Nancy Kelly Allen's Blog, page 27
January 19, 2014
Writing a Middle Grade Novel, part 1/Calls for Submissions
This article is the first in the series:
Anybody who writes a book is an optimist. First of all, they think they're going to finish it. Second, they think somebody's going to publish it. Third, they think somebody's going to read it. Fourth, they think somebody's going to like it. How optimistic is that?" ~Margaret AtwoodSometimes I think the keys on my computer must be made of magnets. They keep pulling my fingers back to them. My fingers are so optimistic I’d feel guilty if the rest of me didn’t follow with equal enthusiasm. A positive outlook is easy to muster when starting a new book, but as the writing journey becomes more difficult, enthusiasm wanes, especially when rejection floods in. Some manuscripts are easier, much easier, to sell than others. Knowing that tidbit, it seems reasonable then to suggest that writers write only stories that are easy to sell. Of course, if we knew the magic potion that empowered us to write publishable print, we could jar it and make a fortune in a traveling show.
Each children’s book I have written has followed its own path in the journey to publication. But in a total of 30 books, none have ventured into as many detours as my upcoming middle grade novel. In my next several blogs, I’ll detail my efforts and offer tips for writing for 8-12- year-old readers.
Call for submissions for Young Writers
YARN --- Since this is a YA literary journal, we ask that the material be appropriate for, and of particular interest to, young adult readers, 14 years old and up. We have no age restrictions for authors (fogies over the age of 18 write YA, too), and no genre restrictions (if you’ve got a story set in 2060, bring it on!). We only ask that the writing you submit be original and publishable, with some literary merit (in other words, if you’ve written a slasher thriller with lots of smooching and slaying, we recommend sending it to Hollywood and not to us). Send us only your very best. YARN is an award-winning literary journal that publishes outstanding original short fiction, poetry, and essays for Young Adult readers, written by the writers you know and love, as well as fresh new voices...including teens.
Submission guidelines at http://yareview.net/how-to-submit/
Call for submissions for Adult Writers
East of the Web. Children's short stories, ages 5 to 12. We're seeking children's stories aimed at age ranges between 5 and 12. We're looking for stories written by authors who know children and what children want to read. We want storytellers who can capture a child's imagination and who also know the children's book market, know what's original and understand what's interesting and appropriate for children of the age their stories are aimed at. We consider stories of all genres as long as kids will love them! Submission guidelines at http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/index.php?p=submissions/20132 Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
Anybody who writes a book is an optimist. First of all, they think they're going to finish it. Second, they think somebody's going to publish it. Third, they think somebody's going to read it. Fourth, they think somebody's going to like it. How optimistic is that?" ~Margaret AtwoodSometimes I think the keys on my computer must be made of magnets. They keep pulling my fingers back to them. My fingers are so optimistic I’d feel guilty if the rest of me didn’t follow with equal enthusiasm. A positive outlook is easy to muster when starting a new book, but as the writing journey becomes more difficult, enthusiasm wanes, especially when rejection floods in. Some manuscripts are easier, much easier, to sell than others. Knowing that tidbit, it seems reasonable then to suggest that writers write only stories that are easy to sell. Of course, if we knew the magic potion that empowered us to write publishable print, we could jar it and make a fortune in a traveling show.
Each children’s book I have written has followed its own path in the journey to publication. But in a total of 30 books, none have ventured into as many detours as my upcoming middle grade novel. In my next several blogs, I’ll detail my efforts and offer tips for writing for 8-12- year-old readers.
Call for submissions for Young Writers
YARN --- Since this is a YA literary journal, we ask that the material be appropriate for, and of particular interest to, young adult readers, 14 years old and up. We have no age restrictions for authors (fogies over the age of 18 write YA, too), and no genre restrictions (if you’ve got a story set in 2060, bring it on!). We only ask that the writing you submit be original and publishable, with some literary merit (in other words, if you’ve written a slasher thriller with lots of smooching and slaying, we recommend sending it to Hollywood and not to us). Send us only your very best. YARN is an award-winning literary journal that publishes outstanding original short fiction, poetry, and essays for Young Adult readers, written by the writers you know and love, as well as fresh new voices...including teens.
Submission guidelines at http://yareview.net/how-to-submit/
Call for submissions for Adult Writers
East of the Web. Children's short stories, ages 5 to 12. We're seeking children's stories aimed at age ranges between 5 and 12. We're looking for stories written by authors who know children and what children want to read. We want storytellers who can capture a child's imagination and who also know the children's book market, know what's original and understand what's interesting and appropriate for children of the age their stories are aimed at. We consider stories of all genres as long as kids will love them! Submission guidelines at http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/index.php?p=submissions/20132 Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
January 12, 2014
Setting Goals/Calls for Submissions
What’s up for the year? January is a good time to reassess goals. This year, my main goal is simple: I want to revise a chapter book and develop it into a middle grade novel. Notice I didn’t write that I wanted to snag a book contract. I definitely WANT that, but I set goals that I can manage. Since I can’t control what an editor and publisher decides to publish, I don’t set a book contract as a goal.
How do I plan to achieve my goal? I’m going to set times to write and research. John Lennon said, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.” Life interrupts goals but I’ll weave writing in between the interruptions that are sure to pop up.I’ll revise my writing and have it critiqued; then revise again and again. I’ll try not to fall in love with my words and send them to an editor before the manuscript is ready. In the meantime, I’ll research potential markets for the manuscript so when my literary “baby” is ready to go out into the publishing world, it will be more likely to find a home.Of course, I have other goals. One is to write a picture book. Think about writing goals you can manage and control. Focus on those goals and let’s make 2014 a productive year. Call for Submissions for Young Writers:Eifrig Publishing's YACK! (Young Authors-Creative Kids!) Kids up to age 14 my submit stories to Eifrig Publishing. All stories are turned into an online book which may be read for free on the site. At the end of the event, a jury will select the story to be published in paperback. The author will select a charity to whom all proceeds will be donated.
Guidelines at http://www.eifrigpublishing.com/submissions.html
Call for Submissions for Adult Writers: For Magazine “Ask You Ask Me” for children ages 6-14:We are interested in articles rich in scientific accuracy and lively approaches to the subject at hand. The inclusion of primary research (interviews with scientists focusing on current research) are of primary interest to the magazine. We hope the writer to study the real cases in the scientific field, find the one that is the best for explaining (or corroborating) the basic scientific knowledge. We want the readers to face the real scientific world, but not simply the textbook knowledge.
Feature Articles: Up to 1000 words. Includes: in-depth nonfiction articles. (An interactive approach is a definite plus!) Q & A interviews, plays, and biographies are of interest as well. Fiction: up to 1,000 words. Includes: science-related stories, science fiction, retold legends, etc., relating to the theme.
Submissions, queries and questions should be directed to:Editor: Conny
Email: 1541522674@qq.com
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
How do I plan to achieve my goal? I’m going to set times to write and research. John Lennon said, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.” Life interrupts goals but I’ll weave writing in between the interruptions that are sure to pop up.I’ll revise my writing and have it critiqued; then revise again and again. I’ll try not to fall in love with my words and send them to an editor before the manuscript is ready. In the meantime, I’ll research potential markets for the manuscript so when my literary “baby” is ready to go out into the publishing world, it will be more likely to find a home.Of course, I have other goals. One is to write a picture book. Think about writing goals you can manage and control. Focus on those goals and let’s make 2014 a productive year. Call for Submissions for Young Writers:Eifrig Publishing's YACK! (Young Authors-Creative Kids!) Kids up to age 14 my submit stories to Eifrig Publishing. All stories are turned into an online book which may be read for free on the site. At the end of the event, a jury will select the story to be published in paperback. The author will select a charity to whom all proceeds will be donated.
Guidelines at http://www.eifrigpublishing.com/submissions.html
Call for Submissions for Adult Writers: For Magazine “Ask You Ask Me” for children ages 6-14:We are interested in articles rich in scientific accuracy and lively approaches to the subject at hand. The inclusion of primary research (interviews with scientists focusing on current research) are of primary interest to the magazine. We hope the writer to study the real cases in the scientific field, find the one that is the best for explaining (or corroborating) the basic scientific knowledge. We want the readers to face the real scientific world, but not simply the textbook knowledge.
Feature Articles: Up to 1000 words. Includes: in-depth nonfiction articles. (An interactive approach is a definite plus!) Q & A interviews, plays, and biographies are of interest as well. Fiction: up to 1,000 words. Includes: science-related stories, science fiction, retold legends, etc., relating to the theme.
Submissions, queries and questions should be directed to:Editor: Conny
Email: 1541522674@qq.com
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
January 5, 2014
I’m so happy to have Alison Davis Lyne back this week. Al...
I’m so happy to have Alison Davis Lyne back this week. Alison is a creative illustrator with a stack of picture books claiming her art. She’s been working professionally since 1996. You can check out more of her work at www.lyneart.com. She writes the column “Art Tips” for the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) Bulletin.
Alison, tell us about your process of designing art for the text of a book.
I begin by thinking about how the individual characters will look and act. That will often lead to a character study page like this:
http://www.lyneart.com/BLOGNKAIllo2.jpg This is a character page from my most recent book, Little Things Aren't Little When You're Little written by Mark Burrows, and published by Pelican Publishing.
All of this work is for “my eyes only,” and is used just like a writer's text outline, and character sketches. I then work up and send on final black and white sketches to the Art Director. After doing any revisions that the Art Director requests.....I begin the “funnest” part of the job (at least for me)....painting the final artwork.
You, as the writer, can polish your PB manuscript with this exercise. When you have reached a semi-final stage of your manuscript, you might take 16 sheets of paper, and number them front and back 1 thru 32. Usually the text for a book starts on something like page 5. You might try to divide out blocks of text on the pages of your “book” spread over pages 5 thru 32. See if you can structure the action and rhythm of your text to flow easily over page turns and double page spreads. This is “for your eyes only”, NOT to be sent to a publisher.
This exercise can be a great way to smooth out some of the story line, word plays and rhythms. And it will “show” when an editor reads your manuscript. You can bet that editors reading your manuscript will be thinking along the same lines.....and that can't help but be a “good thing” when an editor is evaluating your manuscript for publication.
Alison, thanks for the great tip on how to structure page turns to keep the energy, flow and interest levels high in the text we write for our picture books. I look forward to another visit from you this spring.
Call for submissions for young writers:
Vademecum Magazine is a student-run high school literary print publication. The quarterly magazine publishes poetry, prose, and black-and-white photography that "illuminate aspects of the everyday that are frequently unseen, un-ogled, unappreciated." This is a non-paying market. Submission guidelines are here.
Submission guidelines at http://www.vademecummag.com/#!submissions/cihc
Call for submissions for adult writers: The American Kennel Club contest. Entries must be original, unpublished stories that have not been offered to or accepted by any other publisher. Only one entry per author.
The American Kennel Club retains the right to publish the three prize-winning entries in AKC FAMILY DOG, or other AKC publications. Entries may feature either a purebred or mixed breed dog. The maximum length is 2,000 words. Entries exceeding that length will not be considered. No talking dogs, please.
Entries must be printed on 8 1⁄2″ x 11″ white paper, one side per page, double-spaced. Poor-quality or faded copies cannot be considered. The author’s name, address, and phone number must appear on the first page. The author’s name and the page number must appear on each successive page.
All acceptable entries will be read by a panel of judges selected by AKC Publications. They will choose the winners based on the style, content, originality, and appeal of the story. All decisions are final. Winners will be announced in an issue AKC FAMILY DOG in 2014.
Send entries to:AKC Publications Fiction Contest
The American Kennel Club, 260 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016DEADLINE: ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 31, 2014
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
December 29, 2013
Today, I’m so happy to have the talented illustrator, Ali...
Today, I’m so happy to have the talented illustrator, Alison Davis Lyne, visit my blog. She has illustrated picture books and has an art column in the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) newsletter.
Just WHAT Does An Illustrator DO??
When an illustrator is chosen to illustrate an author's PB manuscript, it's the beginning of a working partnership between the publisher, writer and illustrator. Most of the time the writer has already done the work of writing the manuscript and any revisions that the publisher suggests. When the publisher is satisfied with the manuscript, the Art Director and Editor will chose an illustrator that fits the tone of the manuscript and the publishing house's “look.”
When I get a manuscript, I immediately begin reading and planning how I think the picture book ought to look. Every illustrator has a different work flow, but I usually start out by laying out the text of the manuscript on a 32 page “book chart.” I continually change it up as I also start very rough sketches, or thumbnails. You can see an example of how I work this below.
[image error]
The thumbnails take but a moment to change so it's easy to try out different ideas, and discard them just as easily if they don't work out. Very much like writers make up a outline of how they want the story to flow.....and can change it quickly with each plot change.
Here are some of the books Alison has illustrated:
Halloween Alphabet
Thanksgiving Day Alphabet
Easter Day Alphabet
Kudzu Chaos
G is for Grits
Little Things Aren’t Little When You’re Little
Alison is making a return visit next week. She will explain an exercise that writers can do to improve the action and flow of their picture books.
Call for submissions for young writers:
KidSpiritOnline is a free teen magazine and website for kids that
empowers youth everywhere to tackle life’s big questions. KidSpirit
provides a creative internet publishing outlet for teens around the
globe to share original essays, poetry and artwork.Submission guidelines at http://kidspiritonline.com/welcome-mission/Call for submissions for adult writers:Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine is an online publication for ages 13 and up. It publishes 2 pieces each month—story and/or poem. Authors receive a $25 gift certificate.
Details at http://www.fairytalemagazine.com/2011/12/new-guidelines-for-ec.html
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
Just WHAT Does An Illustrator DO??
When an illustrator is chosen to illustrate an author's PB manuscript, it's the beginning of a working partnership between the publisher, writer and illustrator. Most of the time the writer has already done the work of writing the manuscript and any revisions that the publisher suggests. When the publisher is satisfied with the manuscript, the Art Director and Editor will chose an illustrator that fits the tone of the manuscript and the publishing house's “look.”
When I get a manuscript, I immediately begin reading and planning how I think the picture book ought to look. Every illustrator has a different work flow, but I usually start out by laying out the text of the manuscript on a 32 page “book chart.” I continually change it up as I also start very rough sketches, or thumbnails. You can see an example of how I work this below.
[image error]
The thumbnails take but a moment to change so it's easy to try out different ideas, and discard them just as easily if they don't work out. Very much like writers make up a outline of how they want the story to flow.....and can change it quickly with each plot change.
Here are some of the books Alison has illustrated:
Halloween Alphabet
Thanksgiving Day Alphabet
Easter Day Alphabet
Kudzu Chaos
G is for Grits
Little Things Aren’t Little When You’re Little
Alison is making a return visit next week. She will explain an exercise that writers can do to improve the action and flow of their picture books.
Call for submissions for young writers:
KidSpiritOnline is a free teen magazine and website for kids that
empowers youth everywhere to tackle life’s big questions. KidSpirit
provides a creative internet publishing outlet for teens around the
globe to share original essays, poetry and artwork.Submission guidelines at http://kidspiritonline.com/welcome-mission/Call for submissions for adult writers:Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine is an online publication for ages 13 and up. It publishes 2 pieces each month—story and/or poem. Authors receive a $25 gift certificate.
Details at http://www.fairytalemagazine.com/2011/12/new-guidelines-for-ec.html
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
December 22, 2013
This is the final article is the series: Writing a Chapte...
This is the final article is the series: Writing a Chapter Book.
Try these tips:
The climax, the most exciting part of the story, leads quickly to the ending. The ending should be clear and concise with resolutions for all the problems. The best endings offer an element of surprise. At the same time, the ending should be logical and appropriate, yet deliver an unexpected twist that isn’t predictable.
Chapter books are often published as a series. This audience reads a book and wants another that is similar. Many of these books have 10 chapters with black-and-white illustrations. Readers this age group like to visualize the characters.
After you’ve written the story, read and reread to check for errors in grammar and typing. Tie up all loose ends in the story; then find a critique partner to read the manuscript and offer feedback.
Place the manuscript on a shelf for a month or two and begin writing another. Pull the manuscript off the shelf and reread. At this point you’re immersed in another story that you’ve begun writing. Since you’re focused on a new story, you’re more emotionally removed from the story you just finished. You'll also be more objective and able to find flaws that you couldn’t earlier. Polish the story and ship it out to a publisher. Happy writing.
Next week, I will interview an illustrator, Alison Lyne, who is an outstanding talent in the world of picture books.
Call for submissions for young writers:
JOHN F. KENNEDY PROFILE IN COURAGE ESSAY CONTEST
Open to US high school students in grades 9-12 attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; US students under the age of 20 enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program in any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the US territories; and US citizens attending schools overseas. Write an original and creative essay of less than 1,000 words that demonstrates an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage. Students should use a variety of sources such as newspaper articles, books,and/or personal interviews to address the following topic: Describe and analyze the decisions, actions, and risks of an elected public official in the United States since 1956 who has courageously addressed a political issue at the local, state, national, or international level.
Submission guidelines at http://www.jfkcontest.org/
Deadline January 6, 2014.
Call for submissions for adult writers:
The American Kennel Club contest. Entries must be original, unpublished stories that have not been offered to or accepted by any other publisher. Only one entry per author.
The American Kennel Club retains the right to publish the three prize-winning entries in AKC FAMILY DOG, or other AKC publications. Entries may feature either a purebred or mixed breed dog. The maximum length is 2,000 words. Entries exceeding that length will not be considered. No talking dogs, please.
Entries must be printed on 8 1⁄2″ x 11″ white paper, one side per page, double-spaced. Poor-quality or faded copies cannot be considered. The author’s name, address, and phone number must appear on the first page. The author’s name and the page number must appear on each successive page.
All acceptable entries will be read by a panel of judges selected by AKC Publications. They will choose the winners based on the style, content, originality, and appeal of the story. All decisions are final. Winners will be announced in an issue AKC FAMILY DOG in 2014.
Send entries to:
AKC Publications Fiction Contest
The American Kennel Club, 260 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016Deadline: 1-31-2014
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
December 15, 2013
Writing a Chapter Book, part 10/Calls for Submissions
This article is the tenth in the series: Writing a Chapter Book.
Try these tips:
Chapter books have a denser page of print than that of easy readers. Although the books are illustrated, the reader is dependent upon the art to help “read” the book. These books are broken into short chapters, and the reader can often read the entire chapter in one sitting.
The number of characters is small and the plot is not complicated. Usually the action takes place in a short period of time and revolves around a single situation, such as trying to win a contest. Action and suspense drive these stories.
Intense relationships and strong emotions spin throughout the stories. Character development is not as great as in books for older readers. Issues relevant to children ages 7-10 are must-haves. Stories should reflect the everyday experiences of the readers. Family, school, pets, friendship, moving, divorce, and bullies are a few of the common situations on which stories are based. The situation must be something that the main character—and the reader—care about.
Call for submissions for young writers:
Starsongs. You are the future, and Starsongs wants to hear your voice. Our intention is to inspire and promote the creativity of youth. Starsongsis a general market magazine interested in work by writers, artists, and photographers ages 9-19. Please keep this age range in mind and focus your work to a PG rating level. We are open to fiction or non-fiction and “as told to” stories.
Submission guidelines at http://www.kidspublished.blogspot.com...
Call for submissions for adult writers:
Highlights Magazine Fiction Contest
The theme for the 2013 Highlights for Children magazine Fiction Contest is holiday stories. Stories should be up to 800 words long, for children any age between 5-12. Three prizes of $1,000 or tuition for any Highlights Foundation Founders Workshop will be awarded. (For a complete list of workshops, visit http://www.highlightsfoundation.org.) No entry form or fee is required. Accepting work from both published and unpublished authors age 16 or older. All submissions must be previously unpublished. Indicate the word count in the upper right-hand corner of the first page of your manuscript. Include your name and the title of your story on your manuscript. Entries not accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope will not be returned. Manuscripts or envelopes should be clearly marked FICTION CONTEST. Send to: FICTION CONTEST, Highlights for Children, 803 Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431. All entries must be postmarked between January 1 and January 31, 2014. The three winning entries will be purchased by Highlights and announced on Highlights.com in June 2014. All other submissions will be considered for purchase by Highlights.
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
December 8, 2013
Writing a Chapter Book, part 9/Calls for Submissions
Try these tips:
When writing humor, don’t rely on one type to please all readers. Vary the humor by tickling the audience in a laugh-out-loud scene and again with a simple chuckle. Every sentence doesn’t have to be funny; instead, drop in funny situations and dialog as you play with the words and have fun with the story. Keep the audience in mind as you create situations that are relatable with the readers. The main focus of the story should not be humor; rather, it should be about character and plot. Dashes of humor merely add kid appeal to a well-developed story. Humor is not the story.
Sometimes, the word choice for dialog or narrative is funny. Words, such as “doohickey” and “rumpus” are funny. Also words that start with a hard “K” or a hard “G” sound are funny. Consider “kerfuffle” or “girdle.” Their sounds bring a chuckle.
Never be disappointed when the humor in your writing doesn’t come through in the first draft. Humor is released in revision. Keep working the text until the humor emerges. Read humorous chapter books so you’ll get a feel for what works with this age group. Call for submissions for young writers: Magic Dragon. Each writer and artist whose work is published in Magic Dragon will receive one copy of the issue in which the work appears. Writtenwork should be neatly printed or typed. If you type it, please double-space. Stories and essays can be up to three pages, poetry up to 30 lines. It is ok to send writing that you have also illustrated. You can write about anything that is important to you; it can be serious or funny, true or fiction. If you send originals and want them returned, enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Submission guidelines at http://www.magicdragonmagazine.com/?page_id=6
Call for submissions for adult writers: AppleSeeds is a 36-page, multidisciplinary, nonfiction social studies magazine for children ages 6 and up (primarily in grades 3 & 4). Writers are encouraged to study recent APPLESEEDS past copies for content and style Submission guidelines at http://www.cricketmag.com/18-Submission-Guidelines-for-APPLESEEDS-magazine-for-children-age6 and up. Theme Lists for 2014-2015 have been posted on Submission-Guidelines page.Submission guidelines at https://cobblestonepub.com/product/ap... https://cobblestonepub.com/product/appleseeds/
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
December 1, 2013
Writing a Chapter Book, part 9/Calls for Submissions
This article is the ninth in the series: Writing a Chapter Book.
Try these tips for writing humor:
Strange and wacky situations, such as a bird building a nest on a character’s head captures and holds the reader’s attention.
Use comedic timing. Place the punch line or funny word at the last possible moment.
Use the element of surprise. Humor comes from the reader expecting something, but a twist takes the reader in an entirely unexpected (and funny) direction. This works every time, except when it doesn’t.
Self-check the humor. If what you write cracks you up, someone else will probably find it funny, as well. Humor test your work with a group of kids the age of the audience for which your manuscript is intended. If the kids think it’s funny, you’re wheeling and dealing. If not, it’s revision time. Ask the kids where the humor fell flat and what parts were funny.
Call for submissions for young writers:
Spaceports & Spidersilk is an online magazine for younger readers [8 to 17 and beyond]. Formerly it was called KidVisions. Spaceports & Spidersilk features short stories, poems, and art, as well as brief essays on science and the environment, interviews, quizzes, contests [and, quite frankly, anything else that is genre-oriented and will help encourage the younger generation to read...and to dream, especially about going to the stars]. We at Nomadic Delirium Press hope that younger writers and artists, as well as adults, will submit their work.
The genres for Spaceports & Spidersilk include fantasy, science fiction, and a category we are going to define as ‘shadow stories’. Shadow stories are mild horror. We want spooky, not terrifying. Most of all, we want ADVENTURES! And especially SF or fantasy adventures.
Submission guidelines at http://www.nomadicdeliriumpress.com/s...
Call for submissions for adult writers:
Short Kid Stories. Kids love stories, they can’t get enough of them. Launching in 2013, Short Kid Stories is a site dedicated to short stories for kids and will showcase a huge range of classic and original short stories for children, free of charge. My aim for this is simply to be the best resource available for adults looking for short stories for kids, either to read to them or for kids to read themselves.
Submission guidelines at http://www.shortkidstories.comCheck out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
November 24, 2013
Writing a Chapter Book, part 8/Calls for Submissions
This article is the eighth in the series: Writing a Chapter Book.
Try these tips:
Humor reigns supreme. The humor doesn’t have to occur on each page or paragraph. Text that is scattered with bits of humor surprises the readers and holds their attention. If you make the readers laugh, they’ll keep turning the pages and want another book just like it. Comical characters are a hit as are funny situations and witty dialog. Humor makes the book fun to read and hooks a kid into a lifelong passion for reading.
Conveying humor through text on a page can be challenging. What’s funny to one person is just plain silly to another so how does a writer deliver a humorous story to the readers?
Chapter book readers find mixed-up language funny. They love jokes, riddles, and puns. These kids are independent readers. They are developing a good grasp of the language and enjoy the wordplay.
If a character has lost his/her two front teeth and talks with a lisp, this age group will enjoy the strange sounding speech.
Always keep the audience in mind when writing humor. What works for a seven-year-old may fall flat for a ten-year-old.
Call for submissions for young writers:
Zamoof! Hey, everyone! This is Oay here at Z! Headquarters. How would you like to be published in an upcoming issue of the magazine? It is easy to do and a lot of fun. I'll give you some ideas of what you could do, and you might even ask a parent, older brother or sister, or even your teacher to help you! Submissions are welcome from youth readers or their parents/care givers.
Submission guidelines at http://zamoofmag.com/for-grown-ups.ph...
Call for submissions for adult writers: Timeless Tales is an ezine that exclusively publishes retellings of fairy tales and classic myths.
Submission guidelines at http://www.timelesstalesmagazine.com/#!submissions/c1vmu
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
Try these tips:
Humor reigns supreme. The humor doesn’t have to occur on each page or paragraph. Text that is scattered with bits of humor surprises the readers and holds their attention. If you make the readers laugh, they’ll keep turning the pages and want another book just like it. Comical characters are a hit as are funny situations and witty dialog. Humor makes the book fun to read and hooks a kid into a lifelong passion for reading.
Conveying humor through text on a page can be challenging. What’s funny to one person is just plain silly to another so how does a writer deliver a humorous story to the readers?
Chapter book readers find mixed-up language funny. They love jokes, riddles, and puns. These kids are independent readers. They are developing a good grasp of the language and enjoy the wordplay.
If a character has lost his/her two front teeth and talks with a lisp, this age group will enjoy the strange sounding speech.
Always keep the audience in mind when writing humor. What works for a seven-year-old may fall flat for a ten-year-old.
Call for submissions for young writers:
Zamoof! Hey, everyone! This is Oay here at Z! Headquarters. How would you like to be published in an upcoming issue of the magazine? It is easy to do and a lot of fun. I'll give you some ideas of what you could do, and you might even ask a parent, older brother or sister, or even your teacher to help you! Submissions are welcome from youth readers or their parents/care givers.
Submission guidelines at http://zamoofmag.com/for-grown-ups.ph...
Call for submissions for adult writers: Timeless Tales is an ezine that exclusively publishes retellings of fairy tales and classic myths.
Submission guidelines at http://www.timelesstalesmagazine.com/#!submissions/c1vmu
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
November 17, 2013
Writing a Chapter Book, part 7/Calls for Submissions
This article is the seventh in the series: Writing a Chapter Book.
Try these tips:
Avoid the sagging middle. When we begin a chapter book, we usually have a definite beginning and ending in mind. We want the ending to solve the problem or reach the goal that the character confronts at the beginning of the story. But by chapter three, the story begins to slowly fizzle out. What can we do to keep the excitement of the beginning as we develop chapter after chapter? Offer new insights into the character. What does the reader learn about the character that had not been revealed earlier? Maybe s/he has a learning problem or a phobia that comes into play at this point.
Introduce a new character that will add a new problem or cause greater conflict. I once heard a speaker in a workshop describe it this way: treat your character badly; then treat your character worse. Add more conflict. Conflict is story and without conflict there is no story. Add barriers to prevent the character from achieving the goal or solving the problem during the middle of the story. Conflict is the motivation that keeps the character plugging along.
Move the plot along. Don’t dwell too long on one scene. By adding conflict and depth to characters, the plot moves forward. Allow the characters to learn new bits of information that alters their viewpoints or decisions.
Next week, I’ll continue with chapter book tips. Call for submissions for young writers:
Writing at Sea Competition. Enter the Marine Society and Nautilus Telegraph’s new creative writing competition and you could walk away with a £1000 or a Kobo Aura and Kobo gift vouchers. The competition is open to serving and non-serving seafarers and is free to enter. The competition theme is Life at Sea and you can enter your poem (maximum word limit 80 lines) or short story (maximum length 3,000 words). Deadline December 31, 2013. The Marine Society Prize will have a sole winner. The Short Story and Poetry Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Seafarers, Non-seafarers, Under 18’s.
Details at http://www.marine-society.org/writingatsea
Call for submissions for adult writers:
Ask.ePals Media, 70 East Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601. Ask is the Cricket Magazine Group’s magazine of nature, science, the arts, and the world at large for ages six to nine. Each issue focuses on a designated concept, question, or theme related to the natural, physical, or social sciences, technology, math, history, or the arts. It is published nine times a year and has a circulation of 36,000.
The nonfiction in Ask is always engaging, and not overtly educational or textbook-like in tone or perspective. Articles should be concrete but narrative, and relevant to the interests of the young readers.
Query according to theme by email to ask@caruspub.com, with Submissions in the subject line, or use Submittable, at https://cricketmag.submittable.com/su.... Include an article overview, including scope and treatment, references/resources, an opening paragraph, and for writers new to Ask, a résumé, and an unedited nonfiction writing sample of at least 200 words. Articles, 1,200 to 1,600 words, including sidebar. Photoessays, 400 to 600 words. Humor, profiles of people, inventions, events, the arts, 200 to 400 words. Upcoming themes: Dropping Things or gravity (September 2014 issue), query by December 15, 2013; Fairy Tale Science (October 2014 issue), query by February 1, 2014; Chemist in My Kitchen (November/ December 2014 issue), query by March 15.
Details at www.askkidsmag.com
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
Try these tips:
Avoid the sagging middle. When we begin a chapter book, we usually have a definite beginning and ending in mind. We want the ending to solve the problem or reach the goal that the character confronts at the beginning of the story. But by chapter three, the story begins to slowly fizzle out. What can we do to keep the excitement of the beginning as we develop chapter after chapter? Offer new insights into the character. What does the reader learn about the character that had not been revealed earlier? Maybe s/he has a learning problem or a phobia that comes into play at this point.
Introduce a new character that will add a new problem or cause greater conflict. I once heard a speaker in a workshop describe it this way: treat your character badly; then treat your character worse. Add more conflict. Conflict is story and without conflict there is no story. Add barriers to prevent the character from achieving the goal or solving the problem during the middle of the story. Conflict is the motivation that keeps the character plugging along.
Move the plot along. Don’t dwell too long on one scene. By adding conflict and depth to characters, the plot moves forward. Allow the characters to learn new bits of information that alters their viewpoints or decisions.
Next week, I’ll continue with chapter book tips. Call for submissions for young writers:
Writing at Sea Competition. Enter the Marine Society and Nautilus Telegraph’s new creative writing competition and you could walk away with a £1000 or a Kobo Aura and Kobo gift vouchers. The competition is open to serving and non-serving seafarers and is free to enter. The competition theme is Life at Sea and you can enter your poem (maximum word limit 80 lines) or short story (maximum length 3,000 words). Deadline December 31, 2013. The Marine Society Prize will have a sole winner. The Short Story and Poetry Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Seafarers, Non-seafarers, Under 18’s.
Details at http://www.marine-society.org/writingatsea
Call for submissions for adult writers:
Ask.ePals Media, 70 East Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601. Ask is the Cricket Magazine Group’s magazine of nature, science, the arts, and the world at large for ages six to nine. Each issue focuses on a designated concept, question, or theme related to the natural, physical, or social sciences, technology, math, history, or the arts. It is published nine times a year and has a circulation of 36,000.
The nonfiction in Ask is always engaging, and not overtly educational or textbook-like in tone or perspective. Articles should be concrete but narrative, and relevant to the interests of the young readers.
Query according to theme by email to ask@caruspub.com, with Submissions in the subject line, or use Submittable, at https://cricketmag.submittable.com/su.... Include an article overview, including scope and treatment, references/resources, an opening paragraph, and for writers new to Ask, a résumé, and an unedited nonfiction writing sample of at least 200 words. Articles, 1,200 to 1,600 words, including sidebar. Photoessays, 400 to 600 words. Humor, profiles of people, inventions, events, the arts, 200 to 400 words. Upcoming themes: Dropping Things or gravity (September 2014 issue), query by December 15, 2013; Fairy Tale Science (October 2014 issue), query by February 1, 2014; Chemist in My Kitchen (November/ December 2014 issue), query by March 15.
Details at www.askkidsmag.com
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
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