Postcards and the 10%

POSTCARDS

Our SCBWI Carolinas Challenge will be four postcard submissions in 2015. But are they worth it. All the prep work, designing, creating, ordering and then of course- add stamps and address them. 

But Deb Johnson, a wonderful artist and one of our SCBWI C Working Illustrators Network [WIN] Coordinators found and posted this great article from Giuseppe Castellano, designer and Art Director at Penguin Random House. Ten percent, yes I needed that, oh how I needed that. I'll get right on it.

                                                  " Yes silly, just ten percent, ha, ha."

Tim Federle and Ten Things a Debut Novelist Needs to Know

This was posted a few months ago in the Official SCBWI Conference Blog, but needs to be repeated as we prepare for the new year with all the possibilities, dear writers.
Tim Federle, Better Nate Than Ever, list his ten things nobody tells you about being a debut novelist. Things you'll need to remember when your first or any novel comes out.

And I love his bonus - Love your characters.  
Thanks Tim for this and the many wonderful books you provide.

Wishing Everyone A Merry Christmas

I wish everyone a blessed and wonderful holiday season.

So busy-

 AHH,  I've been so busy working up my Work in Progress for a new Easy Reader Series. Yes, it is coming along so well. And since I've fallen in love with my characters, I've decided to get them out of my head and onto my sketch pad. The dummys are almost done.

So  please be patient with me as I finish up.
Here are a few tips I ran across from  The Editor's Blog to help me with this project. Lots of great tips.             

So be patient with me as I finish up.

How many times have I used that word?- Word Frequency Counter

You are going strong. Words flying from your head to the tips of your fingers and it's working so-- so good.

After awhile, you think- hmmm, I've used that word a lot-    You may be surprised at just how many times. So finish that draft and then:

Check out this link, Word Counter   

Paste your story and see what your favorite words are!

 

Is it Middle Grade or Chapter Book?

You've finished that first draft of your middle grade novel. But now taking a long look, maybe not. Maybe it is a Chapter book. Or is it? 
How can you tell? Now it's not as clear as you first thought in your rapid fire, getting it all out on paper and spouting out to everyone, "I'm working on a middle grade story."
Going back to read or reread all the books that seem the slightest bit similar sometimes helps. And sometimes doesn't -
I found a blog by Emma Walton Hamilton with a clear way to compare.
She uses clues about: 
Audience
Age of Protagonist
Length
Illustration
Content
Yes, there are always exceptions!
I'm still researching every chapter and middle grade book I can get my hands on, but each morsel of information helps me on my journey.

Resources for Authors and Illustrators

Yes, I have found my one stop place to find resources, links, inspiration and everything else that delights authors and illustrators. Elaine Kiely Kearns and Sylvia Lui, the founders of KIDLIT411 have done an amazing job bringing all these things together.
Wow oh Wow- so much to check out-

http://www.kidlit411.com/

My sketch is featured on their Challenges for Illustrators spot and I'm thrilled to be part.
Thank you KIDLIT 411-

How to get the Most from LinkedIn

I have a secret to confess-

 I've been a member of the social network Linked In for some time, yet I have never taken much time to check out how this platform could help me and other artists and writers. 

What a thrill to find Joan Beiriger's blog on how to use Linked In. I feel so dumb that I have not used it more effectively, but now I can't believe all the opportunities that are possible.
Joan's work has always impressed me and her knowledge of licensing is excellent, as you will see in this article.

                                                                   Link to me here

Amazing Children's Book Author Interviews

YES AMAZING- Oh my goodness. Fifty great interviews from Adolescent Literacy featuring Children's and Young Adult Writers telling their secrets, success stories and lots of other things about how they write and why.
Grab a cup of Joe and join me. I'm on my third cup. A little buzzed, but ah, there is such great information.....

Knowing Your Villains

 Kami Kinard is an accomplished author. And Kami knows villains. Author of The Boy Project and The Boy Problem (2014), she comes clean about taking a long look into your bad guys. 

       Her article in Nerdy Chicks Rule Blog dives deep into why the villain is so important. 
Maybe your antagonist is so mean and nasty; but you need some enduring qualities to make him more rounded and deeper for your reader too.
Check out her five ways to give your evil one- more humanity.  

Find out more about  Kami Kinard  on her site.

Postcards are Out

So you are making promo post cards for your illustration work, great!

Don't forget important points as you prepare your cards. 
Make the art clean and clear and avoid more than one illustration per side. 
Make your design unforgettable from the many arriving daily on the Editor's/Art Director's desk
Don't clutter your contact information. 
Leave room for card's addressee.
Make sure you have proper postage.
Keep a list to whom and where they go.

I try to keep to a quarterly schedule.


 

 Mailed my postcards out this week. 

Did you get yours?

Chapter Book Time

So, in between art sample projects and revision work, I'm trying to read every Chapter Book my library has to offer for 5-8 year olds. I'm doing well.

But there are SOOOOOOOOOOOOO many excellent ones to choose and so little time. I found Sarah Jane's list on her great blog to help me check off my list. How many have you read?

She called it magic moments; where words and pictures merge-

  I do love magical moments and books that make you lose yourself in a wonderful adventure.