Because it Takes a Village to Raise a Writer

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Harold Underdown answers - What Is a Synopsis?

Many children's writers are familiar with and use Harold Underdown's Purple Crayon website

I recently discovered that he has a blog where h answers questions sent in by writers.


Go to this link and scroll down to the questio - What Is a Synopsis


http://www.underdown.org/blog_306.htm

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Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Overcoming the Fear of Writing a Synopsis

Here's another approach to writing a synopsis--

http://www.poewar.com/archives/2005/03/04/overcoming-the-fear-of-writing-a-synopsis-2/

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Monday, March 26, 2007

5 Steps to writing a SYNOPSIS

Vivian Beck, a literary agent, guides you throuh the five steps of writing a synopsis at this website:


http://www.vivianbeck.com/writing/5_steps_to_writing_a_synopsis.htm

Check out more of her writing tips at:

http://www.vivianbeck.com/writingtips.htm

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Friday, March 23, 2007

Get your Queries written by a whiz!

Some call Kelsey the 'Query Queen'

I hired her to work with me on my query and the results are amazing!

She took my original query and some info I sent her about the climax of my YA novel, the first chapter of it & what I had written for my synopsis [ she helps you with synopsis writing also -- more abt that next week when the topic of the week is Synopsis ]

We've benn emailing the query back and forth and she's answered my questions and concerns.

I'm thrilled that for the the fabulous fee of $25 it's not a once and done service - she works with you back and forth a few times. You'll be thrilled with it the first time!

Here is what she pposted on Verla's board about it

Although there are places to look online for free information on how to write a query letter, many folks still find writing the dang thing a huge headache. That's where I come in. For $25.00 I'll write you an individualized query letter sure to get an agent's or editor's attention. Remember, a query letter doesn't have to follow the style of your manuscript EXACTLY--it's just a blurb meant to gain attention. A knock on the door, if you will. A chance for that agent to actually OPEN the door. But it's your work, your brilliant manuscript, that KEEPS the door open. Of course, I'll be helping you with the whole letter, not just the blurb, and that price of $25.00 includes up to 5 revisions. I mean to make your query sparkle!


EMAIL HER --- rkdefatte at charter dot net

Enjoy this part of the process - with Kelsey's help!

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Thursday, March 22, 2007

The Annotated Query Letter From Hell -- annotations by Editor Cheryl Klein

Cheryl Klein - has a great website with tips for writers, from an editor's perspective.

Since this week is all about the Query - read what she has to say about this query


http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeqjo1w/id9.html

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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

An Agent's comments on Hooks & on Queries

Great website to use - to help you find out about successful and not-so-successful hooks and queries, from an agent's perspective.


http://raleva31.livejournal.com/

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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

What is a Query Letter?

Free online seminar: Query Letter Articles Index© Barbara Doyen


"Learn about queries and how to write them to make money selling your articles or books for publication."

http://writingnonfiction.suite101.com/blog.cfm/what_is_a_query_letter

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Monday, March 19, 2007

This week it's all about Query Letters

How to Write a Successful Query - by Moira Allen


http://www.writing-world.com/basics/query.shtml

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Friday, March 16, 2007

Merlyn's Pen - Fiction, Essays, and Poems by America's Teens

Enter the Library
The Select Collection of Top Works by Teen Writers in the U.S. -- Since 1985!
“Here’s an opportunity to taste some of the best writing by peers.” -- BOOKLIST, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

Love adventure? Like a good sports story? Seeking courage? Search the New Library by these and many other topics. Then print and share the pieces you want. Printing is free. You can save and organize your favorites in "My Library," your own collection-within-a-collection. All the works featured in the New Library first appeared in the award-winning Merlyn's Pen: The National Magazine of Student Writing, published 1985-2001.


http://www.merlynspen.org/read/library.php

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Thursday, March 15, 2007

Vandergrift's YA Literature Page

So many categories, links, and information!

http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/YoungAdult/index.html

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Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Teenlitauthors · YA Writers

Here is the description - taken from the yahoo groups' website

Hi from Alesia Holliday, aka Jax Abbott and Alyssa Day. We're a group of published and aspiring writers of YA fiction! We want to share ideas, thoughts, market news, and craft information. Join us if you write for this hot market. Just send a message with your FULL NAME and WHERE YOU HEARD ABOUT US for approval.
Subscribe:
teenlitauthors-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Thanks!



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/teenlitauthors/?yguid=91513697

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Monday, March 12, 2007

Young Adult Creative Writing Workshops (YACWW)

I just came across this website Young Adult Creative Writing Workshops (YACWW)
There are posts about Writing Opportunities in the YA genre


http://www.yacreativewriting.blogspot.com/

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Friday, March 09, 2007

I'm in the March issue of Fandangle Magazine

Click on the cover on this site and then go to page 18 -- No One Owns the Sky -
[ it's a short biography of Bessie Coleman ]

The magazine is a .pdf file and there's a link to free Adobe Reader - if you don't already have it on your computer.

Enjoy the rest of the magazine!

http://www.fandanglemagazine.com/index.html

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Thursday, March 08, 2007

Write 4 Kids is a Great site for writers!

Click on the link below and explore the articles and other links.

Sign up for their free e-newsletter for more information


http://www.write4kids.com/info.html

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Video Interviews with Children's Book Authors and Illustrators

This month's featured author is Kathleen Krull

There are 42 other interviews, and so much more on this website!

http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/

Enjoy the process!

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Tuesday, March 06, 2007

The next best thing to being there-- Dot's notes on the conference

Check this blog http://dotificus.livejournal.com/

and read about the Winter Conference.

Enjoy the process!

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Monday, March 05, 2007

Author Interviews

Great interviews! Check out this one & then check out the rest of the Powells site.

http://www.powells.com/authors/paolini.html

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Friday, March 02, 2007

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Enjoy this iste as you celebrate Read Across America! and Dr Seuss!

http://www.seussville.com/lb/home.html

Thursday, March 01, 2007

March is National Novel Editing Month Check it out!

Here is a link to the official website

http://www.nanoedmo.net/xoops/

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