How I Wrote My Novel, mostly sitting at my computer, plus a relatively small portion of it by hand in a succession of notebooks …
I just signed a contract with MuseItUp Publishing for my tween sci-fi novel, “Relocated,” so this feels like an appropriate time to talk about how I came to write it.
I am a 'way back sci fi fan. I selected Robert A. Heinlein's “Farmer in the Sky” for my tenth birthday, and at that point I was already a fan. I've continued to read copious amounts in the many years since. In spite of that, I had backed away from attempting to write my own sci fi story.
Last September I decided that I would write a sci fi novel for NaNoWriMo, which takes place every November. I decided to write a novel for kids, and I made my main character fourteen. Then I had to plan my novel and build my world. Or, in my case, build my world and plan my novel.
I'm always telling myself stories in my head, and some of them took place on alien planets. I'd done a fair amount of thinking about my alien society, and a couple of things had really sparked my imagination: shared responsibility and mutual support rather than rules and laws, and four-person relationships. I did a lot of thinking about the spiritual life, diet, landscape, literature, art, and music. Why, you might ask? Because I like that stuff. In fact, I ended up writing 30 poems “by” an ancestor of one of the characters in the book as part of Robert Lee Brewer's November poem-a-day chapbook challenge. Eight of them ended up in the novel itself. I also wrote a story, sort of a folk tale that I managed to work into the book as well.
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For various reasons, I wanted my aliens to be close to humans in appearance. I made them tall, slender, and dark skinned. I wanted them to look distinctive, and I was tired of pale, beautiful aliens. I wanted dark, beautiful aliens.
After that, I made notes about the novel itself. I made notes about the setting, my main character's motivation and character arc. Most of that was good. I ended up renaming his father, as an early reader told me his original name was too much like that of the main character. The plot and most of the secondary character went out the window once I started writing; I kept a lot of the direction of the story, but the details ended up quite different. The nature of the plot that Keth uncovers changed. The adult characters involved in the Terran/Alien romance changed. Dad's character changed, as did that of his boss, Brad. All of the kids other than the main character were new. I had fifteen plot points, I threw all of them out the window.
And after Nano was over, I let the novel sit until January. Then I started revising. And revising. And revising... but, hey, that's what happens when you start writing without much of a plot outline.
Writing for Children: Submissions to Contract to Book Promotion to Career Part 1
Once you have taken the time to hone your craft and have critiqued, revised, and edited your manuscript to a polished state, it’s on to the next phases of the traditional children’s writing path: submissions, promotion, and a writing career.
1. Submissions
Before you think about submitting your work anywhere, be sure you’ve completed the necessary steps to learn the craft of writing. You’re manuscript needs to be as polished as you can possibly get it.
Submissions can fall into two categories: those to publishers and those to agents. In regard to submitting to agents, in a Spring 2011 webinar presented by Writer’s Digest, agent Mary Kole advised to “research agents.” This means to find out what type of agent they are in regard to the genre they work with and the agent platform they provide: do they coddle their authors, do they crack the whip, are they aggressive, passive, involved, or complacent. Know what you’re getting into before querying an agent, and especially before signing a contract.
Here are a couple of sites you can visit to learn about agents:
http://agentquery.com
http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/
The same advice works for submitting to publishers also; research publishers before submitting to them. Know which genres of children’s books they handle and the type of storylines they’re looking for.
Whether submitting to a publisher or an agent, always follow the guidelines and always personalize the query. There may be times the guidelines do not provide the name of the editor to send the query to, but if you can find that information, use it.
According to Mary Kole, it’s also important to know how to pitch your story. This entails finding the story’s hook. Agents and publishers also want to know what the book’s selling points will be and what successful books it’s similar to. In addition, they will expect to be told what your marketing strategy will be. It’s a good idea to create an online presence and platform before you begin submissions; let the agents and publishers know you will actively market your book.
Along with the story’s hook, you need to convey: who your main character is and what he/she is about; the action that drives the story; the main character’s obstacle, and if the main character doesn’t overcome the obstacle, what’s at stake.
Ms. Kole recommends reading “the back of published books” to see how they briefly and effectively convey the essence of the story. This will give you an idea of how to create your own synopsis.
When querying, keep your pitch short and professional, and keep your bio brief and relevant. You will need to grab the editor or agent and make them want to read your manuscript.
Here are four tools you can use to help find a publisher or agent:
• Writers Market: Where and How to Sell What You Write
• Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market: Over 700 listings for book publisher’s, magazines, agents, art reps, and more
• Guide to Literary Agents: Where and How to Find the Right Agents to Represent Your Work
• WritersMarket.com: Online resource to help you sell what you write
Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children's author and children’s ghostwriter as well as the founder and editor-in-chief of Writers on the Move. You can find out more about writing for children and her services at: Karen Cioffi Writing for Children.
Check out the DIY Page and don’t forget to sign up for the Newsletter that has great monthly writing and book marketing tips.
And, get a copy of WALKING THROUGH WALLS (a middle-grade fantasy adventure set in 16th century China. Honored with the Children’s Literary Classics Silver Award.
Buzzing Your Book
I spent a week in New York City recently attending ThrillerFest. While there, I went to several workshops and my favorite was on "Buzzing Your Book". The presenters were very professional and full of knowledge. After providing an introduction, they asked for volunteers to stand up and tell everyone what their book was about in one sentence, then the presenter was asked a few questions, and afterward the workshop instructors brainstormed FREE ideas to market their book. I'd like to share a few with you here now.
M.J. Rose, one of the instructors, told us of how she got a new puppy and started frequenting an online forum for the breed of dog she had. At the end of every post, she would put in a simple tag line (M.J. Rose, author of Lip Service). She posted a lot and after about six months time, someone on the board finally asked her what Lip Service was. When she responded, 400 books were sold overnight. Wow! That would be nice, wouldn't it? Posting to forums is a tried and true method of getting the word out; however, don't go in there with the intent to advertise straight out. Do it subtly, in a small signature line.
Another idea, as pertains to fiction, is to create short stories centered around each of your characters. People will get more involved with the overall book if other stories use those characters. Popular books and movies do it all the time with their fan fiction. Readers love to see their favorite characters in other settings outside the original one.
Once you have tried that, or even if you prefer not to, then let's move on. Try picking five things from your book that catch your eye. For example, in my upcoming novel Behind the Masque, I might choose the following: University of Michigan, The Whitney Restaurant, Society of Former Special Agents of the F.B.I., Alcoholics Anonymous, art history majors. Then do a search online using those terms. Find places, organizations, forums, etc. where interest might lie in those subjects and get involved, once again subtly advertising your book.
Books don't get sold by themselves and most of us probably can't afford an expensive advertising budget or to hire a PR firm, so we have to find easy and cheap ways of getting the word out ourselves. It's not as hard as one would think. If you can write, you can come up with new and exciting ways to market yourself. Good luck!
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Shelby Patrick, author of When Angels Sing and The Fear Within.
Website: http://www.shelbypatrick.com/
Email: blackwidow@shelbypatrick.com
Follow me on FaceBook and Twitter (@shelbypatrick)
MORE ON BOOK MARKETING
SEO for Authors Series: The Basics
Reasons Why to Self-Publish Your Nonfiction Book
Why Purchase Your Own ISBN?
My Brother the Frog: A Fun and Creative Approach to Sibling Rivalry
Today we welcome Kevin McNamee, who is thrilled to be talking abut his latest children’s book, My Brother the Frog. This is Kevin’s sixth children’s book published with Guardian Angel Publishing.
Kevin, what is this story about?
This book focuses on sibling rivalry between two brothers. Sibling rivalry can be a problem in any family. But in this story, a little brother deals with this dilemma in a most unusual way. He changes his brother into a frog. He does have a bit of trouble changing him back though. He manages to change his brother into a variety of animals until he finally gets it right. Meanwhile, he starts to realize how much he cares for his brother, and how much his brother cares for him.
How did you come up with this story?
I wanted to come up with a wacky story that would be a lot of fun to read, and be something that boys would relate to. In my humble opinion, there are not enough books for boys out there. So I was happy to contribute one. The basic idea was: What if a boy could change his brother into a frog? What would happen then? I was thinking about using animals, but I’m not sure why I chose a frog as the first animal. Maybe it’s because frogs are funny and My Brother the Frog is an interesting title. But even though this book was a lot of fun to write, I wanted it to have a serious message.
What was the hardest part about writing this book?
To me, the hardest part was the pacing. In a picture book, every word counts. So it was a particularly difficult challenge to keep the action moving along using a minimal amount of words, while still being able to tell a complete story. Alexander Morris’s illustrations are top notch and really helped to tell the story. So I think that together, we were able to put together a story that both kids and parents will love.
Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Relationships with siblings may not always be perfect, but this book points out some very good reasons to love your family … warts and all, especially if your brother just happens to be a frog.
This book is available as a print book, an E-book, or a book on CD from the Guardian Angel Publishing Children's Bookstore.
Books are also available from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or ask your local bookstore.
Kevin McNamee is a writer and poet living in Yonkers , N.Y.
Other books by Kevin include: If I Could Be Anything, The Sister Exchange, Lightning Strikes, The Soggy Town of Hilltop and What Is That Thing?
Kevin’s poetry has been published in the collection, An Eyeball in My Garden: And Other Spine-Tingling Poems.
To find out more about Kevin, please visit his website at www.kevinmcnamee.com or his blog at http://www.kevinmcnameechildrensauthor.blogspot.com/.
Where Does One Begin in Creating a Media Kit?
Where Does One Begin in Creating a Media Kit?
By Donna McDine
Media Kit? Why would I need a media kit, I’m not even published yet? To be quite honest with you it’s never too soon to start. To begin now will make it much simpler to add to as you move forward in your writing career. The essential components in creating your media kit are:
About the Author or Writer (Bio): This one pager consists of your current bio, education, current work-in-progress, and contact information (email, blog and website addresses). After you become published update your bio to reflect each success.
Appearances: Appearances may include volunteer reader at your local library and/or school visits and later on as you become published you will be known as the local children’s author which then will open up doors to school visits.
Interviews (online and in-person): Before I became published - myself and fellow aspiring writers interviewed each other for our blogs to get our names out there. It’s fun and simple. Contact a fellow writer and exchange questions and there you have your first finished interview.
Awards and Publishing Credits: This may be blank for now, but create the page with this heading and you can fill in your information as you go along. Your publishing credits include no-pay, low-pay, and paying markets both online and print.
Media Releases: Even without publishing credits you can create a media release about upcoming interviews and book reviews on your blog and of course tying in with interviews make sure you write up a media release about your personal interviews. It’s important you send out your media release to your network and post on free media release sites such as www.prlog.com. For a more detailed list of the services I utilize visit: http://donnamcdine.com/dynamicmediareleases.html.
Book Reviews: Yes, even if you don’t have a book published yet do not forget this important part for when you do so you can place excerpts of book reviews for easy reference.
Some of your pages will be blank for now, but you will be surprised how quickly they will fill up. All of my pages started out blank and are now filling up. My book review page is still blank and I’m eagerly awaiting reviews to fill in below the title. The saying from the movie The Field of Dreams… “Build it and they will come” is true for your media kit too. The intention and creation of blank titled pages will bring it to fruition. Oh and yes, working at your writing craft is essential too.
If you have any questions I’d be happy to help. Feel free to email me privately at donna@donnamcdine.com. You may also view my media kit at http://donnamcdine.com/mediakit.html.
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Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions and Preditors & Editors Readers Poll 2010 – Top Ten - Children’s Books category – The Golden Pathway.
Her stories, articles, and book reviews have been published in over 100 print and online publications. Her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Donna has two more books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing, The Hockey Agony and Powder Monkey. She writes, moms and is the Editor-in-Chief for Guardian Angel Kids, Publicist for the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club and owner of Dynamic Media Release Services from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI and Musing Our Children.
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm ~ Global e-Book Awards Nominee
Donna’s Website: http://www.donnamcdine.com/
Write What Inspires You Blog: http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com/
The Golden Pathway Blog: http://www.thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com/
Write What Inspires You! FREE Newsletter: opt-in @ http://www.donnamcdine.com/ and receive FREE e-book “Write What Inspires You Author Interviews”
Don't have time to write and post your media releases? Contact: Dynamic Media Release Services: http://www.donnamcdine.com/dynamicmediareleases.html
That Dreaded Writer's Block
Many writers say that there is no such thing as writer's block. I disagree. There are many times when you sit down to write and nothing comes. There are no words. Not “crap” words, just nothing. Your brain is a blank, just like your sheet of paper. I know it to be true because it's happened to me often over the last year. How do you fix it? I'll share 10 ideas that have helped me get the words from my brain to the page.
- Try some music. Sometimes getting into a different medium will relax you and allow your words to start flowing.
- Use a writing prompt. Even though it might have nothing to do with what your work in progress, a prompt gets your creative juices flowing.
- Read a few pages of a book. You can choose one in your same genre or a totally different one. Reading another author's words can inspire your own.
- Change locations. Perhaps a change in scenery is what you need. If you're indoors, try heading outside for a bit. I find nature to be inspirational. If you're at home, head to the bookstore, library or coffee shop.
- Look at some pictures or create your own art. Art stimulates emotions. Emotions are part of what we communicate when we write. So get your emotions going and get the words flowing!
- Read some affirming quotes. Quotes that affirm your calling as a writer and your gift of creativity help unearth again your passion for this craft.
- Make a list. Make a list of other things on your mind. You might just be distracted. Putting those distractions on paper may free your mind to focus on the task at hand.
- Take a bubble bath. I know it sounds weird but bubble baths are relaxing. Sometimes when you sit down to write, you get stressed out when the words don't flow. So go enjoy some bubbles and then lets the words bubble out of you onto the page.
- Journal. Start writing the thoughts running through your mind. I've started doing this and then suddenly an idea directly related to my project crops up. When that happens, you have your starting point for the day!
- Read something else you wrote. Sometimes reading your own words will spark new ones, Give it a try and see what fresh idea appears.
There are many more things you can do to combat writer's block. These are just a starting point. My final piece of advice is to not get stressed. Writer's write. Even if all you can get on paper is one or two sentences, it's writing. That's what we do!
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Marietta (Mari) Taylor
Author of “Surviving Unemployment: Devotions To Go
About Mari:
Marietta (Mari) Taylor is the author of Surviving Unemployment Devotions To Go and is a monthly blogger at the Go Ask Mom blog on WRAL.com. Each month she blogs about parenting teenagers. Mari was also a contributor to the devotional anthology Penned From the Heart XV. Mari resides in Raleigh, NC with her husband of 18 years and her two teenage daughters. Mari has a bachelor's degree in Biology and currently works in Healthcare IT. She is also a small group leader for the women's ministry at her church and is the lead teacher for the toddler room in the church nursery. The most important thing about Mari's writing is that others would come to know, accept and adore the God who has created such a crazy jumble of things that make her who she is.
Preparing to Present
Curriculum fairs, teachers' conferences, librarians' conferences and other similar events are great ways to get yourself known by offering workshops and being an exhibitor. Who better to show what you know and get your books in the right hands than this group of folks.
I've been working on my children's workshops for about three years now. What happens when a conference geared for teachers and school librarians asks you to do a presentation? You rack your brain and try like crazy to come up with a workshop that works.
Recently I made contact with the SC Independent Schools Association (SCISA) inquiring about being an exhibitor at the upcoming teachers' conference. After explaining what my books were about and how they would be perfect in schools and/or classes, the lady on the other end of the phone stated, "We would love to have you as a presenter in addition to being an exhibitor." My reply? It was something on the lines of "Well, I usually do workshops for kids and don't really feel I have anythng to offer teachers." No, it doesn't end there. She assured me that teachers love having authors do presentations since they are always looking for creative ways to teach the students writing. So I thought about it a few minutes (or maybe it was an hour or two) and then went on one of my social networks and posted a comment something like this Elysabeth42 wonders what she has to offer teachers when she is but a writer herself?. The replies I received from the teachers in my network were amazing. That one plurk (like twitter but to me much more enjoyable and easier to follow the postings) went on my FB page as well as my twitter page. I received a direct comment from a twitter follower @SCASL about doing presentations for librarians as well. So, now I'm in the process of coming up with workshops or presentations geared for librarians and teachers.
The process will take a little time for me since I have to switch my mindset. I know what I have to offer but it's a matter of putting it into action.
I also may be doing a short presentation to a group of teachers at a curriculum fair but right now that isn't definite.
My question to all those writers who do workshops for groups of adults is what is your process? What kind of workshops have worked for you in the past? Do you do the same workshops at every opportunity you are asked to present or do you switch them out every so often? How do you go about getting the opportunities to be a presenter? I think I will come up with several different workshops geared for different groups - one or two for teachers and one or two for librarians - but on similar lines. This way, if I present to groups in the same area and there are some repeat people, they won't be bored.
Remember, it is all about making the right connections - the ones who will benefit from your books, and the ones who have the buying power to make sure your books get in the right places. - E :)
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Ma America, The Travelin' Maven (Elysabeth Eldering)
Author of the JGDS, 50-state, mystery, trivia series
Where will the adventure take you next?
http://jgdsseries.blogspot.com
http://jgdsseries.weebly.com
Author of "Finally Home", a YA paranormal mystery coming soon
http://elysabethsstories.blogspot.com
http://eeldering.weebly.com
About Elysabeth:
Elysabeth Eldering is a traveler from birth. She has traveled with her family due to her father being in the military. She has lived in several states and overseas during her childhood. Ms. Eldering calls South Carolina home these days with a mindset of "Southern by choice, not by birth." She entered her first writing contest at the age of 41 and took second place for a children's mystery story, which has inspired her to take that story and write a series for children, the premise being that each state would be the mystery. Her series has a Jeopardy!® like style to it but for guessing the state in the form of a question. Each book concentrates on one state and there are supplemental study guides available, which take the series cross curriculum. For more information on the series, please visit the JGDS website. Elysabeth may be reached at eeldering@gmail.com with any questions or to place an order.
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