Mindy Hardwick's Blog, page 29

AWP Panel–”Alternatives to Traditional Book Contracts”

I’m presenting at the AWP Conference on Thursday, February 27 from 12:00-1:15 p.m. The panel topic is: “Getting Your Foot in the Door: Alternatives to Traditional Book Contracts.”

My part of the talk will be about writing for the digital first, epubs and my experience with STAINED GLASS SUMMER, WEAVING MAGIC, and forthcoming picture book, FINDERS KEEPERS.

I’m posting some of the talk as well as the handout listing digital first publishers open to YA and MG submissions.

You can access the AWP Conference Digital First Publishers Handout here

This is a bit of my talk:

“Getting Your Foot in the Door: Alternatives to Traditional Children’s Book Contracts”:

In August 2011, when I sold STAINED GLASS SUMMER to Musa Publishing, it was one of the first books on their digital first YA imprint list and released at the end of December, 2011. At the time, this digital first type of publishing in children’s and young adult was an “alternative.” Two years later, I’d say digital first publishing is no longer so “alternative.”

I believe what works is more of a “hybrid publishing.” I don’t think there is one right way to publish. There are multiple ways, from digital first to small presses to self-publishing to large New York houses.

But, I do believe, that we, as authors can ask ourselves some questions before we submit our work:

1.     What is the right way to publish THIS story?  Not every story we write is a New York Times best-seller or a story for the masses. Some stories belong to the niche markets and do better with smaller presses or digital first publishers. Look at the story you wrote and be honest–is this really a story for the masses to be published with New York?

     How does taking this particular path help my career as an author at THIS time? If you have a traditional book contract, but your book will not release for two years and you want something to keep your readers interested, you might consider a shorter story such as a novella to be targeted toward a digital first publisher.

3.    Who is my audience for this story? Where are they to be found as readers?  Not all readers will be able to obtain digital first books. Many of the children’s and YA digital first publishers are not quite in the school library markets yet.

4.      What is my goal for this story? Is it to keep your name in lights? To continue a series? To publish a first book? To get your foot in the door? Know your goal before you submit.

 

What type of stories work well with digital first publishers?

1.      Series—Readers love series and if you publish one, it’s easy for them in the digital markets to click buy one after another.  Publishers can give away one of your books in the series and help to find new readers on digital platforms.

2.      First time authors—Digital first publishers give you time and help to build your author name and brand.

3.      Niche Books—If you’ve written a story for a niche audience, consider a digital first publisher where you can target your marketing toward that niche audience.

4.      Novellas—Shorter stories work great for the digital markets. They can be priced at 99 cents and are short and easy for people to read on their way to work, etc.

5.      Genre stories—Romance, science fiction, and fantasy all have readers who have been trained for a long time in buying digital stories. These markets are large and vast.

Two years ago, those of us in digital first publishing often said we were on the trail to the wild west—I still think we are on that trail in many ways, but the path is becoming a little more easier to tread and the readers have joined us on that trail.

Goodreads Giveaway Ending Soon

The Goodreads giveaway for my sweet, contemporary romance book, ROMANCE FOR ALL SEASONS is ending soon.

Goodreads Book Giveaway


Romance for All The Seasons
by Mindy Hardwick

Giveaway ends February 28, 2014.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Kindle Countdown Deal

ROMANCE FOR ALL THE SEASONS is a Kindle Countdown Deal. For the next two days, you can purchase the ebook of ROMANCE FOR ALL SEASONS for 99 cents. Buy link

BLURB: Bestselling author, Mindy Hardwick’s sweet contemporary Sailor Series and Elmheart Hotel Series are together for the first time in this anthology, ROMANCE FOR ALL THE SEASONS.

These six novellas will delight your heart at Valentine’s Day, sweeten hot summer days, banish Halloween ghosts and goblins and warm your soul during the holidays.

 

Markets for Narrative and Flash Fiction

At the beginning of March, I’m  teaching, Write it Short, Write It Real, an on-line class for teens at the Loft Literary Center.

One of the things we’re going to look at is where are the markets for short, narrative flash.

I’ve created this handout about Writing Narrative Flash which includes some Narrative Flash Markets. You can Download the handout here.

Tips for Writing Short Narrative Flash

In a few weeks, I’ll be teaching, Write it Short, Write It Real, an on-line class for teens at the Loft Literary Center.

Last week, I wrote a guest post for the Loft’s blog, The Writers Block. My post was called, Seven Tips for Writing Short Narratives. These are things I’ve learned while working on my memoir in progress, Kids in Orange: Voices from Juvenile Detention Center Poetry Workshop. This is a story which will be told in short flash and vignettes. The form helps to mirror the intensity of running a poetry workshop with teens in detention.

Here are a few tips for writing short narrative:

1. Select an idea with a limited scope. For example, craft a story around a moment in time. Narrative flash often focuses on a moment of change, realization or final action.

2. Be sure to keep the cast of characters small. You’ll need a main character and an antagonist, but the rest can be saved for their own stories later.

3. Titles matter. Since word counts are limited, be sure to use all the words you are given, including the title. Your title can play double-duty by giving away clues to the plot, enhancing character, or establishing setting.

4. Begin your story in the middle of the action. Robert Olen Butler says in From Where Dreams Come, “All plot comes from the character’s trying to get something, to achieve something, wanting, desiring, longing.” Let the readers know what that is as early as possible.

You can read the entire post, Seven Tips for Writing Short Narrative, here.

And if you know of a teen who enjoys writing and would like an on-line class, encourage them to sign up for Write It Short, Write It Real.

There are two sessions. The spring session is here.

The summer session is here.

Tps for Writing Short Narrative Flash

In a few weeks, I’ll be teaching, Write it Short, Write It Real, an on-line class for teens at the Loft Literary Center.

Last week, I wrote a guest post for the Loft’s blog, The Writers Block. My post was called, Seven Tips for Writing Short Narratives. These are things I’ve learned while working on my memoir in progress, Kids in Orange: Voices from Juvenile Detention Center Poetry Workshop. This is a story which will be told in short flash and vignettes. The form helps to mirror both the intensity of running a poetry workshop with teens in detention.

Here are a few tips for writing short narrative:

1. Select an idea with a limited scope. For example, craft a story around a moment in time. Narrative flash often focuses on a moment of change, realization or final action.

2. Be sure to keep the cast of characters small. You’ll need a main character and an antagonist, but the rest can be saved for their own stories later.

3. Titles matter. Since word counts are limited, be sure to use all the words you are given, including the title. Your title can play double-duty by giving away clues to the plot, enhancing character, or establishing setting.

4. Begin your story in the middle of the action. Robert Olen Butler says in From Where Dreams Come, “All plot comes from the character’s trying to get something, to achieve something, wanting, desiring, longing.” Let the readers know what that is as early as possible.

You can read the entire post, Seven Tips for Writing Short Narrative, here.

And if you know of a teen who enjoys writing and would like an on-line class, encourage them to sign up for Write It Short, Write It Real.

There are two sessions. The spring session is here.

The summer session is here.

 

 

“I Believe”-FREE audio story

One of my very first published short stories was “I Believe.” This was a tween story that was published as an audio story with Sniplits.

Story blurb: Twelve-year-old Samantha has always believed in unicorns, dragons and fairies, but when her new Junior High history teacher says she must put away her childish ideas, Samantha is determined to stand up for her belief in the unseen.

This story was narrated by Kailey Bell, who at the time, was in Chicago Theater.  The audio book publisher, Sniplits, has closed it’s doors, but I was allowed to purchase the MP3 file with the rights back to my story.

For a limited time, I am offering “I Believe” as a free download on my website. “I Believe” runs eight minutes and is a great short story for tweens. If I was still teaching seventh grade, I would play it for my classes.

You can listen to “I Believe” on my website here. (It’s the second story on the list).

Valentine’s Day Winners

It’s time to announce the winners of the Valentine’s Day card giveaway and the Share the Love Blog Hop!

The winner of the Share the Love Blog Hop is…

Darlene B at Darlene’s Book Nook! Darlene wins one ebook copy of VINTAGE VALENTINE.

 

And the winner of the Valentine Day cards are:

 

1. Christine L.

2. Shannon H.

Ladies, your cards are in the mail! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Share the Love Blog Hop Giveaway Two Days Remaining

There are still a couple days left to participate in all the great giveaways at the Share The Love Giveaway Hop.

You can see my Share the Love Giveaway blog post here

And here is the entry form to win one copy of my sweet, contemporary romance VINTAGE VALENTINE.

Valentine Card Giveaway

I thought it’d be fun to offer a giveaway that is not book related, but is very much a Valentine’s Day giveaway!

When I am not writing, one of the things I like to do is take arts and crafts classes from my local artists. We have a lot of great local creative workshops taught by amazing creative, talented artists in the Seattle area. Last fall, I took a Recycled Journal Class with Amy of Four Corners Design. She keeps a great blog here.

This December, Amy showcased fun, easy to make holiday gift ideas every Monday. One of those ideas was a great set of note cards. You  can see the note cards and how to make them here.

Amy did a giveaway of one of her set of her note cards and I was one of her winners!

Now, I want to pass on Amy’s great idea. I made up my own set of Valentine’s Day note cards using Amy’s instructions on her blog and I’m giving away two sets of these great cards to two people who leave a comment on my blog about your favorite Valentine memory. Please be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you. Do not leave your mailing address. The giveaway period runs for the next couple days and I will announce the winners on Valentine’s Day! (US addresses only).

Here are pictures of one of the card sets.