Fascinating post from Editorial Anonymous this week: a "publishometer" that lets you know whether your manuscript scores enough points to be acquired. It all boils down to writing quality, consumer interest in the topic, and your degree of celebrity.
9 reasons an agent might reject your query
Jessica Faust has a great list on her blog. Some ways to get yourself rejected:- send your query through an agency, spouse, or pet- send to more than one agent at a time- you ignore her submission guidelinesRead the rest.
Shakespeare: a picture book author’s best friend?
Here's a classic Darcy Pattison post that can be really useful for picture book structuring: Sonnets and Picture BooksI think you can compare picture book structure to the structure of poetry. For example, sonnets have 14 lines, picture books can have 14 double-page spreads. So, taking a sonnet as an example of structure, you can... Continue Reading →
Kids with their small, greasy hands…
They're just waiting to become middle grade novels.(CNN) -- On July 23, 1969, as Apollo 11 hurtled back towards Earth, there was a problem -- a problem only a kid could solve.It sounds like something out of a movie, but that's what it came down to as Apollo 11 sped back towards Earth after landing... Continue Reading →
Book trailers compiled
Shelftalker has put together a list of trailers and tribute videos for several new books.If you know of companies that make trailers for local authors, let us know and we will compile.
YA scene from the headlines
From MSNBC: We all know that walking and texting is a tough combination -- but a Staten Island teen learned the hard way when she fell into an uncovered sewer manhole while trying to send a message. Oops.
Character paradoxes by Darcy Pattison
Darcy's blog has this interesting post: Charlotte was Blood-Thirsty: Character ParadoxesCharlotte, from E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, is remembered as a character of great warmth for her friendship with the unlikely pig, Wilbur. Poor Wilbur, once the runt of the litter and saved only by the whim of a girl, is fattened up and ready for... Continue Reading →
Retreat on the Water
Time is running out to apply to our fall retreat for writers and writer-illustrators of children's books. WEEKEND ON THE WATER takes place Friday, Nov. 6, to Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, at the luxurious Alderboork Resort & Spa, nestled on the scenic shores of Hood Canal less than two hours west of Seattle.In an intimate,... Continue Reading →
USA Today top sellers
Look! Kids' books on this list--that has to be a good thing for our industry: Top 20 sellers for the second quarter1. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer2. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer3. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer4. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer5. The Shack by William P. Young6. Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto by Mark. R.... Continue Reading →
Eoin Colfer on Hitchhiker sequel
Media Bistro has a bit on ARTEMIS FOWL author Eoin Colfer's venture into the galaxy of the late Douglas Adams. When Eoin Colfer was asked to write the sixth book in problematically named The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy, he refused--convinced that no one could follow in the footsteps of the original author, the... Continue Reading →