Nancy I. Sanders's Blog, page 27

The Parable of the Shoemaker: Part 1

A Parable About Writing…

Once there was a girl who loved shoes. And more than anything else in the world, when she grew up, she wanted to become a shoemaker.

So as she got older, she attended the best seminars and workshops that taught how to make shoes. She studied late into the night, reading every book she could find about how to make shoes.

Eventually, finally, she felt enough confidence to make a pair of shoes on her own. She decided to make a little pair of blue jogging shoes. They would be just perfect for a little boy to wear to play. As she worked, she showed the shoes to other shoemakers and received their tips and suggestions for improvement. She took every helpful hint to heart and worked to make her shoes the best she could design.

Finally, her first pair of shoes was finished. All her friends agreed they were perfect! She decided to market the shoes and sell them.

Come back soon for Part 2 of The Shoemaker!

Filed under: Inspiration, Uncategorized

Faith Building Fridays: Moving Forward

The work is going forward

with great energy and success.

-Ezra 5:8b, NLT

There is one way to move forward as a writer. It is to sit down and write. Take time to write today! Even if you can only fit in 15 minutes, sit down and write. Ask God to renew your zeal and your energy. Then block in your calendar for tomorrow’s schedule to sit down and write again. Day by day, step by step, commit your path to the Lord and He will help you move forward!

Dear God, please help me move forward, just as you helped the scribes of Old Testament times move forward with the tasks you assigned to them. I dedicate my writing in the year ahead to the glory of your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Scribes: Devotions for Christian Writers is available at Amazon.

Filed under: Faith-building Fridays, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Oldie But Goodie

I hope this OLDIE BUT GOODIE from blog inspires you today!

Chances are, if you dream about being a writer, you either loved to read as a child or are a natural storyteller! What a wonderful imagination you probably have!

As you take steps to make your dreams come true, let me encourage you. I started out knowing NOTHING about the field of writing. I didn’t know about writers’ conferences, critique groups, market guides, publishing houses, agents, queries or book proposals. I didn’t even know how to type a manuscript in its proper format. I didn’t even know the word “submissions” meant to send something to an editor–I just typed up my story and mailed it to the first magazine that came to mind!

Yet, little by little, step by step I moved forward in pursuit of my dreams of one day being a published author. And now I am! With over 70 books published in houses big and small, I am a full-time writer landing 3-4 new book contracts every year for the last ten years.

Often when I speak at a local writer’s event, someone says, “Well, you can land a book contract because you’re already established.” I try to remind them that I started at square one, just like most of us do.

So, be encouraged! Take heart! Put on your writer’s hat and sit down at your computer. Fasten on your seatbelt until you actually type at least one page of new material today on your manuscript. Step by step, day by day, you can work towards making your dreams come true!

Filed under: Inspiration, Oldie But Goodie, Uncategorized

Faith Building Fridays: Shine!

Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works

and glorify your Father in heaven.

-Matthew 5:16, NKJV

As writers, we get to choose the words we write. We choose our topics. We choose the perspective and point of view. We choose the nuggets for take-away value. We choose the setting and the characters and the plot. Let’s make it our goal to choose words that glorify our Father in heaven and not words that conform to the standards of this world. Let’s shine in this world of darkness whether we’re writing fiction, nonfiction, for children, or adults! May the manuscripts we write be like a lighthouse guiding lost and storm-weary travelers into the safety and comfort of the Father’s arms.

Dear God, please anoint me anew with Your Holy Spirit. Guide me to only write words that bring You glory. Teach me how to write manuscripts that shine in the darkness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Scribes: Devotions for Christian Writers is available at Amazon.

Filed under: Faith-building Fridays, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Oldie But Goodie: More Picture Book Pointers

Here’s another OLDIE BUT GOODIE I found on my blog with more picture book pointers.

If you want to learn more about how to write a picture book, here are several steps you can take this month towards your goal:

Step 1:

Read a book about how to write picture books.

Step 2:

Tuck a pen and notepad or mini journal in your pocket. Go to your local bookstore, sit in the children’s area, if they have one. Go ahead and sit down on the carpet with all the other kids who are there, if that’s how it’s set up. Read at least five brand new picture books. Jot down notes or thought as you read.

Step 3:

Go to your local library and check out at least 20 picture books to read over the next few weeks. During this time, read each one ALOUD at least once. Pick your favorite and type it out, word for word.

Step 4:

Start a picture book notebook. A small 3-ring binder is nice because you can add pages as you go. Write down kid-friendly words you come across like PIZZAZZ and YEE-HAW! Make a list of favorite and fun names you might like to use in your stories. Write down titles of favorite picture books and names of favorite picture book authors. Write mini-book reviews about the strengths and weaknesses of various picture books you read. Use it as a place to keep notes that will help you grow as a writer of picture books.

Step 5:

Choose two picture book projects to work on at the same time. One will be a picture book that you just want to write. The second one will be a picture book that you write specifically for publication. The process will be different for each one. For the first one, you might already have it in the works or have completed the first draft. Go ahead and pick it up and plan to work on it more until it is polished. For the second book, it should be a manuscript you haven’t yet started. First find a publisher of picture books you like. Then find a series of picture books they do. Then find a favorite title in that series that’s already published. Then think of several brand new topics you could write about that they haven’t published yet in that series. Finally, choose one of those topics. Then write your new manuscript to fit exactly into that series. That’s how to write a manuscript specifically to get published.

Filed under: Oldie But Goodie, Picture Books, Uncategorized

Oldie But Goodie: Picture Book Pointer

Here’s an OLDIE BUT GOODIE from my blog I found about picture books!

Writing a picture book is very similar to making a batch of gingerbread cookies. First I gather all the ingredients. Then I follow the tried-and-true recipe in my cookbook and mix all the different ingredients in a bowl. Then I manipulate the dough on a cutting board, one piece at a time. I roll it out flat with a rolling pin. Next comes the fun of cutting it into shape. I have a set of 4 gingerbread cookie cutters–one man, one woman, one boy, and one girl. It’s fun to choose which designs to cut from the dough and place on the cookie sheet. Then it’s time to decorate and into the oven they go. I have to be careful at this stage, though! They burn so quickly, I must really keep on eye on them to make sure all my efforts don’t go to ruin. Finally, they’re done and ready for everyone to enjoy.

Have you written a picture book? Congratulations! You actually did it! You sat down and poured out your story onto the written page from start to finish. Not many people actually do that. I can’t say enough how wonderful an accomplishment that is.

It’s important to understand, however, that this is only the first step of the process it takes to write a picture book. It’s like the step of gathering all the ingredients when making gingerbread cookies. Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and go through the entire process it takes to produce a high-quality picture book.

Contrary to what most people think, writing a successful picture book is one of the most difficult genre to work in. Knowing this, when I get a new idea for a picture book, I usually block out three months to work on it. Mentally, this helps me pace myself through all the different stages a picture book needs to take to polish it and hone it on its way to perfection. This gives me the time I need so that I don’t just rush through and produce a weak manuscript that has slim chances of reaching publication.

Sometimes I just sit down and write out the story that’s floating around in my head, eager to come out. Other times, I spend time jotting down the key ingredients I want to include. Then I pull out my favorite “how-to” books on picture book writing. Eve Heidi Bine-Stock’s three volumes top my list:

How to Write a Children’s Picture Book–Volume I: Structure

How to Write a Children’s Picture Book–Volume II: Word, Sentence, Scene, Story

How to Write a Children’s Picture Book–Volume III: Figures of Speech

I structure and restructure the plot of my story from the ground up (even if I’ve already written it down) and use Eve’s first book as a guide. I read lots of other CURRENT picture books at the library and the bookstore. I rewrite and rewrite and rewrite my picture book, cutting out important pieces to keep and trimming away the excess. I go through my self-editing check-lists. I take it to critique groups and polish it according to their feedback. Sometimes I make a sample book dummy, just for my own reference, to make sure each page will carry its own weight. I DISSECT my original manuscript and rework it and rework it until it improves its quality. My goal is to make it ready to share with the world.

Filed under: Oldie But Goodie, Picture Books, Uncategorized

Faith Building Fridays: Open Door

“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.”

-Revelation 3:8, NLT

Look ahead into the future, scribe! God has opened a door for you that no one can shut. Editors can’t shut it. Rejection letters can’t shut it. Even other writers can’t shut it. Take the little strength you have and walk through that door. God has your future waiting for you! And it includes an open door.

Dear God, thank You for being the God of open doors. You hold my future in Your hands. Even though the days ahead may seem foggy to me, You know the plans You have for me and they are good plans with a future and a hope! Thank You for encouraging me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Scribes: Devotions for Christian Writers is available at Amazon.

Filed under: Faith-building Fridays, Inspiration, Uncategorized

OLDIES BUT GOODIES: QUERY TIPS

Here’s an OLDIE BUT GOODIE post I found about sending out queries.

Yesterday, a bunch of great writers met at our local Borders for an SCBWI Schmooze. What a fun time we had discussing “Queries that Work.” We had lots of great examples of queries people brought that actually landed a book or article contract.

One thing we discussed is how sometimes, the rules just have to be broken. I’ve landed over 70 book contracts with a certain “formula” I use to write my queries. When I have followed the “rules” found in most writing books or discussed at most writing conferences, I’ve never gotten a successful sale. Here’s how I write my queries—and they work! Just for an example, just recently I’ve landed four book contracts in the past three months!

Let’s say I want to write an alphabet book about my funny cat Humphrey. BEFORE I WRITE THE BOOK, I look around on the Internet at different publishers’ web sites. I keep searching until I find a publisher who writes alphabet books about pets. They have an alphabet book about dogs called, “S is for Spot: An Alphabet Book about Dogs.” But I see that they don’t have a book about cats yet! I look for their submission guidelines and see that the editor’s name is Paula Wells. I order some of their library books in at the library to check out their format and style. Then I’m ready to write a query! Here’s what I say in my e-mail query:

Dear Paula,

I studied your website and saw that you publish alphabet books about pets.

I see you have a dog alphabet book, “S is for Spot: An Alphabet Book about Dogs.” I noticed that you don’t have an alphabet book yet about cats.

I was wondering if you’d be interested in seeing a proposal for an alphabet book about cats called “H is for Humphrey: An Alphabet Book about Cats.”

If not, I would also be interested in writing an alphabet book about these other pets:

Horses, goats, pot-bellied pigs.

I am a children’s author and have written several articles for the children’s magazine, “I Like Pets.”

I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Nancy

Nancy I. Sanders

(Contact info here.)

That’s it! This is my standard format to contact an editor. Short query via e-mail targeting their product line. Personal e-mail. If the editor doesn’t take e-mail, I usually don’t bother contacting her. I just look for a different publisher to target. I don’t want my query to land up in a pile of envelopes and not hear back for months. The results? I usually hear back from within the week or I don’t hear back at all. Out of about 25 queries I sent these past 3 months, I’ve landed several book contracts and magazine assignments. My goal is to get the contract before I write the manuscript. Why? Because usually, the editor wants to give input on which direction the manuscript should take. It saves me lots of revision time. And wanna hear a secret? I’ve written over a hundred manuscripts that I’ve tried to submit somewhere—with 100% rejections. I haven’t sold a one of them. But I’ve landed over 70 book contracts when I query the editor before I write the book. Even as a beginning writer!

Filed under: Uncategorized

Hello Summer!

Our hibiscus is blooming a brilliant red. The sun is shining. It’s summer!

I thought it would be fun to do something different this summer here on my blog. This past year, I’ve had more and more of you sign up to follow my blog. It’s so exciting to have you join the journey we’re taking together as writers!

But I’ve been blogging since 2007. That’s a lot of years of useful tips and strategies that you probably have not yet read.

So this summer I thought it could be fun to post a series of OLDIES BUT GOODIES. These will all be blogs that were posted in the past here on my blog. I hope you’ll find some nuggets of gold that will help you with your own writing today.

Here’s one that I thought you’d enjoy. It’s especially timely to remember if you’re traveling this summer on vacation.

OLDIE BUT GOODIE

Yesterday I had to travel to a nearby city, so I took a few moments extra and visited their local library used book store. Whenever I go somewhere like this, I like to add an extra stop to explore the local library’s used book store. As always, I found some great finds–most for just 50 cents. I found books I can use for research sources on topics I’m writing about–and they offer a unique slant I might not have considered including. Plus, I found 2 books to give to my friend who is a writer on the current topic she’s researching. Libraries often have great used book stores where they deposit books they’re clearing from their shelves–often quite expensive volumes for a really low price. The other place I’ve also found fantastic finds is when I visit the local univeristy on my travels. Most have a used book store as well and often include great textbook finds on the subject you’re researching.

Filed under: Oldie But Goodie, Uncategorized

Resources for Writers of Nonfiction for Children

It has been a joy to share our recent journey together learning more about writing nonfiction for children. I know so many of you have an interest in writing and publishing nonfiction for children, so I wanted to give you several resources here on one post to have handy at your fingertips.

For starters, if you just started following my blog (as I know some of you have and I’m so grateful to have you join us here!) I want to provide the link to start the very first step of the journey we’ve been taking to learn how to write a nonfiction picture book and target Charlesbridge publisher as a place to submit it. CLICK HERE to start with the first post and then click through the following consecutive pages on my blog to get all the free information I share about this process. I hope you find helpful tips and strategies and techniques to help you write and submit a nonfiction picture book, too!

If you would like a more in-depth class and want to purchase one to learn more about the strategies and steps I use to land contracts and write nonfiction for kids you might want to get my four session audio-workshop called HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S NONFICTION BOOK IN A MONTH. I’ve had over 100 books published by publishers big and small, many of these nonfiction books for kids, and in this audio workshop I share  practical and helpful steps I actually take from beginning to end to take an idea to published success. This workshop includes over 4 hours of teaching along with 30+ handouts to help you each step of the way on your own writing journey. CLICK HERE for more information about this workshop and to learn how you can purchase it so that you can progress through the sessions at your own pace.

I know that many writers, myself included, make plans to attend at least one writer’s conference each year. The personal face-to-face contact is so important, along with networking and learning…in person and in real time. If you would like to attend a conference this year especially to grow as a writer in the field of nonfiction for children, I want to invite you to join me and an all-star faculty of nonfiction children’s writers! We’ll be in Texas in September in my favorite conference ever (and I’ve attended lots!) joining our amazing and much-loved conference leader Pat Miller at NONFICTION FOR NEW FOLKS (NF4NF). This year, I’m excited to say that I’ll be sharing an insider’s perspective about how to land a contract and write for Chicago Review Press, one of my favorite publishers of nonfiction for kids. (I’ve had 4 nonfiction children’s books published by them and am currently under contract with Chicago Review Press for my next one.) If you’re considering joining us in Texas, don’t delay, however, because this conference is limited to just 36 attendees to guarantee your experience is personal and you feel nurtured and helped along your writing journey as never before. CLICK HERE for more information about this wonderful conference, its faculty, its workshops, and how to register. THIS CONFERENCE TRULY MAKES A DIFFERENCE in the lives of those who attend…I’m already hearing stories of last year’s attendees who are landing contracts since we met together!

I hope you find these resources helpful along your own journey as a writer of nonfiction for children. Thanks for joining along in the fun!

 

 

Filed under: Nonfiction, Uncategorized