting that either something is "off" or that something more is needed.

2) Determining what is needed in each sentence, scene, character arc, plot so #1 will be resolved.

3) Choosing the best techniques to achieve this change, while remembering the needs of the story and characters.

Revision Stages

I find that my revisions pass through several fluid stages. Always, while writing and revising I sense and feel the story. I listen to my instincts and listen to my characters.

>Early revisions (After I’ve written my exploratory draft)

This is where I ask: Who are my characters? What it this story really about? What do my characters really want?

>Mid-early revisions

This is where I experiment and figure out the best way to tell the story, including point of view, tense, and where the story truly begins. I also continue to go deeper into characters during these revisions.

>Mid-later revisions

This is where I craft the story. I examine character arcs; re-examine and adjust plot; add layers to the story; cut and add characters, scenes, chapters. I still make substantial changes at this time.

>Late revisions

This is where I fine tune everything from sentences to chapters to characters.

I might revisit an earlier revision stage after letting a manuscript sit (one of the best things for a book) or after discovering something critical that I need to alter. For example, a little over a year ago, when in some middle-early revisions with River, my YA adventure/suspense novel, I sensed/discovered what was off, chose to change the premise, which meant I deleted everything I had and rewrote a new draft, which brought me again to early revisions.

I have many approaches (essentially revision strategies and techniques) that I use as I revise which help me explore my stories. Also, I find ways to defamiliarize the story, so it feels fresh and new as I work on it.

My revision process requires a lot of rewriting and involves both analytical approaches, instinct, and struggling to find the emotional core of the story.

I wonder how much my revision process will change over time. I will likely find my process evolves as I gain experience and adjust my revision approach for each book.

VCFA Lecture

I'll give my 45 minute long graduate lecture at the January residency of Vermont College of Fine Arts. The lectures, given by faculty and graduating students, are always super high quality. So much of what I've learned during my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program, I've learned by attending the lectures.

I turn in my lecture description next week. Here it is.

“WHO AM I?”

CHARACTER ROLES AND IDENTITY

“Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle!” exclaims Alice in Wonderland. How does the writer answer the vital question of “Who am I?” when developing characters? I’ll explore how writers can use both internal and external aspects of identity on the page and in the story. I’ll also discuss roles, not stereotypical or archetypical roles, but the everyday, down to earth, nitty-gritty multiplicity of roles and look at how we use roles to influence action and plot when we craft story.

Titles discussed will include Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White, Hanging on to Max by Margaret Bechard, Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia, The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling, and of course, Alice in Wonderland.