SHERRI TALES: Sheryl Ann Crawford, Children's Author

"There's Gramps!" she said. A Moment of Hope and Happiness

2011-12-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

I will NEVER forget what "Anonymous" wrote to me on January 2, 2011.

Anonymous said...

"I was reading 'My Little Prayers'. I stopped because my dog needed an emergency bath. My 14 year old son volunteered to read to his 5 year old sister, as an exchange. When I returned she said there was a story like "us."

She turned to a prayer YOU wrote. It asked God for help remembering loved ones in Heaven. An auburn haired man was among those in a "thought bubble". "There's Gramps!", she said. My Dad died in November 2009. Now my Grandma, her "G.G." is near death. Your poem and the illustration made her feel 'Merry'. We shared a moment of hope and happiness. THANK YOU. I am sleepy, pecking at my mobile phone in the darkness. Know your prayer is with us. I thank our God we can share and have it. ( : Now I pray this makes it to you!"

This beautiful note did make it to me and it touched me DEEPLY. It sums up the reason I write. With God's help, to give a little HOPE and HAPPINESS to even just one child.

Mini-Books for Your child to Make---For School, Homeschoolers or At-Home Fun!

2011-06-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

Want to make a simple book with your child? A book they can read, color, even stick in their book shelf? Yes? Well then, meet LION and MOUSE, two lovable (even adorable!) and humorous characters who will help win the hearts of your kids as they learn basic math concepts! Nancy Sanders and I had so much fun creating this book together.

In "15 Easy & Irresistible Math Mini-Books" students in grades K-2 read stories about Lion and Mouse---two best friends who find ways to use math in EVERYDAY situations, such as counting seashells at the beach, baking cookies, or going shopping. These scenarios reinforce the idea to young children that we are living in a math oriented world---but math does NOT need to be scary. It WAS scary for me as a young child. I can still remember my palms getting sweaty just thinking about having to write a problem on the chalk board! I only wish I'd had a book like this one. Understanding how math is incorporated into daily life is a KEY CONCEPT of developmental learning for primary-age children.

Predictable language and repetition will help young readers gain confidence practicing their reading skills, while strengthening their math skills as the eagerly join Lion and Mouse’s math-driven adventures!

Children will learn about fractions with Lion and mouse in "Camping Fractions". They'll watch the clock while cooking Tick-Tock Soup, and add the number of falling leaves. The last page of each mini-book is a related activity page that reinforces the story’s key math concept.

Here's more fun---an extension activity is included to further reinforce the concepts in each mini-book. Children learn a rhyme about disappearing crickets as they count backwards from 5. They learn about shapes while cutting out birdhouses for a bulletin board display. They count to 100 while sharing small surprises from home.

Nancy Sanders and I hope these funny math mini-books will make your students fall in love with Lion and Mouse, while sparking their interest in math!

These mini-books and their corresponding activities correlate with the NCTM Standards (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics).

Theme: How to Stay on Track When Writing for Children

2011-05-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

The theme is described as the underlying thread that runs throughout the entire story. It's the MESSAGE. The DOMINANT IDEA. It's what the reader will "take away" after reading your story. New writers often grapple with this problem of THEME. So do some of us who've been writing a while!

I like to write my theme (one sentence) on a 3 x 5 card and tape it to my computer. As I write, this reminder helps to keep me on the beaten path and not go off on "rabbit trails".

Here are some rules to remember about theme:

Try not to hit the reader over the head with your message. Even fun, light-hearted books for kids have themes. They don't have to be "heavy".

When writing for young children, it's best to stick with just one theme. Several themes will confuse the picture book age child about the message of your story.

The theme must come through the action and reaction of the main character(s).

The theme connects all events in your story.

If you can tell someone what your story is about in a single sentence, you have expressed the theme. Example: The universal theme in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is: Each individual’s life is significant and affects others. That is the DOMINANT IDEA developed in the story. The theme was developed through the plot. The PLOT: All that George Bailey goes through in order to see what life would have been like without him.

TRY THIS EXERCISE:

Can you figure out the themes in these excerpts from two of my magazine stories? I've listed the themes at the end of this article. Don't peek until you've finished the exercise (o:

From my magazine fiction story, The Learning Bug:

Gabe Grasshopper didn't want the next day to come.
"I don't want to go to school," he told his mom and dad.
"You'll learn lots of new things," his mom said.
"I don't want to learn new things," Gabe said with a frown. "That's too hard."
"You'll learn how to read your favorite books and write your name," his dad said.
"And you'll make new friends," his mom pointed out.
"You'll learn about nature and the earth," his dad continued.
"You'll learn so many new things at school!" Gabe's mom said enthusiastically.
"I don't want to learn new things!" Gabe insisted. "Learning is too hard. I want to stay home and play. Playing isn't hard."

From my magazine fiction story, Cookie Crazy:

Chatty Chipmunk hurried along, carrying a big basket. A most delicious smell trailed behind it. Chatty always welcomed a new neighbor with her award-winning cookies.
"Hello! Welcome to the neighborhood," said Chatty to Puff Bunny.
"How nice!" Puff said. "Please come in."
They sat and talked in Puff's kitchen. Right away they felt like good friends.
"These are the best cookies I've ever eaten," Puff said, munching her third one.
"Thank you," Chatty said. "They are my PRIZE-WINNING cookies. And these are my blue ribbons." She pulled open her sweater to show the ribbons, pinned right smack dab in the middle of her apron.
"Oooh! I sure would like to win a blue ribbon," Puff said. "Perhaps I'll enter the contest, too!"
"Well, I'm certain to win again at this years baking contest," Chatty said. "But you can come over anytime to look at my ribbons."

ANSWERS:

Theme for The Learning Bug: Overcoming the fear of having to experience something new and unfamiliar.

Theme for Cookie Crazy: Competition between friends can be healthy even though it may be difficult.

How did you do? You may have worded your answers a bit differently than mine, but did you identify the themes?

When I read magazine stories and picture books, I like to see how soon I can identify the theme. It's a great exercise and can teach you how to introduce the theme SUBTLY in the beginning of a story.

Are you ready to choose an age appropriate theme and start writing? Get out that 3 x 5 card and don't waiver. Have fun!

Copyright 2008 Sheryl Ann Crawford

Meet Author Evelyn B. Christensen and her Aba-Conundrums!

2011-04-20T15:50:00.001-07:00

Evelyn B. Christensen's book, Aba-Conundrums, is a Parents' Choice Award Winner! The Abacus is back, and for good reason! Aba-Conundrums gives logic and reasoning room to move, as kids slide their abacus beads up and down to solve 120 clever puzzle conundrums. They'll use their knowledge of numbers and a variety of mathematical skills while having FUN! Yes, FUN with math! The book includes an abacus along with the write-on/wipe-off book.

ABOUT EVELYN: She is one of six children of a minister and a teacher. Ev grew up in a lively family where puzzles, games, books, and questions were daily fare. It wasn’t uncommon for someone to jump up in the middle of a meal to consult the dictionary or Book of Knowledge to settle a question or argument. Game rules existed to be revised or expanded. Ev fondly remembers the 4-board Monopoly game (laid out cloverleaf-style) that occupied the living room floor much of one summer.

With such a background, along with having a passion for teaching, it’s not surprising that educational puzzles and games would be Ev’s forte as an author—she’s had over 45 of them published. She has a doctorate in math education and has taught at levels from kindergarten to graduate school. Currently she’s writing full-time.

Now, let's hear what Evelyn has to say (o;
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Hi, Evelyn! Thanks for allowing me to present this interview on SherriTales!

EV: I'm happy to be here!

SHERYL: Evelyn, how did you get your first educational book published?

EV: I was very blessed. Clip-Clue Puzzles was my first book. It’d been used for several years in a couple of different classrooms before I got up the courage to submit it for publication. The first publisher kept it about six months, which as a newbie I thought was way too long. He rejected it but said I should definitely try to get it published elsewhere. The second publisher accepted it almost immediately. My real break came several years later. MindWare had been carrying my Clip-Clue Puzzles, and I emailed them to ask if they’d be interested in carrying my Coin-Clue Puzzles. Fortunately (or by God’s grace, as I believe), MindWare at that very moment was looking for someone to write some puzzle books for them! I’ve written 24 books for them since then.

SHERYL: This next questions will interest those who want to break into writing for the educational market. What suggestions do you have for someone preparing a proposal for a puzzle or activity book?

EV: Other authors might disagree with me, but especially for a first proposal I think having your sample pages look as professional as possible can make a difference with editors. (I think that’s one of the reasons my first book sold so quickly.) Sure, the publisher’s design people will end up changing what you’ve done, but that first impression will let the editor know you’re serious about doing a good job. You’re also making it easy for the editor to visualize your work as a book.

For a first proposal it’s probably also important to try your ideas out with some kids in the intended age range for the book. What seems obvious to you may need more clarification with children.

Do check, and recheck, to make sure your activities and answers are error-free.

If you’re preparing a puzzle or activity book that you’re hoping will be used in the classroom, be aware of the effect of No Child Left Behind. Editors used to be much more willing to publish books which were fun, mind-stretchers. Now most of them want everything directly tied to curriculum objectives, because, they say, that’s what teachers are buying.

SHERYL: Great advice! Give some tips for an author who is trying to land that FIRST educational book contract.

EV: This will sound obvious, but it’s still really important to study the market. You need to find the publishers who publish the kind of material you’re creating. When I subbed my first book I subbed it to the publishers who were my favorites to buy from as a teacher—I knew and loved their books and knew my book “fit” their publishing philosophy. If you’re not a teacher, spend some time browsing through the books in your local education store. If you’ve exhausted that resource, I have a list of educational publishers on my website for additional possibilities.

My second tip is to read Nancy I. Sanders’ book, Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books. She gives valuable suggestions on this topic.

SHERYL: I completely agree with you about the necessity of reading Nancy's book!It's been a break-through book for new writers. Evelyn, you include your book dedications on your website. Is there anything you want to share about those?

EV: I do that because my Christian faith is an important part of who I am as an author. All my books are dedicated to people who are special to me, but also to God. When my first book, Clip-Clue Puzzles, was being published, I wanted to include as part of the dedication— "to our Heavenly Father, the ultimate problem solver." I was naive at that point and thought authors could dedicate their books as they pleased. I learned differently. My editor said I couldn't use that dedication. She suggested that authors usually dedicate their books to someone who's been especially helpful to them in the writing of their book or to someone who's been an inspiration to them. I explained that that was exactly the reason I wanted to dedicate my book to God. It didn't matter. She was very polite, but still said I couldn't use it. So then I asked if I could use "to God, the ultimate problem solver”? No. How about "to the Ultimate Problem Solver”? No, I couldn't even use that. She finally let me have "to the ultimate problem solver." At least I knew it was dedicated to God, even if lots of readers probably thought it was just dedicated to people who really like to work puzzles. Fortunately, most of my publishers since then have allowed my dedications to include God. 

SHERYL: That's an amazing and inspiring story. Thanks so much for this wonderful information you've provided today.

EV: Thank you for letting me be with you today, Sheryl. I’ve enjoyed it and consider it an honor and privilege!

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If you'd like to contact Eveyln, she has provided her email address and website link:

evelyn.christensen@gmail.com

Web site: http://evelynchristensen.com

Interview with Nancy I. Sanders About Her New Book, America's Black Founders

2011-03-12T13:41:00.000-08:00

What a privilege it is to present an interview with my guest (and good friend), Nancy I. Sanders! We'll be discussing her book, America's Black Founders. Get ready for some jaw-dropping information.

Q: Nancy, in your new book, America’s Black Founders: Revolutionary Heroes and Early Leaders, how did you go about choosing those particular unsung heroes?

A: I’ve been doing research about the early years of our nation, and the names of these founding fathers and mothers were everywhere I turned! Today, in the city of Philadelphia, there are historic markers with their names on them. In various city and state archives, there are historic documents with their names and their signatures on them. In newspapers from that era, there are articles written by them. In the records of the Revolutionary War, there are documentaries about their heroic deeds. The African Americans I included in my book from the founding years of our nation were community leaders and influential men and women of their day. I simply brought their amazing stories out of the dusty pages of history and into the light of our generation.

Q: How exciting! Nancy, give us a time-line for this book, from coming up with the idea to its publication.

A: Here’s how it happened:  
 April, 2005: I first got the idea to write this book. I felt God calling me to share the story of Richard Allen, a great man of faith and strong Christian leader who was also a Founding Father of America. I let the idea germinate and grow inside me until I felt it was strong enough to share.
 March, 2006: I pitched the idea for this book over the phone to Chicago Review Press, the publisher of my book, A Kid’s Guide to African American History, and the publisher requested a proposal.
 October, 2006: I submitted the proposal to the publisher.
 November, 2007: Editor Jerry Pohlen called me on the phone and offered me a contract. We set a one-year deadline. Wahoo!
 January through December 2008: I wrote the book. A lot of prayer went into working on this manuscript, and I spent a lot of time sitting at the feet of Jesus while working on this book. Because Richard Allen and most of the men and women in this book were strong Christians who devoted their lives to sharing the Gospel, I wanted to make sure I was listening to God’s heart as I worked to tell their story through this manuscript.
 December, 2008: I finished the book and submitted it for my deadline.
 January, 2010: America’s Black Founders hit the market, already racking up presales of over 1700 books.

From the time I first got the idea for this book in April, 2005 until I signed the contract in December, 2007, I worked on other book deadlines. Then I cleared my plate of most other deadlines so that for an entire year, I could devote my energies and focus on the intense research needed to write this book. It was a very challenging, yet very very rewarding journey to take.

Q: America’s Black Founders, features 21 activities. What significance are these activities to this era in history, and how did you go about writing them?

A: Each activity in this book holds important significance surrounding the history of America’s Black Founding Fathers and Mothers. For instance, there is a recipe for Pepper Pot Soup in my book. This was a hearty dish that George Washington requested be cooked for the troops at Valley Forge during that long, cold winter when many of the troops were starving. There were quite a number of black troops who suffered along with the other patriots at Valley Forge that winter, so this is a dish they probably ate.

Another activity encourages students to “pen a patriotic poem.” This activity is included in the book because of Lemuel Haynes. A black minuteman, Lemuel Haynes marched with his company from Granville, Massachusetts to join the Siege of Boston. The battle of Lexington had just occurred and militia poured in from all over the region to camp outside of Boston and not let British troops molest the countryside again.

Lemuel Haynes and his company camped outside of Boston as well. While there, Lemuel Haynes was so moved by the account of the battle of Lexington that he wrote a stirring ballad about the event. He titled his poem, “The Battle of Lexington.” His handwritten poem from 1776 is still in existence today! I located the poem and included the image of it in my book. Then I encourage students to follow Lemuel Hayne’s example and write a poem themselves to honor a great moment in history.

My book, America’s Black Founders, is part of a series of books called the “For Kids” series that Chicago Review Press publishes. Most books in this series have 21 activities in them—that’s one of the characteristics that sets this series apart. These aren’t just any activities, though. These can’t be “crafts” or “busy activities.” The activities in this series must be of significant historic value. They’re referred to as “historic-based activities.”

To help make a list of activities to include in my book, I researched various historical sites and explored the types of activities they did with students visiting their sites. I even communicated with the activity director of one historic site who helped explain how they had students make a stuffed straw mattress. I included this in my book as an example of the type of work children had to do who were slaves and lived in homes in cities such as how Richard Allen spent his early childhood days in Philadelphia working as a slave of prominent colonist Benjamin Chew, attorney general of the Province of Pennsylvania.

I’ve written a number of activities for other books of mine. Usually, once I determine an activity that has value, I make it. I might not make the entire activity, as I didn’t make a full-sized stuffed straw mattress, but I worked with folding a small piece of fabric and stuffing it. I relied on my conversation with the activity director to give me the confidence to know this was an actual project that kids could successfully do. Even though the step-by-step process to make these historic-based activities might not be exactly how they were made, the process is “based” on the real activity and students “feel” like they’re making something real.

Many times, I take a lot of photographs of each step of making the activity. For instance, when I stitched together a fanner, or basket used to winnow rice, I took photos of starting the fanner, making knots, and adding rows to the basket. I took photos of the fanner on a table for each stage of the process. But I also took photos of holding the fanner and the needle in my hands to actually show students how they should hold it as they make it, too.

When I submitted my manuscript, I also submitted all these photographs. The publisher forwarded these to the artist who used exact images as reference to the drawings that were included with the instructions in the finished book. Many publishers ask for these photographs when activities are featured with a manuscript, so now I just automatically take the photographs when I make the sample activities and submit them on a disc with the completed manuscript, even if a publisher doesn’t ask for them. They are always so grateful!

Nancy, thank you for sharing these treasures about some of American's most amazing and influential men and women. America's children need this inspiring book!

CONTACT NANCY I. SANDERS:
Nancy’s website: www.nancyisanders.com
Nancy’s blog: www.nancyisanders.wordpress.com
www.AmericasBlackFounders.wordpress.com

Educational Markets for Children's Writers. Thanks, Evelyn!

2011-01-24T12:59:00.000-08:00

Award winning author and puzzle creator has done it again! Evelyn B. Christensen updates and posts the most recent educational markets for children's writers. Why? Because she's not only a wonderful writer---she's a spectacular person!

Please visit her website at www.evelynchristensen.com

Thanks again, Evelyn (o;

I Found You, Mrs. Hopfinger!

2011-01-07T11:39:00.000-08:00

Several years ago I spoke with a teacher who changed a little girl's life---mine. It took me more than 20 years to track her down. I was never going to give up because I needed to thank her.

"Is this the Mrs. Hopfinger that taught at Fullbright Elementary School," I asked. When she said "Yes it is," I burst into tears. "I found you, Mrs. Hopfinger! I found you," I blubbered. She probably thought I was a telemarketer with some strange new technique to keep someone on the line. She didn't hang up. When I told her I was one of her former students she said with delight, "Oh, darling---is it really?"

Mrs. Barbara Hopfinger was my early elementary grade teacher during a time when something life-shattering turned my world upside down. To me, Mrs. Hopfinger was bigger than life. She was the Statue of Liberty. The President of the United States. The Seven Wonders of the World. She was more fascinating, delightful, and full of life than Ms. Frizzle in the Magic School Bus could ever be! Barbara Hopfinger was a vibrant and committed educator. She absolutely loved teaching---but more than that, she loved the children she taught. I was one of those fortunate children.

I will never write about the dreadful circumstances of my past, but it is vital that I write about how God brought this wonderful, loving teacher who became a life-preserver, to a little girl drowning in a sea of emotional pain. I do this simply to honor her.

There were times when I stayed in class during recess. She knew what I was going through and tried her best to help me through it. I can still picture her big smile and that red lipstick I liked so well, as she held out her arms for me to come to her. I sat on her lap and she hugged me, much as a mother would. I felt safe. I felt loved. Mrs. Hopfinger spoke soothingly and with conviction as she talked to me. I'm sure this beautiful teacher had no idea she was giving me a gift I would cherish for the rest of my life. She convinced me that I mattered.

When she told me I was smart, although I felt stupid---I believed her. When she told me I was special in so many ways, although I felt broken and worthless---I believed her. She even called me pretty. Now, that was a stretch! I had a space between my big front teeth, a home-perm gone bad (every time!), and freckles the size of Mars on my nose. Mrs. Hopfinger obviously saw past any imperfections in her children. Instead, she saw what they were capable of doing and becoming. She saw our potential and made us believe it, too. Mrs. Hopfinger allowed me to believe that I was more than a broken little life, and she simply wouldn't allow me to stay there.

Do you find it strange that a teacher could have such a positive influence on someone so young, and in such a short time? I don't. I've experienced it. I carried the affirmations she gave me in my heart as I grew. They were like seeds that took root. At times when there was no one to talk to, I remembered my beautiful teacher and friend. In my mind I pictured a fragile little girl in the arms of a wise teacher---and I would say "If Mrs. Hopfinger believed it, then it's true."

A teacher can make a MONUMENTAL change in a child's life. I wonder how many others remember her the way I do. I surely can't be alone.

Today I'm a wife, mother, grandmother, a volunteer Red Cross nurse, and a published writer. I do believe it was the grace of God that brought Mrs. Hopfinger into my young life so many years ago, and I finally had the chance to tell her that.

Before we hung up I said now that I'd found her, my next book would be dedicated to her. There WILL be a next book in honor of beautiful Mrs. Barbara Hopfinger, from the the little girl who still loves her.

c 2009 Sheryl Ann Crawford

Magnify the Hope for Children

2011-01-02T21:21:00.000-08:00

Horrible things happen every day and everywhere. The harsh reality is that at some point each child will become aware that life isn't all sunshine, hugs, and playgrounds.

Families are struggling to stay in their homes and put food on the table. The news tells of child abductions, murders, divorce, deadly tornadoes, earthquakes and flood's. Can we still offer hope to children in this kind of world? Of course we can, and we MUST!

My hairdresser tells me that in spite of the struggling economy, his business hasn't dwindled. In fact, it's UP. When I asked him why this was he replied, "Women want to feel good about themselves when they don't feel good about anything else. They may have to eat beans and rice to afford the hairdresser, but by making themselves look better they FEEL better."

Children need to feel better in difficult times. If some of our writing is for the secular market, can we offer any kind of hope when we write about days at the zoo, pets, friendship, love, family, or just plain silly books to make them laugh? Absolutely! Those wonderful, fun, precious, thoughtful, and even silly things exist even when horrible things exist right alongside them. HOPE is still there but you, the writer, may need to help them find it. Magnify the hope for children who cannot see it.

Because I'm a Christian, my hope is in the Son of God and His promise for eternal life. That is a hope that never fades. If you write for the Christian children's market it's obvious where your hopeful words will lead. What a privilege and calling it is to write words of God's hope for children!

Some books for children offer hope in Christ to those dealing with topics like divorce, death, moving and leaving a best friend, going to a new school, fears of all kinds, losing a pet, and other harsh realities of life.

These are some HOPEFUL Christian books on my bookshelves:

Someday Heaven by Larry Libby
Someone Awesome by Larry Libby
Someone I Loved Died by Christine Harder Tangvold
Someday We'll Play in Heaven by Shawn Alyne Strannigan
My Little Prayers (WORD Publishing. I was blessed to be a contributing author)
Psalms for a Child's Heart (my first book)

When you write for the secular or Christian market, write about good, wholesome topics for children---stories with values and messages to lift the heart. Write to help a child through emotional pain, loneliness, or fear in a frightening and unstable world.

Just imagine---God may use your book or even a simple magazine piece to give comfort and hope to a child whose heart is crying. Bless a child and MAGNIFY the HOPE!

c 2009 Sheryl Ann Crawford

Stay With the Theme: Writing for Children

2010-11-13T16:17:00.000-08:00

Try not to hit the reader over the head with your message. Even fun, light-hearted books for kids have themes. They don't have to be "heavy".

When writing for young children, it's best to stick with just one theme. Several themes will confuse the picture book age child about the message of your story.

The theme must come through the action and reaction of the main character(s).

The theme connects all events in your story.

If you can tell someone what your story is about in a single sentence, you have expressed the theme. Example: The universal theme in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is: Each individual’s life is significant and affects others. That is the DOMINANT IDEA developed in the story. The theme was developed through the plot. The PLOT: All that George Bailey goes through in order to see what life would have been like without him.

Theme for The Learning Bug: Overcoming the fear of having to experience something new and unfamiliar.

Theme for Cookie Crazy: Competition between friends can be healthy even though it may be difficult.

2010-06-10T14:02:00.000-07:00

I just received an email letting me know that my latest book is being offered on The All About Education website for parents and teachers! I'm seeing my Easy-To-Read Science Plays: The Human Body pop up on lots of educational sites.

Some of the related products offered that complement my book look very interesting. As a kid, I would have LOVED the Soft Foam Cross Section: Human Heart Model, and the White Board Magnet Set 3-D;Skeletal System.

This site has a wonderful list of categorized material for inquiring kid-minds. Topics include: Science Fair Materials, Life Science, Nature Studies, Animal Studies, Games and Activities, Mathematics, Creative Play, Health and Nutrition, Special Needs Material and more!

If you want to visit this page, click on the following link:

http://catalog.allabouteducationonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=1010604_1027347&products_id=1513359

Let's get our kids interested in the sciences!

Meet Author Janet Smart---I Am From Appalachia

2010-04-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

Several months ago my friend and published author of 31 books, Marilyn Donahue, graciously permitted me to present her wonderful post on the "I Am From..." poetic form.

I asked my readers to get the creative juices flowing and try the "I Am From..." Well, my blogging friend, Janet Smart, did just that. Boy, did she do it!
Janet gave me permission to post her beautiful piece.

Here's a little info about Janet---She writes from her home in Ripley, West Virginia and is an active member of the WVWriters. One of her Christmas stories was recently published in a book titled Christmas Traditions. Janet writes a children's column for the regional magazine, Two-Lane Livin'. She's working hard to have her first picture book published. Janet loves children's books, she studies hard, and she's not a quitter. Expect to see a picture book with her name on it one of these days (o;

Here's Janet---

I Am From Appalachia

I am from Appalachia
From hills and hollers
And grandma’s front porch
With quilt covered gliders
Cotton soft and squeaky.

I am from dirt roads
Rutted from cars
That rumble past and
Leave billowing clouds of dust
To scatter in the breeze.

I am from summer vegetable gardens
Plowed in early spring
With Uncle Romey’s horses,
Whose long manes and straight rows
Flowed behind them.

I am from thorny blackberry patches
Spread over hillsides
And gnarled grapevines hanging from trees
Waiting for eager young hands
To grab hold and swing.

I am from close knit families
Living in houses built by
Strong hands and loving hearts
And cousins playing in yards perfumed
With the scent of roses and lilac bushes.

I am from time gone by
When fireflies dotted
Dark country skies and
Families left their doors open
For a visit from a night breeze.

I am from Appalachia
And I dwell in the shadows
Of the rugged hills
Where I walk in footsteps
Left by my ancestors.

c 2009 Janet Smart

Did Janet's I Am From Appalachia inspire you to give it a try? It inspired me!

Get to know Janet by visiting her at
www.creativewritingintheblackberrypatch.blogspot.com
Janet is an amazing writer and her photographs are breathtaking!

Writing for Coffee Breaks, by Marilyn Donahue

2010-04-08T23:14:00.000-07:00

When I first began to write, I felt as if I were talking to the wind. I typed up manuscript after manuscript and sent my precious words to big time magazines. It turned out that I was the only one who thought they were precious. I collected enough rejection slips to paper a wall of my “office” — a corner of the family room where I had set up a card table, a portable typewriter, and a ream of paper.

I’ll admit that I was discouraged. But in a family with four children, a cat that had just produced six kittens in the clothes hamper, two large iguanas, a South African Jackson chameleon that lived in a fish tank and ate live meal worms, and my son’s pet snake — there was little time to mope. I decided to switch from the long-winded, academic articles nobody wanted to read and write, instead, about things I knew first hand — things that happened in my family and, likely as not, in families everywhere.

I approached the local weekly newspaper and offered to write a weekly column of short, family oriented pieces that would make their readers laugh — and sometimes make them cry. I didn’t ask for pay, and the editor said he would give me a chance. Before long, people began talking about the “Coffee Break” column that someone named Mary Robb was writing. The editor offered to pay me one dollar an article. I agreed.

Did I give my writing away too cheaply? I don’t think so.
* It gave me a chance to establish a pen name.
* It gave me an audience that asked for more.
* It taught me the discipline of writing for a weekly deadline.
* It made me search my brain for new subjects to write about.

And — the BIGGEST bonus of all — I began to use the seeds of these articles to write longer, more detailed stories that I sold to magazines for much, much more than one dollar!

Giving away my writing to a no pay/low pay market
was the smartest career move I ever made.

It showed me that focus is important and that writing about what I know pays off. It taught me that the joy of seeing my words in print outweighs dollar signs. And it gave me the self confidence I needed to keep trying.

I would do it all over again!

c 2010 Marilyn Donahue

Marilyn Donahue is a seasoned author, college and writing instructor, conference speaker, and has written a whopping 31 books. She recently signed contracts for four books! She believes in coffee breaks (o;

[Thanks to www.freeclipartnow.com for the cup of coffee]

Not Published Yet? Cheerios Contest!

2010-03-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

Are you a children's writer but yet to see your work in print? The Cheerios Contest could be your opportunity to see your picture book published!

The entry Deadline is July 15th for a picture book story. The grand prize is $5000! The runner up prizes---$1000

Writers who have never been paid for their writing are allowed to enter. Only writers from one of the 50 states (or DC) can apply, and must be 18 or older.

Because I'm published, I can't enter---but I'll bet someone reading this, CAN!

For all the details go to http://www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com/

Hmmm. Makes me want to have a bowl of Cheerios (o;

Seven Easy Ways to Keep Dialogue Sharp By Carolyn Howard-Johnson

2010-03-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

1. Keep it simple. "He said" and "She said" will usually do. Your reader is trained to accept this repetition.

2. Forget you ever heard of strong verbs. Skip the "He yelped" and the "She sighed." They slow your dialogue down. If you feel need them, look at the words,the actual dialogue your character used when he was yelping. Maybe it doesn’t reflect the way someone would sound if he yelped. Maybe if you strengthen the dialogue, you can ditch the overblown tag.

3. When you can, reveal who is saying something by the voice or tone of the dialogue. That way you may be able to skip tags occasionally, especially when you have only two people speaking to one another. Your dialogue will ring truer, too.

4. Avoid having characters use other characters’ names. In real life, we don’t use people’s names in our speech much. We tend to reserve using names for when we’re angry or disapproving or we just met in a room full of people and we’re practicing out social skills. Having a character direct her speech to one character or another by using her name is a lazy writer’s way of directing dialogue and it will annoy the reader. When a reader is annoyed, she will not be immersed in the story you are trying to tell.

5. Avoid putting internal dialogue in italics. Trust your reader. She will know who is thinking the words from the point of view of the narrative.

6. Be cautious about using dialogue to tell something that should be shown. It doesn’t help much to transfer telling from the narrator to the dialogue. It just makes the character who is speaking sound long winded. Putting quotation marks around exposition won’t draw the reader into the scene or involve him more than if you’d left it part of the narrative.

7. And magic number seven is, don’t break up dialogue sequences with long or overly frequent blocks of narrative. One of dialogue’s greatest advantages is that it moves a story along. If a writer inserts too much stage direction, it will lose the forward motion and any tension it is building.

For more on writing dialogue check out Tom Chiarella’s Writing Dialogue (Writers’ Digest) and for more on editing in general--from editing query letters to turning unattractive adverbs into metaphoric gold--find The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success on Amazon.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson is an instructor for the UCLA Extension Writer's Program. The first book in her HowToDoItFrugally Series of books, The Frugal Book Promoter, won USA Book News'Best Professional Book Award and Book Publicists of Southern California's Irwin Award. The second, The Frugal Editor, was just released and includes many editing tips on dialogue, the use of quotation marks and more. Learn more at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.

So, You Think You Need an Illustrator?

2010-03-03T19:11:00.000-08:00

I love to draw. LOVE it! It’s therapeutic for me. There's a box full of paintings, sketches, doodles, and pastel drawings sitting in my cedar chest to prove it. And that’s where they’ll stay. In my cedar chest. You will never see my art in a picture book or on the cover of a children’s magazine. Why? Because it’s obvious that I’m NOT a professional illustrator! I’m self-taught and not good enough for today’s publishing standards. I’ve had no formal training and would never send pages of my artwork along with my manuscript submissions. That doesn’t bother me at all.

Want to know how to make an editor REALLY MAD? Ignore their Illustrator guidelines that say, “Send brochures, resumes, samples, tearsheets, promo sheet, or slides.” That means they are speaking to professional illustrators. If you are not a professional and you send your art anyway, it’s no different than completely disregarding the writer’s guidelines. You’re basically telling the publisher they don’t know what they’re talking about. That can be the kiss of death for your manuscript.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve received manuscripts for critique with artwork included. Rarely were the authors or their illustrator friends or relatives true professionals. Eraser marks. Whiteout. Crayon shavings. Smudges. Disproportionate, stiff characters. No movement. No life. Not professional. Sort of like MY drawings!

A few of the drawings I’ve seen over the past few years were average to good---but not good enough for the high standards expected by book publishers. It’s always difficult for me to break the news to the writer/artist in my manuscript critique. It’s especially tough when the writer says something like this in the cover letter:

“These fantastic illustrations for my book were drawn by my 10 year old!” Okay, they were fantastic for a ten-year old! In fact, they will likely impress anyone looking at the refrigerator door, or even framed on a family room wall. They won’t impress a publishing house. The bar is set HIGH. The ten-year old will have his or her heart broken after I give the bad news to the writer-mom who sent them in. Please don't do that to a child! You are setting them up for great disappointment. Even tears )o;

If you are not a professional illustrator but insist that your art is good enough, here’s a suggestion---ask a professional illustrator at a writers conference to give you an honest evaluation. Don’t forget to look at all the portfolios on the table. How do your illustrations stack up? Be honest. Personally, I don't need to do this with my artwork because I'd embarrass myself. I KNOW my stuff isn't up to speed!

Here’s another suggestion. Compare your illustrations with at least 25 children’s books. How does your art compare? Again, be brutally honest. Unless you are a true professional your art will probably fall short.

I have a friend in our critique group who IS a true professional illustrator! Veronica Walsh illustrated a WONDERFUL picture book, Too Many Visitors for One Little House, by Susan Chodakiewitz. Look at the facial expressions of the characters! Drink in the color, the life, the movement, the emotions. To view samples of Veronica's artwork go to www.veronicawalsh.net

In my humble opinion, 99% of the time your publisher knows just the artist to make your book come alive!

When it comes to picture books, illustrations make half the book.

So, if your best friend, Aunt Beatrice, your child (whose heart WILL be broken), or your spouse want to illustrate your book, please just say "No," but say it gently. Tell them it's nothing personal. It's just the way it is in publishing, and YOU as the writer need to follow the guidelines.

A Wise Choice

2010-02-23T12:47:00.000-08:00

When I'm needing an idea for another magazine story or a book, there's one resource I go to immediately because it never fails me. It's the book of Proverbs---the book of wisdom in the Bible.

Just ONE proverb can be a theme with a story waiting to happen!

My fiction stories are not overtly religious and don't need to be. The book of Proverbs is filled with jewels of wisdom for wise living and themes that apply to children as well as adults.

Here are just a few of the Proverbs that have triggered a book or story or two, or three, or---well you get the idea.

"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else and not your own lips." Proverbs 27:2 gave me The REAL B.J. Beaver, (Clubhouse Jr.)

"One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys." Proverbs 18:9 inspired my book The WiseNOTS Get Lazy, (book seeking a publishing home.)

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animals---" Proverbs 12:10 (a) inspired Pets and Proverbs, (Clubhouse Jr.)

"The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." Proverbs 12:15 inspired Take a Hike, (Clubhouse Jr.)

"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"---when you now have it with you." Proverbs 3:27, 28 inspired Monkey Business, (published in Clubhouse Jr. One of my On Jungle Street books seeking a publishing home.)

Need some inspiration and a heart filled with joy at the same time?

"Let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance." Proverbs 1:5

c 2009 Sheryl Crawford

Quotes from First Grade Kids!

2010-02-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

I've heard that a first grade teacher collected well known proverbs. She gave each child in her class the first half of a proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb.

Here are the answers from 6 year-olds:

Better to be safe than.....................................punch a 5th grader
Strike while the ..............................................bug is close
It's always darkest before.............................Daylight Saving Time
Never underestimate the power of..............termites
You can lead a horse to water but................how?
Don't bite the hand that.................................looks dirty
No news is........................................................impossible
A miss is as good as a.....................................Mr.
You can't teach an old dog new.....................math
If you lie down with dogs, you'll....................stink in the morning
Love all, trust..................................................me
The pen is mightier than the........................pigs
An idle mind is................................................the best way to relax
Where there's smoke there's........................pollution
Happy the bride who.....................................gets all the presents
A penny saved is............................................not much
Two's company, three's.................................the Musketeers
Don't put off till tomorrow what...................you put on to go to bed
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and.....you have to blow your nose
There are none so blind as............................Stevie Wonder
Children should be seen and not..................spanked or grounded
If at first you don't succeed...........................get new batteries
You get out of something only what you.....see in the picture on the box
When the blind leadeth the blind.................get out of the way

Don't ya love it? (o;

Author's Debut Book:The Declaration of Independence from A to Z

2010-02-11T21:48:00.000-08:00

Catherine Osornio, yet another published member of our critique group, Wordsmiths8, is preparing for her first school visit with 6th graders. It may be her first---but certainly NOT her last. If you want your children, grandchildren, or classroom to really understand the Declaration of Independence (or if YOU need to brush up) you won't be disappointed with Catherine's debut picture book,
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FROM A TO Z (Pelican Publishing Company, 2010)

The combination of magnificent, richly colored illustrations by Layne Johnson, and Catherine's amazing facts, will hold the attention of an entire class or assembly!

Because Catherine is a dear friend I asked if I could interview her for my blog. Here's Catherine:

Q: Catherine, what prompted you to write about this particular subject?

A: I originally wrote this as a holiday alphabet book about the 4th of July. The publisher, Pelican Publishing Company, preferred a story about the Declaration of Independence, so I rewrote my manuscript to tell the history of this famous document.

Q: Kids can sometimes think of history as booooring. I know I did. Sigh. What is it about YOUR book that makes the topic of the Declaration of Independence EXCITING for children?

A: I tried really hard to make the text informative as well as interesting. The illustrations, painted by Layne Johnson, created a beautiful backdrop that made my words come alive. I think this blend of words and pictures will draw reluctant history readers in, allowing them to learn and to be entertained at the same time.

Q: What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

A: I took three months to research all I could about the period of time in America and about the Declaration itself. The hardest part was trying to compact all that information into 26 letters, while also writing it in chronological order so that it made sense.

Q: Catherine, have you always wanted to be a writer?

A: No. I grew up wanting to be a scientist, and ended up going to school to learn about film making. I didn't become a writer until about eight years ago when a friend asked for help developing her writing skills. As I taught her about creating stories, I realized that I enjoyed the writing process, and I haven't stopped since.

Q: What advice would you give to students or adults who want to be writers?

A: Read, read, and read some more so you can understand what makes a good story. Learn the rules of grammar, then keep writing and revising, until you can write a story well, with a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Q: Are you working on any other projects right now?

A: I write articles and short stories for magazines, newsletters, and for an early reader program, but I really want to write middle grade novels. I'm working on a mystery series that I hope will be published some day.

THANK YOU, Catherine! I hope your success story has inspired other writers to press on!

Catherine L. Osornio can be contacted via email at:CLOsornio@verizon.net
Visit her writing blog at: www.catherineosornio.com

Want to get goose bumps and perhaps even choked up in a happy way? Then watch and listen to this short youtube tribute to her book!:
Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oHFn6HBDk8

Write for the Educational Market with Evelyn's Help!

2010-02-02T16:57:00.000-08:00

Well, Evelyn Christensen has done it again! She's gets another A+ on her market research. Ev graciously shares her discoveries for publication possibilities--- just because she's NICE. According to Ev, her market list has "a few new tidbits." She is quick to point out and thank Susan Ludwig, a freelance children's writer, for assisting with updating the market list.

Visit her website at http://echristensen.atspace.com/markets.html

If you haven't considered writing for the educational market, you might want to think again. Nancy I. Sanders and I (photo)have co-authored seven educational books together for Scholastic Professional Books! My latest book was released November 1, 2009, Easy-To-Read Science Plays: The Human Body.

Every school week, first and second grade children across the country participate in our readers theater, make mini-books, create crafts from our reproducibles, and have loads of FUN while their teachers lead them in educational extension activities. I have a feeling that some of our crafts may be on refrigerator door galleries (o;

Check out Evelyn's site. She's got a looooong list of publishers who have some definite needs and guidelines. Who knows---YOU could be just the writer they're looking for!

Oh, and one more thing---THANK YOU, EVELYN and SUSAN!

I Am From . . . Let Your Characters Surprise You

2010-01-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

I'm posting this again in case you missed this INCREDIBLE piece by author Marilyn Cram Donahue. I hope when you've finished reading this post, you'll try the "I Am From..." poetic form. It will certainly get those creative thoughts flowing.

Marilyn is a seasoned author, college and writing instructor, conference speaker, and has written a whopping 31 books. Look her up on amazon.com. She recently signed contracts for four books! See Marilyn smile as she holds her latest contracts? (o;

I am privileged and blessed to be Marilyn's friend. We are members of the critique group I so often speak of---Wordsmiths.
Marilyn writes books, stories and articles for middle grade, YA, and adult. She claims to never go anywhere without a notebook tucked away and one of those automatic pencils that never gets dull and always has an eraser. I absolutely believe her.

My friend has graciously permitted me to present her wonderful post
on the "I Am From..." poetic form.

Here's Marilyn:

The “I Am From . . .” poetic form was developed by George Ella Lyon. It has been successfully used in schools across the country. Some of the results are wonderful, with students reaching into their everyday lives and ethnic backgrounds and coming up with single images that are worth a thousand words. It occurred to me that this would be a good exercise in the class I teach on Writing Your Memoirs. This week we looked back to our early school years and concentrated on remembering one incident that might bring to mind many images. Then we wrote “I Am From . . .” poems with those memories as starting points.

I thought of Main Street, where I grew up, and inevitably I stretched those early memories to include a less juvenile time of my life. This is the result:

I am from Main Street,
from games at twilight
and Mrs. Loring’s chow dog
with the purple tongue.

I am from back fences and hollyhocks,
from orange trees that blossomed
in the spring,
and sent their fragrance
to float on the cool night air.

I am from a front porch swing
and the sounds of
the Lone Ranger and Captain Midnight,
and the taste of cold watermelon
with black seeds that were
good for spitting.

I am from sack lunches,
and the five and dime,
and banana splits
with three kinds of ice cream
and whipped cream and a cherry on top.

I am from time passing
and starry nights
and the moon shining so bright
over Main Street
that it put sparkles in my hair
. . . or so he said.

Can you imagine a character in one of your books writing an “I Am From . . .” poem? What would you learn by letting this person tell you how he or she feels? By standing to one side and listening while your character digs deep and comes up with what might be surprising information?

Thank you, Marilyn! Let's hear from some of my blog friends. I'd like to know if your characters revealed some surprises.

2009 Marilyn Donahue

Beginning Writer? Growing Writer? Go to the Children's Book Insider!

2010-01-26T08:01:00.000-08:00

The Children's Book Insider, has been helping children's writers for more than 19 years. I subscribe to the CBI newsletter and visit their amazing website. Editors Jon Bard and Laura Backes will answer questions like,

* Can I really make it as a children's writer?
* Is it difficult to get started?
* Do I have to spend a ton of money on classes and books?

You can even watch short, instructional videos online.

You’ll find step-by-step instruction on their website and in the CBI Newsletter that will help you enter this fascinating field of writing for kids.

I just finished reading the January 2010 issue of the Children's Book Insider. Jon Bard challenges writers in his piece, From the Editor, to enter the 21st century by doing things like blogging, building a Facebook Fan page, and Twittering.

Jon wrote, "Don't be BORING." Now that's how to lose your followers for sure! He's reminding writers that merely blogging about daily activities on our blogs "won't cut it." He's right. Jon encourages writers to offer "fresh perspectives", and to direct our readers to great links. That's precisely what I'm doing right now!

Please visit www.CBIClubhouse.com and get excited about the possibilities!

Writing Contests---Where Can They Take You?

2010-01-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

You never know where a contest story will take you. You don't actually have to win first, second, or even third place, to "win" in a different way.

Years ago I entered a Highlights 500-word beginning reader fiction contest.
Kitten's Climb didn't win, but an editor thought it was delightful, and choose to publish it.

Several years later I was surprised to receive a letter and another check from Highlights. They paid me again for the story when Harcourt Trophies purchased it for a reading comprehension booklet to be used in elementary schools across the country.

Today Kitten's Climb is accessible online. Click the link at the end of this post. I LOVE the mother Robin's attitude, and Kitten's final assessment of the whole ordeal.

Here's another plus---the reading assessment booklet is listed on my publishing bio along with the link so editors can read a sample of my work for this particular age group. Cool.

Here's the information on the Highlights contest YOU are thinking about entering:
* Theme - fiction based on a true story from your family.
* You must be at least 16 years old.
* Word count may be up to 750 words for ages 6 to 14. For beginning readers, word
count cannot exceed 475.
* They do not want to see violence, crime, or derogatory humor.
* Put the word count at in the upper right-hand corner of the first page.
* Entries must be postmarked between January 1, 2010 and January 31, 2010.
* Send your entry with a SASE to: Fiction contest, Highlights for Children, 803
Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431.
[ www.highlights.com/highlights-fiction-contest ]

Three winners will be chosen, published in Highlights, and given their choice of a $1,000 cash prize, or tuition to the Highlights Chautauqua writing workshop!

Winners will be announced on their website in June 2010.
So, what are you waiting for? You never know where a magazine story will take you. One of my stories from Clubhouse Jr. Magazine became a picture book!

I'll always be glad
Kitten's Climb became a winning story in more ways than one.

Don't forget to click the link to read Kitten's Climb

http://www.highlightskids.com/stories/fiction/f0497_kittens.asp

Thank You Notes Written in Crayon

2009-12-09T17:09:00.000-08:00

I think I've received the most joy as a writer by giving many of my books and magazine stories away as gifts. No, I don't hand out books on the street corner, or give them to everyone I know. I've never ordered box after box of my picture books so I could sell them at conferences when I teach. I usually order several boxes just for me. That allows me to occasionally surprise a child with a book, give one to my plumber, or to my electrician to take home to their children, or give as a "thank you" to a friend. I love to delight a grandparent or teacher with a book and a few magazines for the children in their lives. It's always fun to wrap a picture book and give it along with a baby shower gift.

One day while sitting in my ophthalmologist's waiting room, one of the women who worked for the clinic called me to the window. She said her seven-year-old son shared the book I gave him, for "Show and Tell" day at school. He told the class it was his favorite book. Later he sent me a thank you note written in crayon, and a picture of his little Chihuahua named "Moosey." Are you smiling yet?

A year or so ago, I saw a photo of a little girl in Clubhouse Jr. She had a small collection of Clubhouse Jr. Magazines spread out in front of her as she smiled for the camera. The caption mentioned that she was displaying her collection and was excited about adding more. I immediately contacted the magazine editor and told her I wanted to send this little collector more magazines with my stories---beginning with my first that appeared in the November 1993 issue. I had several hundred magazines in files in my garage! Needless to say, the girl and her family were thrilled with the large envelope full of magazines. The thank you note from the little girl was sweet, and the mother emailed me about how much fun her daughter was having reading all of my stories.

I cherish thank you notes written in crayon, photos of smiling children with a pet, and comments from moms who mention how much their child loves my books and/or magazine stories.

So, I'll keep giving a book or two away for those "special" occasions until my stack says, "Stop! Keep the rest of us for the family." It will be kind of sad, but I'll never forget the joy of giving, and thank you notes written in crayon.

c December 2009 Sheryl Crawford

Make Every Word Count! by Marjorie Flathers

2009-10-26T10:48:00.001-07:00

Marjorie Flathers is an accomplished author, and I'm proud to call her my friend. It is a delight to know Marjorie and a privilege to learn from her expertise as a writer!

This knowledgeable free-lance writer has been published for over 27 years! Marjorie's work has appeared in print well over 300 times in a variety of magazines, newspapers, e-zines, and anthologies for writers and knitters. This writing pro has a degree in English, and is a source of inspiration as well as knowledge about the world of publishing. She has graciously permitted me to present another helpful post for those of us who are just a bit too wordy! If you want to make every word count---pay close attention!

Here's Marjorie:
Years ago, when I was just beginning my writing career, I heard the advice, “Make Every Word Count.” I tried to put this tip into practice, with varying degrees of success. But, about 8 years ago, when I began writing short, short (300 words!) stories for the “Kids’ Reading Room” page of the Los Angeles Times, I knew it was truly time to make these words of wisdom work. In other words, this was when push came to shove!

At first, I didn’t think I could write a complete story (beginning, middle and end) with such a limited word length. I was already writing the longer (1500 words) 5-part serialized stories for that page. This was my specialty, I thought. But then the Kids’ Page editor called me and said she desperately needed stories for the Sunday page (where these shorter ones were featured) because “writers don’t want to tackle them.” Would I? Well, what could I say but “Yes!” And, I soon learned that the skills I was developing writing these stories would also apply to longer stories for children, for adults, and even for non-fiction.

Here, in brief, is how I approach what sometimes seems a daunting task.

To begin, I write a rough draft, not worrying about word length. I just get everything down that I want to say, remembering that any story or article is basically opening with “A” and closing with “C.” However you decide to get from “A” to “C” is “B.” This formula works with just about any manuscript.

Then, I ruthlessly cut out adverbs and adjectives. These are weak words that we (I) tend to use when we don’t believe our writing is strong enough. We want to make sure the reader “gets it.” The more we eliminate these words, the more we are forced to make the nouns and verbs work harder.

Next, depending on the word length I’m working with, I substitute dialog for narrative. Some narrative is, of course, necessary, but most readers do prefer dialog, and it makes a story come alive.

I also make sure I haven’t said the same thing more than once. This is an easy trap to fall into, at least for me, but once is enough! At this point, I need to put the work aside for a day or more, come back to it with fresh eyes, and once again, make sure I’m not relying on over-explaining instead of using forceful, active words.

Next, I re-work the opening to make sure it’s powerful, attention-getting, and sets up the rest of the story or article. This is where words are crucial. One carefully-chosen word can make all the difference.

Now it’s time for the Final Cut. Once again, I set the story aside for a few days or even a week. (You can see deadlines need to be planned for accordingly, but it’s most important not to skip this last step!) When I come back to my manuscript, I read it with fresh eyes, as someone reading it for the first time. I make sure it holds together and that every word pulls its own weight.

The great Richard Peck once remarked that when we don’t “write tight,” when we over-explain, we are, in fact, “begging” the reader to understand what we are saying. It’s only when we make every single word pull its own weight that we gain the confidence to know the reader will understand. Our writing will be compelling and when it comes to writing, less is definitely more!

This approach works for me, as (among other acceptances) I have just submitted my 20th story to the L.A. Times! Thanks to Sherri for asking me to share these tips with all of you, her readers.

c October 2009 Marjorie Flathers

Meet Author Nancy I. Sanders!

2009-10-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

Meet award winning author (and my dear friend) Nancy I. Sanders! This amazing author of over 75 books is on her Virtual Book Tour and she's stopped at Sherri Tales! Nancy's blog tour is reaching across the country, teaching and inspiring writers all along the way! On October the 3rd Nancy was a featured speaker at the SCBWI Editors Day at the Santa Ana Zoo. Writers were so eager to read about Nancy's successful strategies that ANY writer can use---she sold out of her books! Don't worry, you can get one on amazon.com!

Are you ready for some exciting news? Nancy teaches you how to SIGN A CONTRACT without first writing the book. That's right. That's exactly what many writers do---but Nancy is the FIRST author to write a book about how to do that! Nancy and I signed contracts as coauthors for seven books BEFORE writing them---and YOU can too! Are you excited yet?

After reading this great interview, you'll want to pick up her one-of-a-kind book that even editors are talking about:

Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children's books,
Get Them Published,
and Build a Successful Writing Career!

by Nancy I. Sanders

Q: Nancy, what kind of encouraging comments or opinions have you received from editors about your thinking outside-of-the-box approach?

A: I’ve learned that there are two main types of editors: 1) Editors who are used to acquiring a completed manuscript and 2) Editors who are used to acquiring proposals and offering a contract before the manuscript is written. Usually, the editors who are used to acquiring a completed manuscript require agented submissions only. Or, they might require a completed picture book manuscript submission but will accept a proposal and offer a contract for a middle grade or young adult novel.

Most of the editors I work with are the ones who acquire proposals and offer contracts to write the book before it is actually written. These editors work in a full range of genre from picture books, to nonfiction books for kids, to middle grade novels, to educational books for teachers. It’s funny, but these editors don’t think my approach is outside-of-the-box. That’s the way they work and they usually work with career writers who are familiar with this procedure. They don’t want to acquire a manuscript that’s already written because they want to give their input from the outline on up to the finished project. They require this input so they want to offer a contract based on an author’s pitch or proposal for the projected manuscript.

I’ve learned to look for publishers who accept queries. If I’m not sure, I’ll query them first to check. If they respond and say that they require the completed manuscript first, I just move on. I keep looking for a publisher until I find one that accepts proposals. I want to earn income while I’m writing so I want to have that contract signed before I start to write. Of course, if I want to spend time writing a completed picture book or middle grade novel for personal fulfillment, then I go ahead and do that. Those are the manuscripts that I send out to the editors who require a completed manuscript up front.

Q: You have a helpful section in your book about writing and time management. What specific advice for writing time management would you give to moms of children still living at home? Many are talented, motivated writers, but find it hard to schedule writing time in their busy and often exhausting day.

A: I started writing when our second son was born, so I have a heart for busy moms with children at home. And yes, I offer a very detailed section on time management in my new book, Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books, Get Them Published, and Build a Successful Writing Career. In this section I tell how writers can start to build their career if they even just have one hour each day that they can sit down and write.

The exciting thing about being a mom with little ones at home is that they are actually in the best position to be a children’s writer! You see, even though technically I’m writing for 6-8 hours a day, I’m not sitting down at the computer for those many hours straight! I’m sitting on the couch reading current picture books for research. I’m washing the dishes while I brainstorm the next scene in my middle grade novel. I’m making a craft for my next nonfiction book for kids.

Moms with kids at home are in a fantastic position to start building a career as a children’s writer. If you’re a mom with your precious little ones in tow, here are some ways you can manage your time:

* Research: Grab the kids and head for your local library. Sit down with your kids and read them every book you can find on the topic you’re writing about. Then grab a huge stack to take home. Be sure to lug home more books than your library card allows ‘cause you’re lucky! You have extra library card carriers standing with you in line! Your kids!! Fill tote bags to overflowing and head back home where you can read, read, read your way through your research books while snuggled up with your toddlers on your couch at home.

* Study your craft: Watch your kid’s favorite videos over and over again sitting next to your children with pen and paper in hand. One time, study plot development. The next time study character development. The next time take notes on story arc, dialog, and setting. Take lots of notes and write down actual samples so you can learn from the pros.

* Lean How to Market Your Books: Take your kids to storytime, children’s shows, or go to school assemblies. Learn how to do school visits and author presentations. When you write a proposal for a new book, tell the editor you’ve got lots of ideas to get out there and help market your book.

* Setting: Go on a hike with your kids and hold brainstorming sessions for the manuscript you’re writing. Practice describing your surroundings together for words and ideas to develop your setting. Ask your kids to use words to describe the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of their world around them. Use these to jumpstart the setting in your manuscript.

* Dialogue: Invite your kids friends over for a play date. Listen in as they play together, eat snacks together, or even squabble together. Write down actual snippets of their dialogue. Your own skills at writing dialog will improve.

* Test your material: Want to give your manuscript a test? Test it out on your kids. Make a craft with them for a children’s magazine to see if it’s age appropriate and interesting enough to hold their attention. Read your story aloud to them and ask what parts they liked the most. Let them vote on three different titles or two different endings to your story.

The key is to develop the heart of a writer. Learn to look at everything through the eyes of a writer. Bond with your children during this precious and fleeting time of life and maximize the opportunity to grow as a writer. And then, during naptime or half an hour before they get up or after they go to bed, grab time at the computer and write that next scene in your manuscript. If you do, you’ll be all ready for tomorrow when you can get new material with your kids for the next part of your manuscript.

Thanks, Nancy! Great information!

Visit Nancy on her blog tour at: www.nancyisanders.wordpress.com

She would love to read your comments!

Nancy Sanders Blog Tour Stopping Here on October 12th!

2009-10-05T17:36:00.000-07:00

Meet award winning author (and my dear friend) Nancy I. Sanders! This amazing author of over 75 books is on her Virtual Book Tour, teaching and inspiring writers all along the way! Follow Nancy as she "travels" from blog to blog, answering questions about her newest book---

Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children's Books, Get Them Published,

and Build a Successful Writing Career.

I've had the privelege of co-authoring seven Scholastic books with Nancy! (I'm sorry, I just can't keep that to myself!) Nancy's book is unlike anything you've ever read on how to get your books published and actually build a writing career.

Nancy stops HERE on her Virtual Blog Tour Monday, October 12th!

Don't miss this exciting and informative interview.

Meanwhile, join Nancy's Virtual Book Tour every day for something new, fun and exciting, from

Monday, October 5th through Friday, October 16th by visiting www.nancyisanders.wordpress.com.

See you back here at Sherri Tales on the 12th for an inspiring interview!

Sheryl (o;

Check It Off! Writing a Magazine Story for Children

2009-10-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

Personally, I LOVE writing for children's magazines! It has taught me to write "tight". Kids can't wait for the next issue to arrive in their mailbox, and some children who won't read books WILL read magazines. What an opportunity we have to introduce kids to the world around them, and turn them into readers! If you're just beginning your journey writing for children's magazines, check out htis list of some of the basic elements needed for writing a magazine story.

MAIN CHARACTER: Will your readers LIKE the main character? Is he or she too “perfect” or did you give your protagonist a “wart” (flaw)? Is your character believable to children?

THEME: The theme is the main idea or message developed in your story. Is your theme universal and age appropriate? Is your story too preachy? Does the plot (what happens in the story) follow the thread of your theme from beginning to end? Did you avoid going off on “rabbit trails” (another theme or two)? It’s important to stick with only ONE theme all the way through or you will confuse the young reader with mixed messages.

CONFLICT: Is your character’s conflict, challenge, or dilemma age appropriate? Is it resolved by the protagonist without an adult taking over and "fixing" everything?

SHOW DON’T TELL: Are you “showing” instead of "telling," through dialog and the actions and reactions of the characters? There are very few illustrations in a magazine story. Your words must create “illustrations” in the readers mind.

STORY STRUCTURE: Does your story have a clear beginning, middle and end? Do you know the role of each part? Check these out:

Beginning: Is the main character’s conflict or challenge introduced within the first
few paragraphs to “hook” the reader?

Middle: Does the problem intensify and build in a series of several episodes (usually
three), each one more difficult than the the last?

Ending: Is the problem resolved in a way that will not disappoint the reader? Is the ending satisfying? Has the character grown in some way or had a “come to
realize” moment?

FACT CHECK: Are your facts correct for fiction and non-fiction? Kids are smart! They'll catch wrong information about animals, the environment, and lots more. So will editors!

FINAL MANUSCRIPT: Did you check the spelling and grammar? Is your story presented in proper manuscript format? Did you follow the magazine publisher’s guidelines and stay within the word count? If they accept simultaneous submissions and you’re sending it to several publishers, did you mention that at the end of your cover letter?

Read stacks of your favorite children’s magazines and familiarize yourself with the kinds of stories, rebuses, poems, and non-fiction they like to publish. Hopefully, what you write will be a perfect fit for many magazines. Don't forget your checklist. Happy writing!
Copyright 2008 Sheryl Ann Crawford

Writing Re-told Bible Stories for Kids

2009-09-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

I love writing retold Bible stories for young children. The Bible is filled with adventure! Story after story can be re-told with action and dialog, making the Bible come alive for kids. As a Believer, I know the Bible is certainly non-fiction material, and a never-ending source of inspiration for the Christian children’s writer.

Several years ago I wrote a series of three stories for a popular Christian children’s magazine for kids ages 4 to 8. These were stories about the inspiring and in-suppressible Paul...my Bible hero. The first story was titled, Shipwrecked!

Open a Bible and turn to chapters 27 & 28 in the book of Acts. You’ll read about Paul's harrowing adventure. I wanted kids ages 4 to 8 to “experience” just a portion of this story through action and dialog.

The following are short excerpts from Shipwrecked:

CRASH! Paul bolted upright. A monstrous wave had struck the ship! The sky was black and an icy rain pelted the prisoners and guards. Mighty winds tossed the ship from side to side. Wave after giant wave thundered and crashed over the wooden vessel.
"Help us!" the prisoners cried. "We're going to die!"
"I can't control the ship!" the Captain yelled.
"Throw everything overboard!" the guards shouted above the roar of the winds. “We must lighten the load or we'll sink!"

Here's another excerpt:

“Land! I see land!" shouted the Captain. The relieved men cheered and rowed for shore. But no one saw the danger ahead...jagged rocks beneath the dark waters.
SMASH! The ship splintered against the knife-sharp rocks. The waves beat against the broken vessel as the rocks tore it to pieces.
“Jump for your lives and swim for the island!” a guard shouted. “Every man for himself!”
Paul leaped into the water and held onto a piece of broken wood. He kicked his numb feet and headed toward the island along with the others. I know God has a plan, even in this freezing
wa-wa-water he thought.
Before long, Paul felt strong arms pull his weakened body onto the sandy beach. He looked up through salt-stung eyes into the friendly face of an islander.

Non-fiction resources are unlimited! If you haven’t tried writing for this genre you’re missing out on a publishing door that’s still WIDE OPEN for new talent! Go ahead...show children that life can be more exciting than fiction!

c 2008 Sheryl Crawford

Keeping up With Kids...a Necessity!

2009-09-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

Thinking back to memorable moments in your childhood can certainly trigger ideas for stories, but that isn't enough if you hope write for the children's market today. Keeping up with kids is a necessity. Here are some ways to do it:

Read newspapers and collect clippings of stories about, or that apply to kids. These can be great idea sparkers!

Read children's magazines. Libraries and bookstores provide a good selection. You'll learn about trends and topics that interest kids today. I subscribe to a magazine that I frequently write for.

Explore websites geared for children on books, science, nature, etc. Fascinating!

Talk with teachers and librarians. They know what kids are reading and asking for. Ask a teacher if you can be quiet observer in class.

Spend time with kids---not just your own or your grandchildren. There are often volunteer opportunities in a community which allow you to work with children. Visit a park, mall, bookstore, zoo, or theme park. Watch kids interact. It's a kick!

Watch television programs geared for the age you want to write for. You're never too old to watch children's programming like cartoons and Sesame Street. FUN!

Visit websites created by children's book authors. They seem to be innumerable!

Read the announcement issues of Publishers Weekly. These special issues come out twice a year. Ask a bookstore employee when they expect to have them. These issues give reviews about upcoming children's books. You'll also read about changes in the publishing industry. Here are more trade magazines recommended for children's book authors:

Horn Book Magazine [6 issues annually]

School Library Journal

Children's Literature Review

Booklist [22 issues annually]

Five Owls [a quarterly publication]

Kidscreen [about reaching kids through entertainment]

I HIGHLY recommend subscribing to The Children's Writer. It's not an expensive subscription. It will teach you and list publishing opportunities. Join the SCBWI [Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.]

Read, read, read, and never stop reading CURRENT children's books. Sure, enjoy the classics but be familiar with what's being published NOW.

Admit it. If you write for children then you never really grew up. That means keeping up with kids won't be that tough---just a whole lot of FUN!

Poetry That Allows the Blind to “See”

2009-09-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

Mary O’Neill’s poetry nearly takes my breath away. In her book Adventures in Color: Hailstones and Halibut Bones, the descriptions of the spectrum of color allow the reader to truly “experience” color with all the senses.

Here’s an amazing fact—this book of poetry continues to be a favorite for those who are BLIND! Mary’s magnificent poems allow the blind to “see” color, and has become a modern children’s classic. She has received hundreds of letters from blind children around the world. Colleges, librarians, grade school and high school teachers continue to use Hailstones and Halibut Bones in their classrooms as an example of poetry perfection.

Do something nice for yourself, pick up the NEWER edition by Doubleday (1989) illustrated by the phenomenal John Walner. His illustrations are lavish and rich—then get ready to experience poetry as you’ve never experienced it before!

Info Galore in the 2010 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market

2009-08-26T07:04:00.000-07:00

The Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market Guide used to be the only place an author could acquire information about what publishers want and how to send it. Now we have the Internet with guidelines and even complete book catalogs filling our screen. Some writers don't use the market guide each year and simply go to the publishing websites. Personally, I like to use the current market guide and the web side-by-side. Look at some of the articles included in this information packed book:

Inspirational stories from first time authors about how they landed that first book!

Quick tips for Writers & Illustrators: This covers topics that are especially helpful to the new writer and illustrator.

Before Your First Sale: You'll learn about cover letters, queries, proposals, manuscript formats, resumes, submissions, agents & art reps.

Running Your Business: This section covers contracts & negotiations, payment methods, copyright, great sources for contract help, and more.

Evolving Children's Book Publishing by Kelly Milner Halls: This article is a must read if you want to stay up to date in today's changing market! Follow her five steps.

Other articles cover writing humor with tips from the pros, revision, writing for reluctant readers, writing series for book packagers, social networking, book promotion, and much more. Whew!

This awesome book by Alice Pope does far more than give information on publishing houses---it also inspires, teaches, and helps keep writers up to date in this rapidly changing industry. In my opinion it's a valuable tool for the children's writer. I've already got my 2010 edition and it's right next to my computer. Got yours?

A Fatal Flaw That Affects Us All

2009-08-08T23:26:00.000-07:00

Marjorie Flathers is my friend and a fellow Wordsmith (our critique group). It is a delight to know her, and a privilege to learn from her expertise as a writer! She has been a successful free-lance writer for over 26 years. Marjorie's work has appeared in print well over 300 times in a variety of magazines, newspapers, and anthologies for writers and knitters. This writing pro has a degree in English and is a source of inspiration as well as knowledge about the world of publishing. She has graciously permitted me to present her post, A Fatal Flaw That Affects Us All. Pay close attention!

Here's Marjorie:

Many times people (usually non-writers who are naive or uninformed) have asked me, “Why don’t you just make a list of all the publishers available and send your manuscripts to every one? A publisher is bound to take it eventually!” This may or may not be true, and with a computer, following such a plan would seem to be a simple and easy thing to do. However, there’s a fatal flaw with this thinking, one that affects all writers.

Besides the high frustration level from all the rejections that will result when writers fail to do basic research on the kind of manuscripts each publishing house is looking for, editors’ are then flooded with submissions. Most of these submissions are inappropriate for their house, thus the dreaded slush pile. Over and over at writers’ conferences, editors speak of the overwhelming number of manuscripts they receive that are nothing like the books on their particular lists.

For example, textbook publishers often receive picture books. Publishers who do specialize in picture books receive YA novels describing teen angst. Even the larger houses who publish many different types of children’s books lean towards certain types of books. This is when an authors computer comes in handy. It’s easy to check publishers’ catalogs and guidelines online and to understand each one’s publishing niche. This is the first step any writer needs to take before he or she even thinks about writing a book or magazine piece.

Perhaps some writers still think that by using the “scatter-shot” method of submitting, their “excellent” manuscripts will so impress editors that they will want to publish something “different,” i.e., that writer’s book. But the truth is that as more and more writers do this, the slush pile grows larger and larger... thus the reason many publishing houses are closing their doors to ALL unsolicited or un-agented manuscripts. This is sad news for everyone.

We owe it to ourselves and to our fellow writers, aspiring and already published writers, to pay attention to the obvious first step and be aware of each publishers specialties.

When we do this, everyone in the publishing industry benefits.

c 2008 Marjorie Flathers

A Manuscript Goes Through All of THAT?

2009-08-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what a manuscript goes through before it ends up in the bookstores? Each publisher has its own process. Here's a glimpse (given to me by an editor of a major publishing house) of the GENERAL process from receiving a manuscript to publication:

TIME LINE - 3 MONTHS: Your Manuscript in the Hands of an Editor

An Editor reads your manuscript. If it has promise, it's passed to other editors.

The question is asked: Does the proposal meet our needs?

Goes to Publishing Board:

An Editor assembles the proposal, sample, and author bio.

Talks to marketing

Prepares sales info

Presents the product to board

TIME LINE - 1 to 2 MONTHS: Contract with the Author

Set up tentative schedule for production

Get costs from production. Stateside or overseas?

Get marketing projections

Approve the budget

Send contract to author

TIME LINE - 7 MONTHS: Launch the Product

Discuss with design the kind of illustrations, format and style

Discuss with marketing the best approach for marketing with other books in the line.

THE WORK---Complete the following:

1. Approvals for art/title/cover
2. Edits (work with author)
3. Proofreading
4. Corrections
5. Register Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data
6. Put in sales catalog
7. Final budget approval
8. Transmit to production

TIME LINE - 5 to 6 months:

Production:

Scan the art and put on disc

Send all to printer

Check color proofs

Print and bind book---preview copy is sent to publisher

Release book

Promotion:

Put final marketing plans in place

Print out material for sales representatives

Sales conference: Promote next season's products to sales force

********************************************************************************
Average time line = 18 months. It can take as long as 2 years depending on the publisher. WHEW! What a process. So, if YOUR book has been published, all I can say is

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Writing and Carnegie Hall

2009-07-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

One of the first books I read on writing for children was Jean Karl's How to Write and Sell Children's Picture Books. One of Jean's quotes from her introduction has stuck with me all these years. I wrote it on a 3 X 5 card as I began my writing journey. It encouraged me to press on, to study hard, and to practice, practice, practice!

It's a quote I occasionally recite when a new writer quickly becomes discouraged because his or her book or magazine story wasn't accepted after having studied and practiced for only a few weeks or months! Here's the quote:

"You wouldn't expect to pick up a violin, never having played one, and appear the next day at Carnegie Hall as a soloist. Writing is not so different. It takes practice and learning. But unlike the violin, it is something you can teach yourself, with a few guides along the way---"
Jean Karl

To me, that quote puts the difficult but wonderfully rewarding work of writing for children in perspective. I especially appreciate the last line, "--it is something you can teach yourself, with a few guides along the way---."

So, for those who can't yet "play the violin"--- keep learning and practicing because there is HOPE!

Try Writing for a Children's Writer Contest!

2009-07-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

Do you subscribe to the Children's Writer? If so, you may want to enter their Folktale or Fantasy contest. It's FREE for current subscribers. If you don't currently subscribe there is a $13 entry fee which INCLUDES an 8-month subscription! Not bad. Personally think every children's writer needs to subscribe to this up-to-date, informative newsletter. I LOVE this publication!

Here are the contest details:

A folktale, legend, fairy tale, or other fantasy story for early readers ages 7, to 500 words. Stories should be written at the appropriate age level so a child can read them independently. Entries will be judged on creativity, voice, and writing style. Include sources if the story is a retelling.

Entries for this contest (there are two more-see below!) must be received by October 31, 2009. Winners will be announced in the March 2010 issue. Prizes: $500 for first place plus publication in Children’s Writer; $250 for second place; and $100 for third, fourth, and fifth places.

Go to www.childrenswriter.com and click on Writing Contests. There are two more contests left for 2009 you may want to consider

1) An article on a science topic for age 11, to 750 words.

2) Historical fiction for young teens age 13, to 1,500 words.

Don't forget to print out their entry form!

Writing for Children: Is Your Dialogue Counterfeit or the Real Thing?

2009-07-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

I’ve learned more about dialogue by listening to the members of our critique group read their manuscripts and comment on mine, than I have from any how-to book, hands down! Books are necessary but (News Flash!) they can’t interact with you!

We have of eight pairs of listening and discerning ears in Wordsmiths. As we read our manuscripts aloud, each God-given and uniquely creative brain processes the information in a different way.

Every member has her own distinct insight on what is read.

They may agree on the overall status of a manuscript, and yet one or two members may add something else to the mix that’s entirely different. I soak in each persons dialogue style as I listen to these writers read their own work. This soaking, learning process has helped me critique my own dialogue for my early chapter book.

After each meeting, I come away having learned something about my dialogue—that little thing that can make or break your book!

Most of us know that people are trained to recognize counterfeit currency by touching the REAL thing hundreds of times. They do not concentrate on the counterfeit. They concentrate on the real thing so many times, it becomes easy to recognize the stuff that’s fake.

To me, writing dialogue is much like that. How do we recognize the real, natural, believable dialogue in our own writing vs dialogue that sounds contrived and fake? By hearing the REAL THING in a great critique group---and by READING the REAL THING in books over and over again. We soak in GOOD dialogue until we're saturated with great examples.

As with counterfeit money, before long you will notice that

unrealistic, unbelievable, "FAKE" dialogue

becomes easier to identify.

If you’re struggling with writing dialogue, try to join or form a great critique group, then dialogue about your dialogue! It will help you learn to identify the real, the believable, and the natural in your own writing.

c 2009, Sheryl Ann Crawford

Get This One-of-a-Kind Book on Writing for Children!

2009-06-24T19:36:00.000-07:00

I have learned more about writing for children from my dear friend and author Nancy I. Sanders, than from any other writer I know. And I know a few! Some of that knowledge came years ago when we had the joy of co-authoring SEVEN books together for Scholastic Professional Books! What fun we had!

Nancy is a writing machine and yet her family remains her top priority. She's had over 70 books published and LOVES mentoring writers. I am one of the fortunate eight members in her critique group, Wordsmiths.

Want some GREAT news that will absolutely turn your writing career around? I'm NOT kidding. Her brand new book is hot off the press:

Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books, Get Them Published, and Build a Successful Writing Career

by Nancy I. Sanders

Writer, you have NEVER read a book on building a writing career like this one!

This is a one-of-a-kind book with strategies and tips that Nancy says "will take your writing career to the top!"

Nancy ought to know because she's used these strategies to build a very successful career as a well known children's writer. This fabulous book is now listed on Amazon and Nancy hopes it will "find its home in the hands and hearts of children’s writers all around the world."

I just couldn't wait to tell you!

The Educational Market For Children's Writers!

2009-06-23T07:09:00.001-07:00

Evelyn Christensen is the author of over 30 educational puzzle books. What an imagination! From a heart of generosity Evelyn has posted a few of the newest updates for the educational market. Visit her creative website to stay informed and take advantage of publishing opportunities by going to:

http://echristensen.atspace.com/markets.html

Thank you, Evelyn!

Wanna Stay up to Date on Writing Trends?

2009-06-20T07:25:00.001-07:00

There's no way for a writer to stay up to date on writing trends, publishing needs, and the changing climate in children's publishing if that writer does nothing but sit at a computer pounding the keys. That can give you carpal tunnel and keep you in the pitch-black dark about what's going on in publishing. Carpal tunnel and no flash light is a terrible combination.

Attending critique groups and an occasional conference (expensive!) reading the current market guides and stacks of children's books and magazines is necessary---but you'll need to do more to stay up to date with this changing market.

One of the best ways I know to stay in the loop is to read The Children's Writer, a newsletter of writing and publishing trends. It's a MUST for me. This fabulous publication will tell you what editors want and don't want. You'll get tips on writing style in every area of children's literature. If you want a real challenge, try entering one of their writing contests. It's always fun to read the winning pieces. Who knows---one of those could be yours!

The Children's Writer did NOT ask me to write this. I'm just their number ONE fan. I'm thinking about getting a baseball cap with C.W on the front. Hmmm...on second thought, a book bag would be more my style. Anyway, go to their website. They're offering a FREE trial issue!

www.childrenswriter.com

If You Feel Like Reading a Story

2009-06-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

My story KITTEN'S CLIMB can be found (with illustrations) by going to the following HIGHLIGHTS web address:

www.highlightskids.com/Stories/Fiction/F0497_kittens.asp

KITTEN'S CLIMB is part of a reading comprehension test booklet used in schools across the country. It's published by Harcourt.

Hope you like it (o:

Story Starters---Part Two

2009-06-17T16:44:00.000-07:00

This is Part two of “Story Starters—Look, Listen, & Feel"

The following is an excerpt (obtained with permission from FabJob) from FabJob Guide to Become a Children’s Book Author, by Jeannie Harmon and Shiela Seifert.

We’re continuing with ways to come up with and keep great ideas for your writing moments! Last time we stopped at idea #4. Let’s keep going!

5. Volunteer to work with kids.

A good way to get to know kids is to work with them. Find areas where you can involve yourself. Call your local elementary school or ask at your church to see if there are areas where you could volunteer. Usually they will be glad to have help, and you will get to talk to kids and learn how they think, talk, and act.

6. Look into your past.

Flannery O’Connor said that anyone who survived childhood has enough material to write for the rest of his or her life. The good news is that you were a kid, and you have almost an endless supply of material at your fingertips. You might think that you can’t remember much, but you would be surprised when you start putting things down on paper.

Start with your first day of school (or your first day of middle school!) or the Thanksgiving that everyone stood up until Grandma, who was always serving others, sat down. Write about your best childhood friend - what you did and where you went. Write about your first piano recital - when halfway through your piano piece your mind went blank, and you forgot the music. The list goes on and on.

7. Brainstorm.

Used in many professional settings, brainstorming is the free flow of ideas written down on paper or a white board. Judgment is not passed. No idea is out of line or stupid. By listing everything that you can think of, you will see patterns and solutions that you will be able to use in constructive ways.

One way to do this when you’re by yourself, is to time yourself for fifteen minutes. Once the timer starts, put your pencil on the sheet of paper and begin writing. You can write, “I don’t know what to write,” or “I can’t wait for the timer to end,” if you can’t think of anything to write.

The key is to keep your pencil moving for fifteen minutes without picking it up. Try to concentrate on one story or one topic and then write anything that comes to mind. Write one long paragraph that is devoid of punctuation and grammar rules. When the timer goes off, go back and read the ideas that have appeared on your sheet of paper.

8. Mind mapping.

Mind mapping is a very useful tool. It is a type of brainstorming but with this tool all the events are closely related to one core idea or event.

To do mind mapping, simply write one idea or event in the middle of a white piece of paper. Then explore all the things that come to mind, jotting each thing down in a circular pattern around your core idea. This will enable you to expand your thinking to include other aspects that you haven’t thought about before. Connect each idea to the core thought by drawing a line to the center.

One of the greatest things about being a children’s writer is that it legitimizes being a kid again. No longer are you bound in this adult box called “the serious side of life.” You now have an excuse to free up an afternoon and go to the park. You are doing research.

So sit back, clear your mind, take out your note cards and pencil, and expect to have fun! Writing for kids is an intricate blend of work and play, and there are no corporate directives to follow. You cut your own path.

The above is only a small sample of the valuable information in the FabJob Guide to Become a Children’s Book Author. The complete guide gives detailed information on how you can become a published children’s book author. Visit www.FabJob.com/childauthor.asp for more information.

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It’s me, Sheryl (o: I hope you found this information as helpful as I did! Thanks again to Shelley, Manager of Special Projects for FabJob Inc. for allowing me to post this excerpt!

Story Starters: Look, Listen, and Feel—Part 1

2009-06-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

I recently obtained written permission from FabJob Inc. to reproduce the following online sample from FabJob Guide to Become a Children’s Book Author by Jeannie Harmon and Shiela Seifert. Many thanks to Shelley, Manager of Special Projects for FabJob Inc. for allowing me to post this excerpt!

Jeannie Harmon was the wonderful editor who worked with me on my first picture book, Psalms for a Child’s Heart. Jeannie is also my dear friend (o:

To link to this GREAT 171 page e-book resource go to: http://www.FabJob.com/childauthor.asp?affiliate=262

Enjoy the excerpt on getting ideas for stories! Here it is:

GET IDEAS DOWN ON PAPER
As adults we often forget the amazing awe of learning something for the first time. We go about our lives in the “fast mode” and often miss the wonder that stops a child in his tracks to watch a caterpillar cross the sidewalk. For a child, everything is a learning experience.

Focus on describing moments at first. The smell of cookies in your grandma’s kitchen is a good example. The better you can learn to clearly describe this moment with as few words as necessary, the faster the child will be able to visualize the scene in his or her mind. As you get better at fleshing out these ideas and thoughts on paper, you will become faster and better able to describe the bigger ideas.

As a writer, we have to learn to see things, in a sense, for the first time - again. Ask yourself:

What does it look like, sound like, feel like?

Is it rough, or is it smooth?

Is it sweet to taste or as sour as lemons?

Does it sound like a brass band marching past you, or is it the sound of a gentle breeze through the leaves of the tree in your front yard?

All of these things can be described with words, and as the words are spoken, you will stir the imagination of the child listener.

Ideas can be found everywhere. Often we miss those golden opportunities to glean just the idea we need either to get thinking about a story or to describe a scene or character.

So, how do you begin the process of writing a book? Books begin with ideas. How do writers come up with ideas?

They:

Look and listen

Write notes

Cut out stories from the newspaper

Use their past experiences

Start with a question

Here are a few ways to come up with and keep great ideas for your writing moments:

1. Carry note cards.

Never underestimate the power of your mind to totally forget a good idea you had ten minutes ago! The best insurance against this malady is to carry 3″ x 5″ cards with you in your purse or pocket. Then when you are waiting for a bus or standing in a grocery store and something catches your attention, you can write down some notes while the mood is fresh. Buy a file box and organize your cards into sections. You might want to use character descriptions, scenes, conversations overheard, story ideas, etc. as divisions in your box.

2. Visit the children’s section of the local library.

The library is a storehouse for source material. Not only do librarians know what kids like to read, but often kids are perusing the shelves themselves. You can observe what types of books they are drawn to. Libraries have a wealth of kid’s books to check out, the latest in children’s magazines so that you can find out what kids are currently interested in, and most have a good selection of videos and games that can be checked out.

3. Watch kids at a playground.

Go to the local park or schoolyard and watch kids interact with each other.

How do they talk?

What is the body language they use?

Do girls play with girls at age 6, or do they play with boys and girls?

What do they look like?

All of these questions will provide you with valuable information and ideas.

4. Watch children’s programming on TV.

Take an hour or two on Saturday morning or a weekday afternoon to watch children’s programming on TV. We live in an age when things change quickly on screen, and everything is full of color and excitement. This is what you are competing with for your audience. Don’t think that children will settle for a boring story when they can turn on the television. Study the competition.

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It’s me, Sheryl. Wasn’t that helpful information? Thanks, Jeannie and Shiela for doing such a great job! Look for Part 2 coming soon!

Four Handy-Dandy Books

2009-05-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

These are some of my favorite books I use as a writer.

1) The Random House Rhyming Dictionary (pocket size):
Because I like to write fun poetry for my blog and a particular children’s magazine, this little book comes in mighty handy when I hit a mental road block. Speaking of rhyming, visit www.rhymezone.com Very helpful when you’re looking for that perfect rhyme word.

2) Writing for Children & Teenagers by Lee Wyndham:
I’ve read this book many times yet I continue to turn to my folded pages and highlighted paragraphs. Lee’s book is packed with information on writing for the young child to the teenager. She taught for 13 years at New York University. Boy, I wish I’d been in the front row!

3) The Everything Grammar and Style Book 2nd Edition by Susan Thurman: This book is user friendly which is something I appreciate when it comes to grammar! I should use this book more often. (o;

4) How to Write Attention-Grabbing Query & Cover Letters by John Wood: You’ve GOT to read page 150 (The Ideal Cover Letter). Need I say more?

The Children's Education Market

2009-04-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in writing for the children's education market? If so, Evelyn B. Christensen, an extraordinary author and puzzle creator has compiled a current list of publishers and their needs and she's sharing it with fellow writers!

Evelyn deserves our thanks for her careful research. Thank you, Evelyn! Check out the Author and Puzzle Creator website!

http://www.echristensen.atspace.com/markets.html

Don't Miss This Post: Make Them Believe!

2009-04-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know this post is one you read last week. It was time to post something else and so I did, however I've decided to put it back up. It's just too important to miss. I'm giving it more time to reach the few writers who read my humble blog.

In my opinion, if these comments from children don't inspire you---
perhaps you shouldn't be writing for them.

Make Them Believe:
I was deeply touched recently while reading comments from children about why they love reading. Some comments made me smile. Others brought me to tears. I’ve rephrased what they said. Perhaps their comments will influence your writing. I know it has changed my perspective. Listen to the children you write for:

From an 11 year old: When I read a book all of my troubles leave. I feel as though I’m in the book.

From a 10 year old: When I’m in the story it feels just like I’m the character. It feels like whatever happens to the character is happening to me. It’s like I’m in another world and I never really leave that other world until I finish the book. But even when I’m finished reading the book I’m still there in my mind.

From a 13 year old: Reading helps me escape from a hard day. Reading has helped me to learn right from wrong.

From an 11 year old: Reading is how I escape my life. Without a book I feel lost and empty. If I wasn’t able to read I would be bored and might die. To me reading is a way of survival.

From a 12 year old: Reading does NOT make you nerd or a dork! Reading is one of the greatest pleasures in life. I think the people who make fun of you for reading all the time are the nerds! Reading improves your vocabulary and knowledge.

From an 11 year old: Reading is like going on a vacation. It’s like seeing a movie in your own head and you don’t miss any of the good scenes. When you are sad and lonely and all your friends are gone, a book can be your friend.

From a 12 year old: When I read I can go to the past, present, or future. I feel like I’m exploring and journeying.

From a 14 year old: When I read I feel like I’m traveling to different worlds. I can be somebody else.

From a 12 year old: I can feel the authors words and see pictures in my head. Books are like portals. You can laugh, or be frightened or suddenly be plunged into a dangerous plot. Reading can calm you down when you are mad and when you are sad, reading can soothe you.

From a 13 year old: I feel like I’m really there. If you are lonely, you can read a book about people who are friendly and nice and you feel like they are your friends.

From a 12 year old: Books can help you follow your dreams or even become a hero. There is a whole world waiting to be discovered!

From a 13 year old: I love to read because it helps get me through hard times. When you have a book you will always have a friend.

From a 9 year old: When I read it takes me away from everything that’s going on and brings me to a whole new world.

From a 13 year old: Books can take you all around the world. They can keep you company when you’re lonely. BOOKS MAKE US BELIEVE.

Lots of children need a whole new world for many reasons. Books were referred to as friends, a way to escape troubles, a way to explore, follow their dreams, take a vacation in their mind, even learn right from wrong. To one child, reading was actually referred to as a way of survival! I wonder how many children feel that way.

If you never really thought you could actually change a life with your writing…

THINK AGAIN, WRITER!

Write for the children who NEED books in a way some of us never imagined.

Write and MAKE THEM BELIEVE!

Source: Alan L. Brown’s website at www.alanbrown.com

From Lightning Bugs to Doing the Dishes

2009-04-13T01:05:00.000-07:00

Mark Twain said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.”

I can see you nodding. Read on for more great quotes on writing:

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” Anton Chekhov

“If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” Toni Morrison

“The wastebasket is a writer’s best friend.” Isaac Bashevis Singer

“A poet can survive everything but a misprint.” Oscar Wilde

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” William Wordsworth

“I try to leave out the parts that people skip.” Elmore Leonard

“Metaphors have a way of holding the most truth in the least space.” Orson Scott Card

“A poem begins with a lump in the throat.” Robert Frost

“Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.” Author Unknown

“I love being a writer. What I can’t stand is the paperwork.” Peter De Vries

“I am returning this otherwise good typing paper to you because someone has printed gibberish all over it and put your name at the top.” English Professor (name unknown) Ohio University

“Language is the dress of thought.” Samuel Johnson

“A synonym is a word you use when you can’t spell another one.” Baltasar Gracian

“When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing.” Enrique Jardiel Poncela

“God is the perfect Poet.” Robert Browning

“A man will turn over half a library to make a book.” Samuel Johnson

“A notepad by the bedside accounts for half the earning of my livelihood. If it weren’t for bedtime, half my novels would still be stuck at dock.” Ever Garrison

“There are thousands of thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up the pen and writes.” William Makepeace Thackeray

“The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” Thomas Jefferson

“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.” Robert Frost

“Eloquence is the poetry of prose.” William Cullen Bryant (a relative in my family tree!)

“The best time for planning a book is while you’re doing the dishes.” Agatha Christie

Great Beginning Lines

2009-03-14T16:51:00.001-07:00

Great beginnings start with the very first line or two. Do you recognize the books these first lines represent? Answers are at the bottom. Have fun and don’t peek!

FIRST LINES:

1 - “Where’s Pa going with that ax?”

2 - “In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.”

3 - “All children except one, grow up.”

4- “There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.”

5 - “Ma, a mouse has to do what a mouse has to do.”

6 - “Wemberly worried about everything.”

7 - “When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most
disagreeable-looking child ever seen. It was true, too.”

8 - “Once there was a tree and she loved a little boy.”

9 - “The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind…”

10 - “When Mrs. Frederick C. Little’s second son arrived, everybody noticed that he was not much bigger than a
mouse.”

11 - Today, Monday, Wanda Petronski was not in her seat.”

12 - “Keith, the boy in the rumpled shorts and shirt, did not know he was being watched as he entered room 215 of
the Mountain View Inn.”

13 - “In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf.”

14 - “I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there’s gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I
tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I
could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.”

15 - “The children were having breakfast. This was not a pleasant sight.”

16 - “Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type.”

17 - “I was born in the gutter and grew up in poverty, abandoned by my parents, stealing and begging in order to
survive.”

18. “In a cave in the woods, in his deep, dark lair, through the long, cold winter sleeps a great brown bear.”

19. “I love being fancy.”

20. “Henry Brown wasn’t sure how old he was.”

21. “Once there was a baby who wriggled real bad.”

22. “Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot, but the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville, did NOT!”

23. “How does a dinosaur say good night when Papa comes in to turn off the light?”

24 - “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was
on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

ANSWERS:
1. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
2. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelman
3. Peter Pan by J.M.Barrie
4. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
5. Ragweed by Avi
6. Wemberly Worried by Kenvin Henkes
7. The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett
8. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
9. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
10. Stuart Little by E.B. White
11.The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
12. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
13. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
14. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
15. Five Minutes Peace by Jill Murphy
16. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
17. Stay! by Lois Lowry
18. Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
19. Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor
20. Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
21. The Wriggly, Wriggly Baby by Jessica Clerk
22. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
23. How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen
24. The Bible:Genesis 1:1 &2 by God

The Rest of the Must-Read List!

2009-02-23T16:03:00.000-08:00

In my February 11 post I listed 40 of the 100 best picture books recommended in 2008 by the New York Public Library System. How many have you read? Here are the final 60:

41. John Henry by Julius Lester

42. Julius by Angela Johnson

43. Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

44. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

45. The Line-Up Book by Russo Marisabina

46. The Little Red Hen: An Old Story retold by Margot Zemach

47. Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story From China by Ed Young.

48. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber

49. Mabela the Clever by Margaret Read MacDonald

50. Machines At Work by Byron Barton

51. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

52. Maisy Goes Swimming by Lucy Cousins

53. Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

54. Mama Cat Has Three Kittens by Denise Fleming

55. The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein

56. Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh

57. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia L. Burton

58. Millions Of Cats by Wanda Gag

59. Miss Nelson Is Missing by Harry Allard and James Marshall

60. Mr. Gumpy's Outing by John Birmingham

61. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale retold by John Steptoe

62. Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming

63. My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann

64. The Napping House by Audrey Wood

65. No, David! by David Shannon

66. Off to School, Baby Duck! by Amy Hest

67. Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth

68. Olivia by Ian Falconer

69. Owen by Kevin Henkes

70. Papa, Please Get The Moon For Me by Eric Carle

71. Pierre: A Cautionary Tale by Maurice Sendak

72. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

73. Puss In Boots by Charles Perrault

74. The Random House Book Of Mother Goose: A Treasury Of 386 Timeless Nursery Rhymes by Arnold Lobel

75. Round Trip by Ann Jonas

76. Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinskey

77. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

78. Spots, Feathers and Curly Tails by Nancy Tafuri

79. The Story Of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

80. The Stray Dog by Simont Marc

81. Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola

82. Swimmy by Leo Lionni

83. Sylvester And The Magic Pebble by William Steig

84. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

85. Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

86. Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang

87. There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly by Simms Taback

88. The Three Bears by Paul Galdone

89. Trashy Town by Andrea Griffing Zimmerman

90. The True Story Of The Three Little Pigs By A. Wolf by John Scieszka

91. Tuesday by David Wiesner

92. Uptown by Collier Bryan

93. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

94. The Wheels On The Bus by Paul O. Zelinsky

95. Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

96. Where's Spot? by Eric Hill

97. Whistle For Willie by Jack Ezra Keats

98. The Wolf's Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza

99. Yoko by Rosemary Wells

100. Zomo The Rabbit: A Trickster Tale From West Africa retold by Gerald McDermott. D

Did you notice the mix of classics and newer books? This complete list should help to give you a well-rounded idea of what children love to read. Happy reading, picture book writers!

A Blog to Help Christian Writers Stay on Target

2009-01-30T07:46:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a prolific and highly respected Christian author, writers have some “staying-on-target” assistance.

Sally E. Stuart, author of thirty-six books and more than a thousand articles, has a marketing blog…Christian Writers’ Marketplace. Sally is perhaps best known for compiling the yearly Christian Writers’ Market Guide.

Her blog has daily entries that can assist writers in targeting the right publishers, as well as help them keep the market guide current.

Sally will keep you up to date with current news in the publishing industry…a must as tough economic times dictate what publishing houses can or cannot produce.

Go to: www.stuartmarket.blogspot.com

Visit this FANTASTIC website...OFTEN!

2009-01-09T11:42:00.000-08:00

I was introduced to a FANTASTIC website! Hope you'll visit it often. Includes idea sparkers, technique articles, and a drop down menu of links to children's magazines online.

www.kidmagwriters.com

Make Your Story Come ALIVE! Show don't Tell.

2009-01-06T21:25:00.000-08:00

Creating stories that pull your readers in requires dialog and ACTION. It's called SHOWING instead of TELLING. Editors sometimes write "SDT" on manuscripts. What's that stand for? SHOW don't TELL.

I’m going to use an example of how to SHOW instead of TELL. It's from a Christmas story I wrote for a magazine. The following is NOT the way I actually wrote this portion of my story. If I had written it this way, it never would have been published!

This is TELLING:
The innkeeper’s son ran to his father to tell him about the amazing star, but his father was too busy to care. He had an inn full of tired, hungry guests to serve. The father told his son to fill a jug of water for the guests, then hurry back. A few minutes later the boy ran back to his father to ask if there were any rooms left. His father told him the inn was full. The boy was worried about the pregnant woman and her husband. He knew they desperately needed a room. Even though the boy pleaded with his father to find room for the couple, his father insisted there was nothing he could do.

************************************************************************************

BORING! Did it practically put you to sleep? It should have. I merely gave the reader INFORMATION. There was NO ACTION whatsoever. This kind of writing will not pull your readers into your story and get them emotionally involved. Basically, your readers just won’t care.

This is SHOWING:
"A star?" the boy's father said as he lifted a heavy water jug onto his shoulder. "I don't have time to look at a star. We have an inn full of tired, hungry guests to serve."
"But, Father, I’ve never seen anything like it! And it's right over our..."
"Son, please! It’s only a star. I've seen thousands.” His father shook is head then thrust a clay jug into the boys arms.
“Stop star gazing and help me. Fill this jug at the well, and hurry. Our guests are waiting."

It wasn’t long before the boy bolted through the doorway, out of breath.
"Father! Are there any rooms left?"
"Son, the inn is bursting at the seams. I gave the last room away hours ago."
"But there's a man and woman who need a room," the boy pleaded. They can't stay on the streets of Bethlehem. Please find them something!"
His father threw his hands in the air. "Hundreds of people need a place to stay. We don't have room for everyone!"
The boy grabbed hold of his father's arm. “Father! She’s going to have a baby---NOW!”

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Do you see how I gave the reader the basic information that was in my first example, but in a way that made it come alive through action and dialog? I wanted the reader to feel the tension... to sense the excitement and the urgency the boy felt. SHOWING through dialog and action pulls the reader into your story.

Flip through your favorite books or magazine stories. Notice how the writer uses dialog and ACTION. If you love the writing, it has everything to do with SDT.

Copyright 2008 Sheryl Ann Crawford

That's Punny: Part II (Sorry!)

2008-11-18T15:05:00.000-08:00

Here's part II if you can stand it!

Never lie to an x-ray technician. They can see right through you.

With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.

When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.

Santa’s helpers are subordinate clauses.

You are stuck with your debt if you can’t budge it.

He broke into song because he couldn’t find the key.

A calendar’s days are numbered.

A boiled egg is hard to beat.

If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.

A lot of money is tainted: ‘Taint yours, and ‘taint mine.

Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

We were so poor when I was growing up we couldn't even afford to pay attention.

It was an emotional wedding. Even the cake was in tiers.

He bent over to pick up a sieve and strained himself

The professor discovered that his theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.

The dead batteries were given out free of charge.

If you take a laptop computer for a run you could jog your memory.

A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.

A will is a dead giveaway.

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

And this one describes ME:

She had a photographic memory which was never developed.

Jelly Fingerprints

2008-10-05T17:44:00.000-07:00

Most children's authors are not famous. I'll say it again; most children's authors are NOT famous. For every well-known children's book author, I'm guessing there are probably a thousand wonderful authors who will never make those big bucks or see a media frenzy with each new book release.

If you are an aspiring children's writer, or even a published one, does that information bother you? Come on. Be honest. Does it bother you even a teeny, tiny bit? It's OK if it does. After all, what children's writer wouldn't want to have beautiful books published that are loved by children around the world, and make tons of $$$$$ doing it? There's nothing wrong with that, but money should never be the motive for a children's author. If it is, I believe that author will lose his or her focus. What's our focus? Reaching children.

Those persistent, marvelously talented, yet unknown authors do have books published---books that often go out of print after the first print run, never to be seen in a bookstore again. "So why try?" you ask. "What's the point if my book is a flash in the pan?" For what it's worth, here's my answer---

Never forget that the end of a print run
doesn't mean the end of the story.
Those books can live on in the hearts and minds
of the children who cherish them.

Those are the children who may grow up to be avid readers. The internet, computer and video games have snatched books from the hands of kids. Perhaps your book will be one to help pull them into the love of reading.

Treasured books have sticky jelly fingerprints on the covers, and crayon marks on some of the pages. They're worn and torn, and the edges are frayed. Kids don't care who wrote their favorite book, they just know they love it. You don't have to be famous for them. I consider those authors (of which I believe I am one) to be fortunate. Not famous, but fortunate. Their words touch the lives of the audience they love. Isn't that the reason we write?

Some of our books will be handed down to children and grandchildren. They'll bring back sweet memories of childhood. Think back to just one of your favorite childhood books. How did it make you feel when you read it or when it was read to you? When you grew up did you pull it from a dusty cardboard box in the garage and gasp when you saw it? "Oh! I LOVED this book when I was little!" Has that ever happened to you? It's happened to me and I feel like that little girl again when I turn the pages.

I like what author Catherine Woolley (Jane Thayer) said in her fabulous book Writing for Children:

"Most children's authors are famous to no one but librarians and teachers and the children who write to you or hear you speak. Children often know the title of a book they love but not the name of the author. You will not be famous to the general public except sometimes in your hometown. Pay it no mind. Be amused."

So, if your book didn't make you a bundle of money, but has jelly fingerprints all over it, and is pulled off the bookshelf before being tucked in at night--- consider yourself fortunate. And be amused (o;

Copyright 2008 Sheryl Ann Crawford

Does Your Manuscript Stand Out in the Wrong Way?

2008-10-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

Only good writing will make your manuscript stand out in the right way from the mountainous slush pile. Below is a list of things editors DO and DO NOT like to see. They've seen everything on this list and more!

DEAR WRONG EDITOR WOES:

Don't assume the manuscript submission information in your current Writers' Market Guide is current! By the time you're ready to send your query, proposal letter, or manuscript to the submissions editor, the information could be outdated. I know it's an exaggeration but I like to say that publishing houses have been known to change editors like we change our socks! It gets the point across.

Do go to publishers websites for the most recent guidelines and the name of the editor currently accepting submissions. Up-to-date guidelines and information on editorial changes can also be obtained from The Children's Writer, the SCBWI Bulletin, and The Children's Book Insider.

EXCRUCIATING ENVELOPES:

Don't send brightly colored (or even pastel) envelopes meant to draw attention to your manuscript. Decorated envelopes with stickers, drawings of smiley faces, or cute sayings are not acceptable.

Do use a plain white #10 envelope if your manuscript is four pages or less. Fold manuscript and cover letter into thirds. I like to use a 9 X 12 manila envelope for longer manuscripts. Include a SASE.

EXPRESS ENCOUNTER:

Don't send your manuscript Express Delivery. It will not get your manuscript to the top of the slush pile. A "better" and faster package does not mean a better manuscript. It will only frustrate an editor because the guidelines were not followed.

Do send your manuscript in a plain envelope with the correct postage.

FAXING FOUL-UPS:

Don't fax a manuscript unless guidelines tell you it's acceptable. That rarely happens. Faxed manuscripts are difficult to read.

Do follow the manuscript submission guidelines. Very few accept fax or e-mail submissions. Most require snail-mail.

ARTISTICALLY AMAZING OR AWFUL?:

Don't send art samples with your manuscript unless you are a true professional illustrator. This is a surprise to many new writers who think they must find an illustrator to go with their manuscript. The same goes for sending drawings from your sister-in-law, best friend, or anyone else who you think is a pretty good artist. Pretty good doesn't make it. Professional does. The standards for book illustrations are extremely high. Publishers have their own set of illustrator guidelines for professionals. Illustration decisions are up to the publisher.

Do write a manuscript that lends itself to visual pictures. Editors are pros at envisioning imaginative illustrations for a great story. Occasionally it may be necessary for you to describe a scene of it's not self-explanatory. Here's how you do it---describe the scene and put it in [brackets].

STAPLE SENSE:

Don't staple your manuscript together. Do not bind your manuscript in any way to make it look like a book.

Do use a large paper clip.

FORGET FANCY FONTS:

Don't use fancy or an extra LARGE font.

Do use the generally accepted fonts in black: Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier. Don't try to squeeze in more words by using a 10 or 11 font! Font number 12 is easy to read and the accepted font size.

MANUSCRIPT MARVEL OR MESS UP:

Don't try to squeeze as much as you can on each sheet of paper by leaving extra small margins. Nothing less than an inch will do. Don't use single spacing in your story. Use double.

Do leave good margins of an inch on each side and about an inch and a half on the bottom of your manuscript. Do use double spacing in your story. Follow complete manuscript format samples found in most how-to-write for children books.

I'll save info on writing cover letters and queries for another post (o:

Your manuscript needs to look professional. It will give you some credibility and perhaps a second look from an editor!

Copyright 2008 Sheryl Ann Crawford

The Four Rights!

2008-09-19T20:24:00.001-07:00

After FOUR years of praying and not giving up on one of my book ideas, it finally found a home! God was gracious. It's been a looooong dry spell since my last book was published. Now I'm getting ready to sign a contract with Scholastic Professional Books!

As the saying goes, timing is everything. Remember the FOUR RIGHTS. It's the...

right book

at the right time

for the right house

with the right editor who has your vision.

GOOD manuscripts make the rounds...sometimes for years until your book---like a puzzle piece---falls into place perfectly.

Do NOT give up! It took 5 years of nicely written, encouraging rejection letters for my book Psalms for a Child's Heart to find a home. They were lovely. Really they were. In fact I was beginning to plan my living room decor around rejection-letter-shabby-chic-wallpaper.

Ever heard of Dr. Seuss? Are you kidding? His children's book And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street, was rejected TWENTY SEVEN times before being accepted by Vanguard Press. 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27
Did you get that? It's success was spectacular.

Let that be a lesson to you (and to me) to never give up. Now pick up that pen, writer, and keep going! And forget about using those rejection letters as wallpaper. The don't stick. (o;

That's Punny! Part I

2008-09-17T18:58:00.000-07:00

Some punny stuff. Enjoy (o;

A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

Acupuncture: a jab well done.

A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.

A circus lion won't eat clowns because they taste funny.

A backward poet writes inverse.

A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France and resulted in Linoleum Blownapart.

A plateau is a high form of flattery.

When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.

There was once a cross-eyed teacher who couldn't control his pupils.
Somebody was running a flea circus but a dog came and stole the show.

Tennis players don't marry because love means nothing to them.

Those who watch too much football will wear out their end zone.

When the plums dry on your tree, it's time to prune.

At a pet store: 'buy one dog, get one flea'.

When they bought a water bed, the couple started to drift apart.

He bent over to pick up a sieve and strained himself.

In the winter my dog wears his coat, but in the summer he wears his coat and pants.

Police were called to a day care, where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.

The roundest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Cumference.

To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

When fish are in schools they sometimes take debate.

A thief who stole a calendar… got twelve months.

A thief fell and broke his leg in wet cement. He became a hardened criminal.

Thieves who steal corn from a garden could be charged with stalking.

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles , U. C. L. A.

And last but not least----

Seven days without a pun makes one weak. Sorry!

Be Amused

2008-08-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

In her helpful book, Writing For Children, Catherine Wooley (Jane Thayer) said this:

"Most children's authors are famous to no one but librarians and teachers and the children who write to you or hear you speak. Children often know the title of a book they love but not the name of the author. You will not be famous to the general public except sometimes in your hometown. Pay it no mind. Be amused."

Is your goal to reach children or to be famous and rich? Most likely you and I will not be famous or rolling in cash because of our writing. So, if after knowing this harsh reality you still want to write---YOU are a true children's writer and in mighty good company! Some of the finest writers of children's books and magazine stories are not famous or wealthy, but their stories are dearly loved by children. Now THAT should make you feel like a million $$$!

Sad News to Share

2008-08-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

It is with deep sadness that I share some news that some of you may not have heard. Sue Alexander, author of such books as Whatever Happened to Uncle Albert?, Behold the Trees, and One More Time, Mama, passed away suddenly and in mid-conversation on July 3, 2008. Sue helped create, sustain and guide the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for over three decades — her passion and pride has left an indelible mark on what children read to this day---and what she has taught should serve as hope to children in the future. Visit her wonderful website at www.sue-alexander.com

Educators' Top 100 Children's Books

2008-08-05T08:29:00.000-07:00

The following list was compiled from an online survey of educators in 2007. If you're a children's book author (or hope to be) reading these books is a must! Leave a comment and tell me which books are your 5 favorites.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
I'll Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Oh! The Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
Thank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Crunching Carrots, Not Candy by Judy Slack
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willlems
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
Tacky the Penquin by Helen Lester
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type Doreen Cronin
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
Olivia by Ian Falconer
The BFG by Roald Dahl
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
Bunnicula by James Howe
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Charlie the Caterpillar by Dom DeLuise
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Frederick by Leo Lionni
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
Is Your Mama A Llama? by Deborah Guarino
Jan Brett’s books
Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
No David! by David Shannon
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Stephanie's Ponytail by Robert Munsch
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner
The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
The Empty Pot by Demi
The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop
The Giver by Lois Lowr
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown
The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
The Wide-Mouthed Frog: A Pop-Up Book by Keith Faulkner

It was a tough choice but mine are I'll Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch, Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss, Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskeym, Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann, and Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel. Happy reading (o:

A Thought to Ponder

2008-07-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

"Only those who will risk going too far
can possibly find out
how far one can go."
T.S. Eliot

Rewrite these---PLEASE!

2008-04-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Just for fun---how would YOU rewrite these REAL L.O.L. headlines?
Yes, I know these have absolutely NOTHING to do with writing for children.

* Stolen Painting Found by Tree

* Two Sisters Reunited After 18 Years in Checkout Line

* Include Your Children When Baking Cookies

* Enraged Cow Injures Farmer with Ax

* Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

* Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

* Eye drops off shelf

Rhyme Time

2008-04-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

Need some help with rhyming? Go to this great site for help: