Monday, September 22, 2014

Current Scratch: Join Us, NANOWRIMO, Awards, Texas Book Festival, Opportunities, & for Pure Enjoyment

Howdy, folks! Hope you're all busying yourself like squirrels this fall, gathering hearty ideas for projects, current & future. Did you wrap a project up this summer? Does it sizzle with perfection? If so, be brave and submit it! *Check out two new opportunities for submissions below*


JOIN US


Our next Schmooze: Sell Your Books! Sage advice from Molly Blaisdell and others. Join the discussion on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 10 a.m. in the College Station Barnes & Noble. A brief summary of news from the SCBWI Summer Conference will follow. Those who have time will go out to lunch as well. Come early for a gentle critique starting at 9:30 a.m. Bring 5 copies of 5 double-spaced pages to share.

LOCAL

Illustrator event! Join SCBWI-BV, as we attend a free lecture featuring James Gurney, author of the Dinotopia series. This is sponsored by The Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA) at Texas A&M University. A treat for your inner artist. We will meet on Thursday, October 23 at 5 p.m. for a bite to eat (details to come) and then head over to at 7 p.m. to Geren Auditorium at the College of Architecture on the A&M campus for the lecture. Email me if you are interested! (molly@mollyblaisdell.com)

"James Gurney is the artist and author best known for his illustrated book series Dinotopia. He specializes in painting realistic images of scenes that can’t be photographed, from dinosaurs to ancient civilizations." (jamesgurney.com) 

Pick up the Pace!—A Workshop with Agent Jodell Sadler of Sadler Children’s Literary
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 at A& M United Methodist Church, College Station, TX
Story pacing can make the difference between a “nice try” rejection and a publishable manuscript. Whether you’re working on page turns in a 500-word picture book or end-of-chapter cliff-hangers in a 50,000-word novel, Jodell Sadler has tips and tools to help pick up the pace. Join SCBWI Brazos Valley for a day-long workshop focused on pacing and strong writing skills.* Registration fees are $125 for SCBWI members and $150 for non-members. Whether paying by check or credit card, please register through the event website.

In addition to the workshop, attendees may submit pages/portfolios for critique. Only eight slots are available with Ms. Sadler, and the face-to-face meetings will be scheduled in the morning on Sunday, Nov. 9. A fee of $45 is due at registration, and submissions** will be due (postmarked by) Oct. 15.

LOCAL

Teen & Middle Grade Authors event. Larry J. Ringer Library in College Station: On Saturday, November 8, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., and Sunday, November 9, 2-4 p.m., Teen & Middle Grade Authors: Teen and tween aspiring authors and adult authors who write for teen and middle grade audiences, talk about your books and about other teen and middle grade fiction, book signings allowed. Contact Kendra at kperkins@bryantx.gov or (979) 764-3416. More info about this event here. *If you would like to be a featured author and have books signed at this event, please contact Kendra Perkins at the email address above.


STATEWIDE

SCBWI Austin Chapter: Fall Workshop-Research for Fiction, Non-fiction and Historical Writers.Date/Time: 9/13/ 2014, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Location: Laura's Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd., Austin, TX
More info here.

Non-Fiction for New Folks Retreat (NF4NF) -- For fiction writers wanting to try nonfiction writing, nonfiction writers who are new to the genre, and experienced NF writers in need of encouragement, instruction, and inspiration. (not an SCBWI event but may be of interest to our members)Date/Time 10/9 -10/12

Location: Hill Country University Center, Fredricksburg, TX
More info here.


NANOWRIMO

Do you have an idea brewing? A character or two who refuse to let you rest at night? No worries, here's a challenge just for you. National Novel Writing Month comes in November! Check out the site for details.


AWARDS
Check out the 2014 Longlist for National Book Award for Young People's Literature.


TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL
Coming to Austin on Oct. 25 & 26. 2014's List of Authors.


OPPORTUNITIES
Highlights' new fiction contest is just around the corner! This year's theme is Mystery Stories!


Submission Guidelines for APPLESEEDS magazine, ages 6-9.


Literary Agent Lana Popovic is currently building client list.


And another one! Literary Agent Genevieve Nine.


WRITING A SERIES?
Here's a great Writer Unboxed blog post about why (benefits & strategies) authors need to write a series.


AND FOR PURE ENJOYMENT
A Ted talk with award-winning children's author Mac Barnett Why a Good Book is a Secret Door.


The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.









Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Current Scratch: Local, Statewide, NANOWRIMO, Middle Grade, News, Tools

Howdy, folks! I felt almost a chill in the air this morning.  I am ready for fall! I hope you are too. Polish up that work and send it out!

Our next Schmooze: Sell Your Books! Sage Advice from Molly Blaisdell. Join the discussion on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m. in the College Station Barnes & Noble. A brief summary of news from the SCBWI Summer Conference will follow. Those who have time will go out to lunch as well. Come early for gentle critique starting at 9:30 a.m. Bring 5 copies of 5 double-spaced pages to share.

LOCAL

Illustrator event! Join SCBWI-BV, as we attend a free lecture featuring James Gurney, author of the Dinotopia series. This is sponsored by The Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA) at Texas A&M University. A treat for your inner artist. We will meet on Thursday, October 23 at 5 p.m. for a bite to eat (details to come) and then head over to at 7 p.m. to Geren Auditorium at the College of Architecture on the A&M campus for the lecture. Email me if you are interested! (molly@mollyblaisdell.com)

"James Gurney is the artist and author best known for his illustrated book series Dinotopia. He specializes in painting realistic images of scenes that can’t be photographed, from dinosaurs to ancient civilizations." (jamesgurney.com) 

Pick up the Pace!—A Workshop with Agent Jodell Sadler of Sadler Children’s Literary
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 at A& M United Methodist Church, College Station, TX
Story pacing can make the difference between a “nice try” rejection and a publishable manuscript. Whether you’re working on page turns in a 500-word picture book or end-of-chapter cliff-hangers in a 50,000-word novel, Jodell Sadler has tips and tools to help pick up the pace. Join SCBWI Brazos Valley for a day-long workshop focused on pacing and strong writing skills.* Registration fees are $125 for SCBWI members and $150 for non-members. Whether paying by check or credit card, please register through the event website.

In addition to the workshop, attendees may submit pages/portfolios for critique. Only eight slots are available with Ms. Sadler, and the face-to-face meetings will be scheduled in the morning on Sunday, Nov. 9. A fee of $45 is due at registration, and submissions** will be due (postmarked by) Oct. 15.

LOCAL

Teen & Middle Grade Authors event. Larry J. Ringer Library in College Station: On Saturday, November 8, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., and Sunday, November 9, 2-4 p.m., Teen & Middle Grade Authors: Teen and tween aspiring authors and adult authors who write for teen and middle grade audiences, talk about your books and about other teen and middle grade fiction, book signings allowed. Contact Kendra at kperkins@bryantx.gov or (979) 764-3416. More info about this event here. *If you would like to be a featured author and have books signed at this event, please contact Kendra Perkins at the email address above.


STATEWIDE

SCBWI Austin Chapter: Fall Workshop-Research for Fiction, Non-fiction and Historical Writers.Date/Time: 9/13/ 2014, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Location: Laura's Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd., Austin, TX
More info here.

Non-Fiction for New Folks Retreat (NF4NF) -- For fiction writers wanting to try nonfiction writing, nonfiction writers who are new to the genre, and experienced NF writers in need of encouragement, instruction, and inspiration. (not an SCBWI event but may be of interest to our members)Date/Time 10/9 -10/12

Location: Hill Country University Center, Fredricksburg, TX
More info here.


NANOWRIMO

National Novel Writing Month comes in November! Check out the site for details.
MIDDLE GRADE 

The Christine E. Eldin Memorial Fellowship
The inaugural Christine E. Eldin Memorial Fellowship opens for submissions 1 September. A prize of $1,000 will be awarded to an unpublished middle-grade fiction writer whose work-in-progress reveals potential for a successful writing career. Visit the fellowship website for complete guidelines: http://eldinfellowship.org/

NEWS

Ebook Piracy is a BIG problem for authors.  Here is a thoughtful article about what publishers can do. Read about it in PW. 

Check out new agent Rick Richter. He joins Zachary Schuster Harmsworth Literary and Entertainment Agency.  Read about it PW

TOOLS
Kindle offers a free software to help self-published authors.  Here is a link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000729511 


The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.