Howdy, folks. Are you hot? At least this makes me want to hunker inside and write. I hope you are doing excellent work. Here's some news about our local authors. We love libraries! Kathi Appelt will be at the Elgin Library on June 22. Read about it here. Kathi Whitehead and Molly Blaisdell are going to be at the Georgetown Library on July 28th. Here is a great interview from Sherry Garland at Marjoleinbookblog. I hope you are writing your hearts out!
YA BOOKS
An interesting article in PW about whether YA books are dark and depraved or are saving lives.
BOOK LAUNCH TIPS
Hey, it's never too early to plan! That's my motto. Here is a great article to tuck for that book launch in the future.
IMPROVE
Want to really pick apart the bones of a children's book with some experts. Here is a great blog to help you on your journey - Story Sleuths.
Here is a list of 40 questions that is guaranteed to help you make a stronger manuscript.
Here is a list of 11 free resources to help you with editing.
BLOG
Thinking about blogging? Here are some good tips to help you on your way!
Hope your writing is hotter that outside this week! See you next week with more scratch.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Weekly Scratch: Genre Writing, Agents, Self Publishing, Tweets
Howdy, folks, hope your work is humming! I hope you find something here to help you on your creative journey.
GENRE WRITING
Summer season is out and I have noticed that there are a boatload of superhero movies out there. Here is a blog post that shares some good advice for superhero writing at SuperheroNation.
AGENTS
Here is a new agent to check out at JABerwocky Literary: Jesse Cammack.
Here is a spotlight at Literary Rambles about Spieler Agency's Eric Meyer.
SELF PUBLISHING
DuoLit offers some good weekly links and advice about self-publishing and marketing.
TWEETS
Too busy for twitter, here is mystery writer's Elizabeth Spain Craig's best tweets for lit folks this week. Useful stuff.
Hope you make awesome progress this week!
GENRE WRITING
Summer season is out and I have noticed that there are a boatload of superhero movies out there. Here is a blog post that shares some good advice for superhero writing at SuperheroNation.
AGENTS
Here is a new agent to check out at JABerwocky Literary: Jesse Cammack.
Here is a spotlight at Literary Rambles about Spieler Agency's Eric Meyer.
SELF PUBLISHING
DuoLit offers some good weekly links and advice about self-publishing and marketing.
TWEETS
Too busy for twitter, here is mystery writer's Elizabeth Spain Craig's best tweets for lit folks this week. Useful stuff.
Hope you make awesome progress this week!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Weekly Scratch: Statewide Opportunities, Great Conferences, Educational Opportunities
Howdy, folks,
I hope that you are having a good week. Please remember that all the links provided below are for informational purpose and not to be considered an endorsement unless it is an SCBWI event. Do you your research. If I missed anything, send me an email and I will post the link next week.
Here is news about our next local SCBWI event.
For the next Saturday opportunity in the Brazos Valley, bring your work-in-progress or a new notebook to our mini-retreat on August 27.
SCBWI Saturday Mini-RetreatL August 27, 2011, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Arts Council of the Brazos Valley building, -- A Mini-Retreat to Inspire Your Writing Voice: SCBWI Brazos Valley Children’s Literature Book Club co-coordinators, Jacqueline Gramann and Alicia Clay O’Neill, will team-up and present A Mini-Retreat to Inspire Your Writing Voice. They are combining their professional backgrounds to inform and inspire beginning and seasoned writers. Jacqueline and Alicia will present new ways to look at writing for children and have several writing exercises to unlock your writing obstacles.
Alicia Clay O’Neill, M.A. is a college-level English instructor and has taught writing at Texas A&M University and most recently to students at Blinn College. Alicia is a 2nd grade Faith Formation teacher, mother to an energetic 3 year old, and works as a reading intervention tutor with a special interest in instruction for dyslexic students. Alicia enjoys coaching writers at all levels of the writing process and she has found that teaching is the best way to learn. She will present “Voicing Your Characters.”
Jacqueline Gramann, Ed.M. has over twenty years of experience in teaching, research, and the writing of educational briefs, research reports, and training manuals. She has taught toddlers to adults in the fields of gifted and talented, early childhood, child development, and family literacy. Research work has been in metacognition and emergent literacy. A SCBWI member since 1982, she has attended many workshops, including the Writers Workshop at Chautauqua. Currently, Jacqueline is crossing her fingers and following-up her first publication in children’s writing with rewriting, blogging and submitting new manuscripts to editors. She will lead off with “Informing Your Story Voice.”
CLBC:
For information about our Children's Literature Book Club, join the yahoo group to view the calendar of meetings and books, past books, and to get reminders. The Children's Literature Book Club meets for book discussion at the Arts Council of Brazos Valley, 2275 Dartmouth Street in College Station. The next book club meeting will be in September with a couple of books by Richard Peck.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChildLitbookclub/
STATEWIDE OPPORTUNITIES
Registration is open now for summer classes and workshops at Gemini Ink in San Antonio.
SCBWI Austin - July 30th Workshop – Beyond the Basics: Applying and Analyzing Constructive Criticism with the Texas Sweethearts.</a>
GREAT CONFERENCES TO EXPLORE
SCBWI SUMMER CONFERENCE
SCBWI WINTER CONFERENCE
SCBWI NEVADA Mentorship Program
SCBWI Bologna in conjunction with the Bologna Book Fair. </a>
SCBWI San Fransisco Asilomar Conference
Writers Workshop at Chautauqua.
The Founder's Workshops at the the Highlights Foundation were not "highlighted" at our Schmooze.
The Rutger's One-on-one Conference sponsored by the Rutger's Council on Children's Literature.
The Backspace Writer's Conference. Backspace (http://www.bksp.org/) is an online writers organization with over 1,400 members in a dozen countries.
For publsihed writing professionals, Kindling Words Retreats--Kindling Words is an inspiring retreat where accomplished authors, illustrators and editors meet, talk shop, participate in workshops, and inspire each other.
Write On Con is an online conference site for children's writers with monthly events. It's sponsored by a group of very generous authors.
Robert McKee's Story Seminar.
The Whidbey Island Writer's Conference, a conference for all writers, but it does have a children's author track.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Institute of Children's Literature
Vermont College Low Residency Children's Writing MFA
Hamline University Low Residency Children's Writing MFA
Hollins University Low Residency Children's Writing MFA
Northwest Institute for Literary Arts Low Residency Children's Writing MFA
I hope that you are having a good week. Please remember that all the links provided below are for informational purpose and not to be considered an endorsement unless it is an SCBWI event. Do you your research. If I missed anything, send me an email and I will post the link next week.
Here is news about our next local SCBWI event.
For the next Saturday opportunity in the Brazos Valley, bring your work-in-progress or a new notebook to our mini-retreat on August 27.
SCBWI Saturday Mini-RetreatL August 27, 2011, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Arts Council of the Brazos Valley building, -- A Mini-Retreat to Inspire Your Writing Voice: SCBWI Brazos Valley Children’s Literature Book Club co-coordinators, Jacqueline Gramann and Alicia Clay O’Neill, will team-up and present A Mini-Retreat to Inspire Your Writing Voice. They are combining their professional backgrounds to inform and inspire beginning and seasoned writers. Jacqueline and Alicia will present new ways to look at writing for children and have several writing exercises to unlock your writing obstacles.
Alicia Clay O’Neill, M.A. is a college-level English instructor and has taught writing at Texas A&M University and most recently to students at Blinn College. Alicia is a 2nd grade Faith Formation teacher, mother to an energetic 3 year old, and works as a reading intervention tutor with a special interest in instruction for dyslexic students. Alicia enjoys coaching writers at all levels of the writing process and she has found that teaching is the best way to learn. She will present “Voicing Your Characters.”
Jacqueline Gramann, Ed.M. has over twenty years of experience in teaching, research, and the writing of educational briefs, research reports, and training manuals. She has taught toddlers to adults in the fields of gifted and talented, early childhood, child development, and family literacy. Research work has been in metacognition and emergent literacy. A SCBWI member since 1982, she has attended many workshops, including the Writers Workshop at Chautauqua. Currently, Jacqueline is crossing her fingers and following-up her first publication in children’s writing with rewriting, blogging and submitting new manuscripts to editors. She will lead off with “Informing Your Story Voice.”
CLBC:
For information about our Children's Literature Book Club, join the yahoo group to view the calendar of meetings and books, past books, and to get reminders. The Children's Literature Book Club meets for book discussion at the Arts Council of Brazos Valley, 2275 Dartmouth Street in College Station. The next book club meeting will be in September with a couple of books by Richard Peck.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChildLitbookclub/
STATEWIDE OPPORTUNITIES
Registration is open now for summer classes and workshops at Gemini Ink in San Antonio.
SCBWI Austin - July 30th Workshop – Beyond the Basics: Applying and Analyzing Constructive Criticism with the Texas Sweethearts.</a>
GREAT CONFERENCES TO EXPLORE
SCBWI SUMMER CONFERENCE
SCBWI WINTER CONFERENCE
SCBWI NEVADA Mentorship Program
SCBWI Bologna in conjunction with the Bologna Book Fair. </a>
SCBWI San Fransisco Asilomar Conference
Writers Workshop at Chautauqua.
The Founder's Workshops at the the Highlights Foundation were not "highlighted" at our Schmooze.
The Rutger's One-on-one Conference sponsored by the Rutger's Council on Children's Literature.
The Backspace Writer's Conference. Backspace (http://www.bksp.org/) is an online writers organization with over 1,400 members in a dozen countries.
For publsihed writing professionals, Kindling Words Retreats--Kindling Words is an inspiring retreat where accomplished authors, illustrators and editors meet, talk shop, participate in workshops, and inspire each other.
Write On Con is an online conference site for children's writers with monthly events. It's sponsored by a group of very generous authors.
Robert McKee's Story Seminar.
The Whidbey Island Writer's Conference, a conference for all writers, but it does have a children's author track.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Institute of Children's Literature
Vermont College Low Residency Children's Writing MFA
Hamline University Low Residency Children's Writing MFA
Hollins University Low Residency Children's Writing MFA
Northwest Institute for Literary Arts Low Residency Children's Writing MFA
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Weekly Scratch: A MOVIE, AWARDS, DON'T TELL,
Hi folks, Our upcoming Schmooze on 5-25 at the College Station Barnes and Noble at 10 a.m. will feature a panel discussing the following : Q&A about MFA programs, SCBWI conferences, Highlights Foundation workshops, and others. Be sure to check calendar for other weekly events. Have I mentioned that Sherry Garland's book VOICES OF GETTYSBERG has recieved a 2011 Storytelling World Resource Award for Stories for Adolescent Listeners?
A MOVIE
I want to see The Library of the Early Mind. It's a documentary about children's literature. Watch the trailer here.
AWARDS
Wondering who won the Edgar Award for juvenile books from Mystery Writers of America in 2011?
Wonder who were the finalists for the Mythopoeic Society's Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature?
Look,a new award to honor the exceptional writing in a picture book in the amount of $5000: PEN/Steven Kroll Award to Honor Author of an Illustrated Children's Book!
DON'T TELL
A good article about showing vs telling on the blog, The Blood Red Pencil.
I will toss some more scratch next week. Have a good day, folks!
A MOVIE
I want to see The Library of the Early Mind. It's a documentary about children's literature. Watch the trailer here.
AWARDS
Wondering who won the Edgar Award for juvenile books from Mystery Writers of America in 2011?
Wonder who were the finalists for the Mythopoeic Society's Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature?
Look,a new award to honor the exceptional writing in a picture book in the amount of $5000: PEN/Steven Kroll Award to Honor Author of an Illustrated Children's Book!
DON'T TELL
A good article about showing vs telling on the blog, The Blood Red Pencil.
I will toss some more scratch next week. Have a good day, folks!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Weekly Scratch: Trends, Market, Tweet, Advice, Revolution, Laugh
Howdy, folks. Hope your work is humming. Keep looking up and believing good things will come. Our books reach all kinds of places, Brazos Valley . Proof: If you go to Minnesota's Children's Museum, you might want to read (among others) Kathy Whitehead's book ART FROM HER HEART. Our upcoming Schmooze on 5-25 at the College Station Barnes and Noble at 10 a.m. will feature a panel discussing the following : Q&A about MFA programs, SCBWI conferences, Highlights Foundation workshops, and others. Here is a little blurb about Kathi Appelt at Chautauqua.
TRENDS
Here is an article about an upcoming trend in YA -- Myths.
MARKET
Pyr is entering into the YA market. PW
TWEET
Why is Twitter useful? Check out this little video. Comments of a NEWBIE tweeter offers advice for the want-to-be tweeter.
ADVICE
Some great advice from J. K. Rowling (commencement at Harvard.)
REVOLUTION
Production of all kinds of books in major decline.
Hot new site for YA writers...check it out - Figment.
LAUGH
Kurt Vonnegut and the curves of fiction. Good for a laugh and it might be some good writing advice too!
I hope something here helps you on your journey.
TRENDS
Here is an article about an upcoming trend in YA -- Myths.
MARKET
Pyr is entering into the YA market. PW
TWEET
Why is Twitter useful? Check out this little video. Comments of a NEWBIE tweeter offers advice for the want-to-be tweeter.
ADVICE
Some great advice from J. K. Rowling (commencement at Harvard.)
REVOLUTION
Production of all kinds of books in major decline.
Hot new site for YA writers...check it out - Figment.
LAUGH
Kurt Vonnegut and the curves of fiction. Good for a laugh and it might be some good writing advice too!
I hope something here helps you on your journey.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Weekly Scratch: Opportunity, Publishing News, Revolution, Bestsellers, A Smile
Howdy, folks! Hope you have had a chance to work on your writing this week. Keep digging and I'm sure you will find gold. The SCBWI Magazine Merit Awards were recently announced.
OPPORTUNITY
Lot of live query events going on over at Write-on-con (WOC). Next week, Monday, May 16 at 9 PM Eastern Time (That's 8 PM Central Time :) ) at WOC, Molly O'Neill, an Associate Editor at Katherine Tegan Books, Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, and Michelle Andelman of Regal Literary will show up for a live event. Check it out if you have a book to pitch.
PUBLISHING NEWS
Dial Books has a new vice-president of acquisition and development -- Jennifer Hunt. Check out the article.
REVOLUTION
Did you know that some literary agency are becoming publishing agencies too?
Ed Victor, an English based literary agency, has started publishing e-book and print-on-demand. Read about in PW.
BESTSELLERS
Here is a round up of current best sellers:
The current Indiebound "Indie Bestsellers" list for Children's Interest.
Here are the current NY TIMES bestsellers for Children's Chapter Books and Picture Books.
A SMILE
Did you just receive a requested manuscript? Good for a smile.
I will toss out some more scratch next week. Keep writing.
OPPORTUNITY
Lot of live query events going on over at Write-on-con (WOC). Next week, Monday, May 16 at 9 PM Eastern Time (That's 8 PM Central Time :) ) at WOC, Molly O'Neill, an Associate Editor at Katherine Tegan Books, Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, and Michelle Andelman of Regal Literary will show up for a live event. Check it out if you have a book to pitch.
PUBLISHING NEWS
Dial Books has a new vice-president of acquisition and development -- Jennifer Hunt. Check out the article.
REVOLUTION
Did you know that some literary agency are becoming publishing agencies too?
Ed Victor, an English based literary agency, has started publishing e-book and print-on-demand. Read about in PW.
BESTSELLERS
Here is a round up of current best sellers:
The current Indiebound "Indie Bestsellers" list for Children's Interest.
Here are the current NY TIMES bestsellers for Children's Chapter Books and Picture Books.
A SMILE
Did you just receive a requested manuscript? Good for a smile.
I will toss out some more scratch next week. Keep writing.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Weekly Scratch: First Lines, Micro Plots, On Character, Sequels, The Revolution, Hahaha
Howdy, Folks, I hope your plots are stronger this week. Thanks Debra for a great program last week! If you wish to apply for the Matha Weston grant that is open and the rules are at the SCBWI website. SCBWI Member's Choice Awards have been announced: The Crystal Kite Award. Tammi Sauer wins the Oklahoma/Texas region's Crystal Kite honor with Mostly Monsterly. Here's the link to the Children's Choice Awards if you are interested. Go Texans: Author of Year-Rick Riordan!
FIRST LINES
I thought this might be of some use to you on your journey to a great a novel. This is a link to the first lines of a boatload of classics--Interesting Things: The First Lines. Here legendary librarian Nancy Pearl's offers a grouping of great opening lines. Want a tweet of a first of children's book every day? Here is the spot. Here are over 1000 first lines of picture books. And here's some first lines from books hot off the presses from School Library Journey's Fuse 8 and famed librarian Elizabeth Bird.
MICRO PLOTS
Please consider posting your faves in the notes. I like to think about the micro elements of plots -- i.e. scenes. Here is an article that offers some useful guidiance on how to construct scenes.
ON CHARACTER
"Character is plot, plot is character." F. Scott Fitzgerald. Here is a guy chatting about how to use the Enneagram to build character. This may of be of some interest to you
SEQUELS
I really liked this PW article on upcoming sequels and I thought you might like it too.
THE REVOLUTION
Here is a mystery author musing about the rapidly transforming publishing world.
HAHAHA
You may feel this sometimes when you are writing your manuscript.
Have a great day. May the 4th be with you. :) I am so punny. See y'all next week!
FIRST LINES
I thought this might be of some use to you on your journey to a great a novel. This is a link to the first lines of a boatload of classics--Interesting Things: The First Lines. Here legendary librarian Nancy Pearl's offers a grouping of great opening lines. Want a tweet of a first of children's book every day? Here is the spot. Here are over 1000 first lines of picture books. And here's some first lines from books hot off the presses from School Library Journey's Fuse 8 and famed librarian Elizabeth Bird.
MICRO PLOTS
Please consider posting your faves in the notes. I like to think about the micro elements of plots -- i.e. scenes. Here is an article that offers some useful guidiance on how to construct scenes.
ON CHARACTER
"Character is plot, plot is character." F. Scott Fitzgerald. Here is a guy chatting about how to use the Enneagram to build character. This may of be of some interest to you
SEQUELS
I really liked this PW article on upcoming sequels and I thought you might like it too.
THE REVOLUTION
Here is a mystery author musing about the rapidly transforming publishing world.
HAHAHA
You may feel this sometimes when you are writing your manuscript.
Have a great day. May the 4th be with you. :) I am so punny. See y'all next week!
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