Um, attention, body clock?

I keep waking up really early. Part of it is the story in my head, my new WIP. I don’t know what else to blame it on. I have been a perky early riser for decades. My normal alarm was set for 6am and I could get up with no problems. But since I’ve been working on the new draft? I wake up several times in the night and then I get up for good way before the alarm. This morning, it was 4am. Go figure. Maybe I will wind up hibernating and sleeping through the winter. This puzzles me.

Spent the day running errands and putting the finishing touches on my keynote speech for the SCBWI Fall Philly conference this weekend. Must remember to adjust my fantasy football team before I leave.

There are still ghosts and gremlins in our Internet, but I hope the hotel I’m staying at this weekend has wifi. I have a bunch of stuff to send to Theo and it has been pretty much impossible with our cobbled system.

Are you brave enough to love your body? Let’s all get ready to celebrate on October 18th.

11 Replies to “Um, attention, body clock?”

  1. Ooh, you’ll be at the PA conference with my editor (Catherine Onder)! I am terribly jealous. Sigh. So many SCBWI conferences, so little time… but I am looking forward to seeing you at MI in a couple of weeks.

  2. sorry your internet’s been crazy. i hope the ghosts and gremlins get out soon. good luck with the conference this weekend! wish i could be there, but i’m going to my best friend from ninth grade’s birthday party and then i’m hanging out with another friend i haven’t seen all summer. but i’ll definitely be there in spirit! =) ♥
    p.s. i’m doing an essay for my writing class on banned books, and i’m going to mention you and your views if that’s okay. just thought i’d let you know.

  3. Wish I could go; not many writers’ events occur in or near Philly. At least not of writers I might like. (Don’t want to meet horror writers, particularly, for example, ‘cuz I don’t read ’em.)

    If you’re looking for recommendations of any sort for places you and your minions might go while here, just drop me a line or comment.

  4. The only time that I have ever woken up at 4am was for a swim meet. I am such a night owl that I can’t even fathom waking that up early and it feeling good. lol

    Have fun at the conference ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. A few questions from a future teacher

    Hello Mrs. Anderson!

    My name is Megan Whyte and I am currently a senior at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. I am majoring in English Language Arts Education and hope to someday be a High School English teacher. Right now, I am enrolled in an Adolescent Literature course and as a class project, I was wondering if you would be able to answer a few questions I had in regards to your views on reading, writing, publishing, and the like.

    Thank you so much for your literary contributions. Your books have not only impacted my life, but will surely impact the lives of the potential students in my classroom, and generations of readers to come!

    Thank you so much for your time, and have a great day!

    Sincerely,
    Megan Whyte
    meganjwhyte@yahoo.com

    Questions:

    1. What was the first novel you ever remember reading?
    2. What inspired you to become a writer?
    3. Why did you choose the particular genre/s in your works?
    4. How has your personal experiences in your life affected your writing?
    5. What role did the adult figures in your life (parents, grandparents, teachers, etc.) play in the development of your writing?
    6. What kind of student were you in school?
    7. What advice would you give to young readers who want to become future writers?
    8. If you werenโ€™t a writer, what other occupation would you have? Why?
    9. What are your views on the new technologies that are currently in the market (iPods, cell phones, internet, etc.)? Do you think this digital wave has affected reading and writing in our youth today? Why or Why not?
    10. What are your views on literacy in our world today? Do you feel that literacy is a global issue?
    11. Do you have a favorite out of the novels that you have written?
    12. What is your personal favorite book? Why is it your favorite?
    13. And lastly, do you have any advice for teachers on how to inspire kids to read?

  6. sharing the moment

    I wanted to share a moment with you from my class today. First the background, it is a low reading level 8th grade class of all girls. We read Speak during the afternoons after our state testing. The girls cannot stop talking about your book. The other teachers are telling me about what they are overhearing in their rooms. I thought that was fabulous, so I decided to show the movie today in class. The girls were gripped but every now and then I would hear a mutter about the book did a better good of describing this or that. I also have to tell you that when it was time for their class to be over they did not want to leave. They are now wanting to read all of your books that I have. I just sat in my room today and watched as these girls were captivated by Melinda and I realized that I have an awesome job thanks to great writers like you. Thank you for such wonderful characters and stories.

  7. Re: A few questions from a future teacher

    Hi. I’m not (and never have been) Laurie, but she doesnt seem to mind when other people try to answer her questions, so here’s the stuff i remember, and good luck with your project!

    2. The About Me section of her website might help. – “For years, Laurie had loved writing, but had considered it little more than a hobby. It eventually dawned on her that people would pay her to write and she became a freelance reporter. She also began to write all types of books and…”

    7. “What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a writer? Have a Plan B. You need some other kind of job that will pay the bills while you are learning the craft and breaking in (which takes on average 10 years)” (source)

    9. Laurie seems pretty down with new technology – i mean she has an iPod and an Internet and even a Facebook account…i don’t remember her having discussed the effect technology has.

    12. See this recent top 10 list or maybe the list of favorites on her MySpace or perhaps The Book That Changed My Life (least recent).

    13. I think the advice L. most frequently offers is to try giving kids contemporary books to read. She’s said a lot on this topic. Here‘s a start.

    Hope that helps a little ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Thanks for your words!

    I came across your blog just now as I head to bed. I was at FALL Philly and thoroughly enjoyed your speech as well as your quirky sense of humor…we beat to the same drum!

    I am an aspiring picture book author and gleaned ALOT from the conference.

    Just wanted to say THANKS! and I LOVE your work!!

    http://www.michellekemperbrownlowwrites4kids.blogspot.com

  9. it doesn’t matter because it is October and October is the best month.

    you know what my favorite month is. i live it every day

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