Monday, March 31, 2008

Mustard Children's Book Contest

I saw this contest on the blue boards and had to pass it on. The Mount Horeb Mustard Museum is hosting a children's book writing contest. Here are the details

Subject: Must be about mustard
Audience: 3 to 10 years old
Prize: $2500 and possible publication
Fee: $6
Deadline: June 10, 2008
National Mustard Day: August 2

Here's the URL: Mustard Writing Contest




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Saturday, March 29, 2008

Manuscript Request

My morning started out rough. I dropped my coffee and sprained my ankle. I promise that I was actually going to get out and try to go on a walk for exercise today. I did do extensive pruning and mulching though, so I was still able to take advantageous of the gorgeous day.

Last night I finished my online picture book class taught by Anastasia Suen. It was bittersweet to finish. I learned so much and would highly recommend her course to anyone that is serious about writing picture books. I also signed up for her Yahoo group because she sends out alot of information on the writing industry.

For my last lesson, I had to include my top 5 publishing houses. Today, I got a request for my picture book manuscript from a publisher on my list. This is a manuscript that I got critiqued as part of my class, so I feel that I now have a better version of it to send out.

I love the sun and something other than No!



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Thursday, March 27, 2008

CSCC Writers Conference

I'm so excited that there is going to be a writing conference to go to. I e-mailed them because there are 5 sessions but there's no place on the registration form to sign up for particular workshops. Agent Jennifer DiChiara will be hosting the Working with Agents and Publisher Worshop, so I definitely want to attend that.

Here's the link to the conference.

CSCC Writers Conference

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Friday, March 21, 2008

Where is Spring?

I'm so over the cold weather. Some of my plants have decided that they don't want to wait either and have started to sprout. We're suppose to have snow again this week-end which puts a damper on an Easter Egg Hunt.

Ok, I'm done whining. I went to my MBA orientation this week. I'm really excited, but really scared. I'm only going to take a class at a time and I will still need to make time to write. I think I've decided to go to a local conference that is for fiction writers. There is an agent that represents YA, so this gives me a deadline to finish the first draft of my manuscript. I'll need to do this while studying for the GMAT.

Am I crazy?

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Snow is Heavy

Ok, I thought since I was snowed in this week-end that I'd get some writing done. The truth is that I shoveled snow for an hour and a half yesterday, then could barely stay awake. I'm so sore this morning, but at least I worked out.

I did finish revising Chapter 1 on Friday and mailed off my packet to the SCBWI WIP grant. I also got everything done for my MBA application, so now it's just a waiting game.

I want to make revisions to my picture book that A. Suen critiqued because I loved her suggestions. I'm just waiting for my 1st round of submissions to make their way back to me. I did get 2 really nice personal rejection that were written on letterhead and had an actual signature.


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Thursday, March 6, 2008

My Very Own YA Critique Group

A group of fellow SCBWI local members and I have created our own critique group. We all have novels in progress and they are all very different. I'm so excited about this possibility. We met last night and all the comments about my Chapter 1 were spot on. It's amazing what a fresh perspective can bring to your writing.

I made some revisions today and made my 7 copies to send to the SCBWI WIP grant committee. I'm going to put it in the mail tomorrow provided the weather lets me.


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