Margo Dill Joins Our Faculty
We’re pleased to announce that Margo L. Dill will be joining the faculty at the National Writing for Children Center in July. She will present her first teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club on July 6th.
Margo L. Dill is a freelance writer, editor, and teacher, living in Mahomet, Illinois. Her work has appeared in publications such as Grit, Pockets, True Love, Fun for Kidz, Missouri Life, ByLine Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Families, and The News-Gazette. She is a columnist and contributing editor for WOW! Women On Writing. She also teaches online classes for WOW! on social networking, blogging, and writing for children’s magazines. (http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html) She is assistant editor for the Sunday Book page in The News-Gazette. Her first book, Finding My Place, a middle-grade historical novel, will be published by White Mane Kids. She writes a blog called, Read These Books and Use Them, (http://margodill.com/blog) for parents, teachers, and librarians. She owns her own copyediting business, Editor 911. (http://www.margodill.com/editor911.html) When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her husband, stepson, and two dogs—Chester, a boxer, and Hush Puppy, a basset hound. You can find out more about Margo by visiting her website: www.margodill.com.
Book Giveaway Winners are Announced!
Visit the National Writing for Children Center to see the list of winners in our Book Giveaway that took place in May for Children’s Book Week.
Click here for the list of winners!
My Experiences at the Highlights Founders Workshop on Writing Jewish-Themed Children’s Books
by Dorit Sasson
Recently, I attended a workshop at the Highlights Foundation called Writing Jewish Themed Children’s Books. This three day hands-on workshop, facilitated by Jewish author Barbara Krashner, was specifically designed for writers of Jewish-themed content. This is the first time a workshop of this type has ever been offered by Highlights, and I am excited to share these new experiences with you.
Lisa Silverman, children’s book editor of the Jewish Book World, introduced us to the world of Jewish children’s literature and the book review process. It was a fascinating glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes. After dinner, she held a book discussion around 4 non-fiction and fiction books which gave us a deeper insight into what publishers are looking for in Jewish children’s books.
Peninnah Schram, a storyteller, professor of drama at Yeshiva University, and author of several children’s books for kids including an illustrated anthology, The Hungry Clothes and Other Jewish Folktales, gave a fascinating talk about stories and getting oral tradition onto the printed page.
On the second day, there was a panel discussion about what publishers look for in manuscript submissions and how prospective Jewish children authors can appeal to the mainstream and traditional Jewish markets. Panelists included Francoise Bui, executive editor from Delacorte, Devorah Rosenfeld from Hachai Publishing, Carolyn Yoder, editor from Calkins Creek, Rubin Pfeffer from East/West Literary and Mary Kole from the Andrea Brown Literary.
Later that day, I had a one-on-one manuscript critique with Devorah Leah Rosenfeld, editor of Hachai Press, who offered fresh feedback on my latest picture book manuscript. Jane Yolen, one of my all time favorite authors–she wrote the beloved Owl Moon, which won the 1988 Caldecott Medal, The Emperor and the Kite, a 1968 Caldecott Honor Book and the How Do Dinosaurs series, which are international bestsellers, talked at length about writing Jewish fiction. After dinner, she sat in on our peer critiques and offered incisive and thoughtful feedback to our manuscripts and various works-in-progress.
We ended the workshop with a group discussion about the opportunities and obstacles of Jewish children’s writing. Since many of the other writers who attended this workshop are experiencing the same obstacles as I am –such as setting writing goals and confronting our inner editors– the support I received was invaluable for my publishing and writing journey.
How to Host Your Own Virtual Book Tour: Part 1
June 1, 2010 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
Yes! You can host your very own Virtual Book Tour. Join Nancy I. Sanders as she shares tips and techniques based on experiences from hosting her own book tours in cyberspace. From easy-peasy ideas to hairy scary techie tips, Nancy will share lots of practical suggestions. You can choose your own comfort level for marketing your book on the Internet via your own Virtual Book Tour.
This teleseminar with cover:
# Presenting your blog as your cyberspace booktable
# A Virtual Book Tour anyone can host!
# Preparing for the Tour
# Setting up before the Tour
* Answers to your questions about critique groups
This LIVE 55-minute teleclass takes place on Thursday, June 3, 2010, at noon CDT.
Writers’ Conferences from Both Sides of the Podium
Children’s author Renee Gray-Wilburn will present Writers’ Conferences and Workshops: From Both Sides of the Podium. This 55-minute LIVE teleclass takes place on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at 8:00 p.m. CDT.
In this teleclass you will learn how to:
• Organize a local writers’ group and workshop events
• Make the most out of attending writers’ conferences through:
• pre-conference preparation
• leveraging your time at the conference, and
• post-conference follow-up
Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club to attend the teleclass or register for it individually here now.
Writing for Children’s Magazines
June 1, 2010 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
Pat McCarthy’s next LIVE teleclass for the CWCC will take place on Monday, June 14, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. CDT. The topic will be Writing for Children’s Magazines.
Nonclub members may also register for the teleclass.
Get more information about that here.
Magic in Stories for Children: Part Four
June 1, 2010 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
Join Simon Rose for this teleclass to explore the use of magic in stories for children, ranging from early chapter books, through middle grade to young adult.
This LIVE teleclass takes place on Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at 8:00 p.m. CDT.
