Hello, SCBWI Brazos Valley & Friends! Maybe it's because it's a New Year. Maybe it's because the sun has shined its light on us for three days straight. But I feel fabulous things heading our way! Completed works. Requests. Contracts. Publishing deals. They're just around the corner.
Are you inspired yet? If not, maybe you should join us for our Schmooze tomorrow!
JOIN US
SCBWI BV Schmooze--Where do you look for inspiration to keep
creating? Do you have a favorite quote, practice, or place that gets you going
again when your creative well starts to run dry? Join us on Wednesday at 10
a.m. in the College Station Barnes & Noble to talk about filling the well.
Gentle critique begins at 9:30 a.m. Bring copies of 5 double-spaced pages of
your work in progress. Those who have time stay for lunch at a local
restaurant. Members and friends welcome!
Webinar Opportunity--Author and teacher Leslea Newman will teach The ABC’s of Poetry: Writing in Poetic Form for Children and Young Adults on Feb.
17, 7-8:30 p.m. Click the title link for details and registration. Member
discounted registration is $10.
OPPORTUNITIES
Preparations for the 2015 Texas Word Wrangler in Giddings is already in full swing. If you're a Texas author and/or illustrator and have published a book and would like to participate, contact Deidre Harry through the link provided.
Pockets Magazine seeks stories on role models for October issue.
We Need Diverse Books hosts a new Short Story Contest. Deadline May 8th.
BOOK BUZZ
Read about how a little press on the prairie races to keep up with sales. An amazing story! An annotated edition of the 1930's biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder PIONEER GIRL
2015 Edgar Award Nominations for Children's and YA. *scroll down to see children's and YA on the list*
SCBWI Announces 2014 On the Verge Emerging Voices Award
CRAFT TIP
Do you write YA? Check out the latest post over at SCBWI: The Blog about how understanding the adolescent psychology may help us write better YA fiction. Interesting information, folks.
AGENT OPPORTUNITY
Polish up those queries! Young Adult, Middle Grade, Picture Books, etc. Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties is back from maternity leave and is accepting queries.
The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily
those of the SCBWI.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Current Scratch: Join Us!, Regional Events, Contest, Resolutions, Publishing, For Fun
Howdy, folks! Welcome to the New Year, SCBWI Brazos Valley! Sorry this is a day late. I spent yesterday celebrating my son's 17th birthday.
Time to get working!
I hope you have made solid New Year's resolutions. I have found that people with a plan find good success! Send me a sentence goal for the New Year, and I will post it the sidebar! It can be anonymous or not. Accountability always helps.
JOIN US!
Next SCBWI Brazos Valley Schmooze: January 28, 2015 at 9 a.m. at the College Station, Barnes and Noble. Details still to come!
REGIONAL EVENTS
Time to get working!
I hope you have made solid New Year's resolutions. I have found that people with a plan find good success! Send me a sentence goal for the New Year, and I will post it the sidebar! It can be anonymous or not. Accountability always helps.
JOIN US!
Next SCBWI Brazos Valley Schmooze: January 28, 2015 at 9 a.m. at the College Station, Barnes and Noble. Details still to come!
REGIONAL EVENTS
SCBWI Austin 2015 Writers and Illustrators' Working Conference. A two day conference with over a dozen publishing professionals. Check it out on March 3/7-8/2015.
SCBWI Houston 2015 Annual Conference. A two day conference with an included intensive. Check it out 4/18-4/19/2015.
CONTEST
CONTEST
Highlights Fiction Contest. This year's theme is mystery stories. The deadline is 1/31/2015.
RESOLUTIONS
Every writer should have dedicated office space. You could do this if you could find your manuscript. Here are some Pinterest Boards to help you organize your office: Organizing Tips and Tricks for Writers, Office and Organizing, Simplified Offices,
Develop a plan for your writing future. This might help you.
How to write a business plan. This might help you move from a hobbyist to a professional.
Write a book in a month. This might help light a fire under you.
PUBLISHING
Good news. Children's sales up at Independent Books stores! Read about it in PW.
What is going on with sci-fi and fantasy readers? Where are the younger readers? This discussion at PW might be interesting to you.
FOR FUN
Neil Gaiman offers advice on how to become a writer. It is much simpler than just writing down your ideas. Check it out on his blog.
The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.
RESOLUTIONS
Every writer should have dedicated office space. You could do this if you could find your manuscript. Here are some Pinterest Boards to help you organize your office: Organizing Tips and Tricks for Writers, Office and Organizing, Simplified Offices,
Develop a plan for your writing future. This might help you.
How to write a business plan. This might help you move from a hobbyist to a professional.
Write a book in a month. This might help light a fire under you.
PUBLISHING
Good news. Children's sales up at Independent Books stores! Read about it in PW.
What is going on with sci-fi and fantasy readers? Where are the younger readers? This discussion at PW might be interesting to you.
FOR FUN
Neil Gaiman offers advice on how to become a writer. It is much simpler than just writing down your ideas. Check it out on his blog.
The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.
Monday, December 8, 2014
Current Scratch: Join Us!, Cheer!, Boards
Howdy, folks! What a great year! Hope you have found the Scratchpad helpful. Enjoy your break time! We will be back next year with more Scratch! Molly and Candilynn
New BV Monthly Evening Meet-up. SCBWI & Friends, you are invited to the new Kid Lit Coffee Klatchon Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 7-8 p.m. in Lupa's Coffee Shop, 2501 Texas Ave , Suite C-100, College Station. It's in the middle of the strip center behind Kentucky Fried Chicken at Southwest Parkway and Texas Avenue.This will be a chance to meet other writers and illustrators, maybe gossip a bit about our characters, and encourage each other. You can email Liz at lizbmertz@gmail.com for further details.
CHEER
BOARDS
Want to connect during the break? Check out our Texas Board. The five Texas regions have a new Discussion Board where members may easily find the events going on around the state. Check here for conference updates and special events or post information about your next book launch. https://www.scbwi.org/boards/index.php?board=207.0
If you have logged onto the "Blue Boards" in the past, but the green stars indicating SCBWI membership do not show up under your name, you won't be able to view the members-only boards. Go here for a quick fix: https://www.scbwi.org/boards/index.php?topic=73590.0
The Brazos Valley SCBWI peeps at Johnny Carino's enjoying some Holiday Cheer!
BOARDS
Want to connect during the break? Check out our Texas Board. The five Texas regions have a new Discussion Board where members may easily find the events going on around the state. Check here for conference updates and special events or post information about your next book launch. https://www.scbwi.org/boards/index.php?board=207.0
If you have logged onto the "Blue Boards" in the past, but the green stars indicating SCBWI membership do not show up under your name, you won't be able to view the members-only boards. Go here for a quick fix: https://www.scbwi.org/boards/index.php?topic=73590.0
The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Current Scratch: Join Us, New BV Evening Meet-up, Business Buzz, Opportunities, & Creative Gifts
Hello, Friends! My deepest apologies, this was due out last week. Between Thanksgiving and trying to squeeze in final edits before I ship this MS off, I lost track of time. Hope your holiday was fabulous and y'all ate lots of pie! May the magic of December bring lots of sparkle to your projects!
JOIN US
Tomorrow Evening! It's time for our annual holiday happening!
WHEN: Tuesday, December 02, 2014 at 06:30 PM
WHERE: Johnny Carino's Patio,620 Harvey Rd, College Station
TX 77840
*Once again we will be accepting donations for Books and A
Blanket, a local non-profit chartered by two elementary school girls in the
Brazos Valley to promote literacy to underprivileged children.
New BV Monthly Evening Meet-up:
JOIN US
Tomorrow Evening! It's time for our annual holiday happening!
WHEN: Tuesday, December 02, 2014 at 06:30 PM
WHERE: Johnny Carino's Patio,
SCBWI & Friends, you are invited to the new Kid Lit Coffee Klatch on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 7-8 p.m. in Lupa's
Coffee Shop, 2501 Texas Ave College Station Southwest Parkway Texas Avenue
Next Schmooze: January 28, 2015 at 9 a.m. at the College Station
BUSINESS BUZZ
Do you write Young Adult? If so, you may want to spruce up your manuscript and jump onto the The YA Wave. New YA-only imprints are popping up everywhere!
OPPORTUNITIES
Call for submissions. "Actively seeking Inspirational and/or Sweet themed
manuscripts. Think Hallmark Hall of Fame, Janette Oke, Little House on the
Prairie, etc."
Writing Contest. "Nightlight Reading Reading
Cricket Magazine Group's Call for Articles. The theme for this issue is “Weird But True: Body
Facts
”—articles, interviews, stories, and activities about the human body.
CREATIVE GIFTS
Tis the season, folks! Friends and family needing gift ideas for you? Check out these lists:
The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily
those of the SCBWI.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Current Scratch: Join Us, Local Events, News, Contest, Thoughts
Hi, folks! Keep going NANOWRIMO participants! Brrr. It's cold here. I hope the weather is helping you hunker down and writing a book.
First up, we will be back with Schmoozes in 2015. Our first meeting: January 28, at 9 a.m. at the College Station Barnes and Noble.
Meanwhile, consider joining us for our Annual Holiday Party!
December 2, 2014
Carino's in College Station
6:30 p.m.
LOCAL EVENTS
A half day of Writing Instruction and Discussion
Saturday, November 15, 2014 / Free & Open to the Public
The Robertson County Carnegie Library is honored to host Texas Writes, a statewide program founded and administered by the Writers’ League of Texas that brings accomplished authors to rural libraries for a half day of workshops and panel discussions, featuring New York Times bestselling novelist Doug Dorst and award-winning novelist Nan Cuba.
NEWS
Hachette and Amazon resolve dispute. Click here for the full story in NY Times.
The problem of digital piracy. Wattpad piracy.
CONTEST
The Highlights Foundation contest is around the corner. Do you like mystery stories? This might connect with you. Try this year's Highlights Fiction Contest.
THOUGHTS
At Highland Park High School in Dallas, parents must now give permission for their child to read the classics. Read about it in Dallas, News.
Here are ten author talks from Ted. If you have time, this will lift you in fabulous ways.
/The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Current Scratch: Join Us, Local, NaNo, Book Business, Awards, & School Visits
Howdy, folks! Have your projects been spooktacular this month? Are you getting geared up for NaNo? Whatever your WIP is, may the bookish force be with you!
JOIN US
Only 9 days left before 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 UnitedMethodist
Church , College Station , TX
JOIN US
Only 9 days left before 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
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
SCBWI Regional Webinar
Date - 11/11/2014
TIME: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Cost: SCBWI members/ $10; non-members/ $35. Members, make
sure you're logged in with your SCBWI id and password to get the member price.
Abrams Creative Director Chad W. Beckerman will teach
"The Evolution of a Book Cover" for the last joint Texas SCBWI
webinar of 2014.
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.
NANOWRIMO
Have you had a story idea brewing in the back of your mind? Well, now is the perfect time to set that project on fire! The offical NaNoWriMo website can assist you. Meet other NaNo'ers, get support, keep track of progress, & write a novel in 30 days!
BOOK BUSINESS
Diversity in books... Here's the latest news from Publisher's Weekly on the subject. The We Need Diverse Books organization is doing great things!
AWARDS
Here's a list of the CILIP Carnegie Nominations for 2015.
TIPS ON SCHOOL VISITS
These tips come from a school librarian. Although written in a humorous tone, I found them most helpful when preparing for my school visit.
*I'm working on a list of author visit tips. If you have any advice or suggestions, please email me at candice.fite@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily
those of the SCBWI.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Current Scratch: Events, Local, NANOWRIMO, In Memorium, News, Fun
Howdy, folks! The Monarch butterflies were emerging like crazy today. I hope that you were lucky enough to see one! I hope that your work is emerging like a beautiful butterfly too!
JOIN US
Our next Schmooze: Roundtable Discussion. and others. Join the discussion on Wednesday, Oct, 29 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.
Brazos Valley SCBWI EVENTS
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 at Paolo's Italian Kitchen on University 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.
Date - 11/11/2014
TIME:7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Cost: SCBWI members/t $10; non-members/ $35. Members, make sure you're logged in with your SCBWI id and password to get the member price.
Abrams Creative Director Chad W. Beckerman will teach "The Evolution of a Book Cover" for the last joint Texas SCBWI webinar of 2014.
Texas BookFest Road Trip
The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.
JOIN US
Our next Schmooze: Roundtable Discussion. and others. Join the discussion on Wednesday, Oct, 29 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.
Brazos Valley SCBWI EVENTS
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 at Paolo's Italian Kitchen on University 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.
SCBWI Regional Webinar
Date - 11/11/2014
TIME:7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Cost: SCBWI members/t $10; non-members/ $35. Members, make sure you're logged in with your SCBWI id and password to get the member price.
Abrams Creative Director Chad W. Beckerman will teach "The Evolution of a Book Cover" for the last joint Texas SCBWI webinar of 2014.
Texas BookFest Road Trip
Join us to carpool to the Texas Book Fest on October 25, 2014. We will meet in the HEB TowerPoint Parking Lot at 8 a.m. to leave from College Station to Austin. If you don't want to travel with us, please meet us at the Capitol Building in front of the Peace Officer's Memorial. Here are the directions. Please RSVP on the our BV SCBWI Facebook Page. or email Molly (molly@mollyblaisdell.com).
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.
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.
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.
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.
IN MEMORIUM
Author Zilpha Keatley Snyder, who received three Newbery Honors for her middle-grade novels, including The Egypt Game, has died of complications from a stroke, in San Francisco. She was 87. Read more in PW.
NEWS
NEWS
Check out the YA. These imprints are YA all the time. This article in PW unpacks current YA only imprints.
FUN
This SNL parody of YA film adaptations of popular books will make you laugh. Check it out here.
The views expressed here are my own, and not necessarily those of the SCBWI.
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