| Food for Thought |
| Art by Mj Gillot |
| Prairie Dog Cowboy Book Marketing Brainstorm &Review by J. Aday Kennedy Prairie Dog Cowboy by: V. Gilbert Zabel Illustrated by Jordan Vinyard Website: http://prairiedogcowboy.weebly.com Blog: http://vivianzabel.blogspot.com ISBN: 978-0-9797513-7-0 Publisher: 4RV Publishing LLC http://4rvpublishingllc.com |
Although his mother says he’ll never be able do anything but work with his back, Buddy Roberts
wants to be a cowboy. From the time he’s four-years old, he herds his father’s cows and calves on
foot even in winter.
The neighboring rancher, Caleb Hyman, is impressed with Buddy. He wonders why the child works
hard while his older brother, Jake, is doted on and spoiled. But, Caleb can see the man that Buddy
will become, encourages him, and teaches him to rope. Once Buddy can rope a prairie dog, Caleb
promises he'll give the boy a job on his ranch. Not an easy thing to do, but Buddy works hard to
reach his appointed goal. Prairie Dog Cowboy is a testament of a time when life was hard, but
people weren't afraid of hard work. The day-to-day occurrences represented are an accurate
telling of the time, history that should not be lost.
Book Promotion Brainstorming for "Prairie Dog Cowboy"
Blogs, Websites & Magazines to Advertise and or Review Books
There are many places to promote this book. The following list supplies many places to search.
Oklahoma Tourist attractions
Dude Ranches
Cowboy bed & breakfasts
Western, Cowboy or Pioneer themed hotel
Best Western gift shops
Western clothing shops
Ranch supply stores
Pioneer days
Rodeo gift store
Roping & riding arena
Roping association
Roping magazines
Equestrian
Ranching
Future Farmers of America
Rodeo, pioneer days, vacation horse rental places
Miscellaneous Ways to Market Your Book
Book signings
At book signings – Do you know someone that can do lasso tricks?
Rodeo, pioneer days, vacation horse rental places
WEBSITE DOWNLOADS
-Prairiedog scavenger hunt- library research questions– create library research document that fits
the book. You can include questions on everything that fits the book – prairie dogs, lassos,
cowboys, roping,, Oklahoma frontier, etc…
-How to make an igloo like Buddy
-more lessons & activities for download on your site
-The cowboy code –make it up
-Roping tricks
-An article / interview with real cowboys and try to find a cowgirl
CONTESTS
Illustration / art – winning entry could win a prize of having their art work displayed online.
Have a western witing contest first ? Supply a series of prompts to choose from that compliment
Prairie Dog Cowboy
-the pregnancy
-Caleb’s story it would show why he seems to care for Buddy
- an alternate reason for Buddy’s mother to dislike him
Post the winning story and accept illustrations for a cover.
Create a “book” (simply a clear photo with winning illustration for story cover
| The Economy is Killing School Visit Opportunities by J. Aday Kennedy http://jadaykennedy.blogspot.com/ |
Are you having problems booking author school visits? This economy
has everyone tightening their belts. Schools are feeling the economic
pinch. How do you get them to book you for school visits?
Where Can They Find the money?
Offer a discount based on the number of books ordered prior to the
visit?
Have the school run a fundraiser -raffle, collection, silent auction, at
PTA/PTO meetings.
There are grants available through the SCBWI.
Drumming Up School Visits
Get out and beat those bushes. Chances are if you are waiting for
them to come to you, you will be waiting for a long time.
Compile a list of schools, churches, day care centers, YMCA, Boy's &
Girl's Clubs, community centers, etc.... in your surrounding areas.
Design post cards with your book cover &/or your photo or if you're
doing a group presentation, display all of the book covers offered for
sale. There are several companies that print post cards.
Are you still having problems Getting the School Visit?
Search for authors that appeal to your demographic in your area.
Form a group. Would a school be willing to hold a school assembly?
A group of authors might provide a bigger hook. Create a fun
interactive activity that isn't specific to a particular gift.
has everyone tightening their belts. Schools are feeling the economic
pinch. How do you get them to book you for school visits?
Where Can They Find the money?
Offer a discount based on the number of books ordered prior to the
visit?
Have the school run a fundraiser -raffle, collection, silent auction, at
PTA/PTO meetings.
There are grants available through the SCBWI.
Drumming Up School Visits
Get out and beat those bushes. Chances are if you are waiting for
them to come to you, you will be waiting for a long time.
Compile a list of schools, churches, day care centers, YMCA, Boy's &
Girl's Clubs, community centers, etc.... in your surrounding areas.
Design post cards with your book cover &/or your photo or if you're
doing a group presentation, display all of the book covers offered for
sale. There are several companies that print post cards.
Are you still having problems Getting the School Visit?
Search for authors that appeal to your demographic in your area.
Form a group. Would a school be willing to hold a school assembly?
A group of authors might provide a bigger hook. Create a fun
interactive activity that isn't specific to a particular gift.
| So You Want to Write a Picture Book? by Margot Finke http://www.margotfinke.com Books - Manuscript Critiques - Writing Help |
| The Attribution Game: Writing Better Dialogue by Margot Finke http://www.margotfinke.com Books - Manuscript Critiques - Writing Help |
Your head is full of ideas, and you are keen to write them into a file
titled, "Picture Book." What about the first line? How many words
does it take to write a picture book? Is the word humongous too
old? Should you write it in rhyme, or in prose?
Picture books (PB) come in many shapes and sizes, and for a
variety of ages. For PB writers, every word must count. Your Word
Thesaurus will help you prune out all those tired, overused words.
Find strong, sparkling, evocative replacements -- words that would
offer an artist terrific clues for illustrations.
If your PB story runs to a single line or two, within a full-page
illustration, you are writing for toddlers and younger. With this type
of PB, the illustrations are what grab the child's interest and
imagination. Unless your artwork is of professional quality, it is
better to allow an editor to choose the illustrator. Use short simple
sentences. Word count is low for these Picture Books -- some
have fewer than 150 words.
Children of preschool age still rely on fun, lush and interesting
illustrations. However, your story can show a slightly more complex
aspect, yet keep a simple sentence structure. The illustrations sell
these books. Word count is somewhere around the 150 to 300
mark, or slightly higher.
Kindergarten and grade one children enjoy having books read to
them, so your plot, and the words you use for this age, can slide
up a notch. The adult reading the story will explain any difficult
aspect or words. Now your writing becomes more important. The
vocabulary of this age group grows by leaps and bounds. They
understand more words and concepts. This age does not
completely rely on the illustrations to understand the story, so the
artwork is sometimes smaller, to make room for more text. Yet
overall, you still need to keep your plot and sentences simple. A 16
to 32 page PB is ideal, with anywhere from 500 –1,000 words.
Writing Picture Books for second and third graders offers you
more scope. Many of these children can read for themselves.
Avoid complex sentence structure. Humor is a plus. Your words
take on added importance, so choose them with great care. There
is no room for longwinded descriptions. Discover the art of painting
word pictures. Offer the illustrator word clues he can pick up on
when illustrating your story. Understand that less is more, when
writing any PB. Zap those three ho-hum words, and find one terrific
word that says it better. This age allows you to write a great,
illustrated story, with approx. 1,000 to 1,500 words, in either 32 or
45 pages. I have to add, that a 1,000 word, 32 page PB is much
easier to have published.
Word and page count is not set in stone. Different publishers go
by different standards. As most have WebPages, be smart, and
check out their information pages for specific requirements.
Whether writing for kids or adults, one thing is paramount – hook
your reader early. Think about what makes your toddler giggle or
your first grader laugh. Watch kids at play. Think kid! If you are
writing a story, remember, it needs a beginning, a middle, and a
satisfying ending. Keep to one point of view. (POV) Allow your POV
character to grow and learn from his mistakes. Let him solve his
own problems. Even the youngest child wants to identify with the
main character and root for him/her.
Writing in rhyme needs all of the above, plus great natural
rhyming, and a smooth, no- bumps meter. Some will disagree with
me on this next point. However, I have always felt that if you
weren't born with a natural talent for rhyme and meter, you will
have a hard uphill slog to try and master it. Some people write
wonderful prose, and others write terrific rhyming stories. My
advice is to stick with what comes naturally and what you write best.
The rhyme needs to blend in as a natural part of the story.
Choosing words just because they rhyme stands out like a pimple
on the tip of your nose – it won't do! Meter is more complex.
Grrrrrrrr!! It depends on a repetitive and measured syllable count,
plus where you place those pesky, two and three syllable words.
Getting meter right can tie you in knots. You either have a talent
for it, or you must work darn hard at it.
Make your librarian into a friend. Ask her what books are popular.
Take home and study some of the classic picture books and a few
of the great picture books that have been published during the
past two years. Dissect every aspect of the writing. Discover what
makes these books work so well.
Join a critique group for PB writers, preferably one that has a few
experienced authors. Critiquing the writing of others is a great
learning experience. Having your own writing critiqued will expose
your blind spots and offer you much needed feedback.
Now is the time to tell you the secret of many successful children's
writers – don't rush the process. So what, if your critique group
gives your story a thumbs up and you think it is ready to delight
some lucky editor – WAIT! Like great wine, great writing needs
tender loving care, plus time to rest and mature. Put your story
aside for a few weeks. Begin some new writing. When you return to
it, all sorts of small errors and areas you want to rework will jump
out at you. Keep resting and reworking your piece until you know it
is the best you can write. Only then will your story be ready to
delight some lucky editor,
Happy writing, mates!
What you are about to read may shock or even disturb you. . . .
Dialogue offers a one-on-one sense of intimacy. When done right,
dialogue makes your readers feel they are eavesdropping on the
characters -- naughty but nice! Most of the time, attribution is a
must – but not always the ubiquitous "he said /she said."
Shocking? Don't be shocked, read on.
Margot Finke's Musings is hosted by:
The Purple Crayon
Find more resources for writers in the Articles section.
See the Musings index to find other installments.
* * *
Shop at BookCloseouts and support this site: This online
bookstore stocks remainders at discounts of 50% to 90%. Areas of
particular interest:
Children's fiction
Children's nonfiction
Reference
Other places to shop:
Purple Crayon Bookstores
Don't Always Play The Game:
There is often an excellent reason for using plain, straightforward
attribution. Hey, I use it myself! However, there are times when the
"he said, she said" thing becomes monotonous: an irritating echo.
Think about those areas where your critique group said you
needed something richer, more evocative. Maybe you want to
plant a clue or two? This is where an alternative to your usual
attribution can provide that extra richness, that evocative feeling,
that hint of things to come. So, when dialogue seems to come from
a machine gun, and you'd like your characters to show more
emotion or grit, go for actions and reactions.
Sneaky Is Good!
But how to seamlessly weave in these extras without making it
obvious? No good writer wants a series of information dumps
clogging their plot and slowing the pace. This is where sneaky
comes in, allowing you to add perfectly natural character
enrichment, with a whiff of portent.
Examples - Using "He said -- She said," Attribution:
Example #1
"I hate wrinkles and looking old," said Alex. "Would you think I was
vain and silly if I had a face lift?"
"A face lift. . .! Are you sure?" John asked. "Will you sulk for a
week if I disagree?"
"Yes, I'm sure. And I never sulk! You just don't want to give me an
answer, do you?" said Alex.
Example #2
"Please don't kick me again," said Tom.
"Why not, fart-face? You going to stop me?" said Butch.
Examples - Using "Sneaky" Actions & Reactions:
Example #1
"I hate wrinkles and looking old." Alex stared at herself in the
bathroom mirror, a frown on her face. "Would you think I was vain
and silly if I wanted a face lift?"
"A face lift. . .! Are you sure?" John stepped away, his face
lathered, razor in hand. "Will you sulk for a week if I disagree?"
"Yes, I'm sure. And I never sulk! You just don't want to give me an
answer, do you?" She glared at him in the mirror, but he avoided
eye contact.
Example #2
"Please don't kick me again." Tom huddled in the corner, his face
a mess of dirt and despair.
Hands on hips, Butch grinned, slow and awful. "Why not, fart-face?
You going to stop me?"
Summary:
With the attribution game, the choice is always with the writer.
Sometimes plain attribution works beautifully. Then again,
sometimes you need sneaky.
Happy sneaky writing, mates!
Aday Kennedy - can help any children’s or YA author or
illustrator by brainstorming ways to market their books. Visit her
blog at
http://jadaykennedy.blogspot.com/.
All she asks is that an ebook, PDF of the book, or word document
of your book is sent via email to author@jadaykennedy.com.. She
is legally blind and a quadriplegic. Her computer reads to her.
As a courtesy, she would like a hard copy of your book, too. She
lives in a rural community with limited resources and income. All
books she receives are donated to the library. Her goal is to
donate 100 books per year. This year she has donated 32.
J. Aday Kennedy : A Writing Playground
illustrator by brainstorming ways to market their books. Visit her
blog at
http://jadaykennedy.blogspot.com/.
All she asks is that an ebook, PDF of the book, or word document
of your book is sent via email to author@jadaykennedy.com.. She
is legally blind and a quadriplegic. Her computer reads to her.
As a courtesy, she would like a hard copy of your book, too. She
lives in a rural community with limited resources and income. All
books she receives are donated to the library. Her goal is to
donate 100 books per year. This year she has donated 32.
J. Aday Kennedy : A Writing Playground
Boring is Out - Quirky is In by Nancy Marmolejo http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com |
People don't go into business for themselves because they want to be
confined and constrained. They go into business because they are
fueled by passion and the urge to freely follow that passion. In fact, a
2007 study by American Express listed "passion" as the number one
reason why people become entrepreneurs. Turning a profit came in
significantly lower.
So with this natural inclination towards passion and freedom, why oh
why do so many business owners cling to unremarkable strategies in
their branding and marketing? Folks, it's time to dump the boring and
usher in the Age of Quirkiness.
Yes, quirky.
And I must go on to defend this poor word, because most people don't
want to go down in history for being quirky. It's a focus on that which is
peculiar, out of the ordinary, out of the box. In a negative light, it brings
back all those horrible high school memories of awkwardness or not
fitting in. But in a positive light, it is the celebration of that which is. It's
a celebration of our natural traits, talents, habits, and behaviors. Now,
we're playing them up to our advantage.
One of the first things I ask clients to do is list their quirks,
idiosyncrasies, and even their defining physical characteristics. Often,
people downplay them or are embarrassed to talk about them.
The dorky laugh, the gap in the teeth, the crazy hair . . . it can be
anything. But guess what? When you can claim those things you see
as odd or different about yourself, then you are taking the first steps to
creating a powerful, sizzling way to stand out from your competitors.
I spent my life feeling self-conscious about my height and my looks.
People could never define my ethnicity but they knew I wasn't 100% of
anything. I didn't fit in: I was either too tall, too light, too dark, too
ethnic, or too Americanized.
So the day I announced to the world, "I'm a 5 foot 10 inch tall Mexican-
Aztec-German-Austrian-American-Cultural Hybrid!", I felt liberated. And
isn't being an entrepreneur all about freedom?
Is there something you're hiding behind that can be your stand-out
trait? Do an honest inventory and love what makes you stand out.
Look within and ask loved ones what makes you stand out, what
endearing quirks make you YOU.
When you claim your quirks and turn them towards your business, you
are taking the first steps to creating a truly memorable brand.
Nancy Marmolejo simplifies social media for entrepreneurs so they can
attract opportunities and build loyal customer fan bases. Nancy’s
advice has been shared in over 100 media outlets as well as on her
popular blog. Download her free resources by visiting
http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com
Creating Super Settings with the Five Senses By Bev Walton-Porter |
Like a play or a television show, stories need characters, but they also
need a sense of place.
Similar to a decorated set in a play, your story must provide a backdrop
for your characters to use as a stage to move the story's plot forward.
The easiest way to build realistic settings is to use all of
the five senses: tasting, touching, smelling, seeing and hearing.
What's the most important sense when it comes to hooking your
reader? Smell. To deliver a tale which reminds your audience of home
and family, nothing works better than weaving in the familiar scent of
homemade bread or chocolate chip cookies straight from
grandma's kitchen. What does the spicy hint of pumpkin pie in the air
make you remember? Most often, it's Thanksgiving, right? Bring those
familiar smells into your stories and snag your reader's imagination. It's
as easy as allowing them to follow their noses!
Touch is also important. When your character comforts a much-loved
family pet, let the reader feel the soft, downy fur coat through his or her
fingers. If you are writing a historical piece, readers can sense the
roughness of peasant's clothing simply by your character
rubbing his hands nervously against his work-worn trousers.
Show, don't tell, is a writing rule often repeated. By showing, not telling,
your reader sees through your characters' eyes instead of having a
story read to them. Place yourself in the story and pretend you are the
star. What do you see? What do you notice about the room
surrounding you? Whatever is in your mind's eye, you must allow your
reader to experience, also.
What was that?! Did you hear something? If you don't bring noises to
your reader's attention, he won't hear a thing but silence. Does your
story take place in a mall? What does a mall sound like? Let the
reader hear the hustle and bustle of shoppers during the holiday
season: People chattering, babies crying and elderly people shuffling
by as they grumble about the high prices of today. Wherever you
choose to people your story, make your story more
peopled and real by sharing the sounds your readers know best.
Yech, that magic potion tasted awful! But how does your reader know if
it's bitter or sweet? If John sneaks a forbidden taste of pie without
realizing Freddy used too much salt, how will the reader wince in
disgust? Once again, you must share the sense of taste in through
your words. How does food that has too much salt taste? Bitter, biting
or just plain burning on your tongue? Go back to when you
experienced that distasteful moment and translate it into words your
readers can sink their teeth into.
Once you frame your stories using the five senses, you'll find your
scenes coming to life. Your characters will take on new layers of reality.
And that's what writers do best – deliver stories to readers while making
them as real as possible.
Bev Sninchak, writing as Bev Walton-Porter
Author/Editor/Writing Coach
http://editrix.homestead.com
Blog: http://elementalmusing.blogspot.com/
| Online Book Promotion: The Ins and Outs by Crystalee Calderwood |
Many writers become overwhelmed when it comes time to promote
their first books. There are so many options out there, from taking out
ads in newspapers and magazines, to passing out postcards and
flyers around town. In this day and age, there is one valuable
marketing tool that can’t be ignored: the internet.
The following is a list of just some of the ways you can (and should!)
look into:
1. Create a personal webpage. Sites like Bravehost allow you to
create a website for free or at low cost.
2. Blog. Some writers argue that blogging is more beneficial than
creating a static website. Blogging allows potential readers to get to
know you and have conversations about your work. It also allows you
to network with other writers, share writing tips, and establish yourself
as an expert in your field.
3. Hold a virtual book tour for your book. Have fellow writing friends
host you on their blogs. Offer prizes for purchasing your book. Online
groups like VBT: Writers on the Move on Yahoo! Groups offer a
small, friendly and experienced group of writers who will regularly blog
about your book in exchange for you blogging about theirs. (More
about this in another article.)
4. Join social networking sites like Facebook (where you can set up a
fan page for your book and/or yourself), MySpace, LinkedIn,
LibraryThing and Good Reads. Good Reads and LibraryThing both
allow you to create author profiles with information about yourself and
your book.
5. Once you’ve created an author profile on Good Reads, offer a
free copy of your book through their giveaway program. You’ll
instantly have hundreds of people competing to win your book, and
hopefully some of them will buy your book if they don’t win it.
6. Join groups like Red River Writers on Facebook, which allows you
to network with other writers. I had a lot of fun appearing on Robin
Falls Kids Storytime on Blog Talk Radio to talk about my book
Angeline Jellybean! Look into online radio shows on which you may
be able to appear.
7. Mention your book on message boards and in chat rooms with
relevant topics.
8. Consider starting your own podcast. Or, have a friend mention
you on theirs.
9. Sign up for Amazon Associates, a program which will allow you to
link to your book on Amazon, either on your personal website or blog.
10. Set up your e-mail signature to link to the website where your
book can be purchased.
With a little hard work and some web-savvy, you can successfully
promote your book online. Of course, no method of promotion is
guaranteed to make your book a best-seller, but online promotion is
becoming an increasingly more important aspect of a writer’s life.
| Improving your Writing by Cynthia Reeg www.cynthiareeg.com |
Begin with a great start. Grab the reader from the first sentence.
You have an editor's attention for a matter of minutes (maybe) before
she moves on to the next slush pile story.
Start with gusto. Bam! Wham! Kapowy! Just like in the old Batman TV
show make sure your audiences can feel, see, and hear the action.
Start with a problem or intriguing dialogue. Read some of the opening
lines or first pages of stories that you like or stories that have
become children's classics or best sellers. Study and perfect the art
of a good beginning.
Let your characters do the talking. Provide them with realistic
voices. Interesting voices. Voices that the reader wants to hear more
of. Voices that move the story along. Voices that reveal the character.
Don't dilly-dally around with small talk. That's for everyday stuff in the
real world but not in fiction. Create drama with dialogue. Show the
characters emotions and opinions.
Mix the dialogue with action, creating rhythm in your story, and using
body language to further reveal your character. People are more
likely to form their opinions of someone from what they do rather than
what they say. The same applies to your story characters.
Visualize each scene as though the characters are performing on a
stage before you. Simply take down notes as they move and speak.
Watch closely for their facial expressions, shoulder shrugs, sighs,
raised eyebrows, glares, tapping foot. Write these into your story to
create an amazing mix of dialogue and action. Think of creating a
symphony. You must orchestrate all the various mix of instruments.
Revel in the tension. Don't rush through the really exciting parts of
your story. And for the reverse, don't drag out less thrilling but
substantial sections. Make them as tight and thoughtful as possible;
then move on to the fun stuff.
Slow down the important scenes. Pretend you've pushed the
slow-motion button on your recorder. Study each action in great
detail and write it down in clipped, fast-paced sentences.
Power-packed with emotion. Strong verbs and nouns, few adjectives
and adverbs. Make the scene even more suspenseful by compacting
the time frame needed for the hero to accomplish the goal. Hear the
clock ticking in your head. Feel the tension down into your fingers.
Then let them type away.
Write in a rush. Initially, while the idea is hot and the scene is
flowing, write without looking back. Feel the need to rush on. To
reach the finish line. Take deep breaths. Listen to some
mind-enhancing alpha brainwave music like Mozart selections. Don't
let your inner critic come out to play during this writing phase.
I find it's helpful to let this story concoction rest for a while before
coming back for serious editing. Depending on the length and
complexity of the story, the down time may vary from a day or two to
perhaps weeks or even longer.
Edit with determination. Believe in the story that you've written. But
believe that it can always be better. Read it out loud. Listen to the
music of it. If you can't hear a beat, then you haven't written it in yet.
Look for the strong foundation of story elements: plot, setting,
characters. Beef them up with subtle word shifts and tight editing.
Paint colorful character strokes, especially with the main character
and supporting characters. Expand your palette and your painting
techniques for each new story. The reader should feel he knows
enough about each character to like or dislike them. The characters
should be real enough that the reader almost feels as though he is a
part of the story, too.
Then read your work like a copy editor. Line by line. Letter by letter.
Correct the typos and punctuation errors. The more professional
looking your story is the more believable it is for an editor.
Read! Read! Read! Probably the most important thing you can do to
improve your writing is to read. Read great stories like you want to
write. Read some stories that aren't that good. Study the differences.
Why did one work and not the other?
Read a variety of works by a variety of authors. Expose yourself to
different writing styles and genres. Reading poems is a great way for
me to loosen my writing and help generate ideas. Reading nonfiction
often leads to ideas for fiction stories as well. Read the newspaper
and adult magazines for a wealth of ideas.
Keep a record of what you read and who publishes it. This way you
can refer back to your notes when trying to remember which
publishing house likes romantic picture books or which one walks the
line with edgy stories. Is there a pattern to what they like to print or
what a particular editor likes to work on? Or which writer crosses the
boundaries between picture books and young adult. How does she
do it?
Read. Study. Read. The only way to be a writer is to be a reader first.
| Writing Query and Cover Letters by Cynthia Reeg www.cynthiareeg.com |
Writing query and cover letters can be made much easier if you
break down the process into four steps. Remember the old adage:
Divide and Conquer. You can use this technique to overcome your
fear for writing letters to the editor. Learning to write better query and
cover letters will encourage you to submit more often and thus earn
more publishing credits.
Rule 1:
Make sure to grab your reader immediately. Start with a snappy
opening line. Here's an example of my query letter to FACES
magazine for a retold Australian legend that was accepted for their
May 2005 issue titled "Australia Today."
What story do you get when you mix three Aborigine sisters, a
devoted father with a magic wombat bone, and an evil monster
named the Bunyip? The Australian legend of The Three Sisters.
Rule 2:
Provide a quick break down of the necessary facts: fiction or
nonfiction; word count; intended audience; chapters and
supplementary information; and a brief annotation. Here's an example
of the cover letter for my story that appeared in the September 2005
issue of DRAGONFLY SPIRIT, an online children's magazine.
In “The Dragon Artist’s Tale,” a 994-word fantasy story for middle
grade readers, Rudy accepts an offer for extra help from ancient
Professor Bumbles, his fumbling art teacher. Will this unlikely team
solve Rudy’s problem or create an even bigger dilemma?
And another excerpt from the query letter to FACES:
I have included a 253-word glossary with the story which could be
used as sidebar information. An annotated bibliography is also
included.
Rule 3:
Sum up your qualifications, experience, and inspiration for writing the
particular work your submitting or querying.
Visiting Australia several years ago, I became intrigued with the
Sisters’ story. I feel children also will enjoy this timeless tale rich in
Aboriginal folklore.
I am an SCBWI member and a member of the St. Louis Children’s
Writer’s Circle. I have a Masters Degree in Library Science and have
worked for many years as a children’s librarian. I’ve recently had an
article accepted for publication in Ladybug magazine. (a sister Carus
publication of FACES)
Rule 4:
Explain why you believe your writing is just what the editor is looking
for. Show you've done your homework.
I think this legend is a perfect fit for your May 2005 Issue: Australia
Today.
Or
“The Dragon Artist’s Tale” seems created specifically for the winged
premier issue of Dragonfly Spirit.
Sell yourself and your story with your cover letter or query, but do it
with style and professionalism. Following these simple steps will help
you write winning letters editors can't resist.
FRAN SPEAKS OUT! Talk Online with Children's Book Author Fran Lewis |
Writing is supposed to be fun and risk free.
When I decided to write my first children's
book I had a hard time choosing not only the
title but what to write about. I began with a
list of topics and ideas that I knew a lot
about and went from there. I listed things
from my childhood that I found fun to do and
others that I could not do but would provide
humor in my book. I was always a kiutz and
could not dance. Dancing school was a
disaster for me. Deciding to include a story
about my experiences in dancing school
helped jump start my writing and the first
story in my book "My Name is Bertha." After
that I just listed several other experiences
that I wanted to share with readers and
hoped that everyone would enjoy reading
them and laugh along with me.
Tip One:
The best way to start is sometimes with a
simple picture
1. draw a picture or find a picture in a
magazine and write story about that picture
using the following story frame:
for younger writers I found that this really
helped to organize their thoughts and ideas
when they first start to write:
Title: Write a title for the picture
Topic Sentence: Write a good first sentence
that tells what you are going to write about
Details: Write three simple sentences that
tell about your picture
Ending: what happens at the end of the story
Draw your favorite Snack
list at least five things about this snack that
makes it your favorite one
Tell how this snack tastes and why you think
everyone should eat it.
Title: __________is my favorite snack
Your first sentence should make the reader
really want to try your snack and give up any
others that they might like
for example: Sugary, sweet, chewy and
creamy, nothing tastes better than a
snicker's bar which is my favorite snack.
Describe the snack in such a way that
reader will want to go out and buy it .
Everyone is invited to submit one paragraph
about their favorite snack and I will be happy
to read and tell you what I think and pick the
best one. The best one will be posted on my
site as the top writer for this prompt. Fran
Note: To leave a comment or submit a
paragraph, please click below on
Writing: Start With What You Know.
You are looking
at a Yahoo site!
at a Yahoo site!
Why We Write: Wants vs. Needs
Jennifer R. Hubbard of THE SECRET YEAR (releasing Jan.7, 2010)
says she writes “because I can’t NOT write. Stories come to me
whether I look for them or not.” Her sentiment is echoed by other
authors like Victoria Durm (currently working on ALL FOR YOU) who
said “I write because I just HAVE to.”
For many of us, writing is a compulsion. If I’m not working on a project
I get nervous. My mind wanders and imagines the next project. I
become horrible company when I’m like this because I’m not totally
listening to conversations going on around me. Like J. Koyanagi
(working on UNIDENTIFIED) who responded to my question about
why we writers write with the simple and clear, “I must,” it’s a deep
need inside of me, this need to write.
I believe identifying what drives you to write may be a way to forecast
your success (and future happiness) as a writer. If writing is merely
something you want to do, feel free to play at it. Enjoy it at your
leisure. But set your writing goals accordingly.
Some very serious authors describe their reasons for writing in more
light-hearted ways. Amie Stuart of ONCE IN A BLUE MOON and
NAILED said, “If I don't...I end up with these people in my head, trying
to take over. It gets crowded in there too!” Jeremy Duns, author of
FREE AGENT, says he writes “Because I am seized with a burning
desire to stay at home inventing stories all day instead of working in
an office.”
If writing is a need I suggest you throw yourself in head first. Don’t
quit your day job, but commit to your writing. Treat it like a real job too.
Whether you’re like Inana Arthen (author of MORTAL TOUCH and
THE LONGER THE FALL) who writes “to invoke the power of
language--to entertain, to teach, to create new worlds, to change
reality,” or Becka Phaneuf (of WHERE DEMONS FEAR TO TREAD)
who laughingly says she writes, “because the voices in my head tell
me to write,” decide if writing is a want or a need.
Then set your goals and start writing!
[Shannon Delany won the first-ever cellphone novel contest in the
western world (writing as Saoirse Redgrave) and landed an agency
contract and a multibook deal with St. Martin’s Press for her YA
paranormal series 13 TO LIFE. Book one debuts in June 2010. Learn
more about her books at http://ShannonDelany.com ]
Jennifer R. Hubbard of THE SECRET YEAR (releasing Jan.7, 2010)
says she writes “because I can’t NOT write. Stories come to me
whether I look for them or not.” Her sentiment is echoed by other
authors like Victoria Durm (currently working on ALL FOR YOU) who
said “I write because I just HAVE to.”
For many of us, writing is a compulsion. If I’m not working on a project
I get nervous. My mind wanders and imagines the next project. I
become horrible company when I’m like this because I’m not totally
listening to conversations going on around me. Like J. Koyanagi
(working on UNIDENTIFIED) who responded to my question about
why we writers write with the simple and clear, “I must,” it’s a deep
need inside of me, this need to write.
I believe identifying what drives you to write may be a way to forecast
your success (and future happiness) as a writer. If writing is merely
something you want to do, feel free to play at it. Enjoy it at your
leisure. But set your writing goals accordingly.
Some very serious authors describe their reasons for writing in more
light-hearted ways. Amie Stuart of ONCE IN A BLUE MOON and
NAILED said, “If I don't...I end up with these people in my head, trying
to take over. It gets crowded in there too!” Jeremy Duns, author of
FREE AGENT, says he writes “Because I am seized with a burning
desire to stay at home inventing stories all day instead of working in
an office.”
If writing is a need I suggest you throw yourself in head first. Don’t
quit your day job, but commit to your writing. Treat it like a real job too.
Whether you’re like Inana Arthen (author of MORTAL TOUCH and
THE LONGER THE FALL) who writes “to invoke the power of
language--to entertain, to teach, to create new worlds, to change
reality,” or Becka Phaneuf (of WHERE DEMONS FEAR TO TREAD)
who laughingly says she writes, “because the voices in my head tell
me to write,” decide if writing is a want or a need.
Then set your goals and start writing!
[Shannon Delany won the first-ever cellphone novel contest in the
western world (writing as Saoirse Redgrave) and landed an agency
contract and a multibook deal with St. Martin’s Press for her YA
paranormal series 13 TO LIFE. Book one debuts in June 2010. Learn
more about her books at http://ShannonDelany.com ]
Fast and Not So Furious
It can be frustrating—maybe even infuriating—to know there’s a story
inside you wanting to come out and you don’t have time to write it. But
there’s hope. Even if you don’t think you have any time, you can get
that novel inside of you written. Yes. YOU.
I often hear would be writers bemoaning how little time they have to
actually write. I understand, I even empathize. But I cannot
sympathize. I run a farmstead. We have sheep, cattle, chickens,
ducks, rabbits and geese. We tap our maple trees for syrup. There is
barely any time to just sit down and write if I consider writing to be a
leisurely endeavor—something I merely want to do.
And yet, in the course of one year, I’ve written three novels (and I’m
working on my fourth). And yes. You can too. But before your head
explodes at the idea of writing three novels in a single year (hey,
some folks do waaay more) let me say the most important thing is to
set achievable goals. Perhaps, for you, achievable is one novel in a
year. Let’s pretend it is.
You can do what I did for the rough draft of the third novel in my 13
TO LIFE series (the first book debuts in June 2010). Got a two week
vacation and an idea itching to be put on paper? Great! Take those
two weeks. Add your idea and some interesting characters and write
5,000 words each day. It’s a push and your words won’t be perfect
(they don’t have to be—that’s why it’s a “rough draft”) but, if you stick
to it, you will finish those fourteen days with a novel of 70,000 words
(an average YA length). The process is referred to as fast-drafting.
I first heard of fast-drafting through author Candace Havens (author
of THE DEMON KING AND I and DRAGONS PREFER BLONDES; she
does workshops on this method—look her up, she’s awesome). But I
first actually tried fast-drafting with author Ann Aguirre (GRIMSPACE,
BLUE DIABLO and RAZORLAND). Ann was kind enough to act as my
accountability partner (AKA cheerleader). Each morning we got up
and wrote like crazy and then checked on each other via Twitter. We
cheered each other on and updated our word counters each evening
(Ann’s a faster typist so hers was updated quite a few afternoons).
We both felt like quitting a couple times—there were excuses aplenty
we could have used (we are creative gals), but we didn’t give in.
And at the end of it we each had a rough draft of a novel completed.
Not too shabby. Was it difficult? Yes. Would I do it again? Yes. The
key to fast-draft success, at least in my mind, relates to having a
good accountability partner. And caffeine. Reaching a dream like
completing a novel can be a difficult journey (which may be why many
people never complete one). But how badly do you want to achieve
that dream?
Okay. I hear you—maybe you can’t do two weeks solid. That’s okay.
What’s your schedule like for October or November (or even July)?
What started as NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, still
known as “November” to laymen) has spread to include
GothNoWriMo (October) and JulNoWriMo (July). What the heck are
those? Each represents one month when you indulge in writing with a
goal to finish a rough draft of 50,000 words. You can sign up online
and get buddies to act as your accountability partners. Then you
write, you update your word counter and you write some more. I
participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time this year.
So, two weeks, one month or (like many of us) any time you can.
Wake up early. Go to bed late. Buy an iRobot to vacuum for you...
The point is this: if you want it badly enough you can find time to get
it. So how badly do you want to write your novel? How great will it feel
when you’ve finished? Really. Great. What are you waiting for? Get
writing!
[Shannon Delany won the first-ever cellphone novel contest in the
western world (writing as Saoirse Redgrave in 2008) and landed an
agency contract and a multibook deal with St. Martin’s Press for her
YA paranormal series 13 TO LIFE. Book one debuts in June 2010.
Learn more about her and her books at http://ShannonDelany.com ]
It can be frustrating—maybe even infuriating—to know there’s a story
inside you wanting to come out and you don’t have time to write it. But
there’s hope. Even if you don’t think you have any time, you can get
that novel inside of you written. Yes. YOU.
I often hear would be writers bemoaning how little time they have to
actually write. I understand, I even empathize. But I cannot
sympathize. I run a farmstead. We have sheep, cattle, chickens,
ducks, rabbits and geese. We tap our maple trees for syrup. There is
barely any time to just sit down and write if I consider writing to be a
leisurely endeavor—something I merely want to do.
And yet, in the course of one year, I’ve written three novels (and I’m
working on my fourth). And yes. You can too. But before your head
explodes at the idea of writing three novels in a single year (hey,
some folks do waaay more) let me say the most important thing is to
set achievable goals. Perhaps, for you, achievable is one novel in a
year. Let’s pretend it is.
You can do what I did for the rough draft of the third novel in my 13
TO LIFE series (the first book debuts in June 2010). Got a two week
vacation and an idea itching to be put on paper? Great! Take those
two weeks. Add your idea and some interesting characters and write
5,000 words each day. It’s a push and your words won’t be perfect
(they don’t have to be—that’s why it’s a “rough draft”) but, if you stick
to it, you will finish those fourteen days with a novel of 70,000 words
(an average YA length). The process is referred to as fast-drafting.
I first heard of fast-drafting through author Candace Havens (author
of THE DEMON KING AND I and DRAGONS PREFER BLONDES; she
does workshops on this method—look her up, she’s awesome). But I
first actually tried fast-drafting with author Ann Aguirre (GRIMSPACE,
BLUE DIABLO and RAZORLAND). Ann was kind enough to act as my
accountability partner (AKA cheerleader). Each morning we got up
and wrote like crazy and then checked on each other via Twitter. We
cheered each other on and updated our word counters each evening
(Ann’s a faster typist so hers was updated quite a few afternoons).
We both felt like quitting a couple times—there were excuses aplenty
we could have used (we are creative gals), but we didn’t give in.
And at the end of it we each had a rough draft of a novel completed.
Not too shabby. Was it difficult? Yes. Would I do it again? Yes. The
key to fast-draft success, at least in my mind, relates to having a
good accountability partner. And caffeine. Reaching a dream like
completing a novel can be a difficult journey (which may be why many
people never complete one). But how badly do you want to achieve
that dream?
Okay. I hear you—maybe you can’t do two weeks solid. That’s okay.
What’s your schedule like for October or November (or even July)?
What started as NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, still
known as “November” to laymen) has spread to include
GothNoWriMo (October) and JulNoWriMo (July). What the heck are
those? Each represents one month when you indulge in writing with a
goal to finish a rough draft of 50,000 words. You can sign up online
and get buddies to act as your accountability partners. Then you
write, you update your word counter and you write some more. I
participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time this year.
So, two weeks, one month or (like many of us) any time you can.
Wake up early. Go to bed late. Buy an iRobot to vacuum for you...
The point is this: if you want it badly enough you can find time to get
it. So how badly do you want to write your novel? How great will it feel
when you’ve finished? Really. Great. What are you waiting for? Get
writing!
[Shannon Delany won the first-ever cellphone novel contest in the
western world (writing as Saoirse Redgrave in 2008) and landed an
agency contract and a multibook deal with St. Martin’s Press for her
YA paranormal series 13 TO LIFE. Book one debuts in June 2010.
Learn more about her and her books at http://ShannonDelany.com ]
| Tweeting Your Way to Publicity By Jennifer Swanson |
You’ve written a book and had it published. Congratulations! That is
a great accomplishment. Now you get to sit back and watch the
accolades and money roll in, right? Wrong. In the last few years, the
book industry has seen a previously unheard of surge in publishing
in the last few years. There are so many different ways to publish
your book: traditional, POD, self-publishing, digital e-books, e-
readers, etc, that it’s hard to find a way to get publicity for your
books.
Far from being done, once your book is published, that is when the
real work begins. Marketing. But where do you start?
I’m sure you’ve all heard there are a few “musts” when promoting
your book.
1. Create a website for your book. Make it as interesting and
interactive as possible.
2. Create a wiki article in Wikipedia. There is a special Children’s
Book Wiki page where you can add all of your information about your
book. Be sure to link it back to your website. This is a great way to
get additional publicity for your book and pick up people who are just
searching the web.
3. Start a blog. But be sure your blog is informative as well as a
platform for your book. The best way to do this is to read others
blogs and include their links in your blog.
4. Get online reviews, interviews, etc.
5. But to me the most important is to get on Twitter
You may be surprised that I’ve picked Twitter to speak about instead
of Facebook or other networking sites. But let me tell you, in the
short amount of time that I have been on Twitter, I have gotten three
interview requests for different websites, have had five book review
requests and have gotten one request for a book reading. Twitter is
a fantastic way to meet and greet fellow authors, book reviewers and
book lovers in general.
Where do you start with your Twitter account? Well, a word of advice,
you want to approach your Twitter account just like you’d approach a
group of people you don’t know at a party; politely and cautiously.
You don’t want to jump into the conversation and start talking only
about yourself and how wonderful you are. Instead, hang back and
try to get a feel for the conversation. You can do this by picking
people to follow first. The best places to look for people you may
want to follow are in writing groups. A “#” in Twitter means it is a
particular group. For example, #kidlit refers to a group that
discusses “kid literature”. There is also #ya (for Young adult lit),
#writing (information that pertains to writing) and you can even meet
up with other authors in #amwriting, a group where writers meet to
discuss their progress on their works in progress (wip).
You pick people who are interesting to you and provide you with
information you may want to read. Then you click on the “follow”
button in the top left hand corner. Voila! You are following them.
Then all of the comments they make on Twitter you will be able to
read. When you feel comfortable you can re-tweet their comments.
You do this by typing in “RT @ (their name)” and then copying what
they said. For instance, if you wanted to re-tweet something I wrote
on Twitter, then you’d write
“RT @JenSwanBooks Check out this website. It’s really cool! www.
pennyandrio.com”
This way the person you Re-tweeted knows that you read their post
and are listening to them. They may decide to follow you.
I’ve read articles that say approximately 60% of what you tweet
should be informational, 20% should be re-tweets or conversational,
and only about 20% of your tweets should be marketing your own
material. That way you don’t seem too pushy and people aren’t put
off by your comments.
So, if you can only promote your books 20% of the time, then why
bother with Twitter? I have learned so much about the publishing
industry in such a short time on Twitter. If you follow people in the
kidlit group, they are book reviewers with major followings, agents,
publishers and highly visible authors. These people have their pulse
on what’s hot and what’s not. In fact, some agents even offer
contests for edits of your manuscript on Twitter. One agent says he’s
found three clients off of Twitter. What a much better way to find an
agent then hoping to be picked out of a slush pile!
Are you guaranteed to get a book deal or an agent if you are on
Twitter. Of course not. But I will tell you that being on Twitter has
gained national and international attention for my book. I have
people following me from all over the world. When I do post
something about my book, a lot of them visit my website or at least
comment on it. That is free publicity without a lot of effort. So check
it out! Isn’t it time you tweeted?
Jennifer Swanson is the author of the award-winning children’s early
reader mystery series, Penny and Rio. She spends her time writing
and tweeting about her canine detective duo, Penny and Rio. Visit
www.pennyandrio.com for more info or tweet her on Twitter @
JenSwanBooks.
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TO:
Robin Falls
Robin Falls
