Tracy Bilen

Member Profile:

An Interview with Tracy Bilen

by Kristin Lenz 

Tracy Bilen's debut YA novel, tentatively titled Riding Backwards, will be published next summer by Simon Pulse.  I interviewed Tracy about her debut and path to publication.

KL: You were the winner of the SCBWI-MI novel mentorship competition for 2009.  Tell us about this experience and how it helped you meet your writing goals.

TB: This was such a fantastic opportunity! My mentor was the amazing Shutta Crum who read and gave me feedback on my novel five times throughout the year. We met every couple of months to talk about the suggestions Shutta had. She also shared with me some of her favorite first pages of other YA novels, and referred me to articles and books that addressed specific areas I needed to work on.

KL: In addition to SCBWI, what other organizations/conferences/workshops helped to develop your writing?

TB: I took two Writer's Digest courses, the Novel Writing course and the Advanced Novel Writing course, and found them invaluable. In the first course, I worked on the first 50 pages of a novel as well as a synopsis, and in the second course I received tons of feedback from both the instructor and fellow students on the first 50,000 words of a novel.

Belonging to RWA (Romance Writers of America) has also had a significant impact on my development as a writer. RWA chapters offer many contests that provide both feedback and a chance for finalists to get their work in front of agents and editors. My local chapter (Greater Detroit RWA) has monthly meetings featuring agent and author speakers. There is even an on-line chapter for YA writers.

KL: How did you find your agent?

TB: I used http://querytracker.net to identify agents that represented YA authors. As a member (it's free to join), I was able to track on-line who I'd submitted to and what their responses were. I actually met my agent, Kevan Lyon, at a RWA chapter meeting. She also represents several others in my chapter, all of whom have nothing but good things to say about her (as do I!). 

KL: What has it been like working with your editor?  Tell us about your revisions.

TB: We started with an editorial letter with all of the "big picture" changes that needed to be made. After that came line edits, which included reshuffling of words and sentences as well as questions in the margins like, "Really?", "Why?", and "Is that possible?" I've been amazed at all the details that my editor (Annette Pollert) has picked up on. Right now, the manuscript is with the copy editor. The time frame from receipt of my first editorial letter to copy edits was about three months.

KL: That was lot of work to complete in three months.  You have a full-time day job as a high school French teacher and two young kids.  How do you find time to write?

TB: Actually, being a teacher has probably helped, because I'm used to having to work at home. Once the kids are in bed, I usually do something that I find relaxing like watching a favorite TV show or reading, then I head to my office to write. Since I've sold my novel, the editing process has been more intense. I feel fortunate that my kids are a bit older now (five and ten), so they can handle my having to work quite a bit on the weekends.

KL: What's next for you?

TB: I'm currently working on a YA novel set on Mackinac Island, one of my favorite places! I hope to be able to attend the SCBWI-MI Fall conference for some extra research.

KL: Any advice or inspiration you'd like to leave us with?

TB: Once you start querying, try your very best to start your next novel right away! (I know, it's really, really hard advice to follow!) I did this while I was querying a book that didn't sell. The new book was the one that won the SCBWI mentorship competition and that Simon Pulse bought. And if you do sell the book that you're querying? You will already have a head start on your option book, which you'll appreciate when you're working on edits for the first!

Editor's Note: It is once again time for the Novel Mentorship Contest. The winner will be announced at the 2011 Fall Conference on Sunday, September 25. Applications are available by clicking on this link. You can also learn more about the fall conference on beautiful Mackinac Island by visiting our website at www.kidsbooklink.org.  

Learn more about Tracy at http://tracybilen.com and https://www.facebook.com/tracybilenbooks  

Kristin Lenz contributes to the YA Fusion blog with Tracy and other debut YA authors.  Check them out at http://yafusion.blogspot.com.

BOOK REVIEW

By Jennifer Rumberger

Second Sight: An Editor's Talks on Writing, Revising, and Publishing Books for Children and Young Adults by Cheryl B. Klein. Asterisk Books, 2011.

Examples are one of the most helpful aspects of this book. Throughout the chapters, Cheryl refers to books she has edited and even goes into early revisions to clarify her points. Two chapters that can be especially helpful and fun to read are simply titled "The Annotated Query Letter from Hell" and "The Annotated Query Letter That Does It Right." She takes two letters point by point and shares how the letters are either a put-off or entice her to want more from the author.

Another large portion of the book is broken down into the four major elements of fiction: Point, Character, Plot and Voice. Great detail and time are spent on each element including discussion points and exercises meant to strengthen the writing of any manuscript. Picture book authors will benefit greatly from the chapter that details the process of writing a picture book, going so far as to create a manuscript and turn it into a picture book dummy.

She ends the book by summarizing information from previous chapters and pulls it all together into a wonderful revision guideline meant to encourage revision and provide simple goals that are achievable, not scary and unattainable. The book then ends as it began with a look into an editors' heads and the relationships they hope to form with their writers.

I recommend this to all children's writers on any part of the writing journey, whether it be young adult, middle grade or picture books. Definitely time well spent.

Jennifer lives in Livonia with her husband and two boys. She enjoys her writing time as the calm among the busyness of everyday life.

Image courtesy of FCIT

Ask Frida Pennabook 

The world of children's literature is a lonely one, and sometimes it's helpful to tap into the expertise of a fellow writer or artist. Got a question? Need advice? Just ask Frida.  

Dear Frida,

At a recent conference, I read on the website that it is a good idea to print and bring business cards so that I can connect with people at the conference. When I gave my card to one of the presenters, he seemed a bit put off. What's up with that?

Signed,
Eager Beaver

Dear E.B. (Such an appropriate abbreviation for a writer!),

It is definitely a good idea to bring business cards to a business function. Networking with other attendees is an important part of any gathering. However, only in rare circumstances would it be appropriate to give a card to a speaker. Think of it this way: wouldn't it be a bit awkward if you were at a school visit reading a story to a room full of school students, and afterward each of them gave you their Twitter handle? What would you do with all of them? Unless you are trying to sell them all something and plan to build a potential customer list, you would probably toss all those little scraps of paper. Most speakers do not have time to keep up with contacts in this way. They are here to inform and inspire, not to sell us a product or pick up pen pals.

If, however, on the off chance that a speaker actually does want to be your pen pal, your bosom buddy, your new best friend, then they will (you know what's coming, don't you?) give you one of their cards. If and when that happens, you can politely accept it and then be sure to follow up.

Need a little expert advice? Send your questions here, and Jennifer will send them on to Frida. 

"That's Mister Petty and Vengeful to you."

Brief Encounters with a  

Petty and Vengeful God

by Catherine Bieberich

If you've ever read a Pete Hautman novel--and there are over 20 from which to choose--then you know what a crazy journey it is, with amazing twists, turns, and wry new ways of viewing the world. If you were fortunate enough to attend the Spring CRAFTfest on May 14th, you met the man behind the books, and instantly understood why his novels are so cunning and quirky.

Pete Hautman is an unassuming man. He is approachable, seemingly unaware of the fact that any respectable YA author would give their left earlobe (or first born child) to write even one book that captures the imagination, keeps you reading, and makes you think as deeply as Godless does, or Mr. Was, or Invisible. Without pause, he answered any and every question posed regarding his books and his creative process. It was particularly fascinating to discover how he comes up with his seemingly impossible story ideas: How to Steal a Car, in which a fifteen-year-old suburban girl spices up her life by 'borrowing' cars for joy rides, is only one example.

In Pete's intensive workshop, he shared with us the epiphanies that have kept him from throwing in the towel when the going got tough. His words were encouraging, and those epiphanies--from the "contract" he makes with the reader, to understanding that he will never understand all of the prior knowledge the reader brings to the book--were invaluable. He also challenged us to engage in several writing activities that mirrored the relationship between reader and author.

Pete's presentation was as sophisticated and brilliant as the author himself. The dry humor that wove itself throughout the afternoon kept us on the edge of our chairs...that, and the knowledge that Pete is, by his own admission, a petty and vengeful God.   

Cathy hopes to one day give Pete a run for his money by publishing all 30-something drafts she has lying around her office. In the meantime, she practices being petty and vengeful with her middle-school students.

CRAFTfest  

Spring 2011 Conference:

Were You There, or Were You Square? 

Carolyn Yoder, Monica Harris, Pete Hautman, Vicky Lorencen, Leslie Helakoski, Wendy Anderson Halperin

Conference Organizers Monica Harris and Vicky Lorencen