Marketing Tips for Children’s Authors
March 9, 2010 by Adrian
Filed under Blog, Recent Posts
This week’s LIVE teleclass for children’s writers will take place on Thursday, March 11, 2010, at 3:00 CST. The topic of the teleclass is Marketing Tips for Children’s Authors & Aspiring Children’s Book Authors.
Click here to learn more about the teleclass and to register!
MOVE & GROOVE – Warm Up!
March 8, 2010 by Adrian
Filed under Move and Groove
Warming up is such an important, yet overlooked part of dance and movement; the logical beginning of any dance or movement class.
Warming up our muscles means that we are taking care of the body, easing gradually into movement. Just like waking up in the morning, we don’t spring out of bed like we’ve been shot out of a cannon. We stretch and move slowly before we hit the ground running. Warming up helps prevent injuries, preparing the body for bigger movements.
Begin warming up gently, choosing either a top-down or bottom-up approach. If you choose the top-down approach, begin with the head, neck and shoulders, working your way down. The bottom-up approach works in reverse, beginning with the feet. Either way, there are a few key areas to keep in mind as you warm up:
Head and neck. Try tilting the head side-to-side, and rolling the head in circles. Follow by rolling the shoulders in circles, forward and in reverse.
Arms. Circle the arms, and “fly” them up and down.
Side body. Stretch gently from side to side.
Hips. Shake them, roll them, and get them going.
Knees and thighs. Ballet dancers do plies, gently bending and straightening the legs.
Calves and feet. Rise up and down on the balls of the feet to bring warmth to the calves. Point and flex the feet.
Spine. Curl down in a cat-like motion, beginning with bringing the chin to the chest, then letting the head go heavy. The body will curve down towards the floor. Roll back up in reverse, with the head coming back up last.
Warming up is just as important as waking up, and starting slowly will keep your body happy. It’s the natural choice for beginning any exercise, and the perfect way to get moving.
Agents: Do You Need One?
March 3, 2010 by Adrian
Filed under for children's writers
by Nancy I. Sanders
Question:
Do I really need an agent?
Answer:
Everyone complains that it’s impossible to get a children’s book published these days because every publisher requires agented submissions. This simply is not true. Even the big houses send acquisitions editors to conferences where they will pick up your manuscript if they find merit in it. There are also numerous smaller houses who take unagented submissions. In fact, some publishers prefer not to work with an agent. These publishers are usually known as “smaller” publishers because they produce fewer titles each year, have a smaller editorial staff, and publish a lower print run. They may not be able to pay fees that cover an agent’s expense.
It’s actually good experience to go through the process of landing a contract at least once by yourself to know what an agent is supposed to do. It also puts you one step ahead of the rest. At one point, agent Rachelle Gardner posted on her blog at cba-ramblings.blogspot.com that she had over 200 submissions she was considering, most of which were by unpublished authors. It’s to your advantage to earn publishing credits before you contact an agent. How? Search your market guide. Look for publishers who say 50% or more of their product list is with first time authors. These publishers probably won’t be the huge megacorporations every writer dreams of signing a contract with. Many publishers who work with a high percentage of first-time authors are smaller or focus to fill a specific niche in the publishing world. None-the-less, these publishers usually offer standard contracts. And the nice surprise is that they’re often eager to hear from you.
Once you experience some publishing success and know how signing a contract works, you can certainly try to acquire an agent. There are numerous benefits to having one such as representation, constructive feedback, and legal advice. Meet with various agents—look for conferences that offer private appointments—or get to know them better by reading their blogs. As you’re sending out simultaneous submissions to publishers for your manuscript, include several agents in your mailing list as well. An agent won’t just want someone who can write, however. Agents are on the lookout for writers who also have a platform. They know that it’s one thing to get a book published. It’s another thing to get it to sell. While you’re looking for an agent, also start building up your platform. Teach writer’s workshops, build a blog, and schedule book signings for the books you’ve already had published. Make an agent want you as much as you want an agent.
As you’re searching for an agent, what exactly do you want from your writing at this point in your life? Do you want representation at the top houses but want to manage your own career? Look for an agent who will represent your book, not your career. If you want someone who will give advice on how to shape a more successful career, look for an agent who offers to spend time helping you develop long-term goals. Also take an honest look at your strengths and weaknesses. Are you interested in writing for the educational market and have numerous ideas for titles in this genre? You probably don’t need an agent to follow your dreams. Have you experienced solid success in the work-for-hire nonfiction market and love the fast, frenzied pace and tight structure of nonstop assignments? An agent in the loop might slow down your pace—and your income. However, if you feel you have the skills to write picture books with pizzazz or sweep-‘em-off-their-feet YA novels, then acquiring an agent will probably be to your advantage to land lucrative contracts with top publishing houses on a continuous basis.
Bio: Nancy I. Sanders is an instructor for the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club and the author of over 75 books including A Kid’s Guide to African American History (Chicago Review Press). Visit her website at to find out more.
SIMON SAYS – Writers and Seasonal Affective Disorder Part Four
March 3, 2010 by Adrian
Filed under Simon Says
Many people are adversely affected each year by the winter blues, and writers are no exception. There are many ways to combat SAD, including antidepressants and other medications, but bright artificial light treatments are common as a means to give the body more exposure to the light that is lacking once winter approaches. For SAD sufferers, shorter days and long nights can initiate depression, excessive fatigue and other issues. Not simply the ‘winter blues’, seasonal affective disorder is recognized as a form of depression, which can have serious consequences.
However, you don’t have to mourn the passing of summer by looking ahead with a sense of impending doom and there are many ways to cope with feelings of lethargy and mood shifts in fall and winter.
Make your home or writing workplace brighter by opening blinds, perhaps even adding extra windows and trim tree branches or bushes close to the house that block sunlight.
If a trip to warmer latitudes isn’t in your budget, get outside as much as you can, taking advantage of the sunshine even on cold winter days. Regular physical exercise can also help with stress relief and prevent the onset of SAD. Feeling more fit makes you feel better about yourself overall and generally improves your mood.
Giving in to those winter blues can also be stressful and lead to overeating, overindulgence in alcohol or other unhealthy pursuits, so you need to take care of your body, watch your diet and get enough sleep.
Make time to relax and get away from your writing once in a while, especially if you work at home. And even if you do suffer from cabin fever, make sure you invite people into that cabin for a tea or coffee on occasion during the winter or at least go to visit theirs. Writing is a solitary and often lonely profession and staying connected with your friends and acquaintances, and not just on-line, is vital if you are to get through the winter.
SAD may be a fact of life for many people out there, but it doesn’t have to be a sad part of your life during the darker winter months, so keep writing and get that book finished. After all, there may be someone in a sunnier place beating you to it.
Read Across America – Dad Didn’t Get It!
Today is Read Across America day, which means that children and adults will be reading together all across America.
In honor of Read Across America, children’s author Suzanne Lieurance would like to read one of her stories, Dad Didn’t Get It, aloud for you. Just click here to listen and read along with her!
