You could fill a room with students who've launched children's writing careers from Peggy King Anderson's classroom. Why not join the crowd?She currently has openings in her Magic of Writing for Children (beginning level) which starts this week, Wednesday, January 20, at Bellevue College, North Campus.* (Note: this is updated from the original January 13... Continue Reading →
Erin Taylor, an illustrator, writes on her blog about a book that's helping her illustrate:I have bought books before on "how to draw children" or "drawing people", but they always bored me- seemed better suited for the fine artist because every person in there was so stiff and posed. About a month ago I began... Continue Reading →
How to research historical novels
Our own Michele Torrey has a great blog post about how she researches her historical novels, including pitfalls to avoid and sources to use. Here's the start:As a writer of historical novels, I must conduct a lot of research. Over the years, I’ve become quite adept at finding what I need and separating the wheat... Continue Reading →
Learn to illustrate children’s books with Craig Orback
Illustrator Craig Orback has three new Children's Book Illustration classes starting soon.He is the illustrator of over 15 books for children including "Nature's Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse", and the forthcoming picture book "The Can Man", due for release in March.He has been teaching illustration and painting classes locally for 8 years.... Continue Reading →
Lemony Snicket’s coming to town
Daniel Handler, the genius behind Lemony Snicket, is coming to Benaroya Hall on March 5 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Seattle Arts & Lectures series. Handler/Snicket will discuss their lives and work. There's a reception afterward for patron ticket holders.Tickets are $25-$50, and $10 for Student/Under 25. Buy tickets at www.lectures.org or by... Continue Reading →
Portrait of a successful query
Some of you who've traveled to international SCBWI conferences may have met the lovely Sydney Salter. Here's how she caught the attention of agent Ted Malawer:When I first started agenting, I was working as an assistant at Firebrand Literary, going through the slush—which, in our case, was electronic. With hundreds and hundreds of queries, it’s... Continue Reading →
Kirkus Reviews back from the dead
Hooray! Insert your own zombie joke here as you read about the news.
How to get blackballed in publishing
This amusing bit was on Editorial Anonymous, detailing how you can ensure you'll never have a career in children's publishing by doing any of the following:Sending me lingerie, pornographic manuscripts, or death threats. You're nuts. I've given your name to security.Calling or emailing me repeatedly in the belief that you're just too charming to have... Continue Reading →
10 questions Dutton editors ask about your manuscript
This comes from the super-useful blog of Kathy Temean:1. Who is the readership for this book?2. Does this story surprise me and take me to places I didn’t expect?3. Is this a main character I care about?4. Am I personally moved by this story or sitituation?5. I this a theme/emotion/concern that a lot of kids... Continue Reading →
On creating a fantasy world
Kristin Cashore has a great piece on the Horn Book site explaining, among other things, why Po could never say, "Hot dog, Katsa!" and how she wishes she'd invented something like a killybong. The author of GRACELING and FIRE tells what she did and what she wishes she'd done to build the world of those... Continue Reading →