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With ALA slamming up at breakneck speed, I feel the need to make sure I connect to each and every one of you who come to Chicago.  Logistics tell me I'm nuts. But then again, it's worth the try.

Although there are some great social events in the offing, I think another youth services blogger and readers of blogs and twitter -peeps gathering would be fun to do especially if you're thinking of being at the Newbery/Caldecott awards banquet on Sunday June 30 at the Sheraton or the speeches after! It struck me that lots of us would be hanging around this premier youth services celebration, so...

....if you plan attend the banquet or just drop by the speeches after the dinner (there are chairs set up and you can listen to the speeches free and gaze upon the glitterati in the audience!), we can do a meet-up!

Traditionally, at the conclusion of the banquet, a receiving line with the honorees takes place right after the speeches outside the hall. There is always a cash bar. It's a great spot to gather and chat late night (caffeinate early to be up late!).

So consider this for your schedule and say hi!

Post N/C Youth Blogger/Blog Reader/Tweep Meet-up
Sunday June 30
Sheraton Chicago banquet area
10:30-11pm-ish start (or whenever N/C speeches end)
 

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I attended the SLJ Think Tank in NYC last week. It was a transformative day for me - not just because of the outstanding and thought-provoking speakers but also for the chance to be with colleagues I have met in a whole new way.

In the past, if I wanted to bounce ideas off people or get my collegial-jolt, attendance at state and national conferences was the main way I interacted to get my youth librarian-idea fix. The networks of colleagues who mentored me, friended me and supported me (and back at all of them with the same from me) especially at ALA was grounded in real time and in real places. The gabbing, blue-skying, laughing, eating and drinking that brought us together helped me become the children's librarian I am.

But something changed in the last year that broadened and opened my horizons so far I feel that I can almost see to the end of the universe. Although I've been communicating in new ways through this blog and Facebook, my time on Twitter and in Facebook groups brought a new immediacy and connectivity to my work. For those who find this journey of discovery ho-hum, bear with me.

I was a late Twitter adapter, partly because, as a yakker of legendary repute, how could I harness that into 140 characters? But once I jumped in, I realized that the immediacy of the conversations and links led me to deep connections with and respect for people I had never met IRL. Ideas hatched, work flowed, tempers flared, sympathy was extended and support and wicked humor was always there.

Professional Facebook and Google groups (ALA Think Tank, Code Named Awesome, Flannel Friday), all discovered through Twitter, added to the fun and gestalt. The overlap among them all in terms of interacting with colleagues across many social media platforms only increased the connectivity.

So when I came to New York (you knew I'd get back here, right?), I got a chance to meet, IRL, so many people who are friends in social media: @amyeileenk, @mmlibrarian; @libraryvoice, @MissReneeDomain @melissaZD, @sophiebiblio. I realized that despite the fact we were meeting for the first time, I felt we had been friends forever.

And I felt free - and connected - in a way that is deeper than my professional association connections - perhaps because there are no expectations of work for me when I am involved with social media friends and colleagues (well, unless we hatch something!). These connections and chats sustain me and spark my imagination. It is really connecting with people's minds directly and I learn at the feet of these colleagues (take note Twitter and FB, lurkers, engage and show your stuff!!).

So a big shout-out to all my creative partners on social media whether I've met you IRL or not. Our connection is what fuels me!

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Flannel Friday is fast approaching it's second anniversary. As the auspicious day approaches, participants in Flannel Friday are sharing what this movement has meant to them. Sharon over at her blog Rain Makes Applesauce is gathering the posts of participants. All are worth reading.

I myself am not a flannelist anymore. Or a prop-meister. Or a storytime provider. I once was and enjoyed that part of my work more than I can say. But even as a manager, I love and appreciate the efforts in the field of storytime and early literacy and the great places people are taking them. So, though I am not an active participant and really just an observer, let me still share with you what these intrepid folks and their blogs have meant to me and my professional life.

The blogs that participants are encouraged to start have often blossomed well beyond sharing flannel stories and patterns. Many of these new bloggers have expanded their content with thoughts about their work, programs, children's services and issues swirling around youth librarianship. When I celebrated the linkiness of my life a few weeks ago, it was also a homage to FF folks who have jumped into the blogosphere with both feet and enriched my thinking and work life so profoundly.

The FF community also led me fully into the world of Twitter. Many of these bloggers were the first tweeps I followed and chatted with. They have become a community of friends that I rely on and learn from.

I am in awe of the founders of (thank you, thank you) as well as the participants in this amazing grassroots effort. You have affected a sea change in youth librarianship and connectivity.

Big fireworks for you all!

Image: 'Fireworks 04'  http://www.flickr.com/photos/53139634@N00/472327992 Found on flickrcc.net

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National and international writers' organizations by state. 

http://www.squidoo.com/localwritersassociationsbystate

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We have a favorite partnership in our community. It's with our La Crosse Storyelling Festival.  As part of my job, I represent the library on the planning committee for this annual festival, held the first weekend after Labor Day for over 800 avid storytelling fans. The festival features tellers from our local guild, from the state and national tellers.

The library began as a partner years ago by sponsoring children's crafts during breaks in the children's tent storytelling. When I started work at the library four years ago, the fest steering committee asked me to serve on their board - they are all storytelling colleagues that I had known for years in my storytelling circles. Our library wants library staff to serve, on library time, on local organizations and boards (Rotary, Jaycees, Optimists, Earth Day planning committee) so this fit right in with the library goals. And it was storytelling. As a free lance storyteller, it was a great fit!

As a board member, I've been able to work on behalf of the festival - but also on the library's behalf.  I look for ways to make our contribution meaningful and to highlight the library beyond having our logo displayed. The library now co-sponsors the Friday night spooky tales. I host the evening as the "Wizard of Reading" and get to plug the library and reading.  Anyone who shows their library card gets $3 off their admission. The library, pays the difference - we consider it part of our programming.

The Saturday craft area that we sponsor has mellowed into an activity area with one or two book-related activities (bookmark making, writing or drawing activities) and a space for reading and books.  I also do storytelling in the children's tent off and on during the afternoon. It's also a great chance to spend time with folks who are regular library users, chatting about their thoughts on the library;  promote our services to non- and new- users and be there for support of literacy through storytelling.

So the twelve and fourteen hour days I work at the festival are about as fun as they can be for work hours. And the partnership between storytelling and the library...well, it's perfect.

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By Kinya Shelley.

Recently, I discovered freelance writing marketing tactic that many professional freelance writers have been using for years:

I went to my local Chamber of Commerce to meet my potential clients face to face.

In this setting I had no competition. The marketing was far less frustrating than the scattershot approach, because I knew what my clients needed, and I was prepared to offer it to them.

That’s how I landed ten new clients in a month. My first client paid me $800 up front for two hours of consulting. I didn’t even write anything. I just pointed him in the right direction.

What I did wasn’t special. In fact, anyone can do it. All it takes is a little common sense and courage. Here’s the step-by-step process I used to land ten new clients in thirty days.

Step 1: Research

I Googled my local Chamber of Commerce by typing in the name of my town and state, followed by “Chamber of Commerce.” My local Chamber popped up on the first page. As soon as I was on the website, I did a little browsing around. I wasn’t just mindlessly looking though. I had an agenda:

I dug up information about the Chamber of Commerce.

I needed to answer these specific questions: How does it operate? How old is it? How many members are there? What are the fees to join? How often do you pay?

By being informed about the Commerce itself, I knew what to expect out of its members as well as the Board of Directors. It would also help me tailor my marketing.

I thoroughly searched through the list of members.

I needed to know which local businesses had joined the Chamber. The owners of these businesses know how important it is to market and get new customers, so they’d be more willing to hire a writer. Those are the people I wanted to talk to.

I went through the list carefully from A to Z. I took note of which businesses had websites, and which businesses offered discounts to other Chamber of Commerce members. I also researched the types of businesses on the list. There were dentists, gourmet popcorn shops, even movie theaters. I wanted to find out what these businesses offered to the community, how they stood out from their competition, and what I could do for them. Then I wrote down questions that I wanted to ask each owner that I met.

I had 98 businesses to research. It took me two days to go through them all.

But my local Chamber has a small members list compared to other places. If your Chamber has a really big list, here’s a tip: Narrow down who you want to talk to by searching through each category of businesses and picking out ones that can afford to pay you what you’re worth. For example, if you charge $100 for a one-page ad, you want to look at companies that make enough money so that $100 a page doesn’t seem like a big deal. You may not land them as a client, but you could get a referral to another business in the same earnings bracket – or even higher.

I found out out if non-members can attend events as guests of the Chamber.

My local Chamber of Commerce allows non-members to attend three events a year, but there’s a $10 fee to get in. To me that fee was worth it. It’s nominal compared to how much money new clients could potentially bring in.

Find out if your Chamber does something similar. If they don’t, search the schedule to see if any of the events are open house. Those types of events let potential members mingle with current members, making it a great way to network.

I looked at the list of scheduled events.

I took note of which ones are more likely to draw a bigger crowd. Those are the events I want to attend.

I chose three events, two on the weekend and one charity event. I reasoned that business owners would set aside time on a weekend to go to a Chamber of Commerce event, even if it was just for an hour or so. Of course, everyone loves supporting a charity, and in supporting a cause I would show that I’m willing to use part of what I earned as a writer to give back to the community. Everyone loves hiring a humanitarian.

Step 2: Preparation

Once I had done my research it was time for me to prepare for the events I was going to attend. The first thing I did was make a list of what I needed in order to market myself effectively. It read something like this:

• Website
• Business cards
• Letter of introduction
• Writing samples
• Reply cards
• Postage stamps
• Envelopes
• Clothes

I had a website, but was – and still is – currently under construction. I didn’t want that fact to deter anyone from requesting information from me. So I put up a contact form on my landing page so that they could request an information packet from me, either through snail mail or email, and ask me questions.

Once I had my business cards made, I put together my letter of introduction and writing samples. My samples had to be diverse. I made sure to include a mock-up of a one-page ad, a newsletter, some informational articles, and a few other pieces of marketing material.

The reply cards I had were simply postcards with postage affixed to them. These are easy to use as reply cards because the person can simply fill in their information and drop it in the mail. It eliminates delayed reactions for mailing; if the postage is already there, the person doesn’t have to set aside mailing it due to a lack of postage.

The envelopes I bought were large manila envelopes. I fixed together five information packets to start out with; I wasn’t expecting a huge response. I put a letter of introduction, copies of my samples, a business card and a reply card in each envelope. I wrote my return address in the corner in the neatest, most legible handwriting I could muster. This was one of those moments I wished I had return address labels, but I made do with what I had.

The last thing I did was pick out my clothes for each event. You may think this is silly, but I wanted to dress for the job I wanted, not the job I had. I was very careful and meticulous when picking out my clothes. I made sure that I was modestly dressed: no cleavage showing, no short skirts, no tight pants, and no extremely high heels. I wanted to leave a positive impression. I wanted people to remember me, not my shoes or what I was wearing. I also made sure my accessories, makeup and hair weren’t flashy, gaudy or inappropriate.

I ran the outfits by my mother. She’s a legal secretary and office manager for a non-profit law firm. They have a set of rules at her job for clothing. She’s in charge of telling people whether their clothing is inappropriate in the workplace. By running the outfits by her, I knew that I’d be dressed to impress.

If you’ve got someone that works in an office environment, you can do the same thing. That became my rule of thumb for these events: If you can’t wear it in a law office, you can’t wear it to a client meeting.

Step 3: Take Action

I’m a natural wallflower. I don’t like to mingle at gatherings, even if the place is full of people that I’ve known for years. But I had to break out of that routine if I wanted to get some clients. For each event, I arrived ten to fifteen minutes early. As soon as I stepped into the door I took the initiative to talk to the first person I saw. I just said “Hi, my name is Kinya.” It never failed to start a conversation.

When people asked me what I did for a living, I told them, “I help businesses communicate with their current and future customers and clients.” They were always eager to learn how.

I didn’t keep the conversation focused on me; I always switched the topic back to their business. This is where the research came in handy. I was already prepared for all the members there, so I asked them questions pertaining to their individual businesses. They were impressed that I knew so much. Many of my conversations lasted ten minutes or more.

At the end of the conversations, I always asked if we could exchange information. Usually we would swap business cards, but if the other person didn’t have a business card I put their name, business name and telephone number in my cell phone.

Step 4: Follow Through

I waited a minimum of three days before I followed up with those I met. If I had their business cards, I went into their place of business to see if they were working. If they were, I told them that it was nice meeting them at the event, and I looked forward to seeing them at the next one. I also told them if they needed anything – anything at all – to just call me.

One person actually called me and asked me if I had “an epic brownie recipe” they could have for a family reunion. I passed along something spectacular with a caramel center and an ice cream topping. She was ever so grateful, and promised to pass my information along to other business owners.

If no one was there, I left a message with the manager on staff. For the ones who hadn’t given me their business cards, I followed up with them on the phone. If they didn’t answer, I left them a brief message.

The results were overwhelming to me: I’ve sent out over forty information packets and gained ten new clients. Two of these clients were referrals.

And I didn’t have to lowball my pricing for anyone. Everyone immediately thought my fees were reasonable, because they recognized how valuable my services were. And, perhaps best of all, I’m the only copywriter they know in the area. By taking these simple steps, I’ve set myself up to not only get new clients, but expand my business.

How about you — have you landed any gigs from attending Chamber events or other networking events? Do you have additional tips on how to make the most of these events? Share your insights in the Comments!

Kinya is a freelance copywriter and public speaker. She enjoys baking, writing fantasy novels , watching cartoons and brushing up on her Latin. Her blog, Nom de Plume Ink, talks about things she’s learning and discovering on the journey to reaching her career goals.

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According to an article in Writer’s Digest three summers ago (“The Must-Have Online Marketing Plan” by M.J. Rose), “Ultimately, no matter what you do, careers are made on the book, not on the marketing.”

That’s very true. Just as true is this statement from the same article: “Someone–either you or your publisher–is going to have to get the word out about the book.”

More and more often, that “someone” is the author. That article was written three years ago…but the dilemma of “how much marketing is enough?” has still not been resolved.

Today’s Publishing Reality

More and more, today’s author is expected to do his part in the marketing. Marketing plans must be part of your query or proposal now–no matter how much you’ve been published.

It can include (but not be limited to) creating a website, writing a blog, making video trailers, doing blog tours, getting your book reviewed online, writing a newsletter…AND being active on Facebook and Pinterest and Goodreads.

Why Social Networking?

Until I heard several speakers at a leadership conference a few years ago, I’d avoided most social networking because of the time it took. I was very “hit and miss” with Twitter and Facebook and LinkedIn until I discovered SocialOomph.com, which let me schedule posts and tweets for a week at a time.

According to those market gurus, a high percentage of people check Facebook accounts four times more often than their email. (I’m sure it’s much, much more often now.) Social networking appears to be the new way to connect with people–including your readers (now called your “tribe,” a term I heartily dislike.)

I have a private family Facebook account, although I have my doubts anymore about just how private anything is online. And I have a writer’s Facebook account and what they used to call a “fan page.” I finally set up my LinkedIn account, my Amazon author page, and Pinterest account. I tried Goodreads three times and got kicked off each time…more rejection to deal with! Ha ha.

The Times, They Are a-Changin’…Again!

We writers feel the pressure to learn and use all the marketing and networking opportunities, but is there no limit? How much time do YOU devote to marketing (daily or weekly)? How do you decide which sites to try, and which ones to leave until later?

If you have time, leave a comment below about your own social networking and marketing experiences. Which avenues have worked best for you? Which ones do you actually enjoy? How do you keep from using more time than you intended? (I literally missed a meal the first time I got on Pinterest! My eyes were nearly bloodshot when I logged off.)

What are the pluses and minuses you’ve encountered? Looking forward to your ideas!

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By Tim Hillegonds.

The freelance daydream has been permeating the minds of closet word nerds in corporate America since the invention of the cubicle.

It’s my theory that the first person to be locked inside the three-sided Eradicator of Creativity immediately sat down and started typing query letters—the literary equivalent of digging an escape tunnel with a spoon. There’s just something about vanilla colored walls, industrial carpeting, and annual “Biggest Loser” competitions that has a certain group of us questioning the meaning of our lives.

From inside the cubicle, freelancing looks a lot like Canaan—the land of milk and honey and setting your own schedule. And although there are parts of freelancing that are indeed akin to the promise land, it’s not all manna and miracles. In fact, if the jump from corporate America’s private jet isn’t thought through, the landing can be pretty darn violent.

But, as I’ve learned over the course of the last six months, it doesn’t have to be. And since clichés around taking chances are abundant—and leaving the corporate world to freelance is akin to skydiving—here are three things to think about when taking the ultimate plunge.

1. Check your equipment

I spent ten years in the insurance industry. That’s ten years of making connections, writing emails, saving phone numbers, going to conventions, and putting up those stupid folding booths at trade shows. And while most of the people I met I’ll probably never talk to again, there are a select few people that I stay in touch with.

Prior to leaving the cushy job, take a look around and ask yourself a few of these questions.

• Who can help you once you leave? Mention your plan to a few close colleagues and do everything you can to exploit every connection you have. Assignments can come from anywhere, even the places you’d least expect. You’re last job before you leave is to prime the pump and make it a little easier to land that elusive first job.
• What other businesses do you work with that are potential markets for your writing? In my case, the insurance industry is filled with brokers, appraisers, reinsurance markets, accounting firms, industry periodicals, and a vast array of other businesses and associations. Each one of these is a potential client or market. I’ve got insider industry knowledge that the average writer might not have. Plus, certain people at these companies know me, which means I’m sitting on warm leads, rather than shivering my rear end off on cold ones.
• Can you sweet-talk your media relations (or marketing) specialist into allowing you to write copy once you’ve left? It might seem like a tough sell, but most corporate marketing departments are one-size-fits-all operations. Just because someone holds a position in the marketing department doesn’t mean they know how to write compelling copy. (This is especially true in the insurance industry.) Before you leave, show them what you can do by rewriting a product description or sales one sheet. There’s nothing better than leaving a job and still finding a way to have them pay you.

2. Jump and free-fall

Once you’ve actually made the jump, the fun begins, right? Well, not always. Most people find that freefalling is tough. The structure that you’ve become accustomed to is suddenly gone. You’re now totally self-reliant. Oh, and that nice paycheck you used to get every other Friday? Yeah, that’s gone, too.

Some people panic, but I can assure you, panicking doesn’t help. So, what do you do? Simple: You organize. Remember all thos

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Come out and join us.  I promise you will have a dog gone good time.

The last two Summer Networking Dinners are being held next week on Aug. 23rd and 24th.  We have a spot available for Aug. 23rd and one spot on Aug. 23rd.  If you are already secured your spot for Aug. 23rd, then please look for my e-mail listing your dinner choices.  People on the 24th do not have to make their entree choices in advance.  People on the waiting list for September 8th in Princeton, NJ.  I am working hard to try to add and editor or agent for that dinner, so don’t give up, yet.

Remember you can sign up for the First Page Session taking place at the Wyndham Hotel and Conference Center on September 20th.  Sarah Dotts Barley, Associate Editor at HarperCollin and Ariel Colletti, Assistant Editor at Atheneum/Simon and Schuster will be joining us for the session and dinner afterwards.  Click here for more details.

There are two spots available for the Writer’s Retreat being held at the at the Hyatt Regency September 30th to October 2nd in Princeton, NJ.  Connie Hsu, Editor at Little, Brown, and Company and Heather Alexander, editor at Dial Books for Young Readers will be out mentors.  Click here for more details.  Anyone who has sign up to attend, please make sure you have your manuscripts ready to submit.  The deadline is August 27th.

Don’t forget that about the NJSCBWI Free Craft Day on November 5th.  Space is limited, so you need to register in advance.  There will be a dinner afterwards with the editors and people can chose to stay for dinner and hear our quest speaker, agent Stephen Frazer.

On November 6th, there will be a Mentoring Workshop and Illustrators’ Day.  The Hyatt Regency is giving us a reduced price for anyone who wants to stay over on Saturday night.  Here is the link to more info for this weekend of events.

So many of us know Rebecca Frazer, Aquistions Editor at Jabberwocky/Soucebooks.  I have confirmed that Rebecca has resigned and will be letting me know very soon as to what she has up her sleeve.  In the meantime, it will not help to mail your manuscripts and query letters to Rebecca.  Check back for more details on this turn of events.  We certainly wish Rebecca the best and hope she can still be involved with all of the SCBWI.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: authors and illustrators, Editor & Agent Info, networking, News, Publishers and Agencies Tagged: Networking Dinners, NJSCBWI, Writer's Retreat, Add a Comment

A fun day was planned as I was set to meet up with Monica right outside of Anthropologie, where the first portion of the event was taking place. When I arrived, Monica was waiting outside for me, talking to a very statuesque, attractive and stylish chick with REALLY great hair and an awesomely happy yellow flower brooch! It was none other than Holly herself, and I was a little star-struck, got tongue tied for a minute there. It happens, when you meet someone you admire sometimes. We've all been there. Anyway, Holly was just about to run into Anthro to get the set-up going, and Monica and I were off skipping to ma-loo for a morning beverage. How pedestrian does Starbucks sound, when it's right next door to a Max Brenner chocolate emporium restaurant (one of Monica's favorite places)? Of course we popped in there for some morning pre-event Mexican Hot Chocolate! Yum!

Monica Lee is just the brightest crayon in the box! Hello, she is so much fun!

Then, it was off to Anthro and upstairs to the Mood Board Demo where I was so happy to see my friend Ellen Crimi-Trent, whom I knew was coming to the signing but it was a pleasant surprise to see her at the Mood Board event.

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With so many new people signing up for our various events, some are getting confused on exactly what each one offers.  So I wrote up the descriptions that people could refer to when they had questions on the NJSCBWI events.  I’m sure I have missed things.  If you have attended one of these events and notice something missing, please let me know.

FIRST PAGE SESSIONS:

Everyone who attends gets to hear their first page read.  These areheld during the week, starting at 4pm, ending a little after 6 PM.  There is an optional dinner is provided withthe editors.  Dinner usually ends by 8 PM.  Costs for members: $30, plus $30 for dinner.

All the first pages are read aloud by volunteer readers and two editors/agents give feedback on what they heard.

Everyone brings three copies of a first page of a single manuscript with them. Do not put your name on the paper, but do include a title and indicate the genre (picture book, chapter book, middle grade, young adult, non-fiction).

Your manuscript must fit on a single sheet of paper. If you submit a second sheet, only the first one will be read.

Use standard manuscript formatting—double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman or Courier font, one-inch margins all around, half-inch indents for each new paragraph, single column of text. Start at the top of the page, though, instead of spacing down like you normally would for a first manuscript page.  (This applies to all submissions, at all events)

A first page has 23 printed lines (not sentences!), including the title, of text from your manuscript.  That means if you have a picture book, you will be able to get a large portion of your manuscript on that first page.  It does not mean only the sentence or two
that would appear on the first physical page of the printed book.

If your text rhymes, put each rhyme on a new line. Do not leave a blank line between stanzas.

MENTORING WORKSHOPS

These workshops are one day workshops, typically held on Sundays.  Breakfast is available at 8:15 AM.  Program starts at 8:45 AM.

Everyone attending receives a 20 minute one-on-one critique.  Novel Attendees submit the first 30 pages of their manuscript along with a synopsis, 35 days prior to the workshop.  Picture book people submit their full picture book 35 days prior.

Everyone is placed into Writing Groups for peer critiques.  These are exchanged with your group a month before via e-mail. Each member of the group will read and critique the other group member’s submission prior, so everyone is ready to discuss their critique for each.

When one person in your group is meeting with their editor, someone else’s manuscript is being discussed by the group.

Lunch is provided in the cost of the workshop and attendees get to sit at lunch with the editor/agents.

Before and after lunch we have a First Page Session (Please see above description).

The day ends with a Q & A with the editors/agents.  End time is no later than 5 PM.

WRITER’S RETREAT

This is a small Weekend Workshop. Two editors spend the weekend no more than 18 attendees.  Start time 3 PM Friday.  End time 3 PM Sunday.  All meals are included in the cost of the weekend.  All meals are with the editors/agents.

Everyone receives a 45 minute one-on-one critique with their mentor.  The first 30 pages, plus synopsis or a full picture book text is submitted 35 day prior to the weekend to give the editors/agents enough time to critique.

At this time everyone will e-mail the other people in their group their manuscript, so they also will have time to critique in advance of the workshop.  Novel groups normally contain 5 per group. Each group critique receives 45 minutes, too.

Other things included during the weekend:

First Page Session (See above).

Various Workshops:

Example:  This year we are having Pitch and Blurb Writing

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The Third Writers’ Platform-Building Campaign has begun. Hosted by Rach Harrie over at Rach Writes, this campaign is a way to meet and make connections within the writing community through blogfests and contests. You’ll meet writers just like you, who are at various stages in their writing. You’ll make new friends, perhaps even find a critique partner or beta reader, within the same genre. By blog hopping to participants' blogs and leaving comments, you’ll be paying the support forward and helping them to build their online platform while building your own. You may even get a new follower or two! Just click on the links to the Third Writers’ Platform-Building Campaign to get more details. Continue reading →

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This past weekend held our Annual Writer’s Retreat at the Princeton Hyatt. The novel people worked on refining their manuscripts and synopses. Here are some of the things we discussed in my presentation:

Why do you need a synopsis?

1. To help you sell your book.
2. To use as a writing too.
3. To help start a discussion with an editor or agent.

What are the industry standards?

1. One to three pages.
2. Written in present tense or 3rd person POV.

What is the first thing I should do?

1. Capture the reader’s attention.
2. Start with your hook – the set-up – what you might read on the back or inside cover of the book.
3. Convey the tone of your book.

Okay, so that what I would do in the first paragraph, but what do I do after that?

1. In the body of the synopsis you should lay out the general plot developments in chronological order.
2. Share the escalating series of turning points.
3. Define conflicts.

a. What does the main character(s) want?
b. What needs is he trying to fulfill?
c. State the crisis.

4. What issues drive the main character(s) forward?
5. What personal issues hold the main character(s) back?
5. Include any points that take the reader in a different direction before climax.
6. What is the point where the main character changes, moves forward against all odds, etc.
7. What decision must he make?
8. Build to the end resolution
9. Make sure you give-a-way the ending resolution – no cliffhangers.

Is there anything I shouldn’t do?

1. Don’t waste words
2. Don’t tell every plot point.
3. Don’t include unimportant details.
4. Don’t include secondary characters.
5. Don’t over describe setting.
6. Don’t include back story.
7. Don’t keep secrets.

Things to check:

1. Is your synopsis between one and three pages? Double spaced if more than one page?
2. Does the opening paragraph have a hook to keep the reader reading?
3. Is there good flow between paragraphs.
4. How you gotten to the who, what, where, when and why in your synopsis?
5. Do you think you captured the flavor of your manuscript?
6. Are your main characters’ conflicts clearly defined?
7. Did you show your characters goal, motivation, motivation, conflict?

Your synopsis should give a clear idea as to what your book is about, what characters we will care about (or dislike), what is at stake for your heroes, what they stand to lose, and how it all turns out.

8. Did you indicate the setting?
9. Did you show character growth?
10. Have you hit on the major scenes, the major plot points of your book?
11. Did you resolve all important conflicts?
12. Have you avoided all grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes?

Other things to think about:

1. Are your characters sympathetic?
2. Can the reader relate to them and worry about them?
3. Is this story marketable? Hint: Look at publisher catalogues. How does your story stack up? Are they publishing books similiar to what you have written? If, so how succeesful were those books?

Hope this helps you as much as it helps the writers at the retreat. Our editors -
Connie Hsu and Heather Alexander were GREAT! Everyone wlked out with so much knowledge.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: Conferences and Workshops, demystify, Editors,

1 Comments on Synopsis Tips and Questions, last added: 10/3/2011

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Networking is about getting yourself and your work noticed (preferably in a good way), but with over 43 million blogs on LiveJournal alone, it's easier said than done.

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Today, I recived the local Chamber of Commerce's monthly newsletter and perused the calendar. It's only November, but this month alone, four meals, three meetings, two coffees, and one open house are scheduled.

Wonder how jam-packed the December calendar will be?

But as I perused these offerings to get together with business leaders, chamber personnel, and the public, it made me pause and consider how much networking can be accomplished at events like these.

If your holiday season is fastly filling up, consider using some of these tips to make the most of the thankful and merry season.

1. Be prepared. Business cards, a writing utensil and a notebook are staples in my purse. Use them!
2. Prepare your elevator pitch. Describe what services you offer in a few sentences.
3. Determine your goals for the event. Do you want to cover the event for an article? Simply interested in learning new information? Hope you meet a certain individual or group of people?
4. Be the hostess, even if you are a guest. Introduce others and help them feel at ease.
5. Follow up with people you meet and any contacts they may introduce.
6. Thank new sources and keep them updated about your work.
7. Don't overindulge. A plate in one hand and a drink in the other makes it difficult to greet others.
8. Have fun!

Networking builds business, and if writing is YOUR business, use these opportunities to expand your potential customer base and deck the seasonal halls with your writing savvy.

by LuAnn Schindler
Read more of LuAnn's work at her website.

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For the last few weeks I have been working on author Susan Shaw’s website.  Her first published book was THE BOY FROM THE BASEMENT published by Dutton Books.  The funny thing is in 2002 I went to an PA SCBWI First Page Session in Doylestown, PA and her first page was one of the pages read.  I did not know who wrote it, but it starts out with a boy locked in the basement with no food, clothes, blanket by his father.  It was very dark and shocked me at the time.  I was writing picture books and hadn’t read any middle grade or young adult novels, so I wasn’t familiar with what was being written.  Of course now, I am writing middle grade and young adult, but that little boy has stuck in my mind for all these years.

Then Eileen Spinelli recommended me to Susan and I was face-to-face with the story.  Yesterday, I asked Susan if she attended that First Page Session and she said she did and told me how it ended up being contracted by one of the editors attending.  You can read the first few pages on Amazon.  The writing pulls you right in, so I have added to my Christmas “wish list” of books.  To view Susan’s other books go to: www.authorsusanshaw.com .

This got me thinking of the importance of getting yourself and your work out there.  You never know where meeting someone will lead.  If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know I try to shout out your successes.  But I think it is good to remind you of how serendipitous success can be.  We have had members sell a book with literally an elevator pitch.  One writer had her first contract come from meeting someone in a funeral line.  Other member found her agent by having a friend introduce her to this big agent at a house party.  So many times an editor will call me to ask if I could contact the person who wrote a first page that they really liked.

If you read this week’s Illustrator Saturday, you already know that Micah hit on this when he said, “My girlfriend at the time, (now wife) and I went to see about purchasing a cat from a woman named Star. I had a pocket-sized portfolio that held a bunch of paintings and whatnot. Somehow she ended up seeing the portfolio and said I should meet with her friend Sue. We ended up not getting her cat, but it was the beginning of a long and wonderful working relationship with Sue who wrote “Even Superheroes Get Diabetes” and “The Princess And The Peanut.”” – which Micah has illustrated.

It is easy to stay home and write or illustrate, but there is more to getting published.  You have to put yourself out there.  Meet people, not just the editors and agents, but also fellow writers and illustrators.  I know someone who talked about her book to another writer and that writer was sitting at lunch with an editor who said they were looking for a cowboy picture book.  That is exactly what the other writer had told she wrote.  That writer immediately ran over to the cowboy picture book woman and took back her manuscript to the editor.  The cowboy picture book landed a contract that week.

See what I mean about success being serendipitous? Heck, who would ever expect going out to look for a cat or talking to the person behind you in a funeral line could end up with getting a book contract?

Even if you plan to self-publish, you still need to go to conferences and network.  You want to get your name out there and really need to learn everything you can about the publishing industry, since you will be doing it on your own.  Don’t just jump in and self-publish a b

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This is another article we had planned for Sprouts Magazine. I thought it would show you how getting out there, talking to people, and doing school visits can lead to more buzz about you and your books. Melissa is the co-chair of the PTO’s Visiting Authors Committee in Long Hill Township.

Last March, she hosted a visit to the Gillette School from Mike Rex. He received rave reviews, including one from a child who said, “He is SO awesome.” Melissa agreed, and thought it would be SO awesome to interview Mike and find out more about his creative journey.

So, if you network and get a school visit, make sure you are awsome. Always be prepared to inspire, entertain, and provide the children a valuable experience. If you do, you will find yourself in articles that other people will read. Some of those people maybe teachers or on the PTO Visiting Authors Committee and contact you; helping you keep the buzz going.

Melissa Eisen Azarian is a freelance writer and co-chair of her PTO’s Visiting Authors Committee. Her first children’s book, The Amistad Mutiny: From the Court Case to the Movie, was released by Enslow Publishers in 2009. Azarian14L@aol.com

Michael Rex is the author/illustrator of Goodnight Goon, which reached #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers List. He has written and illustrated over twenty books. He grew up in Chatham, New Jersey and is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts. Recently, he moved to Leonia, New Jersey, where he is busy working on Fangbone! Third Grade Barbarian! In January, Putnam released the first two books in this new graphic novel series for elementary readers.
Here is the Interview:

Your mom is the Administrative Director at a library. How much did her working at a library influence your career choice? 

I was there often as a kid and she brought home lots of books for me.  However, I remember more art books than novels.  Collections of cartoons, “How To” books and books on movie making.

She could buy books at a good discount, so she bought me “How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way”  when it first came out.  I was never a big superhero guy, but I did learn many basic drawing techniques from that book.

What other factors influenced your decision to become an author/illustrator for children?

After graduating from SVA, I was interested in cartooning, and I was working as a video editor and I was always drawing.  My work was getting silly, and kind of cute.  It dawned on me that children’s illustration might work for me.  I began to spend time at  libraries in Manhattan and in bookstores.  What grabbed me was that there was no one style that was popular. Every book looked different.  Each book had its own feel. It seemed to be a genre, or format, that let an artist use their visual style to support, and add to a story.

What were your biggest obstacles, either academically or professionally?

Biggest hurdle academically?  That’s easy.  I hated school.  Hated it every day from fifth grade to eleventh.  In twelfth grade I went to Morris County Vo-Tech half a day to study commercial art. I loved it.

I hated school because I was very unorganized a

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This is a guest post by Gwynneth Anderson.

How did you feel the last time someone sent you a personalized thank you note out of the blue? It made your day, right?

But here’s the kicker. The next time you were in a position to help the person who made you feel great, you did so willingly. That’s the funny thing about a thank you. It has a habit of bringing good things back to the few people who still send them out.

Thank you notes are the simplest, cheapest, yet most powerful tool freelancers have at their disposal. Here are a few reasons to start sending more of them.

Send a thank you; win a client

When an editor rejected one of my ideas last year, I did what I always do—I sent my potential sources an email thanking them for the interesting quotes but unfortunately, the editor had rejected the story. One person responded. She told me how much she appreciated being kept in the loop because no other reporter ever did. By the way, she worked for a mid-sized, PR company looking for a part time freelancer. She’d checked out my website samples and wondered if I’d be interested in writing some press releases for her?

Um, yes?

By the end of 2011, that simple thank you note earned me $2,300. If her final project hadn’t clashed with my other year end deadlines I would have grossed even more.

Send a thank you; build a bridge

Thank you notes are also terrific bridge builders and I ought to know since I demolished quite a few in my callow youth. Here’s one every freelancer should build.

Who’s your least favorite person in your freelancing world? How about the surly clerk in Big Company X responsible for cutting your 1099 checks? Yup, definitely someone in desperate need of a few bridges and let me tell you why.

No one ever thanks the payroll clerk.

Payroll clerks are grunt workers. They are paid crappy salaries to run reports, open and close the monthly books, process company payroll and research all sorts of mind-numbing things like that one missing invoice from 2003 that’s somewhere in a haystack of dusty filing cabinets. The unluckier ones cannot take vacation at month end, quarter end or year-end, let alone between January 1 and April 15. Toss in a bunch of whiny freelancers to this thankless pressure cooker and even saint would snap.

So here’s what you do. The next time you (finally) get your check from Company X, give that clerk a call. Let her know how much you appreciate her help when she’s so busy. Make that personal connection even if it’s just a voice mail. Then follow up with a real, honest-to-God thank you note (like the old timers used to write back in the early 1990s)–card, envelope, stamps–the whole works. Not only will you make her day (maybe even her month) but chances are you’ll start getting those 1099 checks a lot faster.

Send a thank you; exit gracefully

A thank note also provides a graceful exit strategy—especially with tough clients. I know, I know, but when firing a particularly difficult client do not give in to the temptation to say how you really feel.

Instead, take the high road with a thank you note. Let the client know that while you are sorry that perhaps things didn’t quite work out the way you’d both hoped, you appreciated the opportunity to work together and wish him the best for his future endeavors.

There are three very good reasons to do this.

1. It’s a small world (three cheers for LinkedIn!) and you never know who this client is talking to.
2. Do you really want someone’s last memory of you to be a wild-eyed rant?

Perhaps

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A mentoring client recently told me she was going on vacation and was wondering if being unavailable for a month would hurt her career.

Au contraire — I think a vacation is a great excuse to keep in touch with your editors. Whenever I go away, I e-mail all my editors beforehand — even ones I haven’t worked with in a while, or editors who I’ve built a relationship with but haven’t written for yet — to tell them I’ll be away and unavailable for assignments between dates X and Y.

Then, when I get back, I e-mail them all again to let them know I’m back and ready for more work if they need someone.

When I do this, I often get replies from my editors that they’ll have work for me soon.

Editors and clients typically have a stable of writers, and if you want to be the one who garners assignments, you need to be top of mind when those assignments come up so it’s you they think of.

Here are some “excuses” you may have to stay in touch with your editors and clients:

1. You’ve moved. Of course you’ll want to send all your editors your new address!

2. You have a new phone number or e-mail address. Ditto.

3. You’ll be unavailable for new work for a while. For example, if you’re going on vacation, moving, on maternity leave, or booked up with work.

4. You scored a writing coup you want to share. For instance, you broke into an impressive market or won an award.

5. You have an opening in your schedule. I like to let my editors know when I’ve finished a batch of deadlines and am open for new assignments.

6. You have a new website you want to share. Send editors and clients there to get a look at your clips, client list, and more.

7. You’ve just added a bunch of clips to your writer site. This shows that you’re a successful freelance writer who gets lots of work — and shows your editors and clients what you can do!

I typically write to my editors every month or two — not every single week. Just enough to remind them I still exist without coming off as a stalker.

What excuses do you use to stay in touch with your editors and clients? Share your insights in the Comments below! [lf]

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The New York Metro SCBWI meets once a month on Tuesday evenings from September to June for their Professional Series. 

It is a really good deal.  You get to meet important people in the publishing industry and it only costs $15 if you are a member.

On March 13th, you can meet Laurent Linn, Art Director at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers along with Scott M. Fischer, Illustrator of Jump! and Lottie Paris Lives Here and hear them talk about how they worked together on the book.

If you are in the city, don’t miss this oportunity.  You can never go wrong when Laurent is involved in something.  Besides adding to your industry knowledge, remember that going to these things helps fill your goal of maintaining a good mix of learning and networking.

SUBJECT:  It Takes Two To Tango: How Art Directors and Illustrators Really Work Together

Location: The Anthroposophical Society, New York Branch, 138 West 15th Street (between 6th Avenue & 7th Avenue).

Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm. Doors open at 7:15pm.

Cost: $15 for SCBWI members, $20 for nonmembers Seating is limited to the first 80 people.

To purchase tickets, go to http://metro.nyscbwi.org/

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: authors and illustrators, Events, networking, opportunity, Process Tagged: Art Director, Laurent Linn, New York City Metro SCBWI, Professional Series 2 Comments on Metro SCBWI NYC Professional Series, last added: 3/4/2012