Showing posts with label SCBWI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SCBWI. Show all posts

Friday, March 4, 2011

SCBWI New York - Part II

Sorry this is so late you guys. I have been having some roommate issues and dealing with a bunch of random crap that's been taking up a lot of time and wearing me down lately. But I promised you an Alessandra Balzer post and you're going to get one. In fact, you're going to get as much as I can cram into one post without going on and on and on today. So enjoy. : )

Read more »
Posted by Unknown
Labels: 7 thoughtful musings

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

SCBWI Vlog

Okay, for those of you who absolutely don't want to listen to me talk for 12 minutes (that was SO not my intention), I will summarize at the bottom. If you're going to watch it, I apologize for the length and the few times I accidentally hit the mic. And the fact that I get distracted... and ramble... and yea. Enjoy. :)




Summary:

1. Lois Lowry - A lot of readers ask how she gets her ideas (and if she has a dog...which she does). Lois does something that I think is super cool and interesting: she writes plot couplets. For example, for Gossamer she wrote, "A haunting phrase - a little more - / Imagination - take wing - soar." From those ten words she crafted a book. How cool is that?

Personally, I think this just goes to show that we're all different and we all have our own processes, so don't worry about conforming or doing things a certain way. Write. Write on your terms. Write your way. Just make sure you keep writing.

2. Dan Lazar of Writers House - In short, Dan talked a lot about good and bad queries. He did say that the children's market is more competitive than ever but that there's also more room for new things too. Taboos seem to be virtually non-existent these days, and while magic and fantasy are obviously still selling it's even more important for you to have a new/fresh twist if it's something that's been done before. *cough*vampires*cough*

According to Dan, MG is 8-14 and YA is 14+. (Just fyi.)

5 things to keep in mind for submissions:
     -Age: Know your age group, because it is an important factor in labeling your book.
     -Voice: This was unquantifiable for him; you know it when you see it.
     -Situation: Contemporary, magical,... This actually comes across like setting and your world, like any rules you might have.
     -Tone: Literary, artful, commercial, contemporary...
     -"Magic:" Unexplainable love for the project.


Next time I'll start with Alessandra Balzer's breakout session, at which she gave us a handout of the top 10 things she looks for in submissions. And I have a couple of reviews coming your way soon. Oh, and Valentine's Day. Hope it was a good one or is (where ever you may be).
Posted by Unknown
Labels: , 7 thoughtful musings

Thursday, January 27, 2011

SCBWI

Today I head to Tulsa. Bright and early tomorrow morning I get on a plane for New York. I will not be back home until Monday evening-ish. The blog will be silent until next week.

The good news: I'm going to New York again; I get to see the amazing Ginger Clark again; and I get to attend my first conference. Woot.

The bad news: I'm going to New York in the winter, where it is cold and wet (more so than it is here in Arkansas) and I will be radio silent here for a while.

See you on the flip side. : )
Posted by Unknown
Labels: , 5 thoughtful musings
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails