YA Highway teen contributor Kristin Briana Otts is almost not a teenager anymore. Her novel, City of Shadows, is about to go on sub to publishers. For more about Kristin, visit our Who We Are page.

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So, if you write commercial YA, you’re pretty much just like Shakespeare.

No, seriously.

To quote my English professor – if you’re popular, you can’t be an artist. Thanks to the stereotypes that surround writers and musicians, most people assume that “successful” or “popular” means that you’re selling out. You’re pandering to the masses instead of churning out poetic and incomprehensible prose. A YA novel can’t be real literature because it’s not obscure and intellectual; therefore, YA writers are not real artists.

Well, you’ll be happy to know that this mentality has been around since Shakespeare’s time. Yes, Shakespeare. He also wrote meaningless drivel that wasn’t considered “real” literature. Why? Because it was popular. Because it was entertaining. Because it appealed to peasants and royalty, noblemen and farm boys.

So the next time someone asks you when you’re going to write a real book, just smile and remember that Will Shakespeare would be proud of you.

~Kristin Briana Otts 

Shakespeare and YA

This week: On Writing

• Want to write? Carrie Ryan points out the first step is.... writing.
  

• Cailtin Kittredge says you are not a special snowflake, so quit pretending your muse has special needs. In other words, "Write Here, Write Now."
  

• Of course, some of us don't know when to stop writing. *whistling, not looking at self in mirror...* IndieDebut has some help: When to stop revising.
  

• Don't have a local crit group? Uncomfortable posting your work online? Jill Corcoran explains how she uses Google groups in various ways. Here at YA Highway, we use our Google group for everything: Query and scene crits, brainstorming posts, contest planning, discussing books, shooting the sh*t, scheduling posts, keeping track of passwords and even remembering each others' birthdays.

On Getting Published:

• Step One: Toughen Up. "Growing A Thicker Skin" at Kidlit.com
  (The potential for awesome publishing-related Chuck Norris jokes seems huge. Post 'em if you got 'em!)
  

• That thick skin will help when you get published, because as author and editor Cherie Priest points out, there are lots of things that authors just can't control. 
  

• Pimp My Novel has a guide to mentioning awards and credentials in query letters. As the resident Newbie McNoobenson, I was surprised to hear that no one cares where you earned your degree, undergrad, masters or otherwise.
  

• Have you ever wondered if rhetorical query questions are bad? Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Hilarious, at The Rejectionist.
  

• Elana Roth at Caren Johnson Literary Agency posted advice for pitching your book, with examples of "longer," "short" and "very short" pitches. The agency's pitch contest is over, but the advice still applies: "Boil it down and sum it up," says she. 
  

• Query or MS out with no reply? When to (wink wink nudge) nudge an agent by Suzette Saxton at QueryTracker.net

Finally, if you're feeling down and tired of hearing FAIL all the time, try SUCCEED. Guaranteed to cheer you up or at least distract you for a really long time. My personal favorites include:

Creative uses for trash


The world's most awesome tea infuser


Very Literal Windows Help


and Breakdance Bowling.


*****
Did you see something awesome or write your own fantastic blog post this week? Leave a link in the comments or email us at yahighway at gmail dot com with the subject line "Field Trip Friday." We can't use every submission but we'd love to look at your suggestions (and also your Chuck Norris jokes)!

Field Trip Friday: Write Like Chuck Norris

There’s this battle that writers face.

It starts off with school. While you’re there, it seems like nothing in the world eats time like school. You spend all day there, you come home, then there’s a stack of homework and study waiting, demanding to be fed time in a loud growl, like a pet monster you never asked for. Then university, which isn’t much different, except the stack of homework and study is a bit harder, a bit more time consuming. The time-eating monster grows.

Then there's the whole ‘being a grown up’ thing, having a house which needs to be cleaned and meals that need to be cooked and rent that needs to be paid – usually through a job which eats up time and energy like you never thought possible. And don't forget the people, the family members, the partners, the friends, who all like to be spoken to and fed and stroked. Wait, that’s cats. I haven’t even started on pets.

And that thing, what’s it called? Sleep? That thing, that knowledgeable people always go on about, not to mention your mother and some old lady in the street who claims to know you. Everyone thinks that you should get a full night’s sleep, or else something ghastly will no doubt happen. Your brain will slowly and quietly slide out of your ears. That sort of something.

And there’s also that mythical thing, called relaxing, where you’re supposed to, you know, forget all your worries and watch all the waves on a beach for a while. Or whatever. I don’t know relaxing particularly well, because, let’s face it, relaxing is generally time spent with this low mutter going on at the back of my head. Something like, I should be writing, I should be sitting at my desk right now, and I really really should be writing, and did I mention how I should be writing and instead I’m doing nothing? Because I actually should be writing.

Here in New Zealand, there’s this cheese advertisement which involves an old man with a deep voice talking about how ‘good things take time’. I’d really rather not think about how that relates to cheese, but it does, however, relate to writing for a lot of us. The fact is, writing needs a lot of time to be good*. And the other fact is, life doesn’t provide a lot of time. And that’s true for all of us, even incredibly successful writers. I recently came across a brief interview with Stephanie Meyer where she talked about how she’s had frustratingly little time to write in the last year or so.

The battle against time is a lifelong one, people. It doesn’t go away. It just finds new ways to be complicated. It’s an innovative monster. People often talk about time management, but to be honest, I have no idea what time management actually means. Every time I try to manage time, life happens. In my experience, the battle against time is often a battle best won by stealth.

Being creative with where and when you write is a good start. Last year, when I was working on a first draft, I decided I’d take any time I could get during my working day. No matter how pathetically short, no matter how odd. I wrote during lunch breaks, sitting at the bus stop, on the bus. A lot of writers mess with their sleep schedule. Anthony Trollope wrote massive novels, and famously used to write from 5am to 8am every morning before work. If he finished something before the time was up, he’d immediately start something new. And when NZ author Margaret Mahy was juggling her job as a librarian and parenting her two young daughters, her writing time often started at midnight and went until 4am. She also happened to be known among her co-workers for being a librarian who often fell asleep at work.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it’s not necessarily about the quantity of time. It’s also about the quality. For me, three hours of uninterrupted writing at a cafe works way better than six hours of sort of writing, and sort of checking the internet, and also sort of watching tv. It can be a lot easier to schedule a block of intense devoted writing time, where you go to the library, or a cafe, or unplug the internet and close the study door** than to schedule something longer, and potentially more easily sidetracked.

And you know, that relaxation time is actually important too. In order to be able to keep going and keep coming up with new ideas, it’s important to stop every now and then and read a good book, watch TV or defeat family members on playstation. Having some time out isn't something to feel guilty over. I would also recommend a full night’s sleep, but coming from me it would probably be the most hypocritical advice in the world. Instead, imagine that advice coming from a world class expert, or your mother, or one of your pets. They probably have more authority on the subject.

Also, don’t angst over how long or short a length of time it takes to write a novel. It can take days to write a novel, it can take years, it can take decades. There is no right length of time. I'll repeat that. There is no right length of time. And um, yeah. That’s also possibly slightly hypocritical advice coming from me as well, because I don’t think anyone in the world worries about finishing things the way I do. Definitely imagine your cat saying it.

How do you fight the time monster?

ETA: Make sure you read the comments! People have been saying interesting stuff!

*I do know of some awesome exceptions to that rule, who can write utterly stunning novels, in, like, two days or whatever. CoughHannahMoskowitzCough. I regard that sort of thing as rare and wonderful. If you’re one of those writers, chances are I would rather like to swap brains with you. 

**One of my life ambitions is to actually have a study. With a door that I can close. Bliss.

An Innovative Monster

Road Trip Wednesday is a "Blog Carnival," where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

We'd love for you to participate! Just answer the question on your own blog and leave a link in the comments. We'll be adding our own links here throughout the day!



Kirsten: "If my cover could be a blend of Sea and Hold Still, I would erupt into spontaneous backflips..."

Kristin M: "Covers that are complicated and rich and full are my favorites . . ."

Kaitlin: "I am very easily enticed..."

Amanda: "I'm a sucker for a good cover..."

Kristin O: "I love it so much that I can barely form a coherent critique of it..."

Michelle: " I could waste hours browsing Amazon for awesome book covers..."

Leila: "For me, the best covers are the ones that drop a few mysterious and wonderful hints..."

Kate: "I have no explanation other than armadillos are funny."

Road Trip Wednesday #14: Book Covers You Love

It hit me the other day. It's been close to a year since I dove headfirst into really learning the craft of writing. I've read (and read and read) books on writing. Books on plotting. Books on editing. Books that were, well, just dang good books. I've stuffed quite a lot into my brain over the past year, but there's a good portion I learned while writing that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with writing.

This is a list I compiled of things found scribbled in my WIP notebooks, reminder sticky notes, and other general nuggets of knowledge I've acquired in the process.

1) The human body is better at surviving g-forces that are perpendicular to the spine.

2) Computer keyboards can withstand one cup of apple juice. No one really needs the 3 or P key anyway.

3) There supposedly is a way to make someone pass out by applying pressure to two points on the neck at the same time. Due to the risk of possible cardiac arrest, my husband won't let me use him as a guinea pig to test this theory.

4)There are many rules to writing. All are meant to be broken at times, which means they aren't so much rules as suggestions. But if you're going to break the rules, you have to break them the right way.
*Very similar to the mother/daughter chats I was forced to endure about how I had the freedom to make my own decisions, but I better hope like hell I made the right ones.

5)When your laptop alerts you that your battery is almost dead, it really doesn't care if you're in the middle of writing your best. scene. ever.

6)Embalming fluid contains formaldehyde, methanol, and ethanol. Enough embalming fluid is buried in the US every year to fill eight Olympic size pools.
Can't believe I ever went to dinner parties without this conversation starter!

7) # is a hashtag (twitter)

8) Your characters really don't hear you when you're yelling at them. Only the people in the general vicinity of you and your computer do, and they will think you are strange.

9) Page breaks don't always care that you plan to go back and edit.

10) As much as you'd like to perform your own experiments to gain a true visual perspective for some explosive scene, it really is best to listen when they tell you 'Don't try this at home'. Trust me.


What random knowledge have you learned from writing?

What I've Learned From Writing (That Has Nothing to Do With Writing)

Field Trip Friday is a weekly trip around the field of YA with stops at the most helpful, funny, interesting or otherwise entertaining news.

Have a suggestion for a link? Leave it in the comments or email us at yahighway at gmail dot com with the subject line "Field Trip Friday." We can't use every submission but we'd love to look at your links.

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• The ALA Youth Media Awards were announced. Check it out for books to add to your "to read" list.

• Just in time for Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Whitewashing the Magic Under Glass cover. Chasing Ray has a good play by play of how things went down; people all over weighed in, including Editorial Anonymous, The Guardian, our friend Choco and, oh yeah, the author herself. Score one for the internet: Bloomsbury has halted sales until a new cover can be designed. 
  

• Intern C. A. Marshall helps with that tricky issue of getting voice in your query
  

• Rachelle Gardner gives tips on email etiquette
  

• Behler Blog highlights the difference between voice and story-driven queries
  

• Janet Reid lays it out for you in an easy to read chart: What You Need Before You Query 
  

• The YA Rebels, including our very own Kody Keplinger, are vlogging this week about their own paths to agentdom. (Agentness? Agentopia?)
  

• And if you are feeling the itch to query too soon, Vee has the answer. (I might need to bathe in it.)
  

• Author and Editorial Assistant Alexandra Bracken gives one perspective on trends in YA.
  

• Author Nova Ren Suma gives some persuasive reasons for why she writes YA.

On the technique front:

• Author John H. Ritter breaks writing down into Ps and Qs in a helpful article that brings story telling and writing ability together. 
  

• Editorial Anonymous explains when and how to use second person POV.
  

• BookEnds, LLC answers the common question: Can I use song lyrics in my book? 
  

• Author Kristin Miller lays out her revision process after getting notes back from her agent.
  

• Our girl Emilia suggests you make it work. Keep it classy.

• Author Alexander Chee wrote this amazing, beautiful ... list? I don't know what to call it. 100 Things About a Novel, Part 1 (via @molly_oneill). My favorite is number eleven:
  
  
  
  
  
  

  "Writing a novel is sometimes like going to a party and hearing someone call your name outside the window and when you get there, a dragon floats in the night wind, grinning. How did you know my name, you ask it. But you already know it’s yours."
  

  
  If you don't know what Trogdor is, go here. You're welcome. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

On the CONTEST WINNERS!!! front:

Congratulations to Cory Jackson, whose first line won the most votes in last Friday's contest! Her entry was #14, from her WIP Interior of a Heart:

"Fourteen, mouth girded in a dental chastity belt, a black nest of hair even a rat wouldn’t sleep in, and gawky as hell – that’s how I looked the first time Carey Breen kissed me."

Second place was Abby Annis, with a line from Embrol:

"Three seconds--that's how long it took for my life to end."

Third place was a tie:
Camp Life by Katherine Elliott Scott:

"I had two goals that summer: to get the lead in the camp play and to get to third base."

Untitled by Rachel Bateman:

"In Mama's house, there were only two rules: go to college and don't get pregnant."

As promised, we also have a prize for a random commenter/Tweeter/Blogger. The winner is...


Alicia Gregoire!


Congrats to Cory and Alicia! Email us at yahighway at gmail dot com to claim your prizes, and thanks to everyone for playing and spreading the word!

Field Trip Friday: Jan 22

Lockdown, the newest release from Printz award-winning author Walter Dean Myers, couldn't have come at a better time. Burned out from a succession of novels that each read much like the one before it, lacking voice and pizazz, Lockdown provided a much needed - and much appreciated - change. This journey into the life of a boy who made a mistake and pays for it over and over again is both beautiful and sorrowful.

Book Review: Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers

Road Trip Wednesday is a "Blog Carnival," where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

We'd love for you to participate! Just answer the question on your own blog and leave a link in the comments. We'll be adding our own links here throughout the day!


Kaitlin: "It's just so creepy and awesome and tense and well-written..."

Kate: "I have a ton of little gems on my shelves, they're just on shelves a little lower to the ground."

Emilia: "It also involves bunnies, seizures, senile old ladies, lipstick, cat skeletons, sarcasm, crushed hopes, and the eternal power of the atom."

Kristin: "Wow. There's a theme here . . . talk about window into one's soul."

Kristin Jr.: "It's a perfect mix of fantasy, dystopian, and honest-to-God humanity."

Leila: "Think Victorian times, when female writers were still frowned upon simply for being female writers."

Late Kirsten: "It might have shattered a bigger piece of my innocence than anything else I'd ever read or seen."

Road Trip Wednesday: The Best Book No One's Ever Heard Of

I heard a story once about Bill Evans, jazz pianist (and legendary musician.) It basically went like this:

There was a party for some purpose or another. The host of the party had a piano. As tends to happen when musicians gather and an instrument is available (and alcohol is flowing, but you assumed that, given this was a party with musicians), plenty of folks sat down at the piano, inflated with booze and ready to show off their chops.

The storyteller – I believe it was Kenny Werner in his book Effortless Mastery, but I can't find my copy – watched as his fellow pianists pounded out standard after standard, wincing at the tinny, slightly out of tune sound of the old piano.

Until Bill Evans sat down.

I haven't looked at this book since college, but I remember the gist of it: "Evans touched the keys, and suddenly we were listening to a Steinway grand, rich, beautiful, perfectly tuned."

Is that possible? For a piano to completely change in tone, timbre, and tuning for one man? One master?

When someone shows you an incredible photograph they took, one with amazing color and lighting where the angle is just right, do you say "Wow! What kind of camera do you have?"

When you hear a violinist pouring his heart out through Beethoven and strings, do you ask how much that Stradivarius cost?

What made David perfect – the quality of the marble, or Michelangelo's touch? Was that guy on the island talking to a volleyball so memorable because of the $90,000,000 movie budget, or is it really because Tom Hanks can act his ass off?

Relativity – Escher's pencil, or his unique perception?

I'm not being facetious – well, I'm not trying to be. I'm guilty of a few of these myself, the camera scenario in particular. Someone could shove a decked-out digital SLR in my hands, but I'm thinking that probably wouldn't guarantee my photos a spot in National Geographic.

It's just so easy to credit the final work of art to everything but the master who created it.

So next time someone finds out you're a writer and says "hey, I have an idea for a novel! You should write it!" Or "I thought about writing a book, but I don't have the time." Or anything that implies it's something anyone can do, that a great novel is merely an idea and the time it takes to write it, that it's not creativity and passion and dedication and practice but rather hours and hours of free time that you clearly have and no one else does...

Just smile.

Nod.

Walk away, and keep writing.

Because when the words are written, the prose is crafted, and your art is on the page, you'll know – it's not the piano.

It's you.

It's Not the Piano

If you're reading this blog, odds are, you're already a fan of YA. And why wouldn't you be? It's pretty much pure awesome. But my guess is, most of us are avid readers, and always have been. I, personally, will read anything I can get my hands on. This includes things like household cleaning product warning labels, in times of desperation.

YA Is For Everyone

This is a belated follow-up to Michelle’s wonderful post on selling books at Barnes and Noble in Texas. I work at an independent, the Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop, and we specialise in books for babies, children and teenagers.

We’re based in Ponsonby, Auckland. If you don’t know Auckland, Ponsonby is known for being a wealthy, liberal part of town. Children come in wearing clothes made from hand-stitched organic cotton, people have beautiful designer dogs who wait patiently in the courtyard while they shop, gay couples wander into the store sometimes and no one bats an eyelid. Ponsonby is full of cafes, fashion boutiques, small art galleries and mothers with enormous prams. How things go in Ponsonby often depends on how beautiful your store is, so we keep things as pretty as possible.

Here are some of my secrets.

Not all picture books are just for kids. Check out Sabuda and Reinhart’s intricate pop-up books, and Shaun Tan’s beautiful, emotive illustrations, and seriously, check out anything that involves Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean.

Categories don’t always matter as much as you think they do. For a start, some books defy genre. NZ hit The 10pm Question, which is a novel about an endlessly anxious thirteen year old boy, sits on the edge between three categories: middle grade, YA and adult. And it sells well in all three. And you’d be surprised who buys things sometimes. I have well dressed businesswomen who come in for a good YA vampire story – not for their kids, but for themselves. This always makes me want to jump up and down with happiness.

Some books never die. I’m looking at you, Where the Wild Things Are, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Pippi Longstocking, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Outsiders, The Catcher in the Rye. I’m looking forward to seeing which books released in 2010 will last the distance.

And while we’re talking about lasting the distance, there’s nothing better than reuniting people with old friends. It’s always worth seeing whether that book you loved from aaaages ago is still in print.

I don’t get as many YA boy requests as I’d like to, even though there is some stunning stuff out there, such as Big Brother and Looking for Alaska, and also the Tomorrow series by John Marsden, one of the best ways I know to get boys reading books with a female narrator. But generally, girls are well catered for, boys slightly less so. I would seriously love more boy friendly books to entice more boys into the YA section.

The most common YA request I get isn’t for the Twilight series. It’s for something to follow it up with. Books I have been hyping recently for the Twilight crowd include Shiver and My Love Lies Bleeding (which gets kudos from me for having a human heroine who is full of personality and spark) and the Mortal Instruments series, and also Melissa Marr’s books.

Most of our YA isn’t sold straight to kids. It’s often parents and relatives who do the buying. In our case, wealthy educated folks who have shining, well-stocked credit cards, and maybe a few opinions of their own on what children and young adults should read. They don't just want any book. They want exactly the right book, and sometimes it makes them a little bit panicky. And it’s my job to find a way through all that and give them the books that glow, the books that their children and grandchildren and nieces and nephews are going to enjoy the most. Because in the end, it’s about joy.

Bookselling is actually damn hard work. A lot of people wander up to the counter with their stack of books for me to ring up and go, “Oh, what a lovely job! You must just sit around reading all day!” Um, no. Not really. Shelving and arranging stock (which can be incredibly challenging in a store where space is limited), helping with promotions, tidying up, hunting for things, the horrible soul destroyingness that is processing returns, and also there's keeping up with new releases, and what's been reviewed where. And most importantly, giving people advice. There’s always something to do. People often comment on how nice our store is to be in, but what they don’t realise is how much work it takes to make it that way. A good indie is a warm, welcoming place, where a great deal of thought goes into the selection, where staff not only find you the thing you want but also the thing you didn’t know you wanted. By the end of each day, my feat ache and my smile is tired, but it’s worth it.

This is the coal face of publishing! Which gives me images of booksellers covered in soot. Anyway. I usually hate this kind of analogy, but if the publishers are like war generals sitting in their tents planning a line of attack, booksellers are the ones at the front line charging into battle. The shops are where things fly or fall, where successes are truly made. It always helps if your book is high concept and easy to talk about, because even if I’ve only had a chance to flick through it, I can still sum it up easily for my customers. But it helps even more if your book is easy to love. Books I am in love with are a breeze to sell, as long as I can find the right person.

Which brings me to the fact that I do more matchmaking than a Jane Austen character. For every book there is a customer somewhere waiting to be matched with it. And if you get the matchmaking right, people will come back over and over and you’ll keep an eye out for things they’re likely to love. Bookselling is social. It’s about connecting with people and the kids they’re buying for, about getting to know them and their taste, about chatting and small talk and sharing enthusiasm. And no Walmart, no K-mart (the NZ equivalent of Walmart), no online store, can really do that in quite the same way. Buying a book shouldn’t just be a purchase. It should be an experience. And providing that experience is what we’re here for.

Bookseller Secrets and Stories: Matchmaking and Other Things

Book reviews are good. YA book reviews are great. YA book reviews by teens are fan-freaking-tastic.

Seriously – for those of us writing in the Young Adult genre, who better to give us feedback on what works, why, and why not than Young Adults themselves?

And these particular Young Adults are some of the most thoughtful, well-spoken out there. Their reviews are intelligent, sometimes snarky, and always honest.

Go forth. Read. Comment. Subscribe. Spread the YA love.


B.A.M. Book Reviews

Who they are: Our names are Briana, Arielle and Marisa and we're friends that love to read and discuss books. We're all teenagers and we'll mostly review YA books but there will be some variety now and then. You know, Classics and some popular Adult Fiction. If you have any requests just let us know and we'll consider them.

Sample Review: "One reason I do like her is for the simple fact that she is strong and brave. Her determination throughout the book is fantastic. Most times, I find female characters to be weak, vulnerable and boring in books so it was nice to go through this marvelous journey with her."

Bloody Bookaholic

Who she is: Taschima is my bookworm alter ego. My true name is Natascha, but don't repeat it, people might start calling me that. As most of you know I am an avid reader with a burning passion for the world of literature. I think of books as an escape route out of this reality, a world you create were you can just forget about your problems and be free.

Sample Review: "When I saw the title I thought 'cheesy', and kind of the same with the cover. Hey, I'm not proud. But this book surprised me a lot! I just loved it by the end. Even though I thought some things could go better, it has a story that gets you hooked... and the romance was hot."

The Book Pixie

Who she is: Hello all! My name is Briana and I live in the beautiful state of Georgia. I am a homeschooled junior who loves reading and photography. After I graduate I plan to go to college to study veterinary medicine, enviornmental science, and photography. Most importantly though, I want to be happy. I don’t really mind if all my other plans don’t work out as long as I’m happy.

Sample Review: "I loved watching him change throughout the book as he grew to be a more caring character and when he started opening himself up to others, it felt as though he was opening himself up to me as well. I absolutely loved him and have never come across a more dynamic character."

The Book Scout

Who She Is: My name is Kelsey. I'm a high school student and I love reading. A few years ago I discovered the YA section at Barnes and Noble, and haven't left since. (: I would love to accept any YA books for review, and bloggers, I'd love to trade!

Sample Review: "This underlying message was important and one that will make all high school students rethink their dreams and what they really want to do with their life. It’s important for school to be important in your life, but it also can’t control it. Friends and family should have just as big a role."

Books at Midnight

Who She Is: Hi, my name is Jenn, and I'm a high school sophmore that's part bookworm, occasionally an artist, and full time procrastinator. I love reading historical fiction, fantasy, realistic fiction, and paranormal romance, but I'm always open to a good book.

Sample Review: "The dialogue is spot-on, complete with innuendos and endearing love confessions, the characters' thoughts seem entirely plausible, and there is a clear progression from fear and contempt to true love. I still can't fully express how much I loved the characters, but what I can express is how amazing it is to not read another story where the characters fall in love so quickly to the extent that it feels like they "pretend" to hate each other."

In Which a Girl Reads

Who She Is: My name is Meagan. I'm an avid reader and daydreamer, and occasionally an aspiring writer. Someday, I'd like to live in a crumbling castle and travel around the world. Until that improbable future, I'm content to blog :)

Sample Review: "The pages fly by in a haze of one terrifying event after another: the four teens turn into hopeless addicts, characterized by a lack of reasoning and gross dependency on drugs to survive. While the characters convince themselves that they're happy, readers will be afforded a more clear-cut view of their lives which prove to be little more than a series of bad decisions."

Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

Who She Is: My name is Lauren. I’m a high school student from a tiny/slightly boring town in the mountains of Pennsylvania. I love to read, hence the reason why I blog at Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf and have a gazillion books in my house. :)

Sample Review: "The whole premise was intriguing and fully original. I mean faires and characters falling in love with a person locked in an automaton? How could you go wrong? Plus, the writing was up to par. My only complaint? I felt the ending could have tied things up a bit better. Though, maybe that lack of tying things up means a sequel is coming soon."

Lost in Ink

Who She Is: My name is Staysi. I'm a sophomore in high school with an addiction to books. I read just about anything, but my favorites are Young Adult novels and the classics. I also love music, and that along with reading makes a great combination for a blog :)

Sample Review: "This novel really opened my eyes to many possibilites. First, the possibilty that anything can happen in a mere second. That one thing leads to another which leads to another and another... everything in life is connected. Everything has its consequences and a simple mistake can be worth a lot. And second, that maybe the heart is much more than an organ that keeps us alive. That maybe there are so many things in our lives, in our minds, that we simply don't understand, that we can't understand, and that's alright."

Opinionated? Me?

Who She Is: I am Danielle. I have a blog, in which I discuss books. I'm also a fairly unproductive teenager. I used to have a much longer profile.

Sample Review: "The one issue I had with it was how damn short it was. The ingredients are all there--awesome characters, interesting plot, different-yet-familiar world, lovely prose--but then it just feels as though it stops when it should go on, moves forward when it should dwell a bit longer. I wanted to know more about this world that I have hardly had a chance to explore, these characters that could be so fucking amazing if only I could just get a couple more paragraphs."

Zoe's Book Reviews

Who She Is: My name is Zoe. I am basically a teen who is in love with reading. It is my escape. I also love writing music and writing in general.

Sample Review: "To me, he was stereotypical in the sense that he was the "perfect guy". But he also reels you into the story. For once I would love to read a book where the main guy love interest wasn't perceived as some magnificent person."

Teen Book Review Blogs You Should Follow

Have a suggestion for a link? Leave it in the comments or email us at yahighway at gmail dot com with the subject line "Field Trip Friday." We can't use every submission but we'd love to look at your links. Also, be sure to check out the end of this post to vote on the entries in our First Lines contest!

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This week on the interwebz:
Most important? Haiti. YA Highway bloggers Kirsten and Michelle put together this post with ways you can help.

In writing news you can use:
- Writer's Relief Blog offers straightforward adivce on how to write a book blurb for your query.

- Kidlit.com advises you on what to do after that magical moment of getting an offer.

- Oh! Did someone get an offer? That's right, my girl Cory is now officially represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency. Congrats Cory! Keep an eye on her blog for the story of Laura torturing her (and us following along) on Twitter.

- Also, our teen contributor Kody is one of 7 authors vlogging about publishing, reading, and being rebellious. Be sure to follow the YA Rebels on YouTube!









Marelisa Fábrega at Abundance Blog posted a great compilation of advice for writers by writers, including this quote:

“If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.” — Margaret Atwood

Twice recently we've warned about using caution when posting online. Agents, publishers, editors and authors that you mention today--on forums, blogs, Twitter-- might be your colleagues tomorrow. Agent Kate McKean points out that your snarky post about a form rejection is going to be seen because of a little thing called Google alerts. You might just be blowing off steam... or you might be ruining your career. Don't think you can post it and delete it later, either-- sites like the Way Back Machine ensure that on the internet, at least, your words never truly die.











Blogging not your thing? That's okay, says agent and guru Nathan Bransford: Just do what you're best at (and while you're at it? One inch margins, people, one inch margins).

Pam Bachorz echoes a similar sentiment, but applied more broadly to writing in general, with a beautiful post inspired by a quote from Henry Van Dyke:

“Use what talents you possess. The woods soul be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.”

And finally, because I have a not-so-secret desire to participate in a flash mob someday: Hammer Time. In gold pants. (But keep scrolling-- we have a contest at the end of this post!)


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Contest Entries: Vote For Your Favorite First Line!
Rules: Voting ends Thursday January 21 at 5:00 pm CST. Comments are welcome but votes placed there will not be counted. 
Please note: Entry #10 should finish "his soon-to-be new home." Sorry author!
 

Field Trip Friday and Contest Time-- Time to Vote!

It's a familiar feeling – watching people suffer on the news, hearing the death count rise, getting that desperate, sickening feeling in the pit of our stomachs, wanting to help and not knowing how.

While many of us just want to roll up our sleeves and be there, it's not possible, nor would it be safe. But there's a lot we can do. And for the amazing people already in Haiti trying to help, every single penny counts.

Cash

At times like this in the past, I've thought what little I had to give wouldn't make a difference.

Right now, thousands, if not millions of people are thinking the same thing. Imagine if the little each one of them had to give was $10. I'm thinking that sure as hell would make a difference.

To donate $10 to Red Cross, text "HAITI" to "90999" (U.S. cell phones only).

To donate an amount of your choosing, fill out this form at Partners in Health.

Many of the hospitals have been destroyed. To help medical workers tend to the injured, head to Doctors Without Borders to make an online donation, or donate by phone at 1-888-392-0392.

Donate Items

I'm an associate editor at Matador Travel, an online travel magazine, and we're organizing an effort to fly a plane filled with volunteers trained in medical services and relief efforts to Haiti for free. We're working directly with the NYC consul and established organizations to determine their needs, and are waiting for their direction before making any final decisions.

When/If this happens, we want to load the plane with donated items. If you aren't sure what kind of donations are acceptable, here's a few suggestions:

Baby formula (dry/powder)

Baby wipes

Baby bottles

Diapers

Baby clothes

Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste)

Hand sanitizer

Vitamins

First aid kits

Over the counter medicines

Socks

Blankets

Mosquito repellent

Flashlights

Batteries

Candles

Flip flops

T-shirts, pants, lightweight jackets

Non perishable food that’s not in cans (seal-paks of tuna, for example)

If you're interested in making a donation, please contact matadorhaiti [at] gmail [dot] com, and we'll fill you in on the process. Last I heard, we're already starting pick-ups in New York City.

Spread the Word

I'm positive this isn't the first blog post you've seen on ways to help victims. But the fact is, the Internet simply works. For the above mentioned project, we went from the idea of filling a plane with volunteers to nearly 1,000 responses from willing, able bodies, briefly shutting down the editor's gmail account, in hours. How did we get the word out? Tweet tweet.

And if you're going to tweet anything, tweet this link: http://tinyurl.com/y9nfvbs. This woman received an email from friends working at an orphanage in Haiti. These children are in the middle of the adoption process, just shy of being U.S. citizens. The orphanage is destroyed – they're living in the yard. No water.

This is happening NOW.

Getting the children on a plane would be classified as international kidnapping, but the volunteers will not leave without them, as it means certain death for the kids. One of them sent the email from a stranger's Blackberry:

"We trùly cant keep babys alive water contaminated. i want to make sûre évryoné ùnderstands we cant stay in haiti and thé kids will not live if théy stay. Riots will start within two days."

Already, powerful contacts have been made that have the planes and are willing to help. How? Twitter. Bureaucracy is keeping these children and volunteers from rescue. Please spread the word. The more people that hear, the better the chance that we'll get in touch with someone with the power to help.

~Michelle Shusterman


More About Haiti

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Eighty percent of the nation lives under the poverty line. The shoddy homes staggered up the mountainous terrain simply weren't constructed to withstand an earthquake. And now, the capital has been "flattened, according to CNN.

Flattened.

As a Central America travel writer, I've seen dire poverty in Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and yet it doesn't come close to the history of nationwide suffering in Haiti -- what Hillary Clinton says is on a "biblical" scale. I mean:

In 1998, Hurricane Georges struck Haiti and the Dominican Republic, killing 500 and leaving 400,000 homeless.

In 2004, Hurricane Jeanne caused landslides that kill more than 2,000 Haitians.

In 2008, storms Hanna, Gustav and Fay killed hundreds of Haitians and left tens of thousands homeless. A month later, Hurricane Ike (the largest hurricane ever observed in the Atlantic) furthered the destruction.

After this earthquake, the situation in Haiti is apocalyptic. There is little if no water, food and limited medical supplies. Because of ruined roads, relief is slow in the devastated city. And as Michelle said, this is all happening NOW.

At YA Highway, we celebrate being citizens of the world. But when we're wrapped up in our own lives, it's all too easy to forget about our neighbors in need. Now's the time to rally together. Let's help Haiti!

~Kirsten Hubbard

Highwayers Helping Haiti

Welcome to our twelfth Road Trip Wednesday!

Road Trip Wednesday #12: Let's Give 'Em Something to Talk About

On my personal blog, I've done several Teaser Tuesday posts with a twist, analyzing the first lines of my favorite books. Today I'm bringing the fun to YA Highway in three ways:

• The YAH girls gave me the first lines of their favorite books to evaluate.
  

• We're showing you the first lines of our very own works in progress.
  

• PLUS! Check the end of this post to see how you can win a first page crit and a signed book!
  

Part I: Favorite First Lines

Most successful first lines do one of two things: They make you ask a question you want answered, or they give you a taste of a voice you want to get to know. Embarrassingly, I have only read one of the books below, so my first reaction is exactly that: A first reaction based solely on the first sentence and the cover. What are your reactions? Tell us in the comments!

Kody's favorites...

SOMETHING, MAYBE by Elizabeth Scott:
"Everyone has seen my mother naked."

Reaction: Um... why exactly?





Kristin Jr. suggests...

JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta:
"I’m dreaming of the boy in the tree and at the exact moment I’m about to hear the answer that I’ve been waiting for, the flashlights yank me out of what could have been one of those perfect moments of clarity people talk about for the rest of their lives."

Reaction: This is the one I've read, so it's a little harder to assess.  But clearly we have two questions right off the bat: What was the dream boy about to say, and what is so important that it woke her? That "perfect moment of clarity" is something beautiful I identify with right away, too.









Kristin Sr. suggests...

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES by L.M. Montgomery:
"Mrs. Rachel Lynde lived just where the Avonlea main road dipped down into a little hollow, fringed with alders and ladies' eardrops and traversed by a brook that had its source away back in the woods of the old Cuthbert place; it was reputed to be an intricate, headlong brook in its earlier course through those woods, with dark secrets of pool and cascade; but by the time it reached Lynde's Hollow it was a quiet, well-conducted little stream, for not even a brook could run past Mrs. Rachel Lynde's door without die regard for decency and decorum; it probably was conscious that Mrs. Rachel was sitting at her window, keeping a sharp eye on everything that passed, from brooks and children up, and that if she noticed anything odd or our of place she would never rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof."

Reaction: I actually have Kristin's reaction for this one:

"People don't much write like this nowadays. It's a signature of her time (see also: Jane Austen) and I love it. I love the rhythm, I love the voice, I love the magic and the barely concealed humor. I can't wait to learn more about this ferocious woman and this fairy-town of Avonlea."

Kaitlin's favorites...

THE GOLDEN COMPASS by Philip Pullman:
"Lyra and her daemon moved through the darkening Hall, taking care to keep to one side, out of sight of the kitchen."

Reaction: Daemons and an unknown threat from the kitchen. Scary and mysterious.





THE SHIFTER by Janice Hardy:
"Stealing eggs is a lot harder than stealing the whole chicken."

Reaction: True enough-- and funny. It suggest the MC is spirited, which I like.







Michelle suggests...

THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY by Douglas Adams:
"Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun." 

 Reaction: This isn't a fair answer, because I already know the meaning of life is 42 even though I've never read this book. "Unfashionable end of the Galaxy" is funny though.

Kaitlin Ward
DEAD AND ALIVE:
"Being dead rocks."











Lee Bross
DIAMONDS:
"Sean Ryan, the hottest guy in our entire Junior class, slapped down the box of extra large, ribbed for her pleasure condoms on the counter and winked at me."






Kristin D. Miller
THE RISEN:
"If they didn’t want me visiting the boys’ dorms after hours they shouldn’t have planted that oak tree under G-3’s window twenty years ago."









Michelle Shusterman
FROSTPROOF:
"When Nita first told me the three laws of ghosts, she was making curried lentils and honey butter na'an."










Emilia Plater
AFTER CAMERON:
"At this rooftop eruption of pop music and unlimited secret booze, I am a plus one."









Kody Keplinger
GOLDFISH:
"I can't breathe."











Part Three: CONTEST TIME!

Would you like to win a first page crit from YA Highway authors Kirsten Hubbard, whose Like Mandarin will be published by Random House/Delacorte in Spring 2011, and Emilia Plater, for an authentic teen's point of view-- PLUS a signed copy of Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation? First line: "Hanging outside the gates of the city of Dunce was a sign that read: 'No gnomes, no mages, etcetera.'"

To enter: Send us an email at yahighway at gmail dot com. Include your book title, first line, name and blog address (if applicable).YOU MUST USE "First Lines contest" (no quotes) as your subject line! Deadline for entries is Thursday, January 14 at 5:00 pm CST.

First lines posted in the comments WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE. But we will be giving away a second prize to a random commenter! Get an extra entry if you blog about our contest (please provide a link in the comments) or Tweet about the contest (please include @yahighway in your tweet). Limit 3 entries per person, not counting first lines.

We will post the entries anonymously with this week's Field Trip Friday and open the voting! 

ETA: Please note that first lines should be from your own works in progress, NOT a book you've read.
Also, if your first line is three words long or less, you may enter your first two sentences.

Thanks!

Teaser Tuesday: First Lines and a Contest!