By: Mary Lee,
on 6/4/2009
Faithful readers of A Year of Reading, thank you for your patience.
.jpg?picon=694)
By: Writing for Children,
on 3/6/2008
Tonight’s the night!
Children’s author Lila Guzman will present a special teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club called “Avoiding Red Flags”!
Learn how to avoid the most common mistakes in your manuscript that send up red flags to editors!
The teleclass starts at 7:00 central time and will last for 55 minutes.
Members are invited to attend this LIVE teleclass, but the teleclass will also be recorded and members will receive a link to the recording tomorrow.
Come on. You know you want to!
Childrens Writers Coaching Club, Lila Guzman, writing for children, Writing Tips
By: Writing for Children,
on 3/1/2008
by Suzanne Lieurance
Okay. So I’m not David Letterman. But I doubt if he’d know much about the top 10 mistakes made by new children’s writers anyway. I, on the other hand, read from 10 to 20 manuscripts for children every week (I’m not bragging - I’m just an instructor with the Institute of Children’s Literature). While many of the stories I read are destined for publication, I find that 10 common mistakes crop up again and again in the other manuscripts I edit each week.
I’ll start with number 10 (just like Letterman) and work my way up to the number one writing mistake made by new children’s writers (and, just so you know - I’ve been guilty of making some of these mistakes myself, so don’t beat yourself up if you realize you’re guilty of some of these, too):
10) No Clear POV Character – Children tend to relate to the POV character in a story. This is the person they will root for. Make it clear right from the start whose story is being told. Even if you have two main characters (twins, for example), you need to pick just one of these kids to be your POV character. And, it should go without saying, when writing for children, make sure your POV character IS a kid - even if Grandma has a big part in your story.
9) Multiple Points of View – Unlike stories for adults, stories for children are generally told from only one POV. It isn’t difficult to maintain a single point of view once you get the hang of it. Just remember - if you are “showing” everything from your main character’s point of view, then he or she has to be present for everything that happens. I see stories all the time where the POV character suddenly leaves the room. Yikes! If your POV character wasn’t there to see or hear what went on, then we can’t see or hear it either.
Telling instead of Showing – Read a good story and chances are there is a lot of action and dialogue (showing) with minimal stretches of straight narrative (telling). Too much narrative and the story sounds like a summary. Readers don’t want a summary. They want scenes with action and dialogue that make them feel they are actually experiencing what is going on. So “show” as much as possible of your story through action and dialogue.
7) Overuse of Adjectives, Adverbs, and Other Unnecessary Words – Do you really need to say someone “whispered quietly” Or “shouted loudly” Or, my favorite - she “nodded her head”? What else could she nod? Or, she “shrugged her shoulders” - she certainly wouldn’t shrug her foot!
6) Dialogue That is Not Punctuated Properly – Get a grammar book to learn how to punctuate dialogue properly. But, most importantly, remember to change paragraphs each time the speaker changes. I read manuscripts all the time where three or four characters are speaking, yet the paragraph never changes. Just imagine how confusing that is to the reader!
5) Long Timeframes – I know Harry Potter takes place over several years. But, the story also takes place through several books. Most children’s writers start out writing stories for children’s magazines or they want to write picture books for very young children. Either way, the timeframe in these stories should be rather short - a couple of hours or a day or two. If your story takes place over a couple of weeks or (gulp!) a couple of years, then you need to shorten the timeframe.
4) No Narrative “Hook” for the Reader – I know what you’re asking - “What is a narrative hook?” Well, that’s simple. It’s just an opening sentence or two that “hooks” the reader and makes him or her want to continue reading to find out what happens.
3) Dialogue That Doesn’t Sound Real – Listen to any child or teenager and you’ll find out that much of what kids and teens say (at least to each other) tends to sound like a series of grunts. So don’t have the child or teen in your story use words like “shall,” or never use contractions. If you do, the dialogue will sound too formal and your work will not have a child’s or teen’s voice.
2) Adults Who Step In to Save the Day for the Child – I know what you’re thinking. Parents and other well-meaning adults DO step in all the time to save the day for kids. So why can’t they do it in stories for children? The answer to that is - because children don’t want to read stories like that. Stories for children have strong children (or children who eventually become strong throughout the course of the story) as characters. This empowers the children who read these stories. They figure, if the POV character can solve his own problems then maybe they can too.
Now. Drum roll here.
The number one mistake new writers make in their stories for children is
1) No real conflict - There’s no story problem. Your POV character needs to face some big problem right at the start of the story. Then, he or she needs to struggle and struggle with this problem as he/she tries to solve it. That is, things need to keep getting worse and worse until finally the POV character is able to solve the problem (or at least resolve it) and change or grow somehow in the process. Without a story problem you have what editors like to call “an incident,” and editors don’t publish incidents. They publish stories.
So that’s my list of top 10 mistakes new children’s writers make. Use this article as a checklist when you’re writing for children. Avoid these mistakes and you’ll be well on your way to publication.
See you in print!
childrens books, writing for children, Writing For Kids
By: Writing for Children,
on 2/27/2008
If you’re a children’s writer, is the children’s educational market for you?
Take the following quiz from Rita Milios to find out.
Answer each of the following questions as honestly as you can:
1. Are you an “information junkie?”
a) Definitely. I love discovering new information, reflecting on new ideas and broadening my scope of expertise.
b) Sort of. I enjoy discovering new information and ideas, but I value my own ideas just as much.
c) I really don’t care that much about information; I create mainly from my own imagination.
2. What does it mean to you to share ideas with children and shape their learning?
a) I view this as a big responsibility and therefore I feel the need to consider carefully everything that I write for them.
b) I recognize that a responsibility exists, but expect editors to be the ones responsible for the educational aspect of a writing project.
c) I really don’t feel any special responsibility; I just write what I write and let the market figure out how it fits.
3. How often do you write on assignment?
a) Often. Assignment writing is my main method of working. I enjoy it.
b) Only occasionally, but I would like to do more. I enjoy it.
c) Never. I prefer to make my own schedule and execute my own ideas.
4. How closely do you follow writer’s guidelines?
a) I realize that they are crucial; therefore I read them carefully and follow them exactly.
b) I view them as suggestions; if they fit my plan I follow them, but I feel free to adjust them as I see fit.
c) I really don’t consider these important; guidelines stifle my creativity, so I usually ignore them.
5. How much communication do you expect to have with an editor when you are writing on assignment?
a) I expect a fair amount of contact in the beginning, probably via guidelines and email updates, then less as the work goes on. But I do expect that I will be able to ask questions and have them replied to promptly.
b) I expect that an editor will be available to do a little “hand-holding” as I find my way through a project. If I have questions, I expect to be able to call an editor and get it answered right away.
c) I expect an editor to be train me (preferably via phone) in the specifics of a
project and to return all my phone calls promptly.
5. How flexible are you in working with editorial changes–project delays or crunches, changes in editorial direction, new components added to a project, etc?
a) I realize that changes in direction and new requirements are often a part of
such projects and I deal with them professionally-–doing what is asked as
promptly as possible, without complaining.
b) I realize that changes in direction and new requirements are often a part of
such projects and I try to deal with them professionally-, but I sometimes
feel obliged to let my editor know about my frustrations with such changes.
c) I feel that such changes are unacceptable and I will not make these kinds of adjustments. That is the job of the editor.
6. How comfortable are you with research and where do you find it?
a) Reputable research is vital, so I use only sources recognized as reliable (primary sources, academic materials, internet sites related to a college, institution or association that is regarded for its expertise in a field, etc.).
b) I recognize that reputable sources are important, and I use these; but I place equal value on more informal research such as blog posts and personal websites.
c) Google is the only source I ever need. I use whatever sites are returned as
the top sites in a Google search.
7. How important do you believe creativity is in education writing?
a) Creativity is extremely important. It is what separates great educational
writing from mediocre and is a expected by publishers today.
b) Creativity is helpful; when you have the flexibility to be more creative, it is good to incorporate it into the writing.
c) Creativity does not have much place in educational writing. Writing that is
mostly didactic and encyclopedic is perfectly acceptable.
8. Are you capable of (and enjoy) writing at various grade levels?
a) Definitely I can write equally well at a variety of grade levels, and I enjoy the challenge and creativity of such options.
b) I have written for at least a couple of different age levels and I am eager to learn the specific requirements for each grade level.
c) I only write for one age or grade level and do not want to add more.
9. Are you capable of (and enjoy) creating different kinds of materials–books, workbooks, quizzes, crafts, activities, flash chards, etc.?
a) I have created many of these in the past, and I know I can learn how to create others.
b) I have not done much of this kind of work, but I am willing and eager to learn how.
c) I never want to write anything other than the nonfiction articles or fiction
stories that I currently write.
10. How familiar are you with curriculum guidelines?
a) I know where to access different states’ curriculum guidelines, and have
used these for previous educational assignments.
b) I trust that I can find this information and am willing to spend some time learning how to use it in my educational writing,
c) What? This sounds too restrictive for me. I’m not interested in adhering to such guidelines.
****************************
Scoring: Give yourself 10 points for each “a” answer, 6 pints for each “b” answer and 3 points for each “c” answer. Total your score for all answers.
If your Total is 80-100 points, congratulations! You are definitely ready (or already on your way) to be an educational writer. You have the right combination of professional attitude, skills, knowledge, curiosity, and social responsibility to make a great children’s educational writer.
If your Total is between 60 and 80 points, good for you! You have the right attitude, curiosity and some of the skills and knowledge you’ll need to be a great children’s educational writer. You also have the willingness to learn and grow in your skills and knowledge in order to achieve your goal.
If your Total is between 40 and 60 points, you may need to work harder to accomplish your goal of writing for the children’s educational market. Look back at the questions you gave “c” answers to. Do these reflect an unwillingness to compromise or to be flexible? Do your answers indicate that you consider your personal independence as a creator of the utmost importance? If so, you may need to adjust this attitude and recognize that the requirements of educational writing, which is often based on assignments and detailed guidelines, is in its own way creative.
In addition, it can be very rewarding to work as a team player once in a while. If you can achieve this new perspective, you will be much more likely to make a good educational writer.
If your Total is less than 40 points, yikes! You have challenges ahead, should you choose to pursue the niche of children’s educational writing. Review the questions and suggestions in the above scoring and see if these may indicate to you some areas where you may wish to make adjustments. If not, then education writing may simply not be your cup of teas, after all.
*********************
To learn more about writing for the children’s educational markets, join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today and attend a special LIVE teleclass today at 2:00 eastern time with 
Rita Milios. Once you join the club, you will receive an email invitation to this event. Later, you will receive a link to a recording of this event so you can listen to it again any time you want.
By: Writing for Children,
on 2/27/2008
If you have an upcoming writers’ event to announce to everyone join host, Suzanne Lieurance, for Book Bites for Kids, LIVE on blogtalkradio.com today at 2:00 central time.
Listeners are invited to call in and announce any upcoming writers’ conferences, workshops, or other events. The number to call is 1-646-716-9239.
Listen to the show at www.blogtalkradio.com/bookbitesforkids
Send your announcements ahead of time and Lieurance will present them on air for you. Send to [email protected]
blogtalkradio, Book Bites for Kids, writers conferences, writing for children, Writing For Kids
By: Mary Lee,
on 2/27/2008
I got an email this week with the subject, "Are you snowed in?"
The answer is no, we're not snowed IN, we're snowed UNDER. We'll be back just as soon as one or the other of us can get our head above the drifts.
By: Writing for Children,
on 2/25/2008
This Thursday, February 28 , 2008, at 2:00 p.m. eastern time, the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will offer another exciting and informative teleclass for children’s writers.
Rita Milios will present session 1 in the Writing for Children’s Educational Markets Series - The Lucrative Educational Market: Where Do YOU Fit In?
Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today and find out on Thursday if writing for the educational markets is right for you.
When you join the club you will receive links to these other three teleclasses that were presented earlier this month:
Lila Guzman - Show Me the Money: Writing Biographies for Young Readers
Margot Finke - Picture (Book) Perfect
Simon Rose - Beyond Belief: Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Readers (part 1 of a 2 part teleclass)
Every month, club members are given the opportunity to attend 4 LIVE 55-minute teleclasses about some aspect of writing and publishing for children. Later, the links to these recorded classes are sent to all members, too.
Join the CWCC here.
Childrens Writers Coaching Club, educational markets, Lila Guzman, Margot Finke, Rita Milios, Simon Rose, writing for children.jpg?picon=554)
By: Candy Gourlay,
on 2/23/2008
I discovered another New Reality for children's authors the other day.
Authors have to write books, yes. They have to market themselves online, yes. They have to do school visits, yes. And now they have to be stand up comics.
It's all the fault of Artemus Fowl creator Eoin Colfer (pronounced 'Oh - when' - as in "OH? And WHEN am I supposed to find the time to get acting classes?") who packs in the crowds everywhere he tours.
I caught Colfer's show at the South Bank's Imagine Children's Literature Festival with four nine year old girls yesterday. Only one of the girls had ever read a Colfer book but by the time we left, each had an autographed copy of the The Wish List (the only Colfer book with a female - human - protagonist).
In the audience was a legion of little boys (all named Ben it transpired during the Q & A) - indeed Colfer's show was srongly targeted at boys and Dads with such themes as: "Reading Books with Explosives and Motorbikes on the Cover is Okay" and "When You Have the House to Yourself Do Not Hesitate to Build Ramps on Which to Practice Flying Your Bike Even If The Brakes Do Not Work". The girls and mums laughed like drains too.
I was inspired to see many heads bowed over books before and after the show.
We foolishly booked at the last minute so we only got seats at the back which were still great seats given that it was the Royal Festival Hall. But this meant we were the last people out and the end of the queue for Colfer's autograph.
Still the Festival organisers followed all the Rules To Make People Enjoy Queuing:
Rule 1. Provide children with an opportunity to deface something. This was the graffiti wall which the girls covered with jokes and, rather precociously, CND slogans.
Rule 2. After the children deface the wall, they can Blu-Tac random items to a blank wall, here, the kids stuck up some paper plates.
Rule 3. Provide technology to keep everyone amused. These were the special seats that told non-stop jokes.
We were still smiling when we reached the top of the queue.
Amazingly, so was Eoin Colfer, who had been exercising his autograph arm for 30 solid minutes.
He charmed the girls by asking them who the leader of their little group was and didn't even ask why one of them was dressed like a sherpa.
Once we'd extracted autographs we headed out to Giraffe where we rewarded ourselves with massive ice creams and a terrific view of the Thames.
This is the sort of total experience that readers expect of us.
I was terrified. But the Rocky Road Ice Cream tasted good anyway.
By: Writing for Children,
on 2/12/2008
This week’s teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will be presented by children’s author Margot Finke. She’ll talk about what it takes to write a children’s picture book. Just look at what she’ll cover in this fun and informative teleclass:
PICTURE (BOOK) PERFECT
* Good grammar and punctuation
* Tight writing — use a few carefully chosen words to write a “big” story.
* The benefit of bringing powerful verbs into play.
* How to paint word pictures that will stick in a child’s head.
* How to write active paragraphs that easily translate into illustrations
* How to FOCUS on what is important to the story — and cut the rest.
* The art of crafting characters kids will identify with and root for.
* Develop a writing “voice” that is unique.
This LIVE teleclass will take place on Wednesday, February 13, 2008, at 4:00 pacific time.
To receive an email invitation to this event, along with any handouts needed for the class, join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club HERE.
childrens picture books, Childrens Writers Coaching Club, Margot Finke
By: Writing for Children,
on 2/10/2008
As you create stories for children, here are a few simple points or “rules” to keep in mind.
True, some of these “rules” can be broken.
But you know what they say - “You have to know the rules and be able to follow them before you can start breaking them.”
Here they are:
1) When writing for children, be sure your main character - the viewpoint character - is a child or teen.
Many times, grandparents decide to write stories for children, but then they create a story where a grandparent is the main character.
Kids may love a story that features a grandparent. But children identify with the main, viewpoint character. It’s hard for them to identify with an older person when they are a child and haven’t had all the life experiences of an older adult, so make that viewpoint character a child.
2) Be sure to give your main character a problem, right at the start of the story. Many beginning writers love their characters so much that they just hate to give these characters a problem or conflict.
But, hey, guess what?
Without a conflict, you don’t have a story. So be sure the main child in the story has an age-appropriate problem, right from the get-go.
3) In stories for young children, stick to a single point of view. This means you should tell everything from the main character’s viewpoint.
You can’t tell us what the dog is thinking, or how Grandma feels. You can “show” these things, but you can’t tell them. You can only “tell” what the main character is thinking or feeling.
4) Make sure your viewpoint character solves, or resolves, the story problem himself. Too many times, beginning children’s writers have a parent, or other well-meaning adult, rush in to save the day.
But editors look for children’s story that feature a child protagonist who solves his own problem - or at least resolves it without a lot of help from adults - so give adults only minor roles in your stories for children.
5) Try to create an unexpected “twist” for the end of your story.
This should be something completely logical, but unexpected.
Read several short stories in children’s magazines and look for the “twist” in each of them until you begin to get the hang of this for your own stories for children.
6) The main character should grow or change somehow as a result of solving or resolving his own problem.
This doesn’t have to be a BIG change, but the reader should see some difference in the main character now that he has gone through a struggle to solve or resolve the overall story problem.
If you keep these simple points in mind as you create stories for children, you’ll be WAY ahead of much of the competition.
Happy writing!
Childrens Magazines, Secrets Of Writing For Children, The Secrets Of Writing For Children, writing for children, Writing For Kids
By: Writing for Children,
on 2/2/2008
Wow! It’s February already!
Time to join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club if you’re serious about starting your own career as a published children’s book author.
This month, members of the club will be learning how to do the following:
1. Apply for assignments with educational publishers.
2. Create a professional resume.
3. Develop an author’s bio.
4. Write winning queries and cover letters.
Membership in the CWCC also includes four 55-minute teleclasses (one per week) providing instruction in some aspect of children’s writing. Teleclasses are led by our faculty members who are all successful, published children’s book authors.
Every Wednesday night, club members are invited to a manuscript critique telesession, where they can HEAR what needs to be done to improve their manuscripts.
All this and MORE each and every month for only $27.00 per month!
Don’t miss out!
Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today!
Childrens Writers Coaching Club, creating a professional resume, manuscript critique, teleclasses for childrens writers
By: Writing for Children,
on 1/30/2008
Whether you’re a world-famous children’s author, or you’re just starting to write for kids, you need to have a blog.
Why?
Because a blog will do the following:
1) Help you get in the habit of writing regularly. And even the posts to your blog should be well-written with a little pizazz - which will be excellent writing practice and help you become a more disciplined writer since you’ll need to post to your blog at least 3 to 5 times a week.
2) Help you establish a readership. You’ll be providing readers with helpful and/or interesting information each time you post to your blog. Information people will begin to look forward to reading on a regular basis. If you’re an established children’s book author, children and adults who read your books will look to your blog to find out what’s new with you. They’ll want to know your current writing project(s), new books you have coming out soon, and information about author visits you might offer to schools, libraries, etc.
3) Help you establish yourself as expert in the world of children’s writing and publishing. Even before you are published, you can interview more experienced children’s writers and post these interviews to your blog or write reviews of new children’s books.
****************************
Need help creating your own professional blog?
Then join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club.
Blogging for business, Childrens Writers Coaching Club, Creating Platform, Cwcc, National Writing for Children Center, writing for children
By: Writing for Children,
on 1/29/2008
Fiction, nonfiction, picture books, easy readers . . . the great books come alive. They breathe. They lament. They stand up and cheer. And, whether I had intended or not, they pull me as editor, as reader, into their living world, allowing me to breathe and lament and stand up with them. The heart of a really good book beats.
Okay then, you might ask, what makes a good book’s heart beat? There are more answers to the question than anyone can give in one morning, but I believe you give yourself a leg up in discovering the heartbeat, if as a writer you dare to look at life on a slant.
Readers do not want what is straightforward, understandable, four square, typical, sturdy, easy, predictable. No, I believe character and plot and setting and language—on a slant—is what readers thirst for. They are intrigued with what is odd, aberrant, offbeat, strange—for goodness’ sake. And praise be!
This tip comes from a talk given by Patti at the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua. If you’d like to learn from Patti in person, join us for the 2008 workshop. Find out more at www.highlightsfoundation.org.
Patricia Lee Gauch is vice president and editor at large of Philomel Books as well as a respected author in her own right. She holds a doctorate in English literature, and has taught children’s literature on the college level and reviewed for The New York Times. Patti has edited three Caldecott books, including Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr, and So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George and David Small. She has worked with many well-known authors, including Jane Yolen, Andrew Clements, and Brian Jacques.
The Highlights Foundation
814 Court Street
Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (570) 253-1192
E-mail: [email protected]
By: Writing for Children,
on 1/26/2008
aaron shepard, king o the cats, Picture Books
By: Writing for Children,
on 1/24/2008
Bringing the Past to Life: Writing Middle Grade Historical Fiction, this week’s teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will be presented tonight at 7:00 central time. The instructor for this class is Suzanne Lieurance, author of the upcoming middle grade historical novel, The Locket: Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (to be released in May 2008). Lieurance is currently completing a second historical novel for Enslow Publishers’ fiction adventure series.
********
Other CWCC News
Members of the CWCC enjoyed a manuscript critique telesession last night, where everything from picture book manuscripts, writers’ resumes, and nonfiction articles were critiqued. Today, members will receive a link to the recording of this session so they can listen to the critiques of their work even if they were unable to attend last night’s LIVE session.
Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club, here, and receive these benefits, plus many more, for only $27.00 per month.
Childrens Writers Coaching Club, historical fiction for kids, middle grade novels, writing for children, Writing For Kids
By: Rene Colato Lainez,
on 1/23/2008
René Colato Laínez
Chautauqua offers many quiet places. Dayton O. Hyde (right) and Rene
That afternoon, I gave her my manuscript “Waiting for Papá.” Something magical happened. Patricia did not like my manuscript, SHE LOVED IT. Patricia sat with me and with her pen, wrote suggestions all over the manuscript. At the end of the workshop, she gave me a big hug and told me, “We can do this book together.”
By: Writing for Children,
on 1/22/2008
Author Rita Milios has recently joined the faculty of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club.
Welcome, Rita!
Rita Milios, author and workshop presenter, is also a practicing psychotherapist, freelance editor and a former instructor for a national writing school. Rita has published more than thirty books, both fiction and non-fiction, for children, adults, teachers and counselors for publishers including Pearson, Harcourt, Rosen, Glencoe, McGraw-Hill and others. She also writes articles and educational supplements and test assessment materials for educational publishers focusing on science, social issues, language arts, health and character development.
Rita’s books for children include Anorexia and Bulimia, Discovering Positive Thinking, Sleeping and Dreaming. Many of Rita’s books appear on teacher recommendation lists.
Milios is a long-time member of SCBWI, the Association of Journalists and Authors and the National Speakers Association.
Click below to join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club with Rita<!--Begin--->
The Children’s Writers
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By: Writing for Children,
on 1/19/2008
The National Writing for Children Center is pleased to welcome author Simon Rose to the faculty of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club.
Simon Rose was born in Derbyshire, England. He graduated from university with a degree in history and has lived in Canada since 1990. He is also a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature of West Redding, CT.
The Alchemist’s Portrait, Rose’s first novel for young readers was published in 2003, followed by The Sorcerer’s Letterbox in 2004. Both have been nominated for several awards and continue to receive excellent reviews. The Sorcerer’s Letterbox was shortlisted for the 2005 Silver Birch Award in Ontario and the Diamond Willow Award in Saskatchewan. The Clone Conspiracy was published in 2005 and The Emerald Curse in 2006, both having received great reviews from adults and children. A fifth novel, The Heretic’s Tomb, was released in October 2007.
Simon Rose’s books are published in Canada, the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand and are available around the world. His novels can be purchased in the USA through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and many other online locations and also through local bookstores. Autographed copies may also be purchased at www.simon-rose.com
Rose’s first teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will take place in February. More information about this teleclass will be available here soon.
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By: Writing for Children,
on 1/18/2008
The National Writing for Children Center
welcomes Margot Finke to the faculty of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club.
Children’s Author Margot Finke
Find out more about Margot Finke on Our Staff & Faculty Page.
Margot will be teaching a monthly teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club starting in February.
Her February teleclass will be:
PICTURE (BOOK) PERFECT
This teleclass will cover the following:
* Good grammar and punctuation
* Tight writing — use a few carefully chosen words to write a “big” story.
* The benefit of bringing powerful verbs into play.
* How to paint word pictures that will stick in a child’s head.
* How to write active paragraphs that easily translate into illustrations
* How to FOCUS on what is important to the story — and cut the rest.
* The art of crafting characters kids will identify with and root for.
* Develop a writing “voice” that is unique.
Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today so you won’t miss any of Margot’s exciting and informative classes. Click the Coaching Club link directly below.<!--Begin--->
The Children’s Writers
Coaching Club
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By: Writing for Children,
on 1/10/2008
Last night, members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club were given the opportunity to take part in a live teleclass with children’s author Margot Finke, where she explained how and what authors need to do in order to plan and present visits to schools.
It was an excellent teleclass. And, as usual, Margot provided plenty of good information, as well as three pages of handouts. Thank you, Margot, for a wonderfully informative and fun class!
If you missed last night’s teleclass, you can still get the link to this recorded class, as well as the handouts, when you join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club. As a club member, you’ll also receive a CD of this recorded event later this month.
Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club here.
******************
Members of the CWCC also receive weekly writing assignments every Monday morning. We try to make sure these are PRACTICAL assignments, and sometimes members are even able to sell a finished assignment to an appropriate market.
This was the case with club member, Sylvia C. Hall. She recently sold one of her weekly assignment to KC Parents magazine for their winter issue.
Congratulations, Sylvia!
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By: Writing for Children,
on 1/7/2008
If you’ve decided to make 2008 the year you finally become a published children’s author yourself, you’ll want to join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club to get the help you need to do that.
Here’s what you’ll receive as a member of the club:
1. Every month you will be invited to attend a LIVE teleclass with a successful children’s book author and/or illustrator, then you will receive a CD of this recorded event.
You’ll get the “inside scoop” on what it takes to become published in today’s markets.
2. Every Monday morning you’ll also receive an email with a short writing assignment designed to improve your skills in some area of children’s writing.
You can choose whether or not you complete this assignment and turn it in for review.
3. Every week you can submit a children’s manuscript for review. Then, every Wednesday night you can attend a manuscript critique telesession, where you’ll receive constructive comments and suggestions about your manuscript from at least one published children’s book writer.
Your writing career will really start to take off after just a few months in our club.
And, you’ll receive all this help - each and every month - for only $27.00 per month.
But wait, there’s more.
Don’t just take my word for it.
If you’d like a FREE trial membership for the month of January, email [email protected] and put the words, “free trial membership” in the subject area.
Try membership in the CWCC first to see how you like it, without paying a cent. Note: This offer applies to new members only.
But you’d better hurry.
This special offer will only be available today, January 7th. It expires at midnight tonight.
Make 2008 the year you finally DO something to create the writing career you’ve always dreamed of!
See you in print!
Suzanne Lieurance
Founder, Director
National Writing for Children Center
By: Writing for Children,
on 1/2/2008
Members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club are going to hit the ground running this month with a series of events early in the month.
First, tonight is our weekly manuscript critique telesession at 8:00 central time. It’s good to see at least a few club members are ready to refocus on their writing now after taking time out to enjoy the holidays.
Children’s Author and Speaker Margot Finke
Second, next Wednesday night, January 9th, at 8:00 central time, children’s author and presenter Margot Finke will present a special teleclass for members of the CWCC about how to design and present a super school presentation.
Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching HERE to take advantage of these exciting events.
author visits, Childrens Writers Coaching Club, Margot Finke, writing for children
By: Rene Colato Lainez,
on 1/1/2008
By René Colato Laínez
By: Writing for Children,
on 12/30/2007
Whether you want to write for children or write for adults, Suzanne Lieurance, The Working Writer’s Coach, can help YOU make more money from your writing in 2008!
And right now she is even offering a special holiday discount on her intensive 8-week Working Writer’s Coaching Program. Find out more about the program and how to receive your disount HERE.
But don’t delay. This special holiday discount ends tomorrow night - December 31st - at midnight!
Make 2008 your best year EVER for writing and publishing!
freelance writers, freelance writing, make money writing, Working Writers Coach, Working Writers Coaching Program, writing for children
By: Writing for Children,
on 12/29/2007
Start the New Year off right by subscribing to these informative publications for children’s writers.
Children’s Writers Newsletter is published by the Writer’s Institute in West Redding, Connecticut.
Children’s Writer brings you these regular features to keep you on top of the market every month:
Marketplace—three full pages to provide even more news about what editors are looking foright now! PLUS . . . tips, updates, new faces, new specs, start-ups, shutdowns, mergers, and acquisitions.
Contest Announcements—Including Children’s Writer’s own contests with cash prizes of up to $500 for the grand-prize winner plus publication in Children’s Writer.
Commentary—Award-winning author Patricia Curtis Pfitsch delves into important and controversial developments in the children’s field in this regular feature.
Profession and Craft—Two regular columns where guest writers discuss key aspects of the business side and the writing side of being a professional writer.
Of course, as you might expect from the Institute, there’s even more:
• Book editors discuss their wants and needs;
• Interviews with authors who help shape the market;
• Profiles of magazines that are setting the pace.
Find out more about this publication and how to subscribe HERE.
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Children’s Book Insider is another publication children’s writers can’t be without!
Each issue of Children’s Book Insider includes:
NEW MARKETS. The first thing you’ll see when you pick up CBI each month is “At Presstime,” two pages of fresh and exclusive market news. This publication tells you about new imprints, changes in editorial direction, calls for submission, contests, grants and much more. CBI editors use their exclusive network of sources to provide readers with the hottest leads. And they put it all right up front, because they know your first objective as a writer is to sell. “At Presstime” is the source to find out who’s buying.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK. CBI extensively covers the nuts and bolts of submitting your work, with information that will make it easy for you to take action. Their Editor Profile series brings you up close to top editors, who will tell you — in their own words — exactly what they’re looking for and how they like to be approached. Plus, CBI’s feature articles cover every aspect of the submissions process — from formatting your manuscript all the way through signing a contract.
WRITING SECRETS. Their straightforward “how-to” pieces about writing give you the do’s, don’ts and golden rules of children’s literature. From picture books through young adult novels, CBI tells the secrets that can turn rejection letters into book contracts.
ADVICE FROM TOP AUTHORS. CBI brings you the advice, encouragement and wisdom of America’s top children’s writers, through their series of exclusive interviews. Judy Blume, Jane Yolen, R.L. Stine, Gary Paulsen, Walter Dean Myers….these are just a few of the big names that have appeared in CBI. (Apply the lessons these folks have to offer and, who knows, maybe someday CBI will be interviewing you!)
Find out more about this publication and how to subscribe HERE.
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Become a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and you’ll automatically receive the SCBWI Bulletin.
This bi-monthly publication contains comprehensive and current information in the field of children’s literature. Features include the latest market reports, articles on issues in writing, illustrating, and publishing, information on contests and awards, reports of events in the field, news of SCBWI members, as well as information about ongoing SCBWI activities throughout the country. The Bulletin is an invaluable source of information and inspiration to writers and illustrators of children’s literature.
Find out more about SCBWI and how to become a member and start receiving The Bulletin HERE.
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Oh now! I cannot even imagine what that is like!
Just a metaphor, Stacey, although in 1978 we had a blizzard in eastern Colorado that drifted the snow up to the eaves of our house! So I've lived the real thing, too!