I really hope this story is out-dated
Writing for and about teens, plus TONS of writing links and resources
*For writing resources and links, scroll down*
I’d like to think this story is out-dated…
Yesterday I shared with my paid subscribers a short story called “Open Wide.” I wrote this story at least ten years ago, and it was inspired by something I witnessed over twenty years ago.
In my youth I was very into punk bands and went every summer to the Warped Tour, a huge punk/alternative-rock music festival. One year, at the Warped Tour in L.A., my friend took part in a contest much like the one described towards the end of “Open Wide.” It wasn’t until many years later that it occurred to me how creepy and sexually-exploitative the contest was. It became the inspiration for the story, and I made my protagonist even younger to increase the creep-factor. (Because that’s what you do sometimes in fiction: take the truth and turn it up a few notches.)
I’d like to think this story is now totally dated. I’d like to think that these days, in the post-#MeToo world, this contest would never happen. The girls in the audience wouldn’t stand for it, and they certainly wouldn’t participate. The dudes might lose their jobs. But, maybe not. Creepy things happen all the time. The Warped Tour is no more, but people still get sexually harassed every day.
How can adults write authentically about the teen experience?
“Open Wide” is an adult story about a preteen girl, but I mostly write Young Adult novels, which are both for and about teenagers. Sometimes it’s hard, as a forty-one-year-old, to feel confident that my writing is speaking the truth about today’s teenage experience. So much as changed — technology, views on sex and gender, COVID — since I was in high school in the mid-to-late 1990’s.
And yet, so many things haven’t changed. Teenagers are still trying to figure out who they are. They are still self-conscious and moody as they navigate friendships and first romances and family dynamics. They might have cell phones now, but they are still going through the messy and emotional process of moving from childhood to adulthood, and looking, along the way, for love and acceptance and independence.
Ultimately, that’s what “Open Wide” explores: a young girl dealing with family dynamics and her changing body and her confusing feelings. The teenage years are hard; they always leave at least a few scars.
When I remember that the emotions of being a teenager is still the same, it makes me confident that as long as I stay true to the emotions, I’ll stay true to the teenage experience.
That being said, I’ll be interested to know what people think of “Open Wide.” Could this creepy contest still happen today?
(For more on writing YA, check out my post 7 Ways to Make Your YA Contemporary Manuscript Seem Current (even in these COVID times)).
Oops, I Made a Mistake!
And no one caught it this time! Sometimes, when I make typos, readers let me know — and I honestly appreciate that! Anyway, in my Groundhog Day newsletter, I said that Before I Fall was a YA novel by Gayle Forman, but it is actually by the wonderful Lauren Oliver (who is also the author of one of my favorite haunted house novels, Rooms.)
I got confused because Gayle Forman wrote If I Stay, which was also turned into a film, and is also a supernatural drama about a teenage girl who dies, but it is not a Groundhog Day time-loop novel like Before I Fall.
Writing Confidently about Native American Characters
Are you trying to write (or interested in writing) Native American characters but are concerned you’ll get it wrong? Check out the digital course Fiction Writing: American Indians, from Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and author of fifteen historical fiction books with Native main characters.
Sarah is offering a discount for readers of my newsletter. Just enter the coupon code EVALANGSTON at checkout.
Writing News & Resources
For All Writers:
Are you looking for beta readers who are writing in a similar genre and time zone? Bianca Marais (host of the great podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing) is offering The Great Beta Reader Match-Up. Your manuscript doesn’t have to be complete to sign up, but you do need to sign up by February 28!
And here’s another critique partner or beta reader matching opportunity from the Moms Writers Club. Don’t even need to be a mom to participate!
On February 16th 8-9:30pm ET the talented Courtney Maum (author of Before and After the Book Deal) will be teaching everything she knows about writing a memoir. A virtual class aiming to help you transform your personal memories into either an essay or a book-length manuscript. The recording will be available after the class for a limited time. Sign-up here.
Apply for the 2023 Kurt Brown WC&C Scholarships. Three winners will receive $500 to help them attend the WC&C event of their choice. Winners plus six finalists will also receive a free one-year AWP membership. Applications are open through March 31,2023.
The NYC Midnight Screenwriting Challenge kicks off March 24. Register by March 23, or by February 23 if you want the early bird discount.
Thinking about submitting to some literary journals this year? Check out New Pages (or subscribe to their newsletter) for all the latest lit mag news.
Hoping to create a regular writing habit or maybe start a novel? Learn about my do-it-on-your-own-time courses for paid subscribers: Cultivating a Regular Writing Routine and Getting Started on Your Novel.
Want to write better dialogue? Check out my online Dialogue Masterclass Sessions. Session 1 is available for all; Sessions 2 and 3 are for paid subscribers.
I recently finished reading Rebecca Makkai’s novel The Borrower about a librarian who accidentally kidnaps a child, and, first of all, I loved it. Second of all, Rebecca’s newsletter is so much fun. It’s about the writing life, but also about random things, like horrible houses she finds on Zillow.
For KidLit Writers:
Check out the 8th Annual Valentiny Contest for Picture Book writers. Submissions due February 12.
From Bitsy Kemper’s blog: over 75 publishers accepting unsolicited picture book manuscripts — updated February 2023!
Upcoming Kidlit Workshops (online and in-person) from The Highlights Foundation. Everything from Picture Books to YA!
Check out this incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!
SCBWI (The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) will have a virtual conference on February 25.
Who else is SUPER excited for the film adaptation of Judy Blume’s classic, Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret, starring Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret. Release date: April 28. My calendar is already marked.
The annual PBParty contest is for unagented writers and author/illustrators with finished and polished picture book manuscripts. Selected entries will be read by agents/editors in the showcase at the end of March. Submit one contest entry on Wednesday, March 1st from midnight to 8pm EST. Good luck!
For Querying Writers:
Aimee Davis is accepting submissions for guest posts on her blog from currently querying authors who want a space to talk about the struggles of querying BEFORE the success. How cool is that?
Mslexia, the online salon for women writers, is sponsoring their annual Agent Extravaganza on February 14. They’ve got a fantastic line up of literary agents ready to read pitches, offer written feedback, and request pages. All you need is a pitch of 100 words or less. The event pages will be open for pitches from 8am-8pm on 13 February (London time)!
The Good Story Company is offering another StorySnobs Pitch Contest. Submit your premise and get live feedback from editors. Happening February 15, 2023
8:00-9:00 pm CDT.Savvy Authors will sponsor their annual Sweetheart Pitchfest Feb. 15-17. This free event is for writers of all genres with a completed manuscript who are looking for an agent or editor. Register for free to learn more.
Register now for a free webinar on February 23 with former literary agent (and writing/publishing guru) Mary Kole on Writing an Irresistible Query.
This virtual Agent Symposium from The Writers League of Texas looks incredible. A year-long program to bring writers into a virtual space where they can connect with and learn from ten literary agents at the top of their game. No need to live in Texas, and the last day to apply is February 24.
The annual PBParty contest is for unagented writers and author/illustrators with finished and polished picture book manuscripts. Selected entries will be read by agents/editors in the showcase at the end of March. Submit one contest entry on Wednesday, March 1st from midnight to 8pm EST. Good luck!
NY Book Editors is now offering a Literary Agent Alert service. 2-week free trial followed by $10 a month. Is it worth it? I’m not sure — if you try it, let me know!
The Revise & Resubmit (#RevPit) annual contest begins March 16. Win feedback and edits on your full manuscript from professional editors.
Every Friday, Operation Awesome offers one free query critique through their #QueryFriday contest.
Here’s an insanely comprehensive spreadsheet of successful queries. Learn the details and read the actual query letters for books that got agent representation.
I don’t know what’s going on with Twitter these days, but I assume Twitter pitch contests will continue to happen unless I hear otherwise. If you’re still on Twitter, it certainly doesn’t hurt to try. (After all, I found my agent through a Twitter pitch party. I am now an official success story.) So mark your calendar for these upcoming Twitter pitch parties. And be sure to read my article 13 Things to Know About Twitter Pitch Events.
Feb 16 #PBPitch for Picture Books
April 6: #MoodPitch — Twitter pitch for all un-agented authors of all genres and age categories, with a mood board image added. (The pitch event in which I found my agent!)
Writing Conferences
Writers Digest is offering a virtual conference for romance writers February 18-19 and a virtual conference for mystery/thriller writers March 25-26.
The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences will held both online and in person this year. I attended one of these conferences in person a few years ago, and I thought it was fantastic. I can’t vouch for the virtual version, but there are some benefits: recorded classes, no travel expenses, attend in your comfy pants. Plus, you can sign up for pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. Check out the upcoming conferences:
Chesapeake Writing Workshop March 3-4 (online only)
Alabama Writing Workshop: March 10, 2023 (in-person in Birmingham)
Atlanta Writing Workshop: March 11, 2023 (in-person)
Writers Conference of St. Louis: March 11, 2023 (in-person)
Cincinnati Writing Workshop: March 11, 2023 (in-person)
Minnesota Writing Workshop: March 25, 2023 (in-person in St. Paul)
AWP Conference (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) will be held in March 8-11, 2023 in Seattle.
Go to AWP for Free! Have your registration cost waived when you agree to work a four-hour shift at the conference. Applications are now open for work-exchange.
SCBWI (The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) will hold their annual conference in person in New York City February 10-12. They will also have a virtual conference on February 25.
The San Miguel Writer’s Conference and Literary Festival will be held Feb. 13-17 in beautiful San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. No need to speak Spanish (though it certainly helps).
New York Write to Pitch Conference 2023 will be held in NYC March 16-19.
The 34th Annual California Creative Writers Conference will be held March 3-5, 2023 in Culver City. Presentations, workshops, panels, and one-on-one pitch meetings. Discounts available.
The Washington Writers Conference will be held in Bethesda, MD May 12-13.
Early Bird tickets ($369) include three agent-pitch sessions and are available through Mar. 31, 2023.
For all those in the DC-MD-VA area, mark your calendars for the FREE Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 20. I’ll be there, and I might even be teaching a short workshop (TBD).
For more writing conferences, check out this list or this list of 19 Writing Conferences for Emerging and Established Writers.