Author Gary D. Schmidt participated in a live webcast today from the New York Public Library. He talked about his Newbery Honor book The Wednesday Wars
and his newest work, and a companion to The Wednesday Wars, Okay for Now
. I had a free period during the webcast (10 AM, PT) so I watched it while sitting at my desk. The audio was clear but the picture quality was just okay. There was, however, a little on-screen entry box to type questions. And you know what? The moderator chose MY question. It was pretty cool when she said my name and then read the question and then Gary Schmidt said, "That's an interesting question."
and his newest work, and a companion to The Wednesday Wars, Okay for Now. I had a free period during the webcast (10 AM, PT) so I watched it while sitting at my desk. The audio was clear but the picture quality was just okay. There was, however, a little on-screen entry box to type questions. And you know what? The moderator chose MY question. It was pretty cool when she said my name and then read the question and then Gary Schmidt said, "That's an interesting question." The Question: I noticed in the brief Okay for Now video that you write on a typewriter. Why a typewriter? For more narrative focus?
The Answer (I'm summarizing): That's an interesting question. Do you know how hard it is to find ribbon for a 1953 Royal. I type each novel 6 to 8 times and literally cut and paste with scissors and tape. It's a process that works for me.
Schmidt's response was longer and more in-depth, but I don't remember it all. He talked about both previously mentioned books, his writing process, and John Audubon's Bird Plates. They even showed pictures from one of Audubon's giant bird books. I'm hoping the webcast is rebroadcast somewhere, but as of now I can't find it anywhere.
Check out my review of Okay for Now.
First PMM on late night and now you having Schmidt answer your questions...very cool! And, still, why a typewriter? You can't ask that question enough.
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool that the moderator chose your question! And it sounds like Schmidt has an interesting writing process--scissors, tape, cutting and pasting? Wow.
ReplyDeleteThanks for following my blog!
I'd be a hot mess with scissors and a typewriter. Crazy.
ReplyDeleteWow. That takes me back to high school--because that is what I did. But I gave that up. Maybe I need to pick that back up to get to the next level in my writing. How cool is that? I love it when people are idiosyncratic. (Is that a word?)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds sorta fun--like preschool. Whip out the scissors/tape/glue and tear books apart. =)
ReplyDeleteAnita: slowly but surely, PMM and I are plotting our takeover.
ReplyDeleteThe Golden Eagle: Thanks for stopping by. Schmidt is definitely old school. Whatever works.
bfav: hot mess, huh.
Heather Kelly: high school and typewriters go hand in hand.
Jenny: Tearing books apart is part of a writer's job. It's an unfortunate, yet inevitable, part of the process.
Lol, that sounds like a crazy way of doing things. I love it!
ReplyDeleteYeah, a typewriter seems like a lot of extra work, but if your mind works that way then so be it.
ReplyDelete