Author: Alexandra Alessandri

Teller of tales. 🇨🇴🇺🇸 Children's Author. Poet. Educator. Next: The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía (‘23) & Lupita's Hurricane Palomitas (‘24). Rep: Deborah Warren @EastWestLit
Blog, Writing

UCLA Writers’ Extension Certificate: DONE!

Alexandra Alessandri

I just received notification that I’ve completed my requirements for UCLA Writers’ Extension Creative Writing Certificate in fiction! I’m beyond thrilled!!! When I first found out, I did a little of this:

dancingGIF

And this

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I know it’ll feel even more real when I receive the certificate in the mail. And when I take advantage of the manuscript critique, which is part of the program. It’s been such an amazing experience. I’ve met some fabulous writers and made some great friends with whom I still keep in touch. I’ve had inspiring instructors who’ve helped me dissect my writing. I’ll forever be indebted to the faculty I’ve had for cheering me on, for pushing me, challenging me, and believing in me. I’ll continue taking classes periodically, even though I’m done, because I want to keep growing as a writer.

Hopefully some day, I’ll be one of their success stories. 🙂

 

Blog, Writing

Research is cool!

Alexandra Alessandri

Something I’ve had to do a lot for my current project is research, research, research, especially since my MC visits parts of the past in Cartagena. I’ve tapped into the skills learned during my graduate school days and realized just how much I actually enjoy researching.

Great, you say. First, revisions rock. Now, research is cool? What’s next? Working hard is fun?

Well, yeah. Just hear me out!

Now, I have the benefit that I’m Colombian, and though I’m more familiar with the cities inland (Medellin and Manizales) since that’s where I visited most often, I grew up listening to stories about the coastal cities of Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta since that’s where many Colombians go for vacation. Even now, I chat with my cousin about her visits there. It’s like us going to Disney for the weekend. But I still needed facts. My starting point was Google, where I found some awesome websites and images. Particularly, I found this Facebook group Fotos Antiguas de Cartagena. It has old pictures (and sometimes paintings) of Cartagena, some dating back to the late 1800’s. It’s been SO COOL.

I mean, look at this

Entrance

and this

Streetview circalate 1800s

The visuals are pretty darn awesome. But that’s not all. I had to learn about Colombia’s history, and more specifically, Cartagena’s. That led to some pretty neat discoveries as I placed my own family’s history (which thanks to my uncle I’ve been able to trace back to the mid-1800’s in a post independence Colombia). So there’s a personal connection, which makes this research that much more fascinating.

Then I scoured my library’s resources, and I’ve located documents from the colonization period, including those from Sir Frances Drake’s raid on and ransom of the seaport colony. I have books and articles on architecture, history, fashion, and political happenings.

What I love about this process, and what I find so “cool” is the learning aspect of this process. I’m telling a story, sure, and it’s fiction. But the basis for some of the events are real. And though it’s not quite historical fiction, the city’s history is an integral part to the story.

So yeah. Research is cool. You get to learn new things, and as vague as that statement is, it’s part of what makes this journey worth it.

 

 

Blog, Writing

SCBWI Florida Conferences

Alexandra Alessandri

I recently got back from the SCBWI Florida Mid-Year Workshops, and let me tell you, if you live in Florida and you write for kids, you’ve got to go to one of these. They’re pretty awesome.

SCBWI Florida puts together some fantabulous conferences and workshops. In January, the Annual Conference is in Miami. The theme for the next one, Jan 2014? Steampunk. How awesome is that? In June, we have the Mid-Year Workshops in Orlando. Disney. Fellow writers and editors talking and learning about writing for kids on Disney grounds? Disney. This year the workshops were held at the Disney Swan & Dolphin, a hop and a skip away from Epcot. Did I mention Disney? Seriously, can it really get any better than that?

I think I’d say I’m a veteran conference-goer. Before I started seriously writing for kids, I attended others (AWP, FIU, Sanibel Island Writer’s, and others). I’m very blessed that my employer encourages professional development, and since I teach English and writing, it’s a win-win. Every conference has been great. I’ve learned, soaked in ideas to use in my own teaching, grown in my craft and networked. And this is my plug for conferences: if you can afford them, they’re amazing opportunities to know people, to talk about books with others who get it, and to learn craft and to learn about the business side. Because in this business, we can’t fall stale. We have to keep growing regardless of whether we’re published or pre-published. 😉

Since joining SCBWI in October 2011, though, I’ve attended each of our regional conferences and workshops. Which makes this past conference my fourth. And what a difference it makes! I remember my first conference. I was shy. Nervous. Anxious. I knew no one, but I dove in and learned something new in one of the intensives: leveled readers. Then I was inspired by the workshops and the speakers and the first books panels. I saw Jessica Martinez speak and play her violin and I remember thinking: I want to be there one day (sans the violin because, well, I have no idea how to play). I did meet a couple people, and reconnected with a former colleague.

I went to the second conference a little more confident. My WIP at the time was about half-way done, and I was excited about this YA project and about the workshops. I attended a novel intensive with the fabulous lit agent Josh Adams from Adams Literary and authors Gaby Triana and Nancy Werlin, and when my first page was read during first page critiques, I nearly died when all three praised it. I hyperventilated, I’m sure, but Josh’s reaction especially gave me the confidence to keep going. I left that conference renewed and energized and ready to finish my book. It was because of this conference that I met Gaby and found my critique group, something I’m beyond thankful every single day. This conference will forever remain in my memory.

Third conference was equally awesome. My previously WIP was now completed and I had started another WIP. Not only did I get to hang out with my awesome critique group (Gaby, Danielle Joseph, and Christina Diaz Gonzalez, but I got to mingle with agents and editors and this time, I didn’t freeze up. I met the awesome Aimee Friedman, editor at Scholastic and author; Mandy Hubbard, literary agent at D4EO, author, and my former Lit Reactor instructor (love when internet world meets real world!); Michael Stearns, lit agent from Upstart Crow Literary, who critiqued my WIP. I was beyond inspired by Bruce Coville, Ellen Hopkins and Toni Buzzeo, who autographed a book for my son. Add to that the Barnyard Bookstomp dinner dance as well as agents, editors and first book panels, and it was fabulous.

This last one was also great. This time, I graduated to volunteer, and it was a wonderful experience–so much so that I hope to be more involved in future conferences! I attended the novel intensive with Brian Farrey-Latz, editor at Flux, and authors Alex Flinn, and Jordan Sonnenblick. There were lots of great exercises that pushed us beyond comfort levels, and that was awesome! Then on Saturday the Sci-Fi/Fantasy workshop with lit agent Joe Monti and author Matthew Kirby. I met new writers, and reconnected with those I’d met before. The Elixir Mixer and Silent Auction was perfect for networking and just hanging out with like-minded people. The only downside is that my fibro decided to flare-up a bit by the second day, but I got through it! I had some great critiques, too, and I loved Brian’s enthusiasm for my WIP. 🙂

I hope you see a pattern here. I’ve only listed a few of the faculty and speakers. In fact, the lineups are always great, from picture books to illustrators to middle grade and YA. SCBWI FL conferences = amazing. There’ll be a new addition on Sat, July 13: Picture Book Bootcamp at West Osceola Branch Library. For more info, go here. I have no doubt it’ll be just as informative and inspirational as the regional conference and mid-year workshop.

I’m now counting down to the Jan one because I can’t wait to meet up with old writing friends and meet new ones, and I can’t wait to see what Linda, Gaby, and the rest of the SCBWI Florida team has in store. Oh, and I totally can’t wait for the steampunk dinner dance. I’m already working on getting the perfect costume for hubby and me. Of course, I’m hoping by then, I’ll have an agent, but even if I don’t, I know I won’t be disappointed.

Blog, Writing

The art of working hard

Alexandra Alessandri

Our culture seems to have an aversion to working hard. Everywhere I turn, there’s a clamor for instant gratification. Forget sweating, forget busting our behinds. We have a dream. We have a vision. This is what we’re MEANT to do. But we don’t want to wait. We don’t want to do the dirty work. We don’t want to put in our time and effort to get there. We want it, and we want it NOW. And we want it easily.

Reminds me of a toddler cranking up towards a massive meltdown.

The thing is, the only way to get to that dream, for it to really mean something, is by working hard. By paying our dues. I was talking with a friend and former colleague, author Christine Kling, many moons ago about writing, and she said something like this: to get close to having something ready to publish, you have a million-word internship. In fact, she wrote this post about The Million Word Rule. And I believe it because, as clichéd as the saying is, it’s true that practice makes perfect (or better yet, practice makes better.)

Sometimes, I’ll hear well-meaning friends say, “Hurry up and write it!” Or family will want me to finish, but don’t understand the time I take away from them. But if I don’t sit on my behind and write, if I don’t spend the time to develop the characters and the world, to run through the steps that it takes to start and finish a draft, and then to revise it (over and over and over again) until it’s ready to send out, it won’t happen. I’ll have a half-finished story, a draft full of possibilities that’ll simply evaporate because I didn’t put in the time and effort. A book’s not going to write itself.

And on the same note, a first draft will NEVER be good enough. It can ALWAYS be better. It’s not called a shit-draft for nothing! I drill this into my students: the importance of writing multiple draft, of reading and re-reading and revising to polish their work. I take this to heart, and it’s what’s allowed me to silence my inner editor temporarily while I get the story down into that first, exploratory draft. But again, this is work. It takes time, dedication, patience, and endurance.

I haven’t reached my dream yet of being published, of sharing my writing with the world. I also don’t have an agent…yet. But I’ve seen how much I’ve grown in the past five years since I started taking writing seriously, as a career. Every class I take, every workshop and conference I attend, every critique I receive and every story I write puts me that much closer to reaching my goals. That’s what I have to do. If I want this with every cell of myself, then there’s no other option but to keep on writing, keep on trying, keep on paying my dues so that eventually, it will happen. And when it does, the prize will feel that much sweeter because I reached it with my own effort.

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Sure, there are days where it’s harder than others, days where the inner doubt creeps in and tries to take over. But that negativity is just an excuse. It’s a way of trying to take the easy way out, which I guess we’re programmed to want. So stuff a pillow in doubt’s mouth and keep going–the only way to reach that dream is by persevering! You can do it. And when you think about quitting because it’s just too hard, remember this:

“There’s only one thing that can guarantee our failure, and that’s if we quit.” – Unknown

And these:

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” – Richard Bach

“It’s when things get rough and you don’t quit that success comes.” – Unknown Quote

“Most people give up just when they’re about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot from a winning touchdown.” – Ross Perot

Keep going, keep writing (or keep doing whatever it is you need to do to succeed)!

Blog, Writing

Patience

Alexandra Alessandri

Patience /ˈpāSHəns/ Noun. “The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.”

Yeah. That.

I knew this business of querying would involve loads of patience. I wondered if I’d have what it takes to sit tight and wait.

And wait.

And keep waiting.

I thought I would be one of those people obsessively hitting refresh and over-analyzing everything. And okay, so sometimes I do slip into that mode. But I’ve been so proud of myself for patiently holding on and waiting. Without complaining. Without freaking out. Without biting my nails. I have a full out and a few unanswered queries, and I haven’t lost my wits!

The key? Keeping busy, I guess. I’m hard at work in THROUGH THE WALLED CITY. I’m enjoying being submerged into this world, with these characters. I was also swamped with closing out the semester. And I have my UCLA class work, and the beta reading I’m doing. And I’ll be prepping for the SCBWI Mid-Year Conference soon. So I’m making myself remain occupied so my mind doesn’t go down that other road, the obsessive one.

Today I’m sending out a couple more queries, and there will be more waiting. But it’s okay. I will be patient because that’s the only option!

Blog, Writing

Blogging hiatus over

Alexandra Alessandri

The semester has ended, grades were turned in, and I’m now officially, 100% off for the summer. For the first time since…well, since I began working! I mean, sure, I’ve had the last couple summers “off,” but I always taught extra online. I never had a clean break. This summer, I do.

And after the grading marathon (which I’m beginning to think will be a great prep for writing deadlines down the road…), I feel something like this:

ecstaticGIF

I’m still recovering.

But it’s good to be off. In the three days I’ve been off, I’ve worked on the UCLA class I’m taking, I’ve revised 1 chapter in WIP, met with my writing group to read said chapter, written a little and plotted the next few chapters, and spent the afternoons with my son, going to the park and enjoying the sun.

Have I mentioned that it’s good to be off?

More than anything, I’m looking forward to finally kicking this flare-up buh-bye. It’s been a challenging seven months, health-wise, and I want to put that behind me. I need a break.

Now off to write some more! Happy writing!

Writing

Writing Spaces

Alexandra Alessandri

Last week, one of my critique partners and I were discussing our writing habits. I like to write with music on, set to a playlist for that specific project. I have earphones on to drown out all other noise, and I plunge in, letting the music carry me back into my world. I also prefer writing on a table, where I can rest my arms more comfortably. Because my inflammatory arthritis affects my fingers and wrists more than other joints, a good table is a must (though when push comes to shove, I can really write anywhere–I’ve been known to lug my laptop around and work anywhere, including my doctor’s office)! I can write alone in my house or in a cafe full of people–it doesn’t matter as long as I have my music, earphones, and laptop. She, on the other hand, can’t write to music, prefers writing in a big, comfy chair where she can curl up with her laptop and type. She has to work in a public place, like a cafe, where the mere fact of having to drown out noise helps her focus.

Isn’t it amazing how we approach the same creative process in so many different ways?

By the way, if you love peeking at where authors do their writing, you need to check out Meagan Spooner’s In Search of the Write Space series on her blog. In it, she features authors and their work spaces!

Writing

The magic of writing

Alexandra Alessandri

I swear sometimes I think I sound like the corniest person alive when I say I love the magic of writing. The giddiness when the words start coming together to form a story. The excitement of discovery as I let these new set of characters take me by the hand and show me their world. I live for the moment when I can sit my behind in a chair and dive into this world I’m creating–all so I can experience the magic of weaving together a colorful tapestry, one that I couldn’t imagine my life without.

So yeah, writing is magic for me. And I hope the sense wonder never goes away.