BOOK TRAILER: Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

On Monday Augusta Scattergood will be my guest here, sharing her review of the National Book Award and Newbery Honor winning,Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (by Phillip Hoose).

Meanwhile you can meet both Phillip Hoose and Claudette Colvin herself in this engaging video.


And since (unless you live in Hawaii) there is snow in your state, you may as well enjoy another video while you are at it. This is Phillip Hoose accepting the National Book Award with Claudette Colvin at his side. I really love that this was not one of those fluttery OMG acceptances. I love the quiet dignity of their walk to the lectern. I love that this man sought out history and shared a little known history maker with us. I think I have a new literary hero. Not because of the award but because of the respect that oozes from Phillip Hoose's pores.

Phillip Hoose and Claudette Colvin, 2009 National Book Awards Dinner from National Book Foundation on Vimeo.

I'm throwing you a life line here. So grab ahold. Take a deep breath. You're not going to die after all!

Just when you thought you were going under. Just when you wondered if it's even possible for anyone to write a novel, memoir, non fiction book, picture book, or anything remotely publishable; Becky Levine pulls out the safety equipment.

Levine, herself is living proof that you don't have to die trying to get published. This very week she and Writer's Digest Books are releasing an amazing writing book with an ambitious title!

THE WRITING & CRITIQUE GROUP SURVIVAL GUIDE: HOW TO GIVE AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK, SELF EDIT, AND MAKE REVISIONS

That's a lot to ask from any book. But somehow Levine manages it. I'm reading her Survival Guide now - although not as closely as I would like to because I happen to be drowning in revisions. Or, I would be drowning, if I didn't have this book to remind me what makes a scene work, or that all my characters need to be multi-dimensional, and of the importance of dialogue in relation to plot.

Here are a few other things I'm discovering as I read:

Organization (Levine has a left-brain that actually works!)

Highly readable writing style

Info about types of critique groups and how to decide which type is right for you

Critique group protocol - apparently you can't just show up and spout off - you actually have responsibilities, both as critiquer and critiquee

Information about various genres and how to critique for each

Sample analyses of writing passages in multiple genres

Worksheets

And, obviously much more! (304 pages)

The Survival Guide doesn't claim to be a writing course but - um, in my opinion, it sort of is one.

In honor of the Survival Guide's release, Becky Levine is offering a book giveaway. To enter, all you have to do is comment on one of my posts with the words - "HELP!" or "I NEED THAT BOOK!" or "MOVE THAT BUS!" (To to be quite honest, any little thing that gets the point across will do.)

You have until Feb. 2nd (Put Ground Hog's Day in the comment, if you like.) I'll put the entries in some sort of container, jostle them around, and pull one up without peeking.

But don't wait until then to check back here, because Ms. Levine herself will be stopping by later in the week to answer a few questions. And with permission from her, over the next few weeks, I might even toss out a delicious crumb or two from the Survival Guide.