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Congratulations to the Winner! And to Everyone Else!

February 7, 2008 in Children's Books, Children's Writing, Creative Writing, Fiction, Publishing, Writing, Writing for Children | Tags: Literary Agents, Writing Contest, YA Fiction | Leave a comment

Nathan Bransford’s first page competition was hotly contested, with a multitude of fine, well-written entries. To demonstrate how difficult it was to narrow down to six finalists, co-judge Holly had initially selected 30 finalists–but only after her third round of review! The judges deserve our thanks. And Heather!Anne! deserves congratulations for being voted the most surprisingly essential first page!

For those who were not selected (and there were 639 of us), I remind you that Nathan Bransford is just one agent. Yes, he has a talented eye, but his is not the only eye. What he passed over this time might have been picked up by another. Finding an agent to represent your work or an editor to publish it is a matter of matching interests. Think of it in no less complicated terms than finding a spouse: you have to sync up on many levels to make the partnership a success.

So to everyone who entered, congratulations for bravely submitting your work. Just because you didn’t get picked this time, don’t let the word “failure” creep into your vocabulary. Keep writing, keep working, keep submitting, keep networking. The successful writer’s most important trait is perseverance. You’ll find your match someday.

Read and Vote: Nathan Bransford’s Surprisingly Essential First Page Contest

February 4, 2008 in Creative Writing, Fiction, Publishing, Writing, Writing for Children | Tags: Literary Agents, YA | Leave a comment

As if we needed another reason to love Nathan Bransford, the superhero among agents blasted through 645 first-page entries in just four days, selecting a half-dozen finalists. (Holly deserves a giant pat on the back as well.) None are all that surprising because they’re examples of exceptional work. Please go read and vote. Publicize the contest on the Internet, but don’t campaign for a particular entry. Congratulations to the finalists and good luck!

Re-entering the Atmosphere: Ignited or Burned?

January 26, 2008 in Children, Children's Books, Children's Writing, Creative Writing, Picture Books, Publishing, Short Stories, Writing, Writing for Children | Tags: Middle Grade Books | Leave a comment

After receiving many positive reviews of my work this week, I’ve finally started floating back down to earth. I’m listening more to the constructive comments than the complimentary ones. I had been inspired and encouraged, and while some of that enthusiasm remains, I’m now taking a serious look at the difficult work that lies ahead, and it’s daunting.

One of the most helpful things I’ve realized is that my natural voice suits the middle grade market best. However, I gravitate towards writing short stories. A chapter book is a stretch for me and a novel seems as distant as the next galaxy. I am wondering if there are any short story anthologies for middle grade readers. If there are not, does that mean kids aren’t interested or there’s a niche to fill? It’s a question I’d love to ask a professional. Do you have any knowledge to share? (If you have a blog about children’s books, please include a link in the comments and I’ll add you to the blogroll.)

On one hand, I’m ignited. I wrote another story in a flash of inspiration earlier this week. On the other hand, I’m burned. As written, it’s probably too advanced for a picture book, although the length would be suitable. I’m always afraid to reduce the language for fear I’ll lose my voice. I have to respect that voice. It has brought attention to my work and it just spills out automatically when I write. I just have to find a way to make it fit into a neat little box, a box that a publisher wants to fill.

More Insights From SCBWI First Page Critique

January 20, 2008 in Children, Children's Writing, Creative Writing, Fiction, Picture Books, Publishing, Short Stories, Writing, Writing for Children | Tags: First Page Critique, SCBWI | 2 comments

I continue to review my notes from this week’s first page critique. I have more insights to share with aspiring children’s book authors:

A critique is the opinion of just one editor.
I read an intriguing story about two adolescent rock stars and it just happened to feature bugs. While a tale about child stars is a great hook, one editor said she would definitely not read on, simply because she hated bugs. The combination might be unusual, but that doesn’t mean another editor wouldn’t like it. You have to remember that editors are people with personal preferences and pet peeves which may influence their decisions. (Note: a few months later, I attended another first page critique where this first page, revised, received praise from a different editor who said he would read on.)
Make your work believable.
Even in the fantasy genre, some elements should be grounded in the realm of possibility so readers can relate to the characters.
Look to other markets besides the trade and mass market.
One story about creation was thought to have an excellent hook and a theology that would be embraced by the Christian book market.
Watch your message.
A single line with the wrong message can damage an entire tale. One story mentioned that a hospital wasn’t any fun for kids. That’s a message the editors didn’t want to send. Children need to understand that the hospital is a comforting place where doctors and nurses help them feel better.
Don’t write a nonsense story just for nonsense’s sake.
While nonsense tales can be fun, they still must have a narrative structure. You need a hook beyond the humor.
It’s difficult to mix whimsy with serious subject matter.
One tale was told with whimsical language and set a frolicking scene among pond-dwelling animals. However, there was a serious underlying tone when the conflict was introduced and the editors found these elements too contradictory.