Last week, before I was hit by the monster flu, I had a great school visit with the writing group at our local high school's March Intensive.

This was a new experiment.  For four days, students got to choose one "intensive" topic of study.  Some went on trips to England or Costa Rico.  My daughter learned how to make stained glass windows.  There was dancing, art, science, politics, and of course, writing.  (Next year, I'm signing up for figure drawing!)

Anyway, the writers invited me for pizza and Q and A, and I thought their questions were a lot of fun to answer.  They made me justify my decisions, which really hasn't happened in a while.  And when I went home to write, I coughed up twenty pretty good pages.

So I'm passing them forward!  

The first out of the box:  Why do some writers describe their characters' physical appearance, while others don't?

Where do you find your settings?  Do you have one particuar place in mind, or do you always just make it up?  (This was a really great, since I've been struggling with setting...)

What does it mean, to become your protagonist?  How do you actually do that?

Do you have a writing routine?

How do you know you are done?

What happens when you don't know what to write next?

Do you ever throw away your work?  (big smile)

Their interests covered all genres.  It was really cool about sitting with a bunch of kids and listening to them recommend your friends' books!  We talked about film (of course) and the connection of writing and film directing (another of course).  They already knew all the mantras: show, don't tell, kill your darlings....we talked as writers talked.  

A great day!

Good morning!

I'm only a little late with my new year's resolutions, so here goes!  We'll make it short....ah, the power of THREE!

NUMBER ONE

Looking back:
This year, I enjoyed a lot of FIRSTS.
....my son's bar mitzvah
....my novel released
....my wedding

Looking ahead:
....relaxation.  I VOW to rest.  To be good to myself.  To take time off!

NUMBER TWO

Looking back:
I read some excellent books.  My favorites include:
Barry Lyga's Boy Toy
Gail Giles' Right Behind You
Emily Smith Pearce's Isabel and the Miracle Baby
AND OF COURSE, the amazing

classof2k7

...what great books and great people, all of them.  Too many to post.

Looking ahead:
I need to read MORE.
I can't wait to read THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE, by

lizgallagher

which was released TODAY.  (more on that soon.....)
And I love being part of

thru_the_booth

....which everyone should check out.
and I need to update my website:  www.saraharonson.com...

check in soon...

NUMBER THREE (and last)

Eat more chocolate, but less of other things.
Feel good about the process, welcome new ideas.
clean the desk, clean the desk, clean the desk......