Hurty Feelings - Book Review

Here is a sneak preview of Hurty Feelings that will appear on The National Writing for Children Center, home of the Children's Writing Coaching Club on Saturday October 25.

Title: Hurty Feelings
Author: Helen Lester
Illustrator: Lynn Munsinger

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardback: 32 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books; 1 edition (March 26, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0618840621
ISBN-13: 978-0618840625


An emotionally fragile hippo named Fragility and a rude elephant named Rudy will delight children from ages four to eight (and a few parents along the way.) Fragility is over sensitive and Rudy is overly rude. Author Helen Lester begins her humorous tale with Fragility was a solid piece of work. When she walked her world wobbled.

Fragility is very happy in her own world, she has strong jaws that could munch grass faster than any lawn mower, she never cries when she stubs one of her toes or all sixteen. However, something did bother Fragility and it was injured feelings.

Click here to read more about the author and illustrator.


Write it down,
Carma

Seven Reasons to Attend a Writers Conference

Mills College campus in Oakland, CA is where I will be this weekend at the SCBWI Nor Cal Writer's Conference. What a beautiful place. Below are seven strong reasons why I think you should go to at least one writers' conference every year. Anyone who has a desire to be a better writer will gain benefits for the taking.

1. Meet other writers. Well, of course, but where else can you meet hundreds of people who are at varying stages in their writing career? You will even meet others who have been there done that and who are ready to help you. Writers tend to be shy but a conference is one place to put your shyness on hold. Take a deep breath and make an effort to say hello and by all means take business cards with your name and phone number on it.
2. Find practical information you can put to immediate use. You might learn how to format a manuscript or how to send a query to an editor or how to do your taxes. You will definitely get some basic knowledge you can use to further your writing career.
3. Become energized. Becoming a successful writer is a goal for most writers. When you are mixing with hundreds of other writers who are dedicated to their work just as you are, you will find the desire to write more than you ever have before.
4. Find new markets for your work. Many writing conferences attract all kinds of writers unless you are attending one that is specific to children’s writing like the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) At a children’s writers conference you will meet writers of all genres for children’s books. Some of them will write for genres you haven't considered yet. They might know of a magazine which uses the kinds of things you write. They may know of a publisher who is looking for a book like yours.
5. Improve your professional effectiveness. Writers' conferences are an excellent way to continue your education and improve your knowledge about your craft. If you are serious about your writing, attending a conference will prove that you are committed to your profession.
6. Become inspired. If you go with an open mind and open ears, there will be speakers who seem to be talking directly to you. It is rare to find a writer who has never received a rejection slip or faced difficulties and hardships. You may receive encouragement or that little push that sets you out on the road to success. The one thing I know you will find is the courage to keep on writing.
7. Meet editors and agents. This is the ultimate payoff: editors and agents take time out of their busy lives to attend writers' conferences because they are looking for people like you who have a book or an idea that will make money for them. Writers really do find agents and editors this way. At many conferences, you can sign up for an appointment and find yourself face to face with a living, breathing editor or agent who wants to hear about your work. This is a thousand times better than sending out a manuscript that will almost certainly land at the bottom of a slush pile.



I hope you make a decision to attend a writer’s conference near you. If you are a member of SCBWI go to their website and click on calendar of events. This will direct you to a number of events this organization sponsors. Another writer’s conference worth checking out is the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference coming up in summer of 2009.

Write it down,
Carma

Monday Links for the Inquiring Mind

Write4Kids.com is a wonderful site and has hundreds of resources for children’s writers. I recommend you take some time to look around their site.

In the mean time I am going to point you to a few links to some free articles on The Business of Writing. This is information that all writer’s need to know about. For instance, “How do Authors get Paid” This is a vital subject. Yes, I know we are not going to get rich writing but we do expect some type of compensation for our hard work.

Also be sure to read the article “What do Editor’s Want?” and also “Researching the Market.” Research is essential and don’t miss the interview with publisher Josephine Nobisso.

Write it down,
Carma

Blabber Mouse - Book Review

Title: Blabber Mouse
Author and Illustrator: True Kelley
Harcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books (division of Penguin Young Readers Group) 2003
ISBN-10: 0439441994
ISBN-13: 978-0439441995

Check out my book review of Blabber Mouse by author and illustrator True Kelley over at The National Writing for Children's Center.

It's about a funny and lovable mouse named Blabber, who talks too much. How fitting. Everyone will laugh out loud with this book.

Author and Illustrator True Kelley has written over 100 books. She says the excitement of holding her 100th book was just as thrilling as when she held her first one.

Write it down,
Carma

Know Your Copyrights and Rights Publishers Buy

A copyright is a form of protection provided to creators of original works, published or unpublished. It is not necessary to include a copyright notice on unregistered work unless you feel your work is not safe without it. Example of copyright notice: © (year of work, your name) For more information on copyright (not legal) go to the Library of Congress Web site: www.copyright.gov. There are also FAQ’s and forms to download.

Below is a list of publishing rights with a short definition that you will most often sell to publishers. Also before signing any contract, take time to read and understand what rights it specifies before signing. An agent will often help sort out these issues but for those of us who are just starting out, we are our own agent and sometimes our own publisher. As you can tell, a career in writing or illustrating involves more than just talent.

First Rights. The buyer purchases the rights to use the work for the first time in any medium. All other rights remain with the creator.

One-time rights. The buyer has no guarantee that she is the first to use a piece. One-time permission to run written work or illustrators is acquired, and then the rights revert back to the creator.

First North American serial rights. This is similar to first rights, except that companies who distribute both in the U.S. and Canada will stipulate these rights to ensure that another North American company won’t come out with simultaneous usage of the same work.

Second serial (reprint) rights. In this case, newspapers and magazines are granted the right to reproduce a work that has already appeared in another publication. Proceeds from reprint rights for a book are often split evenly between the author and his publishing company.

Simultaneous rights. More than one publication buys one-time rights to the same work at the same time. Use of such rights occurs among magazines with circulations that don’t overlap, such as many religious publications.

All rights. Just as it sounds, the writer, illustrator, or photographer relinquishes all rights to a piece—she no longer has any say in who acquires rights to use it.

Foreign serial rights. Be sure before you market to foreign publications that you have sold only North American—not worldwide—serial rights to previous markets.

Syndication rights. This is a division of serial rights.

Subsidiary rights. These include serial rights, dramatic rights, book club rights, or translation rights. The contract should specify what percentage of profits from sales of these rights goes to the author and publisher.

Display rights or electronic publishing rights. They’re also known as “Data, Storage, and Retrieval.” Usually listed under subsidiary rights, the marketing of electronic rights in this era of rapidly expanding capabilities and markets for electronic material can be tricky. If a display clause is listed in your contract, try to negotiate its elimination.

Bottom line. Always read your contract or publishing guidelines carefully. This is just basic information. For a more in-depth look check your local library or bookstore for books and magazines to help you.

Write it down,
Carma

The Anxiety of Submission and Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Monday again and my fingers have tirelessly pecked and punched HTML and URL’s to bring you some quality links to help you delve deep into cyber space that will bring up great ideas and articles. Today I have selected two great articles by Eugie Foster. One is about submitting to children’s magazines and one is about writing humor for children but also note that humor is lacking across the board in all fiction. Enjoy your read.

I don’t know what it is about submission that makes some writers cringe. Is it the expected rejection? Maybe it is the word. Submission to some people may mean obedient and compliance or even surrender. In other words do you lose control of your work when you submit? It is hard to let go if you think no one else will appreciate your creation. The following link will take you to a fabulous article by Eugie Foster “A Writer’s Resolution – I will submit” This article offers analytical ideas how to keep the creative aspects of writing distinct from marketing and business.

Humor is subjective and personal and could offend some while making others roll on the floor gasping for air. Writing about humor is also difficult. Eugie Foster uses a well known television series, Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, to demonstrate some comedic writing in her article Writing Humor.

Write it down,
Carma

(picture by Clara Natoli)

Velma Gratch & the way cool butterfly - Review

Friday is book review day. Today I have posted a picture book review at The National Writing for Children Center. Surf on over and read my review of Velma Gratch & the way cool butterfly.

While you are there check out all the other great posts.

Author: Alan Madison and Illustrator: Kevin Hawkes.

This is a cool book that kids will love to read. Follow Velma Cratch on her field trip to the Conservatory and find out how a small monarch butterfly transformed Velma into the talk of the school.

Write it down,
Carma