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This Thursday, February 28 , 2008, at 2:00 p.m. eastern time, the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will offer another exciting and informative teleclass for children’s writers.

Rita Milios will present session 1 in the Writing for Children’s Educational Markets Series - The Lucrative Educational Market: Where Do YOU Fit In?

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today and find out on Thursday if writing for the educational markets is right for you.

When you join the club you will receive links to these other three teleclasses that were presented earlier this month:

Lila Guzman - Show Me the Money: Writing Biographies for Young Readers

Margot Finke - Picture (Book) Perfect

Simon Rose - Beyond Belief: Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Readers (part 1 of a 2 part teleclass)

Every month, club members are given the opportunity to attend 4 LIVE 55-minute teleclasses about some aspect of writing and publishing for children. Later, the links to these recorded classes are sent to all members, too.

Join the CWCC here.

There are at least eight excellent reasons that I think you should take the nine minutes it will take to watch this video of Sarah Vowell, who is the voice for the superhero Violet from The Incredibles.

1. Sarah Vowell is a big introvert.

2. Sarah Vowell is so cool you won't hardly be able to stand it.

3. Sarah Vowell is extremely funny.

4. Sarah Vowell says things like "... I'm better with dead people."

5. Like Nancy Pearl, she has her own Action Figure-- two actually, and one of them is INVISIBLE.

6. Sarah Vowell makes Abraham Lincoln seem kinda, well, you know, hot.

7. As part of my book launch plan I'm starting some school visits and the first one is tomorrow and I'm speaking to two Assemblies with 160 kids each and I'm in dire need of some serious superhero mojo. (And I seem to have misplaced my punctuation she says gasping!)

8. Could there be a better name for a superhero than Violet?

What do you think, friends? Does she make the cut our Shrinking Violet Hall of Fame?

Click here for Sarah's video!

Wish me luck tomorrow--
Mary Hershey

This week’s teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will be presented by children’s author Margot Finke. She’ll talk about what it takes to write a children’s picture book. Just look at what she’ll cover in this fun and informative teleclass:

PICTURE (BOOK) PERFECT

* Good grammar and punctuation
* Tight writing — use a few carefully chosen words to write a “big” story.
* The benefit of bringing powerful verbs into play.
* How to paint word pictures that will stick in a child’s head.
* How to write active paragraphs that easily translate into illustrations
* How to FOCUS on what is important to the story — and cut the rest.
* The art of crafting characters kids will identify with and root for.
* Develop a writing “voice” that is unique.

This LIVE teleclass will take place on Wednesday, February 13, 2008, at 4:00 pacific time.

To receive an email invitation to this event, along with any handouts needed for the class, join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club HERE.

The National Writing for Children Center

Children’s Author Margot Finke

Find out more about Margot Finke on Our Staff & Faculty Page.

Margot will be teaching a monthly teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club starting in February.

Her February teleclass will be:

PICTURE (BOOK) PERFECT

This teleclass will cover the following:

* Good grammar and punctuation
* Tight writing — use a few carefully chosen words to write a “big” story.
* The benefit of bringing powerful verbs into play.
* How to paint word pictures that will stick in a child’s head.
* How to write active paragraphs that easily translate into illustrations
* How to FOCUS on what is important to the story — and cut the rest.
* The art of crafting characters kids will identify with and root for.
* Develop a writing “voice” that is unique.

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club today so you won’t miss any of Margot’s exciting and informative classes. Click the Coaching Club link directly below.<!--Begin--->

The Children’s Writers
Coaching Club


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Members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club are in for a special treat tonight.

Children’s author Margot Finke will be our speaker for a special teleclass about planning and presenting at school author events.

CWCC members can attend this live event and ask questions, make comments, and have fun as they learn from Margot.

The teleclass starts at 8:00 central time tonight and lasts for 55 minutes. Every member of the CWCC will also receive a CD of this recorded event.

Members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club are going to hit the ground running this month with a series of events early in the month.

First, tonight is our weekly manuscript critique telesession at 8:00 central time. It’s good to see at least a few club members are ready to refocus on their writing now after taking time out to enjoy the holidays.

Children’s Author and Speaker Margot Finke

Second, next Wednesday night, January 9th, at 8:00 central time, children’s author and presenter Margot Finke will present a special teleclass for members of the CWCC about how to design and present a super school presentation.

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching HERE to take advantage of these exciting events.

Last night, members of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club, here at the National Writing for Children Center, enjoyed a special teleclass with children’s author Margot Finke called, How to Self-Edit Your Middle Grade Novel.

Children’s Author Margot Finke

It was an excellent teleclass, and I would highly recommend Margot Finke to anyone who needs a professional manuscript critique. She’s thorough, to-the-point, and, most importantly, she knows her stuff when it comes to writing for children.

She’s also one of the most generous children’s writers I know. Visit her website here to learn Powerful Writing Tips, and get her Editing Tip Sheet.

Thanks so much Margot, for the wonderful teleclass. Members of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club learned so much last night!

Suzanne Lieurance
Coaching Coordinator
The Children’s Writers Coaching Club

This month, children’s writer Margot Finke will present a special teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club. Margot will talk about How to Self-Edit Your Middle Grade Novel.

Margot Finke is an Aussie who writes mid grade adventure fiction, ghost mysteries, and rhyming picture books. For the past 25 years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family. She began serious writing the day her youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot says, “I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs. You are my heroes!”

Her “Musings,” column can be read monthly in The Purple Crayon and the SCBWI NewsWorthy magazine. Her Critique Service helps writers iron out plot and character problems. “Nothing gives me a greater thrill than to find out an editor bought a book I helped polish.” Early on, many people offered Margot help with her writing. These days, she tries to return the favor whenever she can. Her workshops, at writer’s conferences, are enhanced by the use of a PowerPoint presentation, as are her frequent school visits.

Margot’s series of 6 rhyming picture books are available as downloads or on CD: “Kangaroo Clues” - “Never Say BOO to a Frilly” - “Humdinger Hummers” - “Mama Grizzly Bear” & “Don’t Eat Platypus Stew” - “Prairie dog’s Play Day” - published by Writers Exchange E-Publishing. Fun and educational, they bring kids closer to neat animals in the US and Australia. VIEW excerpts, illustrations and great reviews on her BOOKS page, along with instructions on how to BUY
Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between her writing. Her husband, Alan, is supportive, and their three children are now grown and doing well out on their own. Visit her website for more information about her writing and writing services.

How to Self-Edit Your Middle Grade Novel will take place on Wednesday night, July 25, at 7:00 p.m. (Central time). To join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club and attend this special teleclass, click here.

This month, children’s writer Margot Finke will present a special teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers Coaching Club. Margot will talk about How to Edit Your Middle Grade Novel.

Margot Finke is an Aussie who writes mid grade adventure fiction, ghost mysteries, and rhyming picture books. For the past 25 years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family. She began serious writing the day her youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot says, “I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs. You are my heroes!”

Her “Musings,” column can be read monthly in The Purple Crayon and the SCBWI NewsWorthy magazine. Her Critique Service helps writers iron out plot and character problems. “Nothing gives me a greater thrill than to find out an editor bought a book I helped polish.” Early on, many people offered Margot help with her writing. These days, she tries to return the favor whenever she can. Her workshops, at writer’s conferences, are enhanced by the use of a PowerPoint presentation, as are her frequent school visits.

Margot’s series of 6 rhyming picture books are available as downloads or on CD: “Kangaroo Clues” - “Never Say BOO to a Frilly” - “Humdinger Hummers” - “Mama Grizzly Bear” & “Don’t Eat Platypus Stew” - “Prairie dog’s Play Day” - published by Writers Exchange E-Publishing. Fun and educational, they bring kids closer to neat animals in the US and Australia. VIEW excerpts, illustrations and great reviews on her BOOKS page, along with instructions on how to BUY
Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between her writing. Her husband, Alan, is supportive, and their three children are now grown and doing well out on their own.

How to Edit Your Middle Grade Novel will take place on Wednesday night, July 25, at 7:00 p.m. (Central time). To join the Childrlen’s Writers Coaching Club and attend this special teleclass, click here.