Archive for January 2010
Writing and Illustrating
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| Children Reading Preferences
Posted: 28 Jan 2010 10:00 PM PST
Since we write for children, I figured you would be interested in the post that David L Harrison brought up on his blog. I thought the information was very interesting and felt you would, too.
This issue of Language Arts (January 2010) includes an article by Denise Davila and Lisa Patrick. The article is called “Asking the Experts: What Children Have to Say about Their Reading Preferences” and presents the findings of several studies on the subject. The authors remind us, “For the most part, adults control the world of children’s literature: adults write the books; adults choose which books to publish; adults review the books; adults bestow the awards on books; and adults purchase the books for their homes, book stores, and libraries. In the midst of all this adult control, children’s opinions are often overlooked.” |
Be sure to check Kathy’s blog for the rest of the article. http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/
I wish I’d said:
I would have loved to said something that was funny and smart that would make others laugh and think at the same time. However, I have a rather dry sense of humor and I forget the punchline to jokes all the time.
I wish I’d said:
I love crafts and doing them with my niece and nephews. I think I had more fun with it than they did. I’ve done them for years and will probably continue to do them until the arthritis in my knuckles stops me from finishing them.
I wish I’d said:
I love animals, dogs, cats, horses, but not bugs, mice and snakes. Those make my skin crawl.
I wish I’d said:
How the words in the stories I read as a child painted pictures in my head and then splashed over to my heart. They lifted me up and carried me away to places I couldn’t even imagine existing.
Reading grounded me and kept me safe when my life wasn’t so secure. It let me dream I could be anything and do anything that my heart desired.
I wish I’d said:
I helped raise some of my nieces and nephews and I fostered that love of reading.
I wish I’d said:
Each and every day, I know just how blessed I am. It makes me a good friend to the people I am lucky enough to know.
I wish I’d said:
I’m so glad to have such an awesome faith. When I was at my lowest point, I did what may well be my best writing thus far.
I wish I’d said:
I like encouraging other writers because I know what the encouragement offered to me has meant to me. I love the pay-it-forward philosophy. the writing community rocks.
I wish I’d said:
How heart breaking my job at the Social Services was and how typing reports about those kids made me a better person.
Since I didn’t on the interview, here are the things I wish I’d said.
Be sure to check out Kathy’s site for the 200 words to describe hair.
Writing and Illustrating From: noreply+feedproxy@google.com on behalf of Writing and Illustrating (kathy.temean@hotmail.com) Sent: Thu 1/28/10 10:23 AM To: little_women_2002@hotmail.com Writing and Illustrating —————————————————————————— 200 Word Descriptive Hair List Posted: 27 Jan 2010 09:16 PM PST
Last year I put together a list of descriptive words for food. This year I thought a descriptive list for hair might help you when starting to describe your characters. I included colors, and words of items that adorn the hair. There must be more words, so let’s work together on this. Please leave new words to add in the comment’s section. Thanks!
More Good News for Me.
Posted on: January 26, 2010
I’m being interviewed about my writing journey on http://claudsy.wordpress.com on Wednesday, January 27, 2009.
Albert Einstein’s Quote.
Posted on: January 24, 2010
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Albert Einstein
This so applies to writing. I am amazed at the multitude of new things I learn each day.
Today while doing some research on hippos, I discovered that they actually can stay underwater for six minutes and often walk along the river’s bottom. They can run eight miles an hour underwater as well.
May the learning never stop.
Another Pb Marathon Email.
Posted on: January 24, 2010
| From: | |
| Sent: | Sat 1/23/10 10:00 PM |
| To: | writers@picturebookmarathon.org |
This sounds like a great idea. My concern will be how do I schedule in the things that happen with my two nephews and their special needs. Still, I’m making the committment to try my very best to complete this challenge.Jean Reidy’s Launch Party!!
Posted on: January 23, 2010
| From: | |
 You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk |
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| Sent: | Fri 1/22/10 4:44 PM |
| To: | little_women_2002@hotmail.com |
TOO PURPLEY! ONLINE OPEN HOUSE
When: 1/25-1/31, 2010
Where: www.jeanreidy.com
Who: Anyone who loves children’s books
What: Party favors, Door prizes, games, videos and more!!
Teachers/Librarians – win a 30 minute Skype author visit or The Grand Prize TOO PURPLEY! Package.
Authors – win a Picture Book Peek Critique
Please help me spread the word. If you announce my party on Twitter, Facebook, your website or your blog, I’ll repay the favor and link to your site from the party. Just let me know at reidy.jean@gmail.com so I can post the link in time.
—
Jean Reidy
TOO PURPLEY! Online Launch Party
Party favors, door prizes and more.
January 25th – 31st!!
Where: www.jeanreidy.com
Another Post on Pb Challenge.
Posted on: January 22, 2010
| From: | |
| Sent: | Sun 1/10/10 2:04 PM |
| To: | writers@picturebookmarathon.org |
Thanks for signing up for the Picture Book Marathon! So far we have more than 80 marathoners around the globe, some experienced writers and some just beginning. We’ll be creating a place on the site where you can introduce yourself later this month if you’d like.
Later this week we’ll be sending out more info on how we envision the marathon working, but in the meantime, be assured that there is no cost to join, we won’t release your email to anyone, and you won’t need to publicly post your work. The marathon is designed as a motivational tool to jumpstart your writing.
If you don’t already have one, now’s a good time to start a “tickler file”. Use your blackberry or a small notebook. Keep it with you and write down ideas for: interesting characters, settings, phrases, full-blown story ideas, and any other details you think could be useful. The more you use it the more you’ll find the ideas strike you.
If you know of others who might want to sign up, feel free to forward this email.
-Lora Koehler and Jean Reagan
New Jersey SCBWI
Posted on: January 21, 2010
| From: | |
| Sent: | Sat 1/16/10 10:22 AM |
| To: | little_women_2002@hotmail.com |
Editors, Agents, ConferencePosted: 15 Jan 2010 10:09 PM PST
 Many of you have e-mailed about the annual New Jersey SCBWI conference I run (with a lot of help) in Princeton, NJ. It seems you are getting restless and wondering when I’m going to put up the information and details. The date is June 4th and 5th this year and the one thing I can tell you for sure, is it will be as good or better than 2009. Last year the ratio of editors/agents to attendees was 1 feditor/agent for every seven attendees. If you’ve never attended a conference, I will tell you that is a high ratio. I don’t think anyone walked out feeling like they didn’t get to talk and meet a lot of important people. Since I have been so busy responding to the two computers that blew up with the electric problems I had during the holidays, I have been juggling to put together the next two Mentoring Workshops and the first page sessions, while continuing to work on the June conference. So I am not ready to announce everything, yet. But I can announce five editors, three agents and one author to wet your appetite. If I go by last years’ numbers, this is just a third of names I will announce. Here they are: Steve Meltzer – Associate Publisher/ Executive Managing Editor, Dial, Dutton, & Celebra Michelle Poploff – VP Editorial Director, Random House Regina Griffin – Senior Editor Egmont USA – Workshop with Tracey Adams and Kristin Venuti on process of Kristin’s book. Carolyn Yoder – Editor, Calkins Creek Books – Senior Editor, History, HIGHLIGHTS – She will be conducting an intensive workshop on Friday morning on writing Historical Fiction and Non-fiction, plus more. Connie Hsu – Associated Editor, Little, Brown & Company Books For Young Readers Michael Sterns – Upstart Crow Literary Agency – Agent Panel + Jill Corcoran – Ronnie Herman Agency – Agent Panel + Tracey Adams – Adams Literary – Agents Panel + Kristin Clark Venuti – Author of Leaving the Bellweathers Last year we had seven book contracts result from the conference and eight people ended up with agent representation. Many other doors were opened and still working on revisions. We are very proud of our success in getting authors and illustrators in front of the right people to further their careers. This conference is open to all children’s writers and illustrators. You do not have to live in the state to attend. In fact a large number of the attendees are out of state. We’ve had people from Canada, CA, Puerto Ric0 and one year we even had someone from France and that is because we provide a lot of bang for your buck. You can keep an eye on all New Jersey SCBWI events by going to http://www.newjerseyscbwi.com/allevents.shtml Hope you give some thought to joining us this year. Kathy |
Upcoming Pb Marathon-1st Email.
Posted on: January 21, 2010
I had so much fun doing the PiBoIdMo challenge that I am embarking on a new challenge starting in February. Here is the first post about it so you, my readers, can determine if you want to be involved.| From: | |
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| Sent: | Tue 12/22/09 8:34 AM |
| To: | writers@picturebookmarathon.org |
Hi Everyone-
Sharpen your pencils – the next picture book marathon is coming up in February. We’re adding you to the list, so you’ll receive reminders. More details coming soon.
If you know of others who may be interested, have them contact us through the website http://www.picturebookmarathon.org, or (easiest) by emailing writers@picturebookmarathon.org.
Looking forward to it!
–Lora Koehler and Jean Reagan
Peg366's Blog 
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