Saturday, March 26, 2011

Path to Publication

Path to Publication is a writers group for all genres. The Path to Publication writers group is a critique group that meets on the second Tuesday of every month. We also publish a literary magazine, The Path, twice per year. Visit our website: www.pathtopublication.net . We are also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Path-to-Publication and Twitter: http://twitter.com/pathtopublicati.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Picture Book Update

More work to do on "Where Did My Sand Castle Go?" I got my edits back from my peer reviewers. Bottom line (or to make a long story short), I don't know as much about tides as I thought I did. But, I've got some valuable information now. I'll rework the story again...

Monday, March 21, 2011

Savvy Authors - The Evolving Editor by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Savvy Authors - The Evolving Editor by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Are you a real writer?

How Do You Know if You Are a "Real" Writer?
…It doesn’t matter if you are published or not, have won awards or not.  It doesn’t matter what you write or how often you write.  It doesn’t matter.  A writer wants it to work!  If it doesn’t work, a writer is willing to produce it, to listen to criticism, to cut, to add, to change, to ask questions, to learn, to rewrite, to stand his/her ground, to start over, to rewrite again—whatever it takes to make it work.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Picture book

Moving forward on preparing my picture book "Where did my sand castle go?" to be resubmitted for publication. Wish me luck!!!

Friday, March 18, 2011

The Path, a literary magazine

This literary magazine is not something written by and for the "elite." It's a down-to-earth vehicle for writers of fiction and non-fiction to express themselves about a given theme. The theme of this first issue is, "It's a crime."

Friday, March 11, 2011

Article to be published

My kit fox article, All Ears, has been accepted. It will be published with the accompanying word search puzzle in the May, 2011 issue of Stories for Children magazine.

OWAA Membership

Mary J. Nickum was this year’s big winner for sponsoring the most new members, and in doing so earned the OWAA 2011 Conference Package of four hotel nights and one registration waiver for the July 9-11 event.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Critiquing 101

How to Receive a Critique:
1.      Be receptive. Remember, that’s why you came to the group.
2.      Do not argue with the critiquers or try to explain why you’ve written it that way. If it isn’t clear to the critiquers, it’s unlikely to be clear to the editor or your audience.
3.      Take notes as the critiquer talks, take the comments seriously.
4.      Feel free to ask the critiquer questions to clarify his/her points of critique.
5.      Respect is all important. Thank the critiquer for his/her comments.


How to Give a Critique
1.      Above all, be courteous. First, find one aspect of the work about which to be positive.
2.      Discuss the work in a forthright manner, basing your critique on what is there, not what you would put there.
3.      Make suggestions as to additions and changes, always framing your comments as suggestions rather than edicts.
4.      If you are not familiar enough with the genre being critiqued, say so politely and defer to others in the group; making general comments if possible.
5.      Remember writers are people with feelings. Always strive to help the writer not put him/her down.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Beginning Writing

Ten Steps to a Winning Proposal
Step 1: Research the market
Step 2: Research the Competition
Step 3: Follow the guidelines
Step 4: Prepare your manuscript properly
Step 5: Send an SASE
Step 6: Follow up appropriately
Step 7: Be professional
Step 8: Expect and accept rejection
Step 9: Hone your skills
Step 10: Keep trying

Query Letter Basics…
Include a SASE, if you’re querying by snail mail.
Address your query to the right editor or agent with the right title.
Format your query according to industry standards.
Spell the magazine, agency, or publishing house correctly and get its address right.