Reasons not to eat uranium & closet wizards
This month we're marveling at 100 ideas, identifying birds, halloween costumes...
A marvelous welcome to the 89 new friends who’ve joined since October! Glad to have you here.
Well friends, I’m feeling five days late and 10 coffees behind on this newsletter and literally everything else in my writing career. This is good news for you because that means you get a lot more funny memes and reels in this month’s newsletter, because when I’m spending most of my energy simply existing, funny memes and reels are my medication. It’s bad news for me because it means I’m spending most of my energy simply existing. Can’t have it all.
A Marvelous Question…
If there was a closet wizard in your family, who would it be? Respond to this email and I’ll post some responses next month. Bonus points, tell me why. My favorite answer gets a signed book from me.
📚 WRITING STUFF📚
A writing retreat has come and gone
A month ago, I went on a writing retreat. It was FANTASTIC. I spent a lot of time using, and then iterating on, my new process to outline my next YA project, INHERITANCE. I’m pitching it as Encanto + Schitt’s Creek + Arrested Development. Maybe for next month’s newsletter, I’ll have some first pages to share if anyone is interested.
Provenance on submission* update
Currently, 12 editors are reading it.
5 have passed (almost all said they already have a magical music book on their list.) Apparently, THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE.
100th YA idea
The other day, I dropped my 100th YA idea into my “brainipedia” where I keep all my ideas. I’ve got more ideas than time.
Picture book stuff
Working on two ideas right now. One for the Christian market, one for the general market. I’m sketching these stories out, so hopefully more news to come.
My last picture book on sub* didn’t take with anyone. It was weird. Written in second person, super surreal and quirky. Hanging it up and will try again some other time when I’m SUPER famous, obvi.
👾STUFF👾
What I'm looking at
Brandon Sanderson’s Creative Writing Class
I can’t believe content like this is free, y’all. This can teach you more about creative writing in 10 hours than I learned in my first 6 years of writing.
Button pushers
Profiting off our anxiety since 2000.
What I’m reading
Firefight | Brandon Sanderson
Status | Finished the first in this series, Steelheart, a week ago. Good. Beginning started super stiff. Loosened up a bit as it went on. Solid page turner.
The Golden Enclaves | Naomi Novik
Status | Good, but LOTS of interjection from the character. It’s bogging me down a smidgelet.
The Lies of Locke Lemora | Scott Lynch
Status | Good, but man, I don’t have a good stomach for irreverence of human life. I’d be a horrible assassin.
Three Billy Goats Gruff | Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen
Status | A picture book fairy tale series after my own heart. I love these two creators. I want to be their friends.
What Makes a Bestseller | Public Books
If you’re a friend of an author or subscribe to an author’s newsletter, you should read this. It’s a SOLID look at how gamed the “bestseller” system is. Might need to say F it and write some Twilight Fan Fiction.
What I'm laughing at
Super big mega talent
Been looking for an adapter like this for a while
Reasons to not eat uranium
Waiters 0.5 seconds after your first bite
Embrace your self, embrace awesome costumes
What I’m listening to
Lent: Near The Cross | MissionSong
Randomly found this music from a church I live near. Pure jamz. Love this style. Specifically, Lord Jesus Think on Me and Pilot Me.
ig songs | Taylor Armstrong
This album surprised me. I saw the song titles and did an eye roll, but whoa. Absolutely stunning.
May you be really good at identifying birds,
Dave
*On submission means that my agent is actively sending it around to editors at publishers to see if they are interested in making an offer on it.