My favorite poet is Wallace Stevens.
I would have bought insurance from him, just because he was Wallace Stevens.
One time, someone said something like this to Wallace Stevens: I don't understand what that poem is about.
And Wallace Stevens answered something along the lines of: Of course you don't. You didn't write it.
I don't really know why I mention this. I just happen to work hidden Wallace Stevens references into a lot of the stuff I write. There's lots of Wallace Stevens pepperings in Grasshopper Jungle, as well as in the short story I wrote in the forthcoming (September 2013) anthology called Losing It.
Remember this?
Bet you thought I forgot about my pay-as-you-go online writers' conference, didn't you?
Well, I didn't.
I didn't because I am excited to have joined a brand-new ORGANIZATION.
The organization is this: National Young Adult Authors Association.
NYAAA.
It is pronounced nyeah.
I know. Cool, huh?
So far, there is only one person in NYAAA, and one faculty member at our mega-super conference, and one guy who takes your money at the door: ME.
If you want to join, let me know, and I'll think about it. After all, NYAAA doesn't take just anyone. In fact, if anyone else does join, I will probably quit. While I was out on my seven-mile run this morning, I kept arguing with myself in my head about how morbidly introverted I am.
I hate my introversion, but not nearly as much as I hate being in clubs.
Anyway, I'm feeling compelled to give a lesson here this week on writing YA. Trust me, it will be tough.
You know why it will be tough?
It will be tough because LEARN is a verb. It requires some type of performance--action--on the part of the student. That's one of the first things I tell my students (and I've been teaching writing for a very, very long time).
Just remember that first bit before lesson one and it won't be as tough.
nyeah, nyeah, nyeah...
