Finished Momo

Yep. Just as good as it started out. A little rushed at the end, but then, time was about to be erased and momo only had an hour to save the universe, so that's understandable. Also Momo met Death, and so did Michael Ende, and all the children were put away in holding pens and taught to play "file the important information in its proper place." Anyway I think everyone needs to read it.

Apparently there was a movie in the eighties. Made by Germans, which makes sense. However, everytime I've tracked down a movie made in the eighties from a wonderful children's book, I've been severely dissapointed, and almost offended. Granted, I haven't done this many times... like, okay twice, but do I want to risk it?

Survey says dammit, yes. Stadium Video, here I come. But if I find another From The Mixed Up Files botch job I'm going to break something. They didn't even get the damn title right!

Momo

So I just started this book Momo by Michael Ende, the author of The Never Ending Story. I've never read the never ending story, and really just picked this up because of all the scary gray men with clocks on the cover. And, so far, it is wonderful and sweet and everything I wish to accomplish in my own writing. I am a little jealous that I am not Michael Ende.

Basically, a vagrant child called Momo moves into the ruins of an ampitheater in a very poor village. She becomes a minor inspiration to the people there and they live simple but good lives. Then these creepy guys in gray come in from the Timesaving Bank, and steal time from people who think they're saving it, and everyone who falls prey to the bank's schemes finds their lives lacking in any joy. Of course, Momo is not effected (just barely), cue the battle to come...

Yeah, I'm really into it. I totally reccomend it. And I want to see the minor story about the crazy emperor who built a whole new world out of the old one, only to discover he merely transplanted everyone about a foot and a half to the right as a comic done in woodcuts.

New Blaaag

I've created a new blog specifically for writing type shit. It will chronicle my editing process as I try to fix the many many MANY issues made apparent in my manuscript after the SCBWI, and hopefully connect me to a few agents. Ja.

Unfortunately I did the stupid thing and put it up on a different email account and now Blogger recognizes it as a different person. So, this one, right here at http://writerslie.blogspot.com/ is also me.


As a minor follow up to the second day of SCBWI, I'd like to say that Jon Scieszka sounds alot like Bill Murry, and is possibly funnier. He got a crowd of children to worship him in a catholic church by showing off his National Ambassador of Children's Literature medal, and read a story called "Crossing Swords" to the president at a black tie dinner. Yes, the story was about pissing.

SCBWI: A New Hope

I arrived at day one of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators anual conference a bundle of nerves running on three hours of sleep and no coffee. As it was Redmond, the city was still asleep and there was no coffee to be had, even though I got there a keen hour early. However, I overcame this setback to have...

a totally awesome day. I even overcame my inert fear of everyone and everything to talk to each person I shared a table with, in ever class. Score, like, eighty kajillion on the Megan Effort Scale.

Thankfully, I was not alone. The back of the pamphlet included a "get to know your neighbor" list of questions, numbering well past fifty. Number two was "How do you overcome your introversion in order to network?" This was certainly a place of writers.

Along with ingenius editing tips, editor pet peeves, and meeting a woman who is actually Actively looking for someone who writes like Roald Dahl, about DEAD ANIMALS (my notes on this person included FUCK YES), I also discovered that Adam Rex is brilliant. And he got his start illustrating Magic the Gathering cards. He had this to say:
"It wouldn't be called bottom feeding if there wasn't food down there."
Also: "Aim low. Shoot for the knees."

And tomorrow is another day. I will try my darndest to get more than three hours sleep this time.