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Updates Made by Nancy Allen
Sunday, December 18, 2016 7:28:20 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Picture Book Savvy, Part 3:
Nancy said, "Picture book text keeps getting shorter. A couple of decades ago, the target number for most publishers was 1000+. Not today. In order to write a successful picture book for traditional markets, the action has to be distilled into as few words as..." more
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 2:16:02 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Picture Book Saavy, Part 2:
Nancy said, "In creating a story for the picture book crowd, we have to ask, What is the want? In last week’s example, I used—I want to win every game. Now we need to ask—Why is that important? Is it because the child thinks the parents expect..." more
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 2:07:32 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Picture Book Savvy:
Nancy said, "Spending time with authors to discuss writing, publishing, and their successes and failures is like attending an intensive writing workshop. Sharing experiences, ideas, and knowledge are invaluable nuggets of manuscript gold. The following are..." more
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 1:48:12 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled :
Nancy said, "The following trends seem to be what editors are currently looking for. Check the previous blog post for the remainder of the list. Diverse books are popular. These works represent a wide range of cultures, family structures, and experiences. The..." more
Sunday, November 13, 2016 9:09:48 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Trends in Children’s Literature, Part 1:
Nancy said, "The world of children’s literature is constantly changing. Writing to a trend is not recommended but understanding the market is critical to getting contracts. The following is some trends I’ve noticed as I research editors. Print books are..." more
Sunday, November 6, 2016 6:49:23 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Guest Author Ev Christensen:
Nancy said, "I’m thrilled to welcome award-winning author Evelyn Christensen to this blog. She has written numerous puzzle books for children and, today, is telling us about her brand-spanking new picture book.Nancy: Congratulations, Ev, on an amazing career...." more
Sunday, October 30, 2016 7:46:34 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled After the Contract, Then What? Part 2:
Nancy said, "After the first or second major rewrite, you’ll receive a copy-edited manuscript with editorial comments —and a deadline. Editors work under tight deadlines so authors have to follow suit. The manuscript will pass between the editor and author a..." more
Sunday, October 23, 2016 6:15:41 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled After the Contract, then What?:
Nancy said, " "If our readers don't like the first line then they'll never read the second."-Richard PeckSigning with a publisher, that’s a big, gargantuan, colossal deal for a writer. It’s woohoo, chocolate-dancetime. So what’s next? The answer..." more
Sunday, October 16, 2016 5:58:16 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Looking Back Gives Perspective:
Nancy said, " “Sometimes, you have to look back in order to understand the things that lie ahead.” ― Yvonne WoonMy first book was published seventeen years ago. At the time, I was working on a full-time basis, plus writing manuscripts..." more
Sunday, October 9, 2016 7:43:08 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Hush the Inner Critic:
Nancy said, "“Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.” ― Salvador DalíInner Critics have negative voices that feed on our fears. Does yours accuse you of the following? Lack of talent. Stephen King says writing talent is as common as..." more
Sunday, October 2, 2016 6:14:23 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Hush the Inner Critic:
Nancy said, "“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry FordAfter I read the editorial notes and allow my Inner Critic to shut me down for the day, I usually don’t reread the ideas and suggestions, but I think about them...." more
Sunday, September 25, 2016 7:21:13 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled How’s Your Inner Critic?:
Nancy said, "Quote: “Your inner voice whispers, but speaks the loudest.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo Yes, I have been hearing voices in my head and those voices have names, Inner Critic. My Inner Critic fills me with uncertainty by shouting about my writing..." more
Sunday, September 18, 2016 7:14:07 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Dealing with Rejection, part 2:
Nancy said, " "A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success."-Bo Bennett If a story is rejected several times, I shelve it for a few weeks, or months, and then reevaluate it. When I reread a shelved manuscript, I look for..." more
Sunday, September 11, 2016 6:53:02 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Dealing with Rejection:
Nancy said, "Rejection hurts. That’s the simple truth. But if a writer garners contracts, s/he has to put up with rejections. I was asked to blog about ways to deal with rejection by several people, so here’s what I do. I moan to my critique partner,..." more
Sunday, September 4, 2016 6:18:13 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Remaining Positive in a Negative Atmosphere:
Nancy said, "My journey into the world of writing started later in life, age forty to be exact. A late bloomer, that’s me, but I had a big dream: writerdom (a homemade word). At the time I failed to realize writerdom was not in my immediate future. I put my..." more
Sunday, August 28, 2016 6:08:47 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled The Writing Journey:
Nancy said, "“I don't teach writing. I teach patience.”—Richard BauschIn a recent writing workshop, a woman asked me what was the key to my twenty-seven-year writing career and having 50 books published. My answer is patience. A writing career is a..." more
Sunday, August 21, 2016 6:23:57 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Writing a Query Letter:
Nancy said, "Writing a query letter can be as difficult as writing the manuscript and certainly not as much fun. My query letters include three parts. These parts do not have to follow the order listed here, but I incorporate each component into every query..." more
Sunday, August 14, 2016 6:44:32 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Writing Query Letters:
Nancy said, "Writing a polished manuscript is merely the first step in getting a publishing contract. Next is the query letter, which introduces the writer and the story to the editor. Each submission requires a query letter whether the submission is made via..." more
Sunday, August 7, 2016 5:53:13 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Editor Request to Rewrite:
Nancy said, "I’ve been fortunate this year to receive contracts on three books, possibly a fourth if my revision holds up to editorial scrutiny. About a month ago in my mailbox, I received a return on a manuscript, which usually means a rejection. Not this..." more
Sunday, July 31, 2016 4:37:25 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Tone vs. Mood:
Nancy said, "A couple of weeks ago, I taught a class on writing children’s books. An attendee asked about the tone of the story, so here goes my answer. Tone is the author’s attitude toward the subject or the events in the story. It reflects emotion and is..." more
Sunday, July 24, 2016 5:56:09 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Writing Nonfiction Picture Books:
Nancy said, "Many nonfiction books are meant to entertain as well as inform, but the emphasis is on the information. The facts must be accurate. In picture books, facts support the illustrations as opposed to books for older readers in which the illustrations..." more
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:45:43 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Writing Nonfiction Picture Books:
Nancy said, "Which type of picture book is published in greater numbers, fiction or nonfiction? If you answered nonfiction, you are correct. The demand for nonfiction titles is growing, in part due to their use in elementary classrooms. Today’s nonfiction..." more
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 2:01:29 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Gaps in Literature:
Nancy said, "Nonfiction picture books have grown in popularity in the last few years. State Standards for schools include the use of nonfiction titles in the curriculum and this had motivated many publishers to increased production of beautifully illustrated..." more
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 1:51:05 AM
Nancy Allen wrote a blog post titled Retelling Folktales:
Nancy said, "Authentic folktales are popular with young readers and their gatekeepers—teachers, librarians, parents, and publishers. Most of these stories have been retold over centuries. If the story is protected by copyright, you must get approval from..." more
Friday, January 12, 2018 4:00:34 PM
Nancy Allen made friends with Renee' La Viness