Current Scratch: Best, Hot, Promote!, The Revolution

Howdy folks, I bet everyone is busy and barely has time to breathe. Still, children's books are our passion. That's so important! Take time to create good books in the midst of the buzz. We don't have a meeting until January.   We meet on  Jan. 25  2012 at the College Station Barnes and Noble at 9:30  for critique (bring copies) and 10 AM for the Schmooze.  Molly Blaisdell will be speaking: Do You Need an Agent? How Do You Snag One?

Here is an upcoming regional event:

SCBWI Events in Texas and Beyond, Austin,  http://www.austinscbwi.com/ Regional Conference: Something for Everyone
February 17-19, 2012 St. Edward‘s University
Base Rate is $150 Members/ $165 Non-members

Best

PW's best of 2011 is out. This seems like a hot list of books to me. You might find something to check out too.

Hot

Yes we want to write books to shoot out there. Here is an article on YA and Middle Grade trends in the LA Times that you may enjoy.

Here's the link to the New York Times Best Selling Chapter Books list,  just in case you need have a little reading time right now.

Here is the link to an essay contest at BookWish.org to win a free YA  critique from a publishing expert. This might also open your eyes to the world in a much wider way.

Here is a link to a contest at Query Tracker for children's authors looking for an agent.

Promote!

Do you have a book out. Here is a list of ten non-traditional ways to promote your book.

The Revolution

Here is a thoughtful post from Kathlenn Duey at WriteWriteWriter about the revolution going on in publishing.

Another thoughtful post about the Revolution from Anne R. Allen's Blog and going with traditional publishing.

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

Today's Scratch: Craft, Query, Fun

Howdy, folks! Thought I'd toss a little scratch before Thanksgiving.

The conference was most excellent. Yay to our RA Liz Mertz and her assistant RA Jacqueline Gramann. What a wonderful event! I hope things are buzzing for you from all that inspiration.

We have one more event for the year-end.  Our Holiday Gathering is set for Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. in The Village Cafe, 210 W. 26th Street, Bryan, TX.  Come on for good conversation.  

CRAFT

Need some plot support here are 27 plot points to get you on the road to creating a solid novel.  A free master class on plotting from plot whisperer Martha Anderson.. Totally check this out. It is time well spent. 

QUERY

Here is some very straight forward querying advice if you need a little more to get that query sparkling.

Check out the new agent over at DMLA. Here is an interview article  of Katie Shea at Writer Unboxed.

FOR FUN

I just watched the "THE BOOK JOB",  a Simpson episode, guest starring Neil Gaiman (he totally has a Newbery Medal), where Homer and the gang form a team to create a YA phenom book series. It's quite hysterical. Here is an article where Neil discusses his experience.  Look around at streaming sites and catch this Simpsons episode. You will laugh and nod.  Good stuff.

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

Current Scratch: Nanowrimo, Connect, Revolution

Howdy, folks!  I know this weather is begging you to get outside, but take time to work on your projects. Our conference is also coming up folks.  Here is the link. Sign up!  It's going to be fab.  Here's the scoop:

Connections & Craft Conference! Speaker are fab -- Author Kathi Appelt, Author/Illustrator Brian Floca, author Doris Fisher, author Molly Blasidell, editor Claudia Gabel of Katherine Tegen Books and agent Elena Mechlin of Pippin Properties.

November 12, 2011 A&M United Methodist Church
417 University Drive
College Station, TX 77840

SCBWI Members! Alert! Registration for the Winter 2012 Conference is Open!

More local events:

November 18th: CLBC member Janet Fox will be at the CS Barnes & Noble to discuss her books and writing from 4 to 6 PM.

November 30th: SCBWI BV Holiday Gathering at The Village Cafe at 5:30 PM.

January 26th in 2012: the next CLBC (ChildLitbookclub) meeting. Book: Bridge Over Terabithia. The discussion leader will be Alicia Clay O'Neill. Check their calendar for upcoming books to be read. Join the book club yahoo group to get updates: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChildLitbookclub/ .

January 25th: next Schmooze.

NANOWRIMO

It's the time of the year for NANOWRIMO, the National Novel Writing Month project. Writers all over the world join together and write 50,000 word novels.  You've missed the kick off but you could still jump in. Check it out it.

CONNECT

Writers need to connect. Here are some online spots to meet up with writers and find critique partners..

SCBWI Forums
SCBWI LinkedIn
Verla Kay's Blue Board
SheWrites
AbsoluteWrite
Writer's Guide to Twitter

Revolution

The Publising App Expo site will help you become more aware of this growing segment of the publishing industry.

uTales is a site for authors and illustrators to come together and create and publish e-picture books.

Learn about popular app trends at AppData.

Also interested in what's happening with ebooks? Try EBOOKNEWSER, an online magazine from Mediabistro all about ebooks.

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

Weekly Scratch: Awards, Opportunities, Self-publishing, Critique

Howdy, folks!  I hope that you are working on your stories and getting ready to send out.  

On to our local news. We have a schmooze coming up -- October 26, 2011, 9:30 AM Critique (bring  copies) and 10 AM (meeting) at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Schmooze topic: Critique Group Advantages--Panel. How are our critique groups going? We will share ideas and handouts.

Our conference is also coming up folks.  Here is the link. Sign up!  It's going to be fab.  Here's the scoop:

Connections & Craft Conference!

November 12, 2011 A&M United Methodist Church
417 University Drive
College Station, TX 77840

AWARDS

From PW, The finalists for the 2011 National Book Award in Young People's Literature were announced on Wednesday. The nominees are: Franny Billingsley, Chime, edited by Kathy Dawson (Dial), Debby Dahl Edwardson, My Name Is Not Easy, edited by Melanie Kroupa (Marshall Cavendish); Thanhha Lai, Inside Out and Back Again, edited by Tara Weikum (Harper); Albert Marrin, Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy, edited by Michelle Frey (Knopf); Lauren Myracle, Shine, edited by Susan Van Metre (Abrams/Amulet); and Gary D. Schmidt, Okay for Now, edited by Virginia Buckley (Clarion).

OPPORTUNITIES

To celebrate the release of the trailer for her Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies book, Deborah Halverson is giving away a critique of the first 20 pages of a fiction manuscript of any genre. No picture books. Click the link to the giveaway details.

Here is an opportunity for science fiction writers at Carina Press. Dust off those 18000 to 35000 holiday science fiction novellas and give them a polish. Perhaps the is the break you need.

A local storyteller is going to be in town. This may be of some interest to you.  Here are the particulars:

Who: FREE for all! Lyn Ford will be performing and also demonstrating how to use storytelling in K-8 classrooms. Teller of "Home-Fried" Tales
Where: CSISD Transportation Center (Rock Prairie Rd)
Date: Wed, Nov. 9, 2011
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Contact: Nancy Self, n-self@tamu.edu.

SELF-PUBLISHING

Is self-publishing a new door into traditional publishing market? Here is an interesting article at Alan Rinzler's site with opinions from top editors.

Self-published author is so yesterday; it's all about indie authors now. Here's a roundup of tips and tricks that will rock your indie world from Shelli Johannes' MARKET MY WORDS. 

CRITIQUE

Here is an awesome discussion from YA Oasis. A group of authors pick apart a query letter to make it all sparkly and shiny.  Check it out.

Here is a structure plan to online critique groups at Roni Loren's WRITING BLOG that you may find eye opening.

Here is an article from a blogger called The Art of Critiquing that you find helps you keep it real.

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

Weekly Scratch: Opportunities, Blogging, Tracking

Howdy, folks!  Hope your work is humming.

Don't forget to sign up for the SCBWI-BV Conference. We have an editor, an agent, and world class authors on the slate.  Here is the link. Sign up!  It's going to be fab.

Here's the scoop:  2011 Connections & Craft, November 12, 2011 A&M United Methodist Church
417 University Drive, College Station, TX 77840. Don't miss it.

Check out our own Sherry Garland's blog: In to the Woods We Go.  Some great stuff there about query letters.

OPPORTUNITIES

Join R.L. Stine for Dinner--FREE at    Tre Trattoria on Thursday, October 6!
Preceeded by: WORKSHOP -Overcoming Writer's Block: An Interactive Writing Workshop for Adults with R.L. Stine

October 6, 2011, 5:00 - 6:15pm

Where: The Magik Theatre++

Cost: $60 seatting limited to 50 participants)    

Registration: Call The Magik Theatre 210.227.27 or go to www.magiktheatre.org for more information

Writer Who Care: The 50/50 Project

How does it work? Working with CARE INTERNATIONAL, Writers who CARE: the 50/50 PROJECT will allow anyone who makes a donation of $50.00 to submit 50 pages double-spaced of a work-in-progress for a 1-2 page critique by one of the participating authors.  All donators wishing a critique must have access to e-mail and the Internet for correspondence with a published author in order to qualify. Authors and donators will be matched on a first come, first serve basis as long as slots are open. The project is also open to those wishing simply to make a donation to this worthy cause. 

Local Conference --The Dean of Faculties and Associate Provost is proud to announce and invite you to attend the 2011 CALLALOO CONFERENCE, which will take place at Texas A&M University (College Station, October 12-14) and The Menil Collection (Houston, TX), October 15, 2011. This event is free and open to the general public.  If you attend this international conference you will be delighted and inspired by  some of the best artists and intellectuals currently living in the United States. For additional information about Callaloo and the 2011 CALLALOO CONFERENCE, visit: http://callaloo.tamu.edu

Registration is open now for summer classes and workshops at Gemini Ink in San Antonio.

http://geminiink.org/

The Founder's Workshops at the the Highlights Foundation were not "highlighted" at our Schmooze.

http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/pages/current/FWsched_preview.html

BLOGGING

Some link to useful tools to help you blog:
www.addtoany.com
www.sharethis.com
www.addthis.com
http://FeedBurner.com
http://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/like/
http://technorati.com

TRACKING

Interested in some free submission tracking software? Check out SONAR.

Want a submisson tracking app for you iPad or iPhone?  Try Story Tracker.

A basic tracking spread sheet. Downloadable.

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

Weekly Scratch: Screenwriter Help, Opportunities, Thoughts

Howdy, folks!   We have a schmooze coming up -- October[Correction: September] 28 2011, 9:30 AM Critique (bring  copies) and 10 AM (meeting) at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring in your brilliant ways of how to keep track of your manuscript submissions.  It's a roundtable discussion.
Our conference is also coming up folks.  Here is the link. Sign up!  It's going to be fab.  Here's the scoop:

Connections & Craft

November 12, 2011 A&M United Methodist Church
417 University Drive
College Station, TX 77840

Doris Fisher is speaking at our conference. Here is a link to her fab website.  Here is a link to an interview of Doris at Melissa Buron's blog .

Local Brazos's Writers has an upcoming event that you may wish to check out: 

BRAZOS WRITERS invites you to the Texas Reds --  Steak and Grape Festival on October 7-8, 2011. 

Texas Writers will be signing books at 202 Bryan, Avenue in the Artist’s Show Case, next door to the Our hours will be Friday: 8 pm to 10 pm and Saturday: 10 am to 10 pm. Texas authors are invited to join us in selling their books.  Fill out the form on Brazos Writers’ web site, www.brazoswriters.org.

Old Bryan Market Place.

Screenwriters Help

We can all learn a thing or two from silver screen folks. Here are some sites to explore.

Here is screenwriter Doug Eboch's blog. His blog Let's Schmooze might help you.
Try: MIchael Hauge's site-- Story Mastery. Chris Vogler's site -- Storytech Literary Consutling.  Blake Snyder's site -- Save the Cat. Here's another great screenwriting blog: Go Into the Story.

Opportunities

App publisher Meegenius! is holding a picture book contest.  The grand prize is a publishing contract and $1500.  You might want to check this out.

There is an open call from author Mitali Perkins. In her own words: I'm priviledged to be editing an anthology published by Candlewick Press tentatively called OPEN MIC, a compilation of funny short pieces written by some of today's best YA authors, people who grew up along the margins of race and culture in North America. One of my dreams has been to introduce one or two fresh, relatively unknown voices in this anthology, so I'm excited to announce that I'm calling for submissions. Check out the link here.

Thoughts

Is blogging worth it?  Here is a link to a provocative article that might get you thinking.

Think about this. Help out a good cause. Banned Book Week Auction might be something you want to check out.

One author's view on the role of her agent.  Something to think about.

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

Weekly Scratch: Books! Inspiration! Provocation! Opportunities!

Howdy, folks. Phew, this is a busy time of year for me.  School starts. Football.  The fall routine is almost set up so the weekly blog is getting back on track. We have a schmooze coming up -- 9:30 AM Critique (bring  copies) and 10 AM (meeting) at the College Station Barnes and Noble.  Bring in your brilliant ways of how to keep track of your manuscript submissions.  It's a roundtable discussion.

Our conference is also coming up folks.  Here is the link. Sign up!  It's going to be fab.  Here's the scoop:

Connections & Craft

November 12, 2011 A&M United Methodist Church
417 University Drive
College Station, TX 77840

As another tidbit.  Oh, my Brian Floca is going to be speaking at our conference!  Here is a  nice interview with Brian that you may wish to check out.
Books!

Here's what is hot at the Naperville Public Library in Illinois.  From PW.
And here is a link to this week's NY Times bestsellers.  
Here are the Amazon bestsellers. 
Here are the current INDIEBOUND bestsellers.

Inspiration!

Here is a post from literary agent Sarah Davies -- The Spirit of Normandy. This is one encouraging post.

Here's a post from Joe Konrath about How to Succeed.

Provocation!

The uphill battle for authors with original work. Definitely a provocative post.

Need some instant creativity juice, here's some weird and wonderful advice.

Opportunities!

Just a reminder. Here is a new magazine for emerging YA authors. It's called Sucker Literary Magazine. It's featured in PW. It's a place for short fiction. You may wish to check it out.
You need to be working on your story now if you plan to enter the 2012 Highlights For Children contest.   Here is the contest information link.

If you want to go to the Children's Writing Workshop at Chautauqua, you get an edge if your scholarship application is early.

Hunger Mountain is out there. This is a reminder too.

See you next time for more scratch!

Any views expressed here are my own and  not necessarily those of the SCBWI.
8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.