Sandi Greene

A Couple of Recommendations
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I apologize for the font on this page. I only recently realized it’s gray and a little small. So I’m working on getting it fixed.
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Books first.
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I am reading a ton of YA right now because I’m judging a contest. I can’t say which one, but it’s keeping me busy. So all my other YA to-read books are temporarily shelved. However, I did manage to finish my first Ellen Hopkins book “Crank” (in one sitting). I have to say that woman is an absolute genius. (And she is super nice…I got to meet her last year at the SCBWI conference). I will read every book she’s ever written or will write. Very powerful stuff. Pick one up if you haven’t already. 
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I also finished “Lipstick Apology,” which I loved, mainly because it reminded me of the type of writing I do—contemporary romance, but with a unique hook. Nice reason to love it, huh? But really, I would suggest this debut author as well.
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Thoughts on Form Letters
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Last week I received a request for my full manuscript from an agent. The difference from all the others I’ve ever received, however, was that it was very personal. The agent took the time to be very specific in what she liked about my book. In the past, not only have I gotten form rejections, but I’ve gotten form “request for more” emails. Even if this agent doesn’t end up taking me on, her email made my day (and my week, and month, maybe year!).
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Since I teach hundreds of online students at any given time, I know the value of a form email. I understand from an agent’s perspective—who is getting hundreds of submissions a day—why a form response is necessary. And I would definitely rather receive a form response than no response at all.
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But I do notice a huge difference from my students when I use a personal response. They are grateful, and it seems to make a difference in their attitude. It’s during those times that I realize how valuable a personal response can be.
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Of course I get that this isn’t always realistic. For those of us whose jobs include dealing with mass quantities of individuals, giving personal responses to everyone would be a joke—we’d never get anything done.
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But I do think that once in a while we should consider that we are not robots nor are the individuals on the other side of the computer robots, and personal responses can make a world of difference in their lives. While it’s not always possible, we should strive to make it happen when our gut tells us we should.

Just some thoughts for you today
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Have a great week!

A few contests going on:

Amazon Breakthrough Novel now has a YA category: http://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Novel-Award-Books/b?ie=UTF8&node=332264011

KidLit blog (sorry, this one ends today, but she often has contests going on): http://kidlit.com/kidlit-contest/

Sourcebooks contest: http://teenfire.ning.com/

And, associated with that is a really cool YA ning community where they talk all YA happenings and they’ll help you with your ms’s: http://yalitchat.ning.com/

I finally got a new website/blog and I’ve yet to do anything with it. I know I’m not the most consistent blogger, and I’ve come to accept that. Part of the problem is that I have a million things going on between work, kids, life, you know the drill (right now as I try to type this my son’s asking me to put a dress on an Arial doll. Yes, he has a very strong feminine side, but that’s for another post).

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The world of publishing has got me super depressed right now. Nothing was happening with my novel, so my agent and I parted ways. It’s hard when you’ve worked for over a year with someone, feeling like it’s going to get you to that next step and then it doesn’t work out. I went into writing with the misconception that once you get an agent your career will take off. It isn’t so. (And I appreciate all the people I’ve met online the last few months who have been happy to share their several agent experiences with me so I won’t feel so alone…I’ve only had one…some have racked up several).

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So now here I am again, trying to find another agent in a market that is super competitive and is especially prone to take on anything that walks and breathes paranormal (which I don’t write).

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Any advice on how to keep pushing along even through these times of rejection that I seem to attract these days would be greatly appreciated.

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In more positive news about me… (BTW, I usually don’t go on and on about myself, so you’ll have to forgive my one self-indulgent blog)…I am considering applying to a PhD program. I’ve always loved school and research, and I’ve talked for years about going all the way (HA! that sounded funny!). But I haven’t had the time, money, whatever, fill in the blank. But since my husband is a few months away from finishing his master’s, I’m thinking about it again. In another week I’m going to a seminar on taking the GRE, and I’m ordering some GRE study books. I’m a horrible test-taker, so I most fear the GRE.

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The goal would be to take the dreaded test, and then apply to programs. But the two top programs I am interested in are a little ways away from home. One is the PhD in Creative Writing at Texas Tech, and the other is a PhD in Children’s Literature at the University of Florida. I’ve looked at a few general English ones in Arizona and California, and also online, but they don’t interest me as much. But I’m not sure if I want to up and move my family across the country for three to four years.

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Anyone know any pros/cons to getting such a degree (besides being able to teach full time at the university level)?

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So much to think about.

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Hope you have created some of your own goals this year, especially for reading and writing. I’d love to hear them. I don’t get a lot of comments on my blog, but I love hearing from you all, including my students (and now you know your teacher does not have a perfect life!).

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Have a great weekend!