By: catugeau,
on 8/28/2014
We at CAT agency are so happy to help Launch the wonderfully friendly new series about the Hamster Humphrey and his Tiny Tales from Penguin Putnam! See his first two books here, and a little video about how he is created by our artist PRISCILLA BURRIS https://vimeo.com/104481200
By: Kathy Temean,
on 7/13/2014
The Artist Showcase from the NJSCBWI Conference continues with this wonderful illustration of the sand and the surf in Cape May, NJ by illustrator Colleen Rowan Kosinski. Colleen is an author/illustrator that has worked as a fine artist for over fifteen years and has artwork hanging in homes across the country. She is a member of the SCBWI and, along with writing and illustrating picture books, she writes MG and YA novels. She is a graduate of Rutgers University. Website: www.colleenrowankosinski.com
MY STATE OF THE MARKET REPORT and AGENT/EDITOR SURVEY CONTINUES BELOW:
Check back tomorrow for more from answers to question asked in the 2014 State of the Market Report I gave at the NJSCBWI Conference the other week.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
By: Kathy Temean,
on 6/23/2014
Author Tara Lazar posted a list of Fun Words on her blog. I have done a number of Word Lists on this blog, so as not to reinvent the wheel, I copied Tara’s list and deleted some words so you would have to visit her site. To the right of the column, I added some of my own fun words. I’m sure you have a bunch of words you could add. If you do, just leave them in the comments.
All writers love language. And we especially love fun words, don’t we? Some have funky spellings, tongue-twisting turns, a satisfying “ooh”…and some sound too hilarious to be true! So I’ve put together a list of favorite fun words that I’ll add to periodically. Have fun, lexicon lovers!
Here is the link to Tara’s list:
http://taralazar.com/2014/06/09/list-of-200-fun-cool-and-interesting-words/
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
By: Kathy Temean,
on 5/25/2014
Thought this illustration done by Michelle Henninger was the perfect illustration to help us celebrate Memorial Day. Michelle uses watercolor and ink and is represented by Christina Tugeau. Here is the link to her feature on Illustrator Saturday: http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2014/01/04/illustrator-saturday-michelle-henninger/.
May no soldier go unloved
May no soldier walk alone
May no soldier be forgotten
May no soldier by left behind
when they return home!
Remember our soldiers, while enjoying the day!
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Registration closes for the NJSCBWI Conference at 9 p.m. on May 28, 2014.
To register for the conference, click here.
Besides giving the State of the Market Report to kick off Sunday. I still have a few critique spots available. Hope to see you there.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
By: catugeau,
on 4/23/2014
I just read the end of the submission guidelines for an Australian/International Picture Book competition, and these TIPS were there. Nothing new, but to read them all together is wonderful and possibly helpful to all. Thank you Kathy Temean (Writing and Illustrating WordPress Blog- check out for contest guidelines).
and PRINT THESE….then place above your writing illustrating space… and remember!
PICTURE BOOK TIPS
Golden Rule: don’t use too much dialogue, text or description. Let the pictures do the talking—don’t say what the pictures can show. Cut and cull your text. Be ruthless! If your text is 400 words long, it should be vibrant and intensely edited.
Think carefully about rhythm and flow—this is one of the most common obstacles between a work-in-progress and a publisher-ready ms. Read the work out loud and listen to the way the words work together. ‘Hear’ the beat and flow as you read, and adjust words as necessary.
Don’t attempt rhyme. It is not popular with publishers but if you simply can’t resist, make sure it’s infallible. Two rhyming end-words do not a perfect rhyme make. Rhythm and beat is as important as word rhyme—in fact, even more so. Don’t create awkward sentences with odd word placement in order to make a rhyme; rewrite the entire stanza instead.
Look at your word usage and sentence structure. Is it dynamic and interesting? Does it pull the reader along and make them want to read more? or does the reader stumble or become confused? Does it delight? Does it sound good?
Never talk down to the reader. Use big words. Use unusual words. Use a unique voice. Don’t patronise and don’t explain. Never hammer readers with morals. If you simply must use them, thread them through the story in an imperceptible way.
Unless you want your book to appear like an information brochure, attempting to educate children on social, physical, emotional and mental issues and conditions needs to be done cryptically and cleverly. Add humour. Create an unexpected storyline that intimates things in a subtle way and you will have a winner with kids.
Think about the plot. A good story leads the reader through conflict to resolution in a Beginning Middle Ending way, or in a Cyclical way. Things HAPPEN. Showing someone going about their day and going to bed at night is not a story. It’s an account. Write a story, not an account.
Have a protagonist. Your protagonist, or main character, does not sit by and observe—they action, take part and instigate.
Think outside the square. Cover unusual topics, with untouched themes (avoid monsters, fairies, trucks, mud, grandma dying, rainbows, farmyard animals, dogs and other overdone topics). Use different writing voices and story structure. Do something DIFFERENT.
Think twice about supplying detailed illustration notes. Too many notes absolutely do hamper your text; rely on the reader’s ability to imagine what your words are showing. Only supply notes if the text is very cryptic and needs ‘explaining’, and even then—make notes extremely short.
Look objectively at your story. Is it clear and simple or cluttered and confused? Be wary of submitting something that is wrapped up in your own head and unable to be deciphered by someone else. This happens A LOT.
Have an ending. A PB ending needs to be shocking, surprising, funny, quirky or in some way resolving and/or related to the plot. Around sixty per cent of the ms endings we have seen are either non-existent, confusing or dull. Go out on a top note, not a kerplunk. A great ending demands a repeat reading—and that is exactly what you want.
Write your book for kids, not adults. If you hit the nail on the head for kids, most adults will love it, too.
Keep it simple.
REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE WRITING FOR!
OK, this is my youngest granddaughter…a book lover already! Like my 8 year old granddaughter as well!
By: Kathy Temean,
on 3/1/2014
We are all hoping this little girl who is bundled up for the snow, will be able to shed those heavy clothes in a few weeks. Well, spring really is just around the corner, said by someone who is waiting for the next snow storm that is about to bear down on New Jersey. Michelle Munger is the illustrator of this cute painting. She is a realistic painter and has been painting for the last ten years. She also dabbles in painting whimsical and fantasy as well as attempting to write that next big YA breakout novel. You can find her at: http://michellemunger.moonfruit.com and http://michellesportraits.com
When Leeza Hernandez took over for me as New Jersey’s SCBWI Regional Advisor, she started doing some smaller meetings and has resurrected an idea that David Caruba used to do in the summer at people’s homes over decade ago, but now the New Jersey Chapter has added SCBWI Socials in various locations around the state. Last Wednesday we had our first social in this area at Dubh Linn Square in Cherry Hill. I was asked to be host, which I gladly did. We had 12 members show up and had a great time. It was nice to socialize with members I knew and it was great to see and meet new members who recently have joined. I think we have developed as a chapter to the point where it is nice to just meet without having and editor or agent join us. It give us the freedom to focus on each other, talk, and answers questions that might not be asked with an industry professional present. If you get a chance to attend one, do so. Everyone left an hour after the scheduled end and we all said, “We have to do this again.”
I was the only one who took pictures and that’s because Mieke or Ann reminded me – easy to forget when you are busy talking and enjoying yourself. So I’m not in the pictures, but you can meet everyone else below.
Here’s the simple tip I shared with everyone: Lately I have seen a lot of manuscripts with this mistake: Text with double spaces at the end of each sentence. Do not leave two spaces at the end of your sentences. I used to do this, too, because I was taught to type this way. It looked better to me. If you read agents blogs or posts, you will see them mention that leaving two spaces at an end of a sentence is one of their pet peeves, so why not try to break the habit? It makes you look old and stuck in your ways if you don’t. When you kick the habit and stop double clicking at the end of a sentence, you will see how annoying it is to read a manuscript that way. It sticks out like a sore thumb for me now. Get with it and break the habit. Why take a chance of irritating someone who reads your work?
Left to Right: Colleen Kosinski, her husband, and Amy Hollinger.
Left to Right: Mieke Zamora-Mackay and Jody Staton
Left to Right: Mieke Zamora-Mackay, Jody Staton, Ferida Wolff, and Erika Wassall.
The Lovely Ann Magee who was sitting next to me and didn’t have enough room to take a good picture. She is even better looking when she isn’t blurred.
In foreground is Angela De Groot and behind her is Nikki Saltarelli.
Left: Erica Wassall and at end of table is Amy Hollinger.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
By: Kathy Temean,
on 12/30/2012
I loved the way Dahlia Broul’s above illustration showed her animals enjoying themselves. I loved the soft inviting colors and even though, it isn’t a picture of noise, laughter, and partying, it somehow made me think of how bittersweet and lovely saying goodbye to the old year and bringing in the new can be on New Year’s Eve – even without all the celebrating.
There are all different ways to bring in the New Year. Listen to some music, play with the animals, gaze at the lights of the night. Celebrate with something that fills your soul and inspires you.
Stay Safe!
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
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By: Alicia Padrón,
on 6/20/2012
By: catugeau,
on 5/6/2012
Please visit the link below for a fun interview with newer artist with CATugeau, Susan Drawbaugh! http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/illustrator-saturday-susan-drawbaugh/ We love it when Kathy Temean interviews our agency artists….such a great fun job!
By: Kathy Temean,
on 10/26/2011
Brian A Klems wrote an article for Writer’s Digest about the two times he took the NaNoWriMo writing challenge to write a 50,000 word novel during the 30 days of November. Here are three things he said:
1. It was unbelievably fun.
2. Being that productive gave me the shot of adrenaline I needed to write more.
3. I was terribly unprepared both times and ended up with 50,000 words of useless material.
I have never participated in NaNoWriMo, because I am always under so many deadlines, that I didn’t want to inflict another one on me. But if you think about it, it is only 1667 words a day. That is like writing one chapter each day, so it is doable and it would be great to get a new first draft completed. Downside is – It’s November – Holidays approaching and tons of things are flying at you screaming, “You need to do this!” But I’m starting to think with a little planning, it might be possible to do; end up with something worth keeping and still keep your sanity.
Here are my ideas:
1. Pick a theme for your new story.
2. Decide on your genre – fantasy, sci-fi, historical, adventure, contemporary, etc.
3. Think about the setting. Where will your story take place?
4. Who is your main character?
5. What is unique about your protagonist?
6. Do a quick character sketch. Describe physical characteristics and personality traits.
7. What other characters will be needed to tell your story? Friends, family, teachers, etc.
8. What does your protagonist want?
9. What stands in the way? What obstacles does your MC have to overcome to achieve what they want?
10. What steps does your MC take to get what he/she wants?
11. Consider some scenes that might show the above.
12. Think sub-plot. What could be going on in your protagonist life that is not connected to the main plot, but effects the main character and the decisions they make?
13. What are the turning points in the plot.
14. On a piece of paper layout a map of the journey your MC will take to get to the end of the story.
15. Now look at your calendar and layout a time plan. Saying you are going to write 1667 words a day is not going to do it if you are not going to be home on Thanksgiving.
Remember even if you plan, things will happen that will throw you off your game. Just keep adjusting to try to stay on track. Most likely, you will not have time to go back and edit as you go along. I find that I want to read what I wrote the day before in order to get back into the story and then I start reworking sentences, etc. Before I know it an hour or two has ticked by without anything new added to the story. That is a pleasure you don’t have with NaNoWriMo. Just stay with your story map and time map you created before you started. There will be lots of time in the months that follow to revise.
Click here to read Brian A Klems article or to look at books on this novel in 30 days exercise.
Would love to hear your stories & tips if you have taken the challenge in the past.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
By: Nathan,
on 2/23/2011
I was pleased to make Kathy Temean's blog a few weeks ago.
By: Kathy Temean,
on 7/30/2010
Little did I think when I started Illustrator Saturday, that I would have to post my own work because I couldn’t get another illustrator to fill the spot. But, here I am doing just that.
I write and illustrate and wish I had time to more of both. Last year I did a cover for Deacon Magazine, which I drew directly into Photoshop using my Wacom Tablet. I am a techie person and have become quite skilled at doing this. In fact, I can draw pretty well, just using the mouse, which I remember thinking was impossible when I first started experimenting with drawing directly on the computer screen.
I have dozens and dozens of .jpgs that I saved during the progress of doing the cover, but I was able to narrow it down to nine. The client wanted to portray how a Deacon has to wear many hats and do a bunch of things at one time. He wanted to have a man on a basketball court, spinning a basketball on his finger and he wanted a child reaching up to get the ball. He also wanted a hymnal, a tool belt, a tie, striped pants, notes coming out of the book. I thought you might be interested in seeing it as it progressed.
My thought was that the man would be surronded by children, but the client didn’t like having three children, so I took one out. The man looked too young and the client wanted him with a big smile, so I gave him glasses to make him look older and changed his mouth.
The client decided he only wanted one child and the man’s arms out more.
Still wasn’t enough movement in the man for the client, so I moved his arms and bent his legs.
Still wasn’t enough action in the man for the client, so to keep the man from toppling over, I suggested putting him on a unicycle.
Then the client decided he wanted people watching from stands, so I cut out some abstract people I was working on in another project and put it in the background.
I thought the color was wrong, so I put a blue wash over the background.
Then I blended and cleaned up things, added a flare with a faint cross, a spotlight, box band for the seating and tried to paint in lines to make the ball seem like it was spinning.
Final Results
Example of paid advertisement.
10 Comments on Illustrator Saturday – Kathy Temean, last added: 8/2/2010
By: The Class of 2k8,
on 6/13/2008
Class of 2K8 & 2K9 at NJSCBWI
Marissa Doyle, Daphne Grab, Albert Borris (2k9 Co-Pres), Nancy Viau, Nina Nelson
By: Rebecca,
on 1/17/2008
Pat Aufderheide is a professor in the School of Communication at American University and is the author of Documentary Film: A Very Short Introduction. In the post below Aufderheide gets excited for the Academy Award nominations by recalling some of her favorite documentaries.
Ready to handicap the documentary short list for the Academy Awards?
I didn’t think so.
In fact, unless you go looking, you might never even find a mention of these films before the Oscars, much less watch them, even with new Academy rules requiring more theatrical showings than before. But before long, they’ll start creeping into circulation, and feeding the growing appetite for documentaries. (more…)
By: Kirsty,
on 1/11/2008
By Kirsty OUP-UK
How jealous am I? Last night Judith Luna, Commissioning Editor of the Oxford World’s Classics series was lucky enough to go to the European premiere of Tim Burton’s film version of Sweeney Todd in Leicester Square in London last night. She has very kindly written about her experience as a film groupie just for the OUP Blog. Allow me to hand over to her…
I’m also surprised you had no one submitting to you! There are SO many wonderful illustrators in our chapter!
Cute video! Nice job.