Today's less-than-internationally-famous writer is Laura Purdie Salas. We've never met, but I've visited her website numerous times. She is also a fellow JacketFlap member. She has authored more than thirty published non-fiction books for children and teens. The topics they unfold are varied. She admits that her favorite genre at this time, though, is poetry. And she has a new book of poems due out in the next few months.
Laura's blog is all about poetry with regular prompts and competitions to help us writerly types practice our poetic skills. (p.s. skills invaluable to those of us who write PB manuscripts, I might add.)
Laura's career is yet another reminder of how the need for great nonfiction writers intersects with our "need" for publication . But, according to the many blogs and websites and conference speakers I've followed, pursuing publication in the world of nonfiction has its own set of rules. Mainly, seek out the publisher for whom you want to write, study their guidelines carefully, read as many of their NF titles as you can, then QUERY them with your concept for a NF book. All this BEFORE you start writing your brilliant manuscript.
Research the markets--research (and document) your topic--Query--then, write.
That sort of kicks those of us who want to "write whatever WE want to write" in the head, doesn't it? It requires some self-discipline to hem in all those creative juices.
Self discipline. (another invaluable skill for writers)
The Plan
Friday, November 20, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Happy Birthday, Mickey!
This will show you how old I am! Today, November 18, is the birthday of one of the worlds most celebrated characters---Mickey Mouse. He made his debut on this date in 1928 at the Colony Theatre in New York, NY in the animated cartoon Steamboat Willie.
While I don't remember Willie(I'm not THAT old!), I do remember the "Mickey Mouse Club" on TV with Annette Funicello and "dreamy" Tim Consadine. I faithfully donned my own set of Mouse ears and stood at attention each afternoon to sing along with my 8" black and white TV.
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Forever let us hold our banner high!
Come along and sing our song
And join our jamboree.
M I C
(See you real soon!)
K E Y
(Why? Because we like you!)
M O U S E.
Yes. I really am that old.
While I don't remember Willie(I'm not THAT old!), I do remember the "Mickey Mouse Club" on TV with Annette Funicello and "dreamy" Tim Consadine. I faithfully donned my own set of Mouse ears and stood at attention each afternoon to sing along with my 8" black and white TV.
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Forever let us hold our banner high!
Come along and sing our song
And join our jamboree.
M I C
(See you real soon!)
K E Y
(Why? Because we like you!)
M O U S E.
Yes. I really am that old.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Do Hard Things-A "Rebel-usion"
What I am learning about writing this week has come from an unexpected source.
I was asked to give a quick (15 minutes) challenge to a high school club that encourages leadership among students. I did this last year and it was a wonderful experience. The club members and sponsors read a book and their weekly meetings emphasize and explore the concepts of that book. This year's book is Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris.
This is a book for teens written by two brothers who are teens themselves. It was published by Multnoma and has sold thousands of copies. Hmmm...two teens breaking into nonfiction Christian publishing. Sounds like they've already accomplished one really "hard thing" to me.
So, I'm reading this book and praying, asking God to give me a topic--a hard thing--that will challenge the students I'm to address in a couple of months.
True to form, while I amreading this book "for teens," God has sneaked up on me, and challenged me.
I'm facing a few hard things in my own life at this time. And two of them are writing-related. One is coordinating a conference for Christians who create literature for children--Write2Ignite!
I enjoy the challenges of leadership. I enjoy finding ways to motivate people, ways to bring out the best in them. I enjoy weaving people's personalities and skills together to accomplish our goal. I enjoy seeing consumers helped by our efforts. I enjoy seeing God work in other people's lives and having a tiny part in that work. Write2Ignite! gives me opportunities to do all of those things. But it is not without its scary moments.
We're moving along well with our plans and details. All except for one itty-bitty detail. We have very few people registered yet. That meets my intellectual expectations at this time. I'm thinking people are not likely to commit to the conference until after Christmas. But, in the recesses of my heart a smidgen of fear settles in and starts to churn. What if...
That bit of fear can keep me from doing this hard thing. It can keep me from putting my efforts and my money and my reputation out in front. That fear can keep me from doing what God has told me to do. That fear can keep me from taking calculated risks, risks based on faith that God has told me to take on this project, and that God is going to cause it to succeed.
Fear. It starts out itty-bitty, but grows rapidly.
The other hard thing I'm facing is publication. Or, rather, non-publication. I'm entering my sixth year of writing, revising, critiquing, attending conferences, meeting editors, submitting, and waiting for resposes. I've had some success with articles and essays being published in magazines and anthologies. But my children's books are starting to feel really depressed. They're feeling left out. They're sensing gloom and doom.
My picture book manuscripts that I love so much are gathering dust. That can be very discouraging. And discouragment can keep me from doing hard things. Things like learning to write queries and proposals and cover letters and book summaries. When I decided God wanted me to "be a writer" nobody told me I'd have to write all of those things. It's hard enough to craft a great manuscript, but then to create all of those sub-surface documents, too, is just too hard.
Especially when they garner only faded form rejections photo copied rather lop-sided on plain, white paper.
I wasn't expecting to be challenged and encouraged so much by the words of two very young authors in their first book, Do Hard Things.
They discuss five kinds of "hard things" that contemporary teens need to challenge themselves to do. Hey! I'm way past being a teen, but I need to try some of these out in my writing life, too, I think.
(1) Do things that are outside my comfort zone. Deliberately, intentionally learn new skills and put them into practice. Skills that scare me half to death. Could that be things like contacting and inviting famous authors and editors to come to this brand new writers conference?
(2) Do things that go beyond what is expected or required of me. Alex and Brett challenge me to purpose to do good, to demonstrate initiative. To come up with some new, risky idea, then jump in an do it!
(3) Do things that are too big to accomplish alone. Do the things God has placed in my heart to do. Don't stop. Don't quit. Don't cave in. If I know God has told me to do it, do it or die trying (as my Daddy always said.) Live out of passion, not fear. If a job is too big for me to do alone that probably means it is God-sized, so I'd better seek out other people whom God has been nudging to do the same thing. Together we just might pull it off.
(4) Do things that don't earn an immediate payoff. Do them simply because they are the right thing to do. Wouldn't it be great if this year's attendance at Write2Ignite! doubled, or tripled last years? But what if I do all the right things and plan for those big numbers, invest real money in plans for those big numbers, but, then, three people show up? That is the makings of one very scary nightmare! These two young men have challenged me to do this conference the right way because it's the right thing to do...regardless of how many people do or don't show up this year.
This also hits home as related to my manuscripts. I'm really trying to do the right things the right way with my stories. But they haven't found publishing homes yet. Success seems to be drifting farther and farther out to sea for them. Alex & Brett say keep doing the right thing because it is the right thing.
(5) Do things that challenge the cultural norm. Now this one I think I may have a handle on. Studying the daily life of Jesus and the culture of his time and locale has helped me to see that Jesus of Nazareth lived a counter-cultural life. He intentionally (There's that word again!) went against popular culture to live out His life as a living demonstration of God's love. I'm afraid since I got saved I've been a bit of a rebel at heart, too. Popularity has never been one of my top priorities. Do you think that might give me a head start with this one?
Alex & Brett Harris say don't live my easiest life--live my best life following God. Rebel against the sagging expectations of our culture. Join their "rebelution" against conformity and just getting-by.
I started out reading Do Hard Things for someone else. I'm now reading it for me. I know wisdom is supposed to come with age, and age is supposed to bring wisdom. But these two barely twenty-year olds are sharing some wise advise for the young and the old alike.
Do you think their advice applies to my writing and submitting? How about to organizing a conference? Do you think it applies to whatever "hard thing" God is asking of you, too?
Come on, fellow writers. Join the Rebelution. Do something "hard" for God with your writing.
I was asked to give a quick (15 minutes) challenge to a high school club that encourages leadership among students. I did this last year and it was a wonderful experience. The club members and sponsors read a book and their weekly meetings emphasize and explore the concepts of that book. This year's book is Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris.
So, I'm reading this book and praying, asking God to give me a topic--a hard thing--that will challenge the students I'm to address in a couple of months.
True to form, while I amreading this book "for teens," God has sneaked up on me, and challenged me.
I'm facing a few hard things in my own life at this time. And two of them are writing-related. One is coordinating a conference for Christians who create literature for children--Write2Ignite!
I enjoy the challenges of leadership. I enjoy finding ways to motivate people, ways to bring out the best in them. I enjoy weaving people's personalities and skills together to accomplish our goal. I enjoy seeing consumers helped by our efforts. I enjoy seeing God work in other people's lives and having a tiny part in that work. Write2Ignite! gives me opportunities to do all of those things. But it is not without its scary moments.
We're moving along well with our plans and details. All except for one itty-bitty detail. We have very few people registered yet. That meets my intellectual expectations at this time. I'm thinking people are not likely to commit to the conference until after Christmas. But, in the recesses of my heart a smidgen of fear settles in and starts to churn. What if...
That bit of fear can keep me from doing this hard thing. It can keep me from putting my efforts and my money and my reputation out in front. That fear can keep me from doing what God has told me to do. That fear can keep me from taking calculated risks, risks based on faith that God has told me to take on this project, and that God is going to cause it to succeed.
Fear. It starts out itty-bitty, but grows rapidly.
The other hard thing I'm facing is publication. Or, rather, non-publication. I'm entering my sixth year of writing, revising, critiquing, attending conferences, meeting editors, submitting, and waiting for resposes. I've had some success with articles and essays being published in magazines and anthologies. But my children's books are starting to feel really depressed. They're feeling left out. They're sensing gloom and doom.
My picture book manuscripts that I love so much are gathering dust. That can be very discouraging. And discouragment can keep me from doing hard things. Things like learning to write queries and proposals and cover letters and book summaries. When I decided God wanted me to "be a writer" nobody told me I'd have to write all of those things. It's hard enough to craft a great manuscript, but then to create all of those sub-surface documents, too, is just too hard.
Especially when they garner only faded form rejections photo copied rather lop-sided on plain, white paper.
I wasn't expecting to be challenged and encouraged so much by the words of two very young authors in their first book, Do Hard Things.
They discuss five kinds of "hard things" that contemporary teens need to challenge themselves to do. Hey! I'm way past being a teen, but I need to try some of these out in my writing life, too, I think.
(1) Do things that are outside my comfort zone. Deliberately, intentionally learn new skills and put them into practice. Skills that scare me half to death. Could that be things like contacting and inviting famous authors and editors to come to this brand new writers conference?
(2) Do things that go beyond what is expected or required of me. Alex and Brett challenge me to purpose to do good, to demonstrate initiative. To come up with some new, risky idea, then jump in an do it!
(3) Do things that are too big to accomplish alone. Do the things God has placed in my heart to do. Don't stop. Don't quit. Don't cave in. If I know God has told me to do it, do it or die trying (as my Daddy always said.) Live out of passion, not fear. If a job is too big for me to do alone that probably means it is God-sized, so I'd better seek out other people whom God has been nudging to do the same thing. Together we just might pull it off.
(4) Do things that don't earn an immediate payoff. Do them simply because they are the right thing to do. Wouldn't it be great if this year's attendance at Write2Ignite! doubled, or tripled last years? But what if I do all the right things and plan for those big numbers, invest real money in plans for those big numbers, but, then, three people show up? That is the makings of one very scary nightmare! These two young men have challenged me to do this conference the right way because it's the right thing to do...regardless of how many people do or don't show up this year.
This also hits home as related to my manuscripts. I'm really trying to do the right things the right way with my stories. But they haven't found publishing homes yet. Success seems to be drifting farther and farther out to sea for them. Alex & Brett say keep doing the right thing because it is the right thing.
(5) Do things that challenge the cultural norm. Now this one I think I may have a handle on. Studying the daily life of Jesus and the culture of his time and locale has helped me to see that Jesus of Nazareth lived a counter-cultural life. He intentionally (There's that word again!) went against popular culture to live out His life as a living demonstration of God's love. I'm afraid since I got saved I've been a bit of a rebel at heart, too. Popularity has never been one of my top priorities. Do you think that might give me a head start with this one?
Alex & Brett Harris say don't live my easiest life--live my best life following God. Rebel against the sagging expectations of our culture. Join their "rebelution" against conformity and just getting-by.
I started out reading Do Hard Things for someone else. I'm now reading it for me. I know wisdom is supposed to come with age, and age is supposed to bring wisdom. But these two barely twenty-year olds are sharing some wise advise for the young and the old alike.
Do you think their advice applies to my writing and submitting? How about to organizing a conference? Do you think it applies to whatever "hard thing" God is asking of you, too?
Come on, fellow writers. Join the Rebelution. Do something "hard" for God with your writing.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Walter Wangerin, Jr.
I fully intended to post this morning. I really did. But, I haven't been near a computer for the last twelve hours. So, while it is still the thirteenth of November, I'm rushing to bring this post to life.
For the next few weeks instead of analyzing a book on Fridays I am going to introduce you to the websites of children's authors and author/illustrators. I hope I'll direct your attention to some talented people with whom you are not familiar. So, I'm off to explore the internet and a few of the hundreds of thousands of writer/author websites out there.
Tonight let me introduce you to Walter Wangerin, Jr.
He has authored children's books, devotionals, musicals, novels, books on practical theology, short stories & essays, a musical and more. Zondervan is his most recent publisher.
His PBs are about Bible stories, myths, legends, cultural stories, parables and fables. I count at least thirteen PBs. Now, I must decide which one I want to purchase first to try out Mr. Wangerin's style.
I actually have one of his adult books, The Book of God. I started reading it about ten years ago, then loaned it to a friend who -- a-hem -- forgot that he had borrowed it from me. About six months ago I set out to locate a copy. One day I walked into my local Christian book and, "ta-da" there it was. Thank you, Lord. It's a large volume that is a chronological re-arrangement of the Bible. It's on my "to-read" list.
Next Friday I plan to unveil two more of the lesser-known children's PB authors. Join me, please.
Meantime, please pay Mr. Wangerin a visit. Tell him I said, "Hi!"
For the next few weeks instead of analyzing a book on Fridays I am going to introduce you to the websites of children's authors and author/illustrators. I hope I'll direct your attention to some talented people with whom you are not familiar. So, I'm off to explore the internet and a few of the hundreds of thousands of writer/author websites out there.
Tonight let me introduce you to Walter Wangerin, Jr.
He has authored children's books, devotionals, musicals, novels, books on practical theology, short stories & essays, a musical and more. Zondervan is his most recent publisher.
His PBs are about Bible stories, myths, legends, cultural stories, parables and fables. I count at least thirteen PBs. Now, I must decide which one I want to purchase first to try out Mr. Wangerin's style.
I actually have one of his adult books, The Book of God. I started reading it about ten years ago, then loaned it to a friend who -- a-hem -- forgot that he had borrowed it from me. About six months ago I set out to locate a copy. One day I walked into my local Christian book and, "ta-da" there it was. Thank you, Lord. It's a large volume that is a chronological re-arrangement of the Bible. It's on my "to-read" list.
Next Friday I plan to unveil two more of the lesser-known children's PB authors. Join me, please.
Meantime, please pay Mr. Wangerin a visit. Tell him I said, "Hi!"
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Keeping Track
Lists. Charts. Calendars. Schedules. Spreadsheets. And more lists.
I tend to be a very organized person. But even I find it difficult to keep abreast with the many projects I'm involved in-writing and otherwise. I'm all for creating charts and check lists to help my aging brain keep everything in its rightful place.
I know writers come in all shapes, sizes, and varieties, but I think we must all develop some system for keeping track of our projects. Otherwise we get confused, befuddled, and dingy. We make mistakes. Then, we look unprofessional. Writing is, after all, a profession. At this time in my life it is MY profession.
So, I strive to do it as professionally as I can.
That means doing little things well. Things like following guidelines. VERY important.
A few months ago I finished a proposal for a children's PB which was an adaptation of the Biblical account of Creation. I worked on that thing every day for a couple of months. Polished, re-polished, triple-polished. At last I thought it was ready. This particular publisher takes email submissions with attachments. So I buffed up my to-the-point-but-courteous email, attached revision #46 of what I thought was the proposal, and hit SEND.
Five minutes later (or, perhaps I should say, 5 minutes too late) I realized that I had attached the wrong document. It was an understandable mistake, I tried to convince myself, but it was a huge one. The document I actually attached was the full ms instead of the proposal.
This publisher's guidelines say specifically "Do not send full manuscripts unless requested."
I grabbed a paper sack and took a few deep breaths. Then I emailed an apology to the editor with the correct attachment.
Faster than Spider Man swinging from skyscraper to skyscraper I received a reply. A courteous and professionally stated rejection.
Ouch! One tiny mistake and my name is probably doo-doo with that particular publisher.
Maybe, if I'd had a better system of naming my documents or filing my documents or organizing my documents I could have avoided that mistake. Maybe.
The human brain can concentrate on only one thing at a time. Even mine, as much as I hate to admit it. I'm not super-writer. I can not do 10 things at the same time and do them well.
But I can keep track of 10 things if I have a workable system in place. A list. A chart. A calendar. A schedule. A spreadsheet. A filing system. Or even 3 X 5 cards or file folders or something that keeps me accountable to myself. If I try to simply wing it, I'm bound to take a nose dive like my recent experience.
And my nose can take just so many dives before it's permanently bent out of shape.
If you have a chart, a list, a check list, a spreadsheet, etc. that you'd be willing to share with me please email me pronto! My nose is still a bit sore and I don't want to land on it anymore.
I have some simple submission tracking sheets I created and I'll be glad to share them with you by email. Just let me know if you prefer a pdf or a word doc.
Thanks, friends
I tend to be a very organized person. But even I find it difficult to keep abreast with the many projects I'm involved in-writing and otherwise. I'm all for creating charts and check lists to help my aging brain keep everything in its rightful place.
I know writers come in all shapes, sizes, and varieties, but I think we must all develop some system for keeping track of our projects. Otherwise we get confused, befuddled, and dingy. We make mistakes. Then, we look unprofessional. Writing is, after all, a profession. At this time in my life it is MY profession.
So, I strive to do it as professionally as I can.
That means doing little things well. Things like following guidelines. VERY important.
A few months ago I finished a proposal for a children's PB which was an adaptation of the Biblical account of Creation. I worked on that thing every day for a couple of months. Polished, re-polished, triple-polished. At last I thought it was ready. This particular publisher takes email submissions with attachments. So I buffed up my to-the-point-but-courteous email, attached revision #46 of what I thought was the proposal, and hit SEND.
Five minutes later (or, perhaps I should say, 5 minutes too late) I realized that I had attached the wrong document. It was an understandable mistake, I tried to convince myself, but it was a huge one. The document I actually attached was the full ms instead of the proposal.
This publisher's guidelines say specifically "Do not send full manuscripts unless requested."
I grabbed a paper sack and took a few deep breaths. Then I emailed an apology to the editor with the correct attachment.
Faster than Spider Man swinging from skyscraper to skyscraper I received a reply. A courteous and professionally stated rejection.
Ouch! One tiny mistake and my name is probably doo-doo with that particular publisher.
Maybe, if I'd had a better system of naming my documents or filing my documents or organizing my documents I could have avoided that mistake. Maybe.
The human brain can concentrate on only one thing at a time. Even mine, as much as I hate to admit it. I'm not super-writer. I can not do 10 things at the same time and do them well.
But I can keep track of 10 things if I have a workable system in place. A list. A chart. A calendar. A schedule. A spreadsheet. A filing system. Or even 3 X 5 cards or file folders or something that keeps me accountable to myself. If I try to simply wing it, I'm bound to take a nose dive like my recent experience.
And my nose can take just so many dives before it's permanently bent out of shape.
If you have a chart, a list, a check list, a spreadsheet, etc. that you'd be willing to share with me please email me pronto! My nose is still a bit sore and I don't want to land on it anymore.
I have some simple submission tracking sheets I created and I'll be glad to share them with you by email. Just let me know if you prefer a pdf or a word doc.
Thanks, friends
Friday, November 6, 2009
I'm a bad girl. This week not only did I forget to make my blog posts last night, I didn't make time to read another autumn PB to analyze here. Bad, bad, girl!
Instead, I'd like to direct you to a wonderful site that reviews children's books several times each week. Christian Children's Book Review. I've mentioned them before. They are a group of reading moms who post their reviews of children's books of all genres, all ages. I've purchased several books based on their opinions, and I haven't been disappointed in my purchases.
I'd also like to point you to a site with a long list of writing articles. Each article is short and to the point. A good overview of the specific topics. Right-Writing.com edited by Terry Whalin. You can sign up for their e-newsletter, too. You'll get a lot of marketing ideas and a lot of opportunities to purchase things from Terry.
Lastly, I'd like to point you to Fire It Up! where one of my articles is posted this weekend.
Blessings to you. I'll be back next Friday with a book for younger elementary aged readers--Sarah Whitcher's Story by Elizabeth Yates.
Instead, I'd like to direct you to a wonderful site that reviews children's books several times each week. Christian Children's Book Review. I've mentioned them before. They are a group of reading moms who post their reviews of children's books of all genres, all ages. I've purchased several books based on their opinions, and I haven't been disappointed in my purchases.
I'd also like to point you to a site with a long list of writing articles. Each article is short and to the point. A good overview of the specific topics. Right-Writing.com edited by Terry Whalin. You can sign up for their e-newsletter, too. You'll get a lot of marketing ideas and a lot of opportunities to purchase things from Terry.
Lastly, I'd like to point you to Fire It Up! where one of my articles is posted this weekend.
Blessings to you. I'll be back next Friday with a book for younger elementary aged readers--Sarah Whitcher's Story by Elizabeth Yates.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Prayer for Publication
I'm working on a writing project. Actually, several projects. But my goal is to get this proposal in the mail to several publishers this week. I don't think I'm going to make it. But I'm trying. I've been busy with other types of projects and haven't written a new manuscript in months. A few weeks ago I just pushed everything else aside, prayed for Your inspiration, and put my hands to the keys.
You heard me and You sent me a cute, bouncy little manuscript for a children's board book. I want to say, "Thank You, Lord." I've been polishing it. Getting input from other writers. Praying over every syllable (because rhythm is very important to books for young children) and sound (I'm helping to cultivate budding language skills). I think it's almost ready.
At the same time, I started working on a proposal for it. That's what I must mail off to various publishers-a well crafted proposal that lets them see exactly what this book is about, why I'm qualified to write it, and what kind of audience it can potentially reach.
Please give me wisdom, Lord. Guide my thoughts. Give me the clear, intelligent, creative mind of Christ as I attempt to create this little story and prepare this proposal. Give me wisdom as I research and find just the right publishers who might consider such a book. It would thrill my heart to see it in print on shiny cardboard sheets tough enough for a two-year old to drag it from cereal bowl to potty chair to bed day after day.
Truth is, Lord, it would thrill me to see any of my children's manuscripts in print. But I'm at peace with the reality that such a thing is totally in Your capable hands.
I work hard to craft the best manuscripts I can. I make every effort to polish them and present them as porfessionally as I can. I research publishing houses and try to find the perfect few who might fit a particular book.
But, the truth is, they are Your manuscripts and You are in charge of their destinies. I'm asking You to put them on the right desks before the right sets of eyes on the right days.
Do with them what You will, Lord. What You have planned. What will bring You honor and glory. Give me the continued peace to wait.
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