Ah, Fall is in the air, and the turkeys are on sale at the supermarket, which can mean only one thing--NCTE & ALAN! Even now, thousands of English teachers are packing for their annual pilgrimage to the National Council of Teachers of English Convention and the ALAN Workshop.  Just the thought of it gets my blood pumping.  I myself am packing and doing all of those last minute things that you have to do to get out the door with all your necessary materials and clothes in one checked bag and carry-on item large enough to carry a loaf of bread.

The weekend will be jam-packed (where did they get the jam? The TSA won't let you carry-on jam, for goodness sake) with YA authors, including LJ friends sarazarr , joknowles , marypearson, professornana , pambachorz , elockhar and writerjenn(If I missed a LJ author, please feel free to let me know in the comments).

I'll be speaking at a number of events and signing in the hall, promoting both Soul Enchilada and the forthcoming future dystopia Black Hole Sun,  which will be out May, 2010!

Here's my official schedule (don't be shy about saying hi!):

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21

• 7:00 am - 9:15 am ALAN Breakfast
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am HarperCollins Booth Signing: David Macinnis Gill and Kathryn Lasky. Booth #213
• 2:45 pm – 5:30 pm Session: “Middle Level Mosaic Workshop: BE the Book!” Marriott/Grand Ballroom Salon E, 5th Floor YA AUTHOR SPEED DATING!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm ALAN Reception. Marriott Philadelphia/Grand Ballroom C, D, E  1201 Market St.

ALAN WORKSHOP

12:00 pm – 12:25 pm Session: “Soul and Substance in YA Literature.” Speakers: David Macinnis Gill (Greenwillow); Jen Bryant (Random House); Chris Crowe

Visit HarperCollins Children’s Books Booth #213 at NCTE
HarperCollins Children’s Books

We’re so excited about this year’s NCTE Convention, which will be held in Philadelphia, November 20–22, 2009, with the ALAN Workshop following on November 23–24. Come visit us at booth #213 to check out our newest books, collect galleys and other giveaways, and meet our amazing authors. The NCTE signing schedule is as follows (subject to change):

Friday, November 20

Diane Zahler, 1:00-1:30 p.m.
Eileen and Jerry Spinelli, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Gordon Korman, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 21

Naomi Shihab Nye, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
David Macinnis Gill & Kathryn Lasky, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Peter McCarty, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Elizabeth Scott, 12:30-1:00 p.m.
Patricia McCormick, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Walter Dean Myers, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Allan Stratton, 3:30-4:00 p.m.
Deborah Hopkinson, 4:00-4:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 22

Chris Crutcher, 10:00-11:00 a.m.

The ALAN Workshop schedule is as follows (subject to change):

Monday, November 23

Chris Crutcher, 9:20 a.m. Keynote Address, signing to follow
Patricia McCormick, 11:00 a.m. panel discussion, signing to follow
Elizabeth Scott, 2:30 p.m. panel discussion, signing to follow
L.M. Elliott, 2:00 p.m. breakout session, signing to follow
David Macinnis Gill, 2:00 p.m. breakout session, signing to follow

Tuesday, November 24

Michael Cart, 11:35 a.m. panel discussion, signing to follow
David Macinnis Gill, 12:00-12:25 p.m. panel discussion, signing to follow
L.M. Elliott, 12:30-12:55 p.m. panel discussion, signing to follow

Visit DavidMacinnisGill.com.

Visit HarperCollins Children’s Books Booth #213 at NCTE

We’re so excited about this year’s NCTE Convention, which will be held in Philadelphia, November 20–22, 2009, with the ALAN Workshop following on November 23–24. Come visit us at booth #213 to check out our newest books, collect galleys and other giveaways, and meet our amazing authors. The NCTE signing schedule is as follows (subject to change):

Friday, November 20

Diane Zahler, 1:00-1:30 p.m.
Eileen and Jerry Spinelli, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Gordon Korman, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 21

Naomi Shihab Nye, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
David Macinnis Gill & Kathryn Lasky, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Peter McCarty, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Elizabeth Scott, 12:30-1:00 p.m.
Patricia McCormick, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Walter Dean Myers, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Allan Stratton, 3:30-4:00 p.m.
Deborah Hopkinson, 4:00-4:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 22

Chris Crutcher, 10:00-11:00 a.m.

The ALAN Workshop schedule is as follows (subject to change):

Monday, November 23

Chris Crutcher, 9:20 a.m. Keynote Address, signing to follow
Patricia McCormick, 11:00 a.m. panel discussion, signing to follow
Elizabeth Scott, 2:30 p.m. panel discussion, signing to follow
L.M. Elliott, 2:00 p.m. breakout session, signing to follow
David Macinnis Gill, 2:00 p.m. breakout session, signing to follow

Tuesday, November 24

With Banned Books Week coming to a close, we in the YA community are watching in dismay as teachers and libraries are facing repeated–and sometimes, harassing–attempts to remove YA books from the shelves and the curriculum. Many folks have added their voices to the fight, and others, although they would like to help, are not sure what to say or to whom to say it.

Last summer, I discovered a letter on librarian James LaRue’s blog. Mr. LaRue had written the letter in response to a challenge of one of the books in the library’s collection. It is masterful, the perfect example of how to respond to a challenge in a reasoned and compassionate way, while remaining firm to the principles that guide both his library and this nation.

If you are thinking of responding to a challenge or are just curious about what all this Banned Books stuff is about, please take a moment to read: http://jaslarue.blogspot.com/2008/07/uncle-bobbys-wedding.html

Visit DavidMacinnisGill.com.

The LA Times Jacket Copy blog has posted the following story:

Laurie Halse Anderson’s 1999 young adult novel, “Speak,” which was a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Award and the National Book Award, was selected as School Library Journal’s Best Book of the Year and received numerous other honors, was the focus of controversy in Temecula this week. The school board’s trustees were deciding whether or not to add “Speak” to the list of books that may be taught in high school English classes, and were concerned that it deals with the topic of rape and its aftermath. more at http://bit.ly/2bjyqT

Which leads me to wonder: Why is it that students can be opted out of readings so easily? At what point did we decide that teens were too fragile to face difficult subjects in the English classroom but strong enough to learn about them in math, science, history, etc.? Is it because we fear genuine stories more than we fear textbooks? Or is it because we understand intuitively how powerful the written word is and know that the most important thing that a teacher can do is connect a student with story? If so, why aren’t teens reading more books and taking fewer tests?

Visit DavidMacinnisGill.com.

Show Us Your Soul Celebration and Giveaway!

Soul Enchilada is all about Halloween and Dia de los Muertos (aka Day of the Dead). To celebrate the season, I’m giving away 13 copies of the audiobook of Soul Enchilada. Produced by award-winning publisher Brilliance and featuring the voice of debut reader Michelle Carmen Gomez, the audiobook brings the characters of Soul Enchilada to life. It’s the perfect complement to the novel and a must have for the well-rounded library collection.

Here’s how the give-away works:

1. Show us your Soul. You can do this in two ways: photograph yourself or some other self holding a copy of Soul Enchilada in your local library or school media center (for those who have the novel) OR create create your own version of a “soul enchilada” and take a photo of it and your/some other self (for those who don’t have a copy of the novel).
2. Post said photo on one of the bazillion photo sharing sites and copy the URL for later.
3. Go to this page: http://davidmacinnisgill.com/teachers
4. Read the very same intro again.
5. Use the “Contest Entry Form” on the web page to enter your info. Please make sure you include the URL to your photo.
6. Rules & Stipulations:
   • You can enter as many times as you like; however, each individual can only receive one copy of the audiobook.
   • Winners will be selected by random drawing, except for:
   • Five of the audiobooks are reserved for school or public libraries
   • The drawing will be held on October 13, 2009. Winners names and winning photos will be displayed on my website davidmacinnisgill.com.
   • You must be at least 13 years of age to enter.
7. Hurry! Time stops for no one.  Tick-Tock!

Please feel free to retweet, repost, and replicate!!!

Visit DavidMacinnisGill.com.

Fresh from the Twitter Feed are the winners of the 2009 Hugo Award winners, as voted on by the members of the SFWA, presented at WorldCon:

Best Novel: The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
Best Novella: "The Erdmann Nexus", Nancy Kress
Best Novelette: "Shoggoths in Bloom", Elizabeth Bear
Best Short Story: "Exhalation", Ted Chiang
Best Professional Artist: Donato Giancola
Best Graphic Story: Girl Genius, Kaja and Phil Foglio.
Best Editor: Short Form: Ellen Datlow.
Best Editor: Long Form: David G Hartwell
Dramatic Presentation: Short Form: Dr Horrible's Singalong Blog, Joss Whedon
Dramatic Presentation: Long Form: Wall-E
Best Related Book: Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded, John Scalzi
Best Semiprozine: Weird Tales.
Best Fanzine: Electric Velocipede
Best Fan Artist: Frank Wu.
Best Fan Writer: Cheryl Morgan

The back-to-to-school sales mean that we’re about to start another school year. Schools are beginning to contact me for visits, so I thought this would be a good time to re-post my information regarding school and library visits. Because of the economy, I am being very flexible with travel/honorarium requirements, especially schools that are within a three hour drive of Wilmington N.C.

Hosting David Macinnis Gill at School Library, and Other Events

Contact:

You can reach David directly by using the contact web form on this website. The link to the form is at the top of this webpage. Or if you would rather work through David’s publisher, you can use the HarperCollins website’s contact form.

David is happy to visit your school or library or appear in your events. As a former high school teacher, he’s especially comfortable speaking to teens. Also, it helps the audience get more out of the visit if they have read David’s work in advance (it gives everyone something to talk about besides David’s terrible fashion sense).

Types of Appearances:

• Full Day (up to 7 hours)
• Full day visits three daytime events for teens and adults. Typical events include:
• Auditorium speech/reading and Q&A sessions– 45 to 90 minutes
• Classroom presentations — 30 to 50 minutes
• Writing workshops for classes (works best for 10-30 participants) — 60 to 90 minutes
• Library presentation — 45 to 90 minutes
• Lunch and dinner are not considered “events.” David is happy to join your students and faculty for lunch and/or dinner on full days.

Half-Day (up to 3.5 hours)

• Half-Day events include the writing workshop for classes (works best for 10-30 participants) for 60 to 90 minutes AND one of the following:
• Library presentation — 45 to 60 minutes
• Auditorium reading and Q&A sessions– 45 to 60 minutes

David’s Travel Needs

David packs light and travels easily. He brings his own AV equipment (except for a microphone) and doesn’t ask for special accommodations or meals (The only thing he can’t eat is onions (he doesn’t like them, and they don’t like him)). He would prefer:

• A hotel with Internet and a non-smoking room. Please send him the name/contact info of the hotel in advance, as well as the confirmation number if you book the room.
• Transportation to and from sites for the visit.
• The name of a local host and an emergency contact number, just in case
• Tips for Author Visits:
• David’s Publisher, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins has an excellent website with tips for arranging author visits and requesting authors here.

FAQ @ Expenses:

If your school lacks the funds to host an author. Consider splitting the cost with another organization. David is willing to split time between school systems, libraries, etc.

Hosting an author usually means you will incur three expenses: hotel charges, airfare, and the honorarium. David’s honorarium is negotiable depending on travel time, and payment is expected at the close of the visit. Travel expenses (hotel and air) can be paid directly by the host or via reimbursement. Please tell David which method you prefer. Reimbursement is expected within thirty days.

If you have any questions, please contact David at thunderchikin AT gmail.com or via the Contact web form or contact HarperCollins via their website above.

Visit DavidMacinnisGill.com.

How to Write a Log Line

I’ve decided to do a series of how-to posts about aspects of writing. Hope you find something of use.

Definition

A “log line” is Hollywood terminology that means a 1-2 sentence descriptor of a story. It gets its name, I imagine, from a time when someone had to log each story line, and they wanted to write as little as possible. No matter how they started, log lines are an ingrained part of the film industry and to some extent, the publishing industry, as well.

Uses #1

Log lines are very useful to you. They allow to you answer the question, “so what’s your book about?” with a succinct phrase, rather than beginning with the stock, “well, see there’s this guy….”

Use #2

A second good use for the log line is the pitch. This handy, dandy quick summary of your story is very useful in persuading agents, editors, and even your dentist that you’ve hit on a “wow” premise that simply MUST be written. Better yet, if it’s already written, then it MUST be read. Think of a pitch in terms of advertising: You’re trying to hook a reader the way a commercial tries to hook a detergent user. Seriously. Alan Gratz, author of Samurai Shortstop and several other excellent novels for teens, calls this the elevator pitch, under the assumption that if you’re riding four stories with an editor, you can finish your delivery before the doors open.

Use #3

The third use for a log line is you. A novel is a big thing. It’s difficult to hold the whole story in your mind, especially when you’ve finished a first draft and are still giddy from the flow of creative juices. Writing a log line helps you define—for yourself—the essential elements of the plot. It was also let you know immediately is major components of the plot are missing. This prevents episodic plots that are a string of (interesting and exciting) events that lack a complete story spine.

The Spine Itself

Here’s a template for a log line:

Given situation A, then Our Hero does action B despite complication C while antagonist D tries to stop Our Hero by doing E before F can happen.

This is a simple temple, not an iron clad rule (as you’ll notice below, my log lines don’t match this exactly). The template is broken into six components. Each represents a specific part of the story.

A: Given situation A…this is the state of things as the novel begins, or it may be an action that occurs at the very beginning of the story to incite the action. Think of it as a boulder poised on the edge of a cliff, needing just a little nudge to set it rolling.

B: Then Our Hero does action …The boulder is about to roll or is rolling already, and it’s Our Hero’s job to stop it. Or divert it. Or pick it up and fling it like a marble across the Mojave Desert. It doesn’t matter what Our Hero does, just as long as she/he acts.

C. Despite complication C…Plot is complication. Character development is conflict. The two should go hand in hand to prevent Our Hero from acting. It can be a physical incapacity. Or a geographical space. Or a personal relationship. Just as long as it slows Our Hero down and makes it that much more difficult to stop that rolling boulder.

D. While antagonist D tries to stop Our Hero…Make your life easy and include a villain in your story. It’s much easier to ensure complication and conflict if there is another character working in direct opposition to Our Hero. Don’t want a villain or can’t think of one? Circumstances, time, distance, society, and geography can be strong enough forces to stop Our Hero, although it’s more difficult to pull off.

E. By doing E…Our Hero has been acting to stop that boulder. Our Villain is also acting to stop Our Hero, and it looks as the villain will succeed. So long, boulder.

F. Before F can happen…In this case, F would be the dire circumstances that face Our Hero and others if Our Hero fails. The chance of failure must be real, and almost certain, for the story to have drama.

Examples

Here are some examples of novels I’ve written. These are real log lines from pitches. Some are better than others!

For Soul Enchilada: It’s ‘Faust Meets Men in Black’ in this YA paranormal about a teen girl who must risk her soul to keep Lucifer from repossessing her most treasured possession, the 1958 Cadillac Biarritz she inherited from her dearly departed grandfather.

For Black Hole Sun: On a terraformed Mars, where teenaged soldiers sell their services to

the highest bidder, sixteen-year-old Durango and his crew must fight a band of marauding cannibals to protect a destitute mining outpost--and the dark secret they keep.

For Glory Bound: When a run-away teenager driving a stolen '65 Mustang picks up an elderly hitchhiker, he begrudgingly agrees to drive his passenger, a dying folk musician, home to Glory, OK while to struggling to stay one step ahead of his father--the county sheriff who is in hot pursuit.

Finally

Now it’s your turn. Use the template to create your own log line but remember to play with it so that the line is something you can memorize and feel comfortable saying to another person. Even on an elevator. With a boulder rolling toward you.