The Very Un-Plan for This Blog (i.e. I'm a Panster)

So after taking a few days to think about what to blog about next, I thought it would be a good idea to let you in on one important thing:

I'm a pantser when it comes to writing and most things in life.

I don't make outlines, plans, etc. I like to see how a story (or life) evolves organically over time on a spontaneous basis. This leads to many "happy" accidents when writing (and living) and "EUREKA!" moments.

When pansting works, it's like:
 and 

When it doesn't, I can feel like I'm and  and 

I've tried to outline and plan before, but I deviate from these things almost immediately as if my very being rebels against restricting my creativity or options.

Or maybe I'm just easily distracted... oh, look! 

So, I've decided to have a very un-plan for this blog.

I'll make posts whenever I feel like it, but will try my best to create at least two posts a week.

I'll write about whatever comes to mind and try to make it entertaining and/or informative. Some posts will be about the writing craft, others about topics in children's literature, and some will be completely random thoughts that leak out of my head.

So there you have it. My panster blog plan for the future domination of the internet.

Social Media... It's My Job!

Recently, I had a conversation with Nicole (my super awesome agent) and the topic of social media came up.

I've never been one to tweet, except during children's literature contests I've gotten involved in. I mainly use Facebook to keep track of birthdays. Blogger... prior to last year... I didn't do much with it... as evidenced by the seven year gap between first and second post.

I know a little about Flickr, if only because sometimes I have to show it off during library presentations... mainly to make sure people understand copyright and Creative Commons licenses.

Reddit, I've read it () on occasion.

Don't even ask me about Pintrest, Tumblr, Digg, etc.

So, you can imagine my inner voice crying out against the idea of getting involved in social media. Not that I hate being social or media, but somehow mixing the two makes me worry I might get sucked into some black hole never to return. 

But then, my agent said, "It's your job!"

And you know what? In this day and age, it's true. Writers don't have the luxury of holding up deep in a forest in a one person cabin hammering out prose, sending it into editors, and never appearing in public.

In fact, I don't think I'd like that idea one bit... I enjoy people too much... and so I'm going to do my job.

But... and there almost always is one... I'm going to make my journey into social media fun, humorous (hopefully), and lighthearted.

I can't promised to please all the people all of the time or even some of the people some of the time, but I can do my best to entertain a few people... just a little bit.

I hope you'll be one of the few.

PS: See Nicole! I'm doing my job! 

Casts Resurrect Blog! (i.e. I've Got an Announcement!)

Hello Again!

What's it been? Seven years since my first and last post here? Well, I must admit I just wanted to stake a claim to this blog's url in case I ever needed it.

And it seems I finally need it... at least that's what my new agent says... oh, right... I should make an official announcement about that so here it goes:

First off, I hope you all are having a  

As for myself, I wanted to share some good news with you. 

After almost a decade of working on various children's literature projects including PBs, chapter books, MG, and YA stories. I finally got an agent! Her name is Nicole Resciniti from the Seymour Agency.  


How did I snag such an awesome agent? Well, I just happened to enter Michelle Hauck and Sharon Chriscoe's PBParty contest last year and had my PB (TOO TIRED TO TELL A STORY) chosen for the agent round. Seven agents and editors requested the full story and of those I had three offer to work with and/or represent me. I must say it was a crazy week after the first offer with lots of emails and phone calls from various agents. 

After so many rejections, I sort of felt weird knowing I'd have to turn down not just one agent, but two. However, it did give me a better understanding of what agents go through when they are torn between saying, "Yes!" or "No." to prospective clients. Anyway, after talking with the agents, I eventually decided to accept Nicole's offer of representation and I am very happy to be part of the Seymour Agency family of authors.  


Of course, now the hard part starts... revisions and more revisions! But I'm excited to see what this good news brings in the coming months and years.
For those who are still seeking representation, never give up! I can't tell you how many times I had my stories rejected, but it was a lot over the past decade. However, persistence pays off and you never know when or where you might find a champion for your stories. Someone who sees the potential and is determined to push you to make your stories better and achieve your dreams. I definitely have that with Nicole and her assistant Danielle Bailey.
So good luck on finding your own  


Best Wishes,Joseph


PS: You can see my ugly mug and a short bio on the Seymour Agency's Pre-Published page here:
http://www.theseymouragency.com/Pre-Published-Page.html\

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End of announcement.

So there you have it... a reason to resurrect this blog and start blogging about my life and adventures in children's literature. I hope you'll join me for regular updates... I promise I won't take years to get back to this blog now that I have some actual children's book related news and thought I'd like to share.

Call me Joseph

Call me Joseph.

Some years ago, never mind how long precisely, having little or no writing experience, and nothing particular to interest me in the world, I thought I would wander about a little and explore the uncharted aspects of the imagination.

Wary editors often warn their authors away from these perilous areas of fiction, and not without reason. Many a book lies forgotten at the bottom of the waste paper basket because its writer dared to go where no publisher would follow. The broadsides of disbelieving readers sink most of these manuscripts, while the Kraken, known in the native tongue of literary critics as “It-Was-All-Just-a-Dream,” drags the others down to their doom.

It takes a brave or foolish man to sail into the unexplored oceans of literature with nothing but a blank page to catch the winds of inspiration and a pen to steer the way.

Did I mention I am a brave fool? Well, I am and so I will dare to discover the land of my dreams no matter how perilous the passage.

Will you cast anchor with me from the humdrum harbor of the Old World of Reality? Will you set sail with me in search of the surreal shores of the New World of Imagination? Will you drop your duffle bag of disbeliefs at the dock and join me on my incredible journey?

I hope you will, but I must warn you once you have been beyond the edges of the map there is no going back, only onward, ever onward till the end.

And so it has arrived, your moment of your choice.

Shall you stop here and live a long life of blissful ignorance or shall you continue to read and risk a much shorter life of misadventure with me?

If you decide to stop, then close this blog. No hard feelings. Not everyone is ready for a life of misadventure, though perhaps one day you will revisit me and turn over a new page in your life.

If you decide to continue, then subscribe to this blog. I will consider it a sign of good faith between us and like two new friends we shall sit down for a while and get to know each other by telling our stories, sharing our dreams, and sailing into the unknown together.