Nathan Bransford – Literary Agent

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What Platform Means for Writers Posted: 20 Sep 2010 12:34 PM PDT

Well, platform is one of those nebulous concepts that will result in a thousand different definitions if you ask a thousand different individuals. But here’s how I think of it: platform is the number of eyeballs you can summon as you promote your book.

A “platform” may be comprised of an Internet or media presence, a very strong reputation in a particular field, a TV show, affiliation with a popular brand, a connection to a popular writing collective, celebrity status, or ownership of the world’s largest soapbox.

Having discovered the cancer is in some ways a good thing. Some on you may gasp at this comment but it is true. Knowing how precious one’s life is has helped me to focus on the things in my life that are really important and to let go of the other things that  aren’t that crucial. I feel more aware of the little things that make my life special, whether it is a pat on the back, a smile from a child or just being able to sit quietly and let the sun shine on my face. I have met  the most awesome people one person can ever hope to meet. My writing family has gathered around me and filled my emails with love and support. My non-writing friends and family have been super. The staff at the treatment center are fast becoming lifetime friends. My life is fuller and richer than I had ever imagined.

Treatment is going fairly well, if one can consider cancer treatment as something that can go well. The whole process has had its share of challenges but I am making it through and still smiling. Lol.

Me, at a Hats Off to Women's conference.

Below is a little about Noelle Sterne and a brief excerpt for the readers to see if the article appeals to them.  

Writer, editor, writing coach, and consultant, Noelle Sterne holds the Ph.D. in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University and publishes in writers’ and mainstream magazines. Her articles have appeared in Archetype, Children’s Book Insider, Pure Inspiration, The Write Place At the Write Time, Writer’s Digest special issues, Writers’ Journal, and The Writer. Her short storyabout a boy with healing powers appeared in the Star Stepping Anthology (2008). Noelle is currently working on a collection of essays offering candid counsel and relentless support to writers: First You Find Your Desk: Start Writing and Keep Writing with Less Agony and More Joy. 

As a children’s author, do you know you can use more resources to publicize your book than mainstream authors? I discovered many of these avenues after the publication of my children’s book Tyrannosaurus Wrecks: A Book of Dinosaur Riddles (HarperCollins). This book, in print for eighteen years, was featured on the first
dinosaur show of PBS-TV’s Reading Rainbow, which continues to air
and is now on DVD. 

Me, a month before the stage 3 colon cancer was detected. Deceptically healthy looking,

Early August’s news that I had colon cancer kind of rocked my world a tad. For several days I struggled with the feeling that I shouldn’t bother to blog. I was worried about how I would feel and whether anyone even cared if I blogged or not. It didn’t seem to be that important in the grand scheme of things but after the first week of treatment, I realized something. That was . . . whether or not anyone reads my blog not, I really missed it. I like looking for things to share with others. I like the writing aspect. I have decided that while I might not post as often as I have in the past while I am on my journey to “good health” I am going to try and keep up the blog.

I’m asking those who read this to be patient with me over the next few months as I work my way through this challenging time.

Ten thousand plus rejections « on: August 28, 2010, 01:11 PM »

Whenever I am feeling like I should just stop writing, I come across something like this that renews my desire to write. It is nice to know that even the great writers have those times when it didn’t come easy. This appeared on Verlakay’s site and was posted by Stephanie Theban. Thanks Stephanie for sharing this.

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Stories for Children Magazine is reopening!‏

8/20/10

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 Virginia Grenier Stories for Children Publishing

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  Virginia Grenier Stories for Children Publishing

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To Virginia Grenier Stories for Children Publishing

From:	vsgrenier@storiesforchildrenmagazine.org on behalf of Virginia Grenier Stories for Children Publishing (vsgrenier@storiesforchildrenpublishing.com)
Sent:	Fri 8/20/10 6:58 PM
To:	Virginia Grenier Stories for Children Publishing (vsgrenier@storiesforchildrenmagazine.org)

Hi Everyone,

Boy have I missed working with all of you and putting out each issue of Stories for Children Magazine. I am really excited to say the day is getting closer when Stories for Children Magazine will reopen its doors to submissions.

Right now, I’m looking for people interested in joining the SFC Team. This is a totally volunteer job currently, however, I am always looking into ways Stories for Children Magazine can become a paying market and job for those behind the scenes. There are also some changes to the publications. Instead of 12 issues a year, Stories for Children Magazine will only be putting out 9 issues a year. Also, the articles in the magazine have been cut back from 9 per issue to 6 per issue. I am also breaking up the Fiction and Poetry departments into their own departments to help with the workload of these two categories.

The positions open are as follows:
Poetry Editor
Assistant Poetry Editor
Assistant Fiction Editor
Assistant Nonfiction Editor
Youth & Activities Editor
Blog Editor
Interviewer (2)
Marketing Manager
Proofreader (3)
Book Reviewer (2)
Educational Writer (2)
Art Director

If you are interested in joining the SFC Team, please send me an email at vsgrenier@storiesforchildrenmagazine.org. Include in your email your writing resume, any publications, what position you would like to work in, and your contact information.  Note: this is a volunteer job. Stories for Children Publishing, LLC is currently a non-paying market in all its divisions.

I look forward to the reopening of Stories for Children Magazine and working with all of you again. Your talents and contributions to the magazine have made us what we are.

 http://www.cathleendaniels.com

On August 3, 2010, I got up like any other morning and crawled out of bed. The chronic pain had reared its ugly presence. My entire body ached. It hurt to get dressed and have the clothing lay on my skin but life was still good. I was alive and kicking, so I powered through it.

I knew I had to get moving. My doctor’s appointment was in an hour. While I fussing with getting dressed, I could barely think. My gut said this appt was going to be rough. Over the years my gut has  been right more than wrong so I have learned to take heed when it tells me something. I dreaded this appt.  Something drastic was going on with my body. New and different symptoms had me questioning what was happening.

Changes in bodily functions that had been consistent signaled something had changed.

The end result was a diagnosis of colon-rectal cancer, stage 3. Talk about getting a wake-up call. No one in my family has ever had colon cancer. Breast cancer and skin cancer yes, but not colon cancer.

Trying to wrap my head around this and do all the necessary scheduling has been a pain. I was going to say in the a** but have been told I am making too many wisea** cracks right now.  It’s my way of keeping myself laughing as I am determined to laugh my way through this and into a life of health.