Structure for juvenile short stories

By Linda Williams

Jun

30

Greetings;
The primary function of the juvenile short story is to entertain. Lessons like honesty, kindness, and the like can be slipped into the plot sparingly and only through the story characters’ actions and reactions. Even the youngest listener or reader shouldn’t suspect the writer is trying to teach, rather than to entertain, especially in gospel stories. No child likes preaching.
There are also small yet important differences in writing for each age group. What makes a four-year-old smile and remain interested isn’t going to work for a ten-year-old child. Before setting a story line in your mind, spend some time deciding how old your listener or reader will be. If writing for a children’s magazine, read the magazine! How many words does the publisher accept? Is the maximum count three, five, or seven hundred? It makes a difference in how much content can be included. Imagine your story’s beginning and end each including about ten percent of the content. That leaves eighty percent for the body because to qualify as a story, one needs a beginning, middle, and end–sounds simple, but it’s amazing how many newer writers don’t adhere to that formula. Authors think of it as a writing arc.
A short story should contain a single idea and only one person’s viewpoint. Whatever happens during the story’s progression should contribute to its main theme through the child’s eyes and emotions. (Otherwise, you’re writing a book.) Since the juvenile short story centers on one child or an animal acting like a child, don’t insert what his or her parents are thinking. It’s not their story. The child, himself, can imagine what a parent or friend is going to think by sentences like, “Mom wants me home for supper every night, but I can’t get there.” (Catch conflict slipping in with the dialogue?)
Stay away from sentences like, “At six o’clock, Jackie’s Mom thought, where can he be?” Again, it’s not her story and we’re not talking about a book where more than one person has thoughts and dialogue. It’s just a short story. Keep the action on one Point-of-View character. Suspense is sustained by your reader wondering, what can or will the hero do in the end to make everything right?
Your short story’s climax must include the main character’s solving of the conflict. If your ending lets a minor character, like a parent or friend, solve the problem, the hero or heroine will be diminished in the eyes of the young listener, who is in his or her mind the Point-of-View character.
Finally, please don’t end your story with the conclusion being only a dream. It’s so over-done. Or, with the ending left to the reader. I believe that is the author’s job.
Be well, Linda

Art from the Heart

By Susan Lee Traft

Jun

29

My last blog talked about writing from the heart. This week I am creating art from the heart at Omega Institute in New York (near Rhinebeck). I am here for a 5 day retreat of “Visionary Art”. Yesterday was our first day.  There are about 40 people in the class. The teachers are visionary artists Alex and Alison Grey.

 We saw a fabulous slide show of visionary artists. Afterwards Alex led us through a guided meditation to bring us into an altered state of consciousness so we could tap into the “inner visions” of our heart. Then we went to our tables to translate our “inner visions” out onto the drawing paper. I created a Rainbow Angel. What fun!

 I am enjoying this artistic adventure. I welcome this chance of self discovery and play through the visionary art process. 

Angel Blessings, Susan Lee

JUNE 26, 2010 RETREAT

By Joan Walsh

Jun

27

 

I would like to thank the writers who attended our critique retreat on the 26th of June for their professional acceptance of fellow writers and critique members.

Each writer brought to the table  a unique story, and learned from one another about the craft of writing. 

From the evaluation comments, I arrived at the conclusion that the retreat was a success and a learning experience for all writers and panelist. We look forward to our next retreat.

Please see the event section of our website, after June 30th, for an announcement of our next retreat.

Many thanks,

Joan

FORMULA FOR A QUERY LETTER

By Joan Walsh

Jun

27

Jill Corcoron is sharing her information about writing a query letter with us.

A query letter is a BUSINESS LETTER.

The PURPOSE is to entice an agent to request your full manuscript.

If you can, show your personality and the personality of your ms in the query letter.

Research agents!

- Send your query ONLY to agents who represent what you write.
- DO NOT query on a book that is not complete.

QUERY FORMULA:

Dear Mr./Ms. (name one agent! spell their name correctly.)

1st Paragraph:

There are 2 schools of thought on how to write the 1st paragraph:

1-Some agents want you to jump right into the synopsis of your story.

2- I, along with many other agents, prefer to know why you are querying me upfront. If you are querying this type of agent, in the first paragraph include short, precise and true reason(s) you are querying a particular agent. Research agents to not only find out if they are a good fit for you but also so you can tell them why you are querying them.

In the 2nd and possibly 3rd paragraph, write a short–3 to 10 sentence synopsis of your story.

Here is how:


The query synopsis is not a plot play-by-play. IT IS A SALES PIECE. The easiest way to get started is to imagine someone asks you…”What is your book about?”

In TITLE, X-year-old Main Character needs to (define problem) before (obstacles).

Now not all your stories will fit into this neat sentence.
All info upfront. Agents want to know:
-the title of your manuscript-
-if you are querying on a pb, cb, mg, ya, etc.,
-genre: is it a fantasy, contemporary, dystopian, romance, tear-jerker, etc,
-the age of your main character,
-what is the main character’s problem,
-and if important, the setting.

A very short bio. of your professional background should be included in the final paragraph.

By Joan Walsh

Jun

27

Waiting

Thursday Blog – June 24, 2010

By Christina Laurie

At our last gathering in CCCW, Susan read her opening to “Izzy B,” perfectly capturing the young girl’s personality. When asked how she came up with such a unique voice, Susan said she meditated and the voice came through.

I have been thinking about meditating. It’s a great way to relax, to calm down from a busy day, to let go of tensions. Just sit quietly, close your eyes, breathe deeply and evenly, and empty your mind.

Empty? Man! That’s hard. There’s always something flipping through my mind, like a train at rush hour that can barely stop at each station before dashing on. It’s really hard to empty the mind. But with time and practice, it does happen.

Much of meditation consists of waiting. We are always waiting: for trains or buses, for love, for work, for happiness or success. Sometimes waiting happens because we quiet our mind and body – a good thing – and expect to feel the centeredness that comes from a meditative mind and heart.

So I thougt I would try to meditate and think about my character Brian in my mystery story. He’s stiff and plastic, though married to effervescent Melanie. I met Brian in my meditation and have a better idea of his personality and how he felt about his wife and her murder.

So what’s so difficult about meditation? It takes practice. One needs to sit quietly and wait for it. Don’t do anything, just sit silently with closed eyes in great expectation, with a waiting heart, with an open heart. Just waiting …

The Halloween Pirate

NESCBWI Conference, May 2010, Part 4

By Karen Centofanti

Jun

24

I can’t stop blogging about the New England Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators conference without sharing one more outstanding two-hour Intensive Workshop I attended for picture book writers.

Sudipta Bardham-Quallen is the author of eleven picture books and sixteen non-fiction books for children. She imparted so much valuable information; I broke it into two parts. Come back next week for Part 5.

Some of Sudipta’s more recent and popular books are THE MIN-O-SAUR, illustrated by David Clark; BALLOTS FOR BELVA, illustrated by Courtney Martin; and the HOG PRINCE, illustrated by Jason Wolff.

Sudipta lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children. She admitted to being nervous, yet her self-deprecating sense of humor had us all laughing and learning within minutes.

Sudipta advocated picture book writers think about the marketability of our ideas before writing. Too many of us are wasting our time on a book that will not sell, but has special personal meaning. Sudipta treats writing as a business she needs to succeed at and earn a living doing. She listed topics and themes that are marketable if you have an original twist or hook. Once you have a topic and theme, research first to make sure something similar hasn’t already been written.

Sudipta recommended picture books be no more than 650 words. She created her own variation of Freytag’s Pyramid of Narrative Structure. Ten percent of your words are for the beginning where you introduce the main character, the setting, and the character’s problem or quest. The hero’s quest must make sense, and you must establish a strong narrative beginning.

Eighty percent of the 650 words make up the middle or rising action, and the remaining ten percent for the resolution. I’ll tell you more of what Sudipta told us about the middle and ending next week. Until then,

Believe!

Karen Centofanti

Haste makes waste.

By Linda Williams

Jun

23

Greetings;
New writers: When you think your newly completed story is ready to send to an editor, trust me, it isn’t. Each of us has fallen prey to the desire to send the manuscript somewhere as soon as it’s finished. Please don’t. Such speed can doom chances of having it published. It hurts to have hard work rejected as if someone is informing you your wonderful baby is ugly. Too many spelling and grammar errors jump out at an editor causing a loss of interest in story content. Is there a “hook” in the first paragraph of your manuscript or your query to an editor? Will it immediately stir interest in the editor or a reader? Jump right into the middle of the action to keep interest alive.
My memoir query began: “1970. Linda’s husband has always loved God, family, and his high school students, but he is also dead at thirty-two. Some of the blame for his early death must include potatoes.” Does it make you want to know more? That’s a hook.
When I’ve completed a story or book to where it’s the best I can do at that point, it goes into a drawer for at least a week and sometimes a month or more if intense writing has depleted my creative thoughts. Then, I work on something else like physical exercise. Golf is my outlet. Sitting and writing for long stretches broadens more than your mind! (there’s a clue for you.) Children love clues that make them think.
Don’t let some ego need to sell your book and/or to appear on Oprah, so family and friends will shower you with accolades, overpower the need to take your time and do it right. Sending anything less than your best work will definitely slow the process of interesting a publisher, an agent, or selling your work at all.
When I do resurrect that “wonderful” creation and read it aloud to myself, an amazing thing often happens. It’s not so wonderful. The grammar needs tightening, chapters don’t always flow into one another in chronological order, and sometimes (only once in a while of course) it stinks! Information important to the story has remained in my head having never made it to the page, even though I thought it had. I then question, is the setting and Point-Of-View character described well enough so readers can visualize? Will the reader know the where, when, and how of the content? Are enough clues included so young readers can deduce what’s happening without giving answers?
Non-writers shake their heads when I say, “…writing is the easy part,” but writers know what I mean. It’s the re-writing, more re-writing, and marketing of our work that is time consuming because publishing companies no longer manage the marketing process.
I’m also often asked by non-writers, “Why spend so much time alone, writing, when you could be out having fun?”
“Because I love it,” I reply. Writers understand.

Be well, Linda

Dreams II

By Jeannie Benton

Jun

22

                                                                       Dreams II

If you recall, my first blog for our website was titled: Dreams.  In my blog I said I had two significant dreams for my life.  I shared the first one with you in that blog and ended the story with a promise that the 2nd dream story was for another day; well that day is today!

How appropriate that I am sharing my 2nd dream today because today is the one year anniversary of the biggest realized dream of my life!

It was June 21, 2009 and I was as ready as I could ever be; ready to launch off into the biggest dream, the biggest challenge, the biggest adventure, I could ever imagine for my life.

 The setting          :   Astoria, Oregon with America by Bicycle.

 The action            :   I was trained and ready to ride for 50 days across America from Astoria, Oregon to Portsmouth, NH on my bicycle, 85 to 100 miles a day.

 The characters    :  I rode with 50 riders from around the world who were awesome, inspiring and never to be forgotten.

 The plot                : My goal was to experience the reality of a dream come true, to see and discover America in a  new way, to meet new people and, God willing, make a difference in someone’s life, and to last but not least,  fund-raise for two causes. 

 First fundraise:  Operation Life Transformed now Military to Medicine in order to  give money for our Troops (all branches of the military) especially to help those who come home wounded and need a new start.

 Second fundraise:  Christar Ministries.   Christar goes out to the most unreached places of the world to share the love of Jesus, live among the people and be a living hope to them. I raised money for Steve and Beth Coffey.  

 The Climax           :  The unbelievable became believable! I not only climbed the peaks of the Tetons’, cycled to see and visit Mt. Rushmore, survived a 120 mile day into Casper, WY with 20 mph headwinds the whole way, but by day 25, half way through, I realized mentally and physically, I was really going to make it across America!! And as I approached Portsmouth, NH, the last leg of the trip, it was bitter-sweet! I was most grateful for a safe and accomplished ride, but oh, I so wanted to start all over again and do it again and again!  

 The Resolution   :  As I reflect on last year at this time, wondering in great suspense, could I really do it, would I really make it… I am still filled with an eternal gratitude, awe and humility of the privilege of sharing the dream with 50 incredible riders I met on the ride, the fabulous staff of America by Bicycle, the unspeakable beauty of our nation, the honor of fund-raising for two inspiring causes, and to know that God gave me the opportunity to experience the greatest thrill and achievement of a lifetime, that changed my life forever. Now, ALL things are possible!

So, my friend; never give up, believe all things are possible with God, and know that I am cheering for your success!  Keep writing!

                                                                                        With love, Jeannie Purpaleanie

WRITERS RETREAT

By Joan Walsh

Jun

21

Happy summer to all.

Our June 26th Writer’s Retreat is filled with eager writers open to sharing and revising their works of art.

I look forward to meeting new artists and reconnecting with those I know.

A common bond is a treasure.

Joan

Meet Jim Hill

By Mary Grabowski

Jun

19

I thought it may be fun to interview some people trying to make it in the publishing world.  Hopefully I’ll get some people who are successful and will share with us their wonderous  secrets. 
 
So, up first is Jim Hill.  He has a heavy traffic blog at www.Heyjimhill.com.  Jim is an amazing artist and writer.  He creates characters with a presuming innocence while their lives are in an uproar. 
 
Have you been published?
No. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I haven’t even submitted anything. Yet. Check back soon.
 
What are you working on now?
I have two picture books in the works and a middle-grade novel. I usually try to write funny stories, but one of the picture books is about mourning the loss of a loved one. It just popped out of me and has become the story that most-wants-to-be-written. By that I mean it’s the one that nags at me the most and demands my attention.

Plenty of hijinks in the other two though. I won’t become a maudlin fellow.

 
Who is your favorite children’s book character and why?
Max from “Where the Wild Things Are”.  My sister gave me that book when I was five or six. It was the first book that was mine alone, not a hand-me-down or library book. I also relate to Max’s need to get wild, but ultimately come home and be safe. 
Close runner-ups are Bilbo Baggins and Peter Parker (although technically he’s not a children’s book character).
 
What do you think is the most important thing to know in the writing/publishing industry?
Other writers. Working alone only gets you so far. You need other writers to read your work and give you honest criticism so you can make your work the best it can be.
 
Where is your favorite patch of sand and what do you love about it? 
My favorite is Long Beach in Centerville. It’s a “residents only” beach with two tiny parking lots, no lifeguards, no beach house, no amenities. Pack smartly! It’s a bit tougher with a toddler but it can be done. Backpack with snacks, icepacks, water and books. Towels over the shoulder, beach blanket under the arm, diaper bag. Isaac carries his bucket and toys. If you can’t carry it, you can’t have it. It builds character. For all of us.
As a bonus, Four Seas Ice Cream is on the way home. Nothing clears the salty beach taste out better than your favorite ice cream.

Watch and Wait

By Karen Centofanti

Jun

18

Morning, I wake up.
Pain assaults me.
Throb.
Sob.

Try to change position.
Excruciating agony.
Ow, ow!
Oh, God!

Press call button.
Wait…
I whimper
Wait…
In anguish
Wait…

Watch the clock
“Please come,” I pray.
Finally,
Medicine.

Mind-muddling,
Pain-easing,
constipating
Medicine.

I drift off.
Blessed, sweet sleep.

************************************

“Wake up!”
“Time for Physical Therapy.”
Torment.
Sharp spasms stab me.

Three people strain
Transfer to chair.
I moan.
Misery.

Daughter arrives
With coffee, cards.
Tries to help.
Can’t.
Tries to distract.
Can’t.

Watch the clock
Despair
An hour
and forty-five minutes to go.

Lunch.
Try to eat.
Vile food.
Tepid, watery coffee.

Watch the clock
An hour and twenty minutes to go.

************************************

I try to speak.
Sentences started
Meander unfinished.
I grimace and moan.

Watch the clock:
An hour to go.
Biting,
piercing pangs.

Press call button.
Wait…
Press again.
Wait…
My head drops. Tears leak.
Wait…

Distressed by my suffering
Daughter leaves to get help.
Finally,
they come.

Medicine, then back to bed.
Belt around waist
to lift, support
my exhausted, broken body.

They prod me.
“Pivot…turn… pivot.”

************************************

“Almost there.”
Whole body trembles
with fear, fatigue
and blinding pain.

Sit on bed.
Legs carefully lifted.
Body shifted, arranged.
Hurts, hurts.

Turned on side.
Pillows placed.
Two under legs,
One behind back.
Please,
Let me sleep now.

Daughter whispers,
“I love you, Mom.”
Kisses my forehead.
And leaves.

I float away
and ponder being reunited
with my dead husband
during surgery.

Help me, God.
I’m in hell.

Writing for Young Children

By Linda Williams

Jun

16

Greetings;
I consider my world of writing young children’s books to be special, and those of us who choose to create for the three to eight age group don’t take our work lightly. The book should be well written (well edited) with a dedication to expanding a child’s imagination and enjoyment. Is the story’s wording and thought process geared for the age I’m hoping to reach? I listen to children in my intended audience to keep the story’s language current.
Before opening the computer, I sit and remember what it felt like to be a young child. What prompted my own feelings of joy, laughter, sadness, or sorrow? I list where, when, and how I felt in those moments, and what person or circumstance might have triggered my feelings. How did my age factor into those feelings? What affects a child at five is very different from how a similar episode affects one at nine.
Be responsible for what you write. Depending on the actions of your characters, your book can actually change how a child thinks and feels about people in their lives.
Research plays a big part in writing about children of different nationalities. I write only about what I know. If writing about a Swiss child, researching the customs of his or her country is prime. If the classic child, Heidi, had lived in America her choices might have been different. Even in America, there are myriad dialects and conversations which can show the reader (give clues) where the story is taking place. Children love to discover such clues on their own.
If a story doesn’t move you emotionally, what is missing? Has conflict been introduced? Without conversation, you are simply telling a story. Your words could help a child gain a better understanding of how people relate to one another, but please keep story morals to a minimum—a common mistake among newer writers. Entertainment is the priority for enjoyment.
Most of all have fun with your imagination. Be creative. Children love new ideas. Our children are grown, but our grandchildren keep me in touch with their world. If you have no children, borrow a friend’s and take him or her out to lunch once a month. Then listen, really listen to what they’re saying and the feelings behind the words. If there are no children in your world, consider becoming a big sister or brother. There is great fulfillment in sharing joy with a child.
Have to close for now. It’s after 4 A.M. (another night writer; peaceful hours) I’m due at Quashnet Country Club in Mashpee for their member-guest golf tournament at 7:30 this morning. My dear friend, Ginnie Damiani, and I are scheduled to tee off at eight. What fun to be busy.
Be well, Linda

What does your heart say?

By Susan Lee Traft

Jun

15

I want to feel inspired when I write. I want to write from my heart. If I do, will my work be “marketable”? Or will my only choice be to “self-publish”? I admit to feeling a wee bit discouraged by this dilemma. 

Must I choose between writing for the market or writing from my heart? Is it ever the same? Perhaps it could be.

I suppose most, if not all, writers want to be “published”…

My intuition guides me to focus on expressing through my heart as the only way to authentic creativity. It can’t be just about the “money”. 

Monica’s Book (Monica’s Mystical Adventures in the Magical Garden by Susan Lee Traft, 2009) was a joy to write. Every chapter flowed freely. Isabella, my 8 year old granddaughter and Demi, the 9 year old daughter of my friend who lives in the Netherlands, loved Monica’s Book. It was also healing for me as it mirrored my childhood challenges.

 When I hired a professional editor to critique it, she advised that it was not “marketable” in its present condition. If I wanted to submit it for publication, it needed to be re-written to adhere to certain suggestions which would make it more appealing to today’s MG fiction market.

 I started the re-write, but my heart wasn’t in it. Perhaps Monica’s Book was not meant for a wider audience. Does it matter? Is it better to write a book that reaches many rather than one that reaches only a few? Maybe the answer is….”no”…

 Angel Blessings, Susan Lee

SUCCESSFUL QUERY FROM WRITERS DIGEST

By Joan Walsh

Jun

13

While there is no formula for the perfect query letter, all successful queries share certain qualities;

Be brief (preferably one or two single-spaced pages) and addressed to a specific editor by name. Avoid rambling “conversation” (“The weather here is horrible—I hope it’s better for you”) and sales hype (“This book is a guaranteed bestseller!”).

  • Grab the editor’s interest with a strong opening. Use your subject hook.
  • Be scannable. Let the editor tell at a glance what you’re proposing.
  • Don’t make the editor hunt for your “contact” information. Get your name, address, phone number and email address at the top of your letter. Use bullets to highlight essential information: your qualifications, marketing information, etc.
  • Be self-standing. Query only one project at a time. Giving the editor a smorgasbord of ideas to choose from usually only leads to none being chosen.
  • Give the editor some idea of the book’s structure and contents, and of your own writing style. It goes without saying that your query should exhibit your very best writing style and be error-free, demonstrating to the editor your ability to effectively execute the idea you’re proposing.
  • Be professional. Use dignified letterhead on white, off-white, beige or grayish paper. Avoid other colors—the only attention that a red query or cover letter gets is negative.
  • Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) for ease of response.
  • Mention any expertise or special qualifications you have to write the book (if you’ve been published, mention it; if not, don’t). Here you will tap into the material you developed for the “About the Author” section of you proposal, in shorter form, of course.

SAMPLE:

Agent Tina Wexler and YA Tagged‘
Dear Ms. Wexler,

Sixteen-year-old Kate Morgan is just as baffled as the rest of the Cleary High School student body when gorillas invade their town. Okay, they’re not real gorillas, just life-like renderings painted on the buildings, but still. Why would anyone go to so much trouble?

A mysterious graffiti artist isn’t the only thing causing an uproar in Cleary. The school’s resident rich girl is throwing a sweet sixteen bash complete with an MTV camera crew, a live band, and an ultra exclusive guest list, which, to Kate’s shock, includes her but not Lan, her Vietnamese best friend. Kate is determined to acquire an invitation for Lan, but the birthday girl isn’t budging- until she needs a peculiar favor from Kate. 

Shy and sensitive Kate is also trying to conceal her crush on Eli, a guy she works with at the local coffee shop. Ever since she was dumped by her first boyfriend months earlier, Kate has turned to Eli for support and now hopes their friendship can turn into something deeper. However, Eli’s girlfriend, Reva, has made it clear that he’s taken, and with her fiery temper and razor-sharp nails, she’s the last person in the world Kate wants to anger. Kate suspects that Reva may be involved with the graffiti, or worse, that she’s covering for Eli and his friends.

Both the graffiti and the party spark debate among the students at Cleary. Some think that the graffiti is a crime while others classify it as art. Some want more than anything to be invited to the party so they can cash in on their fifteen minutes of televised fame while others plan to boycott the over-the-top snobfest. Kate falls somewhere in the middle of both issues until the night of the party, when she learns the truth behind the graffiti- and the real reason why Lan has been left off the guest list.

My short fiction has been published in Orpheus and the GSU Review. I won the 2003 Hardegree Prize for Fiction, a regional award sponsored by the Hub City Writers Group. I am also a member of the SCBWI.

Tagged is a completed 49,500-word young adult novel. I would be happy to send sample chapters. Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,

Mara Purnhagen

Commentary from Tina

Mara’s query caught my eye with the very first sentence. (Did she say gorillas?) I had to find out more based on that line alone.
 
And who doesn’t love a secret crush and a school divided by the whims of the popular, tough choices between best friends and peculiar favors? I’m also interested in art and in general interested in YAs that explore issues beyond the high school bubble, so I was excited to see that this story would be exploring What IS art? Lastly, I was a big Veronica Mars fan (sniffle), and the mysteries at the core of this story made me think that Tagged might fill the void left by that show’s cancellation, which in my mind is as good a reason as any to ask to see a manuscript.) 
 
Of course, it’s also just a well-written query, with the right amount of personality and professionalism, a solid bio, etc. I was thrilled when I received pages and found Tagged to be exactly what her letter promised–and more!

Friendship

By Mary Grabowski

Jun

12

It can only really be defined by the people within the relationship, So I have tapped multiple sources to try to define it.

Google;

  1. a relationship between two or more people who are friends
  2. the mutual feelings of trust and affection and the behavior that typify relationships between friends
  3. a relationship between people, organizations, or countries that is characterized by mutual assistance, approval, and support

The philosophical;

“What is a friend? A single soul, dwelling in two bodies” – Aristotle

The Bear;

“Some people care too much, I think it’s called love” -Winnie the Pooh

The Frog;

http://uk.video.yahoo.com/watch/2383816?fr=yvmtf

The supportive chaos;

“And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed.” – Dr Seuss

Sometimes our deepest friendships are not with people but, with the furriest of creatures.  Henry and Mudge share many messy adventures together. 

“And finally when he stopped growing he weighed one hundred eighty pounds, he stood three feet tall and he drooled.  “I’m glad you’re not short,” Henry said.”

For me friendships have developed over broken hearts, glasses of wine, driveway chalk, library storytime, and most recently while trying to fulfill my dreams.   I am blessed for all of you.  Thank you for your support and your patience.

NESCBWI Conference, May 2010, Part 3

By Karen Centofanti

Jun

11

Allyn Johnston is Vice President and Publisher of Beach Lane Books, a small imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing. She and her assistant, Andrea Welch, work out of a small, artsy studio one block from the beach in La Jolla, California.

Allyn would be the dream editor and publisher to work with. Her vision for how a picture book should be laid out for page turns, great beginnings and satisfying endings is a gift. By changing a few words at the end of a picture book, she can make a good book great.

Here are some of Allyn’s tips for writing great picture books:
• There needs to be an emotional connection.
• The final line should be unexpected.
• The final line should evoke an image that gives the reader chills.
• The ending is often where a book falls flat. Example: In Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers, the ending line was “Just like you!” By changing it to “Just as they are,” it allowed the artist (Marla Frazee), to draw a funny, unexpected picture for a great, satisfying ending.
• Other books Allyn mentioned with completely satisfying endings: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert; and Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox.
• Endings should disarm us: funny to sad, serious to funny.
• It’s all about pacing at the end.
• Brilliant line in Kevin Henkes’ Kitten’s First Full Moon: “And she wanted it.”
• Unexpectedness in writing is needed throughout, but especially at the end.
• The best picture books are very brief to allow room for the illustrator.
• Dialog can’t be illustrated. It must advance the plot or cut it.

My next and last blog about the NESCBWI conference will cover the advice from picture book author Sudipta Bardham-Quallen.

In addition, I still owe a blog about my adorable granddaughter, Alessia, the inspiration for my story in rhyme, Dance, Sophie, Dance!

Please bear with me, as I may occasionally need to write about other topics to lessen the burden on my heart. My mother is facing a very difficult revision surgery on one of her 24-year-old artificial hips. The right hip has fallen apart, and the left one is right behind it. Surgery is scheduled for next Thursday, June 17, 2010, providing Mom doesn’t have any infection in that hip or cardiac issues. Say a prayer for Dorothy, if you are so inclined.

Thanks.

Karen Centofanti

The Joy of Reading

By Christina Laurie

Jun

10

“The Joy of Reading”

 

Thursday Blog – June 10, 2010

By Christina Laurie

                             Little fingers, little toes

                             That’s the way my grandson goes,

                             Little eyes, little ears

                             I read him everything he hears.

Whenever I arrive at my grand childrens’ homes, I carry a black canvas bag full of books to read. Each child awaits the goodies I pack in there, and all delight at what I choose to bring with each visit.

Once, while visiting in Salt Lake City with my writer sister, Becky, she suggested a new book, “Wolf’s Coming” written and illustrated by her friend Joe Kulka (2007, Carol Rhoda Books).

Joe has painted a spider in each picture with Wolf and a blue balloon in the outdoor pictures, for which my “kids” love to search. Recently I read the book as Mystery Reader of the Month at Miles’ first grade class. The children noisily pointed out each spider and balloon and loved the surprise ending.

The book is the favorite of three-year-old, Tate. He requests that I read it twice every week I baby sit. He greets me in the morning with “Hi Nana! Wolf?” and we have to sit down and read the book before I make breakfast. Other books can wait till after the meal.

At his birthday party last week I gave him his own copy. He was beside himself with excitement! Takes it to bed each night. This week he greeted me, hugging the book to his chest, saying, “Read, Nana” as he handed me the book. “My book. My Wolf,” he declared. I’ve never seen such enthusiasm for a book since his brother Cooper discovered dinosaurs.

It is such a privilege to introduce books to my seven grandchildren and to read my old favorites that I read to my three children. Reading to children is such an important part of their growing up. It creates an enthusiasm for books that last a lifetime.

When Brad, my oldest, began to read his first book to me, my eyes teared as I realized what avenues were opening up to him. I tear up when I hear my grandchildren read to me also because I know what adventures lie there for them to discover.

As Emily Dickenson once wrote, “There is no frigate like a book To take us lands away.” Adventures begin at the opening of the cover. What a joy it is to read!

Creatively yours,

Christina

Bookstores and You

By Linda Williams

Jun

9

Greetings;
I visited EIGHT COUSINS this past week, a fabulous children’s bookstore in Falmouth Center. As a young girl, I dreamed of seeing one of my books on sale there. On that morning, I was distributing a flyer for our one-day, Cape Cod Childrens Writers retreat scheduled for June 26. In return I was provided with a statement which I thought deserved mentioning It was written by Leslie Hawkins of Spellbound Childrens Bookshop in Asherville, NC 28801 and included book store owners’ thoughts on pricing, marketing, and expectations for writers.
Pricing: You need to be realistic about what dollar amount you want listed for your book keeping in mind books sell in different formats of hardcover, paperback, and board. You can’t expect the average buyer to spend the same amount for your work that one would for a well-known author. The average discount, 40-45% off the retail price of self-published books, is the store owner’s payment for providing you with a sales outlet.
One writer complained to me, “I spent all that time creating, writing, and editing my book. Why should the store take such a large commission?”
We writers must keep in mind there are great expenses to owning and maintaining bookstores. They exist to display and sell our books. The marketing expenses and programs being offered there cost money. With self-published books, the store owner is taking a bigger chance in giving space to an unknown writer. It takes extra time to draw up and maintain records for consignment books. The owners want to support independent authors and may love your book, but the bottom line is, “Will it sell well enough to warrant taking up space?
When marketing your book (the days of publishers doing all the marketing are gone) visit bookstores and libraries. See for yourself what’s out there and current in today’s selling market. Check retail prices. While there, check what publishers have recently accepted your genre. Maybe an “actual” publisher might be interested in your manuscript. Then you wouldn’t have to pay all expenses by yourself. Think about it. While there, also check to see if the author thanked the agent. If the story is similar to your writing style and genre, maybe you should query him or her?
Of course you want your book to sell, but if your ultimate goal is financial, the writing and getting it published process are only two of myriad steps to seeing it on a store’s bookshelf. When your book is ready to sell, set up book signings in local stores, make appointments to speak on radio or local tv stations, and use websites, school newsletters, and the like to advertise your expertise.(in a humble way of course!) Use that left-sided brain of yours to create imaginative, selling points. Is the subject one of local appeal? How about contacting schools to visit the grade-age you’re writing for. (I know, one isn’t supposed to end a sentence in a preposition, but sometimes it just sounds good to me.)
At one of my first book signings, I booked it at a restaurant on a Sunday afternoon and ordered plates of cookies and brownies for the children whom I’d invited in my newspaper notices. They came because of free food and interested parents—the book buyers. The restaurant sold drinks and was happy with that arrangement—marketing tool. I paid for advertisements in surrounding town’s newspapers, including the fact that refreshments would be provided—marketing tool. I left a book with each office in case someone (anyone) might want to comment in print. Did all that work work? One-hundred and twenty-five books were sold that afternoon.
Wherever you go to speak, your books go with you. Always keep a well-wrapped set of books in your car’s trunk in case someone wants to buy a copy. It has happened.
Reading one of my newly-finished stories to school classes is exciting. I recently taught a creative writing class to an advanced high school seniors’ literature group (see how humbly I snuck that in). I showed them how to write a short story within a story. Great diverse feedback from intelligent students: One student noted,“…that’s too much work; there’s so little time.” Sad answer, but accurate at his stage of life getting ready for college.
“Young mothers,” I replied, “often feel a similar stress of not enough hours in the day. All I ask, if you love writing, is to set aside fifteen minutes a day to jot down your own thoughts. It could be six in the morning or a few minutes at midnight. Whatever works. Then, when you do have time, your creative thoughts haven’t been lost.”
Another student said, “Thanks. I’m going to try for that.”
What a wonderful feeling of accomplishment for me—a good way to end a day.

Be well, Linda

PERSEVERANCE AND VOICE

By Jeannie Benton

Jun

8

The NESCBWI (New England Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) Conference in May 2010 was insightful, encouraging and well worth the investment of time and money. Some of my other team writers’ have already blogged about their wonderful experiences at the conference and now, I too, want to share with you some of my highlights.

The main speakers were accomplished authors and well spoken. What I took away from their messages was that writing is hard work, it takes a great deal of time and we must have enormous determination and perseverance if we want to be published. Not that this is anything new when attempting any endeavor in life, but it was a good reminder to ask myself… ‘Jeannie…are you going to hope to get published or are you going to get published’? It is not a matter of IF, but rather a matter of WHEN.   I will need to write and write and write and write and write, revise, revise, revise, revise, work, work, work, and never ever, ever, give up!!!

In one of the workshops I attended “Finding Your Voice” I ironically thought the speaker was not particularly a strong deliverer, however, she highlighted two things that were meaningful to me.  When she demonstrated the different “genres” by reading excerpts from several books and pointed out the different “voices” of each genre , it  suddenly occurred to me; we writers’ are actually “actors and actresses” just not on stage! We must get into the character’s life and head and play it out totally and entirely throughout the storyline. It was/is exciting for me to start thinking of the possibilities of “voice” in my writing since I greatly enjoyed being an actress in my high school play. Drama queen…me…oh, I don’t know…maybe at times! Ha!

The other point she made was that whatever we write, we MUST be passionate about it! The passion must carry us through all the hard work, revisions and rejections. I also think that our passion must envelope our purpose. If our underlying purpose is of higher cause than our personal gain, it is noteworthy. And then, my friends, I believe perseverance and voice will stay alive!

God’s blessings to you until next time…..

                                                                      jeannie Purpaleanie

Listening Below the Noise

By Joan Walsh

Jun

6

Listening Below the Noise by Anne LeClaire takes you into the world of possibilities, that may occur when one is silent for a day. Anne is silent two full days a month. She shares her responses to such moments of time.

The results of silence differ from person to person. Universally, silence forces a person to look more closely at one’s work, one’s family, one’s natural surroundings, and the inner most thoughts we have a tendency to push into hiding during ordinary, daily life.

Writing requires frequent times of silence. For some people, the quiet is inspiring, and for others the quiet is lonesome.

Let silence nourish you, and help you know your characters’ deepest emotions. When silence slaps your face and forces you to collide with too much loneliness, go out to play with your favorite people. Make memories that will warm your heart when all is said and done.

Joan

Drumroll……..

By Mary Grabowski

Jun

5

And the winner is….. Christina.  Here is a cut and paste of her entry.   

A Cape Cod Day by Christina Laurie

 Dawn cacophony of bird calls wake me.  In my mango shorts and top, I drop keys in my pocket and jog up the hill and through the round about. Ocean breezes waft from sandy shores, a tease for a swim. It becomes an abbreviated exercise as I plunge into the surf.

I love this for three reasons, 1. I needed to find out what cacophony actually meant.  2.  It tells a complete story.  Is short but telling.  3. The word plunge is such a powerful word describing not only the act of jumping in the water but all the emotion attached to the act. 

SO, Christina prepare for you prizes!  An interview, by me and A gold star for your forehead!

Look for more games from me Saturdays

Enjoy the sunshine,

Mary

A Tough Week

By admin

Jun

4

This has been a tough week for me. My 81-year old mother has been suffering severe back pain that has been getting worse instead of better for the past month. She thought it was sciatica, as it traveled from her hip down the back of her thigh. Last weekend, she couldn’t lift her other leg, and was dragging it behind her as she painfully tried to walk with her walker to the bathroom. What in the world is going on? I thought. Getting her to the hospital became a priority, and we have been there ever since.

Mom’s two hip replacements have broken down after 24 years. Her case is so complex she is being referred to New England Baptist. She’s being transferred today to a rehab facility while she waits to see a specialist for revision surgery. She is medicated, but is still in so much discomfort. It hurts me to see her suffering.

On June 1, I returned from being at the ER with my mother all day, and sat down to email my family about Mom. There was a message from Maria, a fellow teacher that Barbara Costa had passed away at 7:30 that night.

Barbara taught in Hanson for over 40 years, most of that time in first grade. She was the teacher who taught my son to read. When I started teaching in Hanson, Barbara became a highly respected colleague of mine.

Yes, this has been a tough week: the loss of a dear friend and colleague; the months of pain ahead for my mother. Christina Laurie’s blog post two days ago, “What’s in Your Heart?” was just what I needed to read. Thank you, Christina! I need to smile and be positive for Mom’s sake.

Those of us who knew Barbara Costa have been asked to share a memory for a book that is being put together for her family. Here is mine:

Barbara Costa: Outstanding Half-Step Teacher

“Mom! I can read!”

Twenty-six years ago, these joyous words flew out of my son, Brian’s mouth when he was six years old, and in Barbara’s Half-Step program. The Half-Step program was a transitional year between kindergarten and first grade. It was for students who were young or immature. They were not ready for first grade, but needed more than to repeat a half day of kindergarten.

As a young mother with her first child, I was thrilled that Brian qualified for Barbara’s class. Brian was born in December, back when the cut-off date for entry into first grade was December 31, not August 31 as it is now. Brian would have been the youngest boy in first grade, and to complicate things, he was extremely tall for his age. (This was not just a growth spurt. Brian was consistently “off the chart” for height, and is 6’9” tall).

Brian had only been in Barbara’s class for a month when he got off the bus shouting those exciting words. Still holding his spelling list, he proudly read and spelled every word to me, and not from memory, but in any order.

At the November Parent-Teacher conference, Barbara told my husband and me, “I love to teach reading.” She wasn’t kidding. By the end of that magical year, Brian could read at a third grade level. He could also write fluently, filling up blank books with his stories. What a wonderful start for my son’s education. I will always be grateful, and have the highest regard for Barbara.

Brian remains close friends with two other boys from that school year. All three are college graduates and have wonderful careers. Can you imagine how many other children have grown up to become successful adults because of Barbara’s influence? They may not remember, but their parents sure do!

Thank you, Barbara. Rest in Peace.

With love and respect,

Karen Centofanti

Celebrate Nurses Week!

By Christina Laurie

Jun

2

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Celebrate Nurses Week!

When I was 12, I announced at the dinner table that I planned to be a nurse. My father wisely replied, “If you want to be a nurse, then you must first volunteer somewhere to find out if you like it or not.”
So that summer I began a life-long habit of volunteering. I spent Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings visiting residents in a nursing home to which I walked about a half a mile from my home in Grafton. I loved the work and I loved the elderly.
Last week, May 6-12, was National Nurses Week. These men and women are the cornerstone of our health care system, who are the liasons between the sick and elderly and the medical team. Combining art and science with compassion and service, these people dedicate their work time to creating comfortable atmospheres for patients as they help the patients gain back health.
They reach out to worried and needy families and stand by bedsides to provide safe, top quality care.
This week was chosen to celebrate our nurses because it is the week of the birth of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), the British nurse and hospital reformer who served in the Crimean War in 1854. Because of this work with wounded soldiers, she revolutionized the sanitation and personal care of patients. In 1860 she opened at training school for nurses where she taught her principles of good nursing habits.
So this week I salute our nurses, of which my son is one. This week I say thanks to all the women and men who have cared for and will care for my family members, and for all those I work with as a volunteer chaplain at Falmouth Hospital.
Thanks.

Creatively yours.,
Christina Laurie

What’s in Your Heart?

By Christina Laurie

Jun

2

    Thursday, May 13, 2010  

                                       What’s in Your Heart?  

Each day is a gift. Awakening each morning and being thankful for the day and for being alive can give us a good beginning.                     Good beginnings are important, whether in a poem, a story or book, the first measures of a song or the color we choose to wash the background of our next painting. Where we start our work often directs the outcome. As we move through our day, how we greet others and smile or frown can create a better or worse outlook on their day also.           

  A few years ago both my parents died within 18 days of each other. Several weeks after their deaths, one of my friends, who had not heard, stopped me in the market and asked why I looked so sad. “The light has gone from your eyes,” she said, “and you walk like you’re carrying a burden.” It’s just how I felt.            

What we feel inside can’t help but express itself in our demeanor, words, writings and actions. If we carry the thankfulness of each day in our hearts, it can’t help but express itself in our outer lives.            

How is your heart today?  

 Creatively yours,

Christina Laurie

Writing For Children

By Linda Williams

Jun

2

Greetings;

When writing for children, keep in mind that although re-living joyful or sad happenings in your own youth is good for you, children prefer stories they can relate to today.  One instructor noted that many children’s authors from years ago wouldn’t be accepted by today’s editors.  Peter Rabbit and the like are apparently no longer unique enough for today’s inquisitive children.  I don’t agree, but I’m not the one accepting or rejecting your manuscript.  I do know, however, that the children I read to in the elementary grades are interested in knowing what animals have to say and what they are wondering.  In their minds the animal is a child just like them and they identify with their thoughts and actions.  Reading stories aloud is a great way to catch flaws in the story line’s flow or theme.  If it doesn’t seem realistic, the child will be bored and you will lose your all-important audience.  Asking children questions like, “What would you like Waddle Duck to do next?” can prompt some creative answers and fodder for future stories.  They also enjoy drawing pictures of their favorite part of the story.  One set of drawings was forwarded to me from a school in Bermuda.  What fun to see how my tugboat’s story book had affected each child.

Unless a unique twist or voice is heard within the first paragraph, it’s unlikely your story will be considered at all.  Another of my instructors recently noted that the opening sentence must interest the editor and the opening paragraph must interest the reader.  In other words, jump into the heart of the story within that first line and that first paragraph.  Beginning examples:  Slithering Snake was a villain.    Thomas Jacobson is a bully of the worst kind.  (This over-done theme needs an immediate, unique thought.)   Young Dino Dinosaur’s cave was dark, leaky, and lonely without his parents.  Why hadn’t they come home?

Young children’s stories are short on word count and therefore must quickly establish a beginning, a middle, and an end.  Before you start writng, however, decide which age group you  want to reach.  ( 3-5  4-7    K-3    8-10  etc.)   Include conflict appropriate for that age.  At every opportunity, listen to how that particular age group interracts with speech and body language in today’s world.  Take notes while they’re talking of actual words, phrases, and manner of speaking, especially any unique thoughts.  Playgrounds. trains, and buses are good places to hear a variety in speech and accents.

A children’s writer must be able to step into the point-of-view character’s head on that first page.  What is he or she thinking?  What does he want to do about some conflict, and how does he think he can handle the problem?  What skills does he possess which could help him bring about a good ending on his own?

Be sure to provide some descriptions of your characters so the young reader can visualize them in his mind. Examples:  Tommy’s sunlight hair over-flowed with cowlicks making him look like he was always scared.     Jenny’s light brown eyes grew dark as if a storm was raging  inside her head.

Children love clues in a story.  Rather than telling the child’s age, set down what grade she’s in.  It allows the young reader to come up with the right age on her own.  Also, when conflict arises, let the child resolve it without a parent’s help.  Because children have so many distractions, which draw them away from reading, the writer must generate enough interest for them to turn that first page.

If the story begins with a problem child, how can the writer set a scene to turn the child around by the end of the story?  Does he hurt a friend or a pet through anger or impatience?  Does he disobey his parents’ rules for a higher purpose?  Let the reader know what the point-of-view character is thinking when he’s angry or sad or feeling alone.  Show the reader with your description of body language, speech, and thoughts.  Dialogue between friends and/or supposed enemies makes the story come alive.  If there was a problem in the past, the back-story can be brought into the present through the use of dialogue and thoughts.  (Thoughts can be set apart by using italics.)

Well, Fellow-writers, that’s it for this week.  Hope I’ve been of some help.  It’s now six o’clock and time to get on with my day world.  Be well.  God willing, I’ll be back next Wednesday.     Linda

Seo