ABOUT WRITING, RUNNING, AND BEING OUTDOORS
I've had one children's manuscript done for a bit. But to get my elevator pitch down to a succinct, compelling, "I want to know more" one or two lines just bedevils me. (October Halloween talk). I write it, practice it, memorize it, rewrite it, re-memorize, and it goes on and on. I love my characters. I should let them give…
Well that tells you right off the bat that there are problems. There are no perfect queries. Yes there are. The queries that sell the manuscripts. So that's it! The query is your short ad or sales pitch, without sounding like you're a sales person. The query road is short, long, winding, and can trap you or free you. There…
We have a great region and I have had a blast working with Margaret Speaker Yuan as her assistant regional adviser for over 4 years. She is a super hard worker, like I am, and we have got a region of terrific volunteers. When a SCBWI region reaches a certain size (like pretty big in membership) the region may split…
My naturalist class has been pretty amazing. I found out its okay and cool to stop & do journal notes. Usually I am running or hiking with specific objectives. Always goal oriented. Plus the inaturalist.org website engages citizen naturalists and pro's in identifying animals, plants and more. What a great new social media -- engaging in the discovery of nature…
The Conference held in Los Angeles is nearly a week long series of meetings, speeches, networking, workshops, parties, eating and possibly chatting with 1,200 great people. You have to enter this conference with a plan, like I posted earlier. Otherwise you can get caught in conference nervosa: the various stages of exhilaration, depression, exhaustion, frustration and giddiness that can kidnap…
I run and write. I realized that getting a runner injury is like getting a critique slam down on your manuscript. Both are big setbacks. And both require mental strength and the need to call in the support team to lift up your body and brain. I've been fortunate to run marathons and half marathons for the past 7 years…
Whenever writers are asked to submit a query or proposal, they are asked for their biography and specific relevant experience. With articles published in the business world and now writing for children's literature, there isn't a direct connection for children's publishers. And usually topic depth and direct experience are very important. Well, after volunteering as a frog docent, cleaning the…
Let's face it. That title does not spark you to jump in. If you are a children's non-fiction writer of educational work, and are used for reference books for subject reports, that's one thing. I find writing about the natural world tricky. Especially when it's a work of fiction and addresses issues and conflicts in the natural world. For instance,…