Hi Loren! We are very exciting about having you come to the HCL on March 15 to share your experiences with us about being a published children's book author. I thought we could provide our members with a teaser of the day to come. So...
Sheri: How old were you when you decided writing would be the career path you would take?
Loren: Had my first article published at 19 and my first book at 22.
Sheri:Did you always know you would write for children?
Loren: No, actually I was a magazine journalist for about 17 years and had written two pet-care books. I was looking for a new creative challenge and took a class in writing picture books for children at Seton Hall.
Sheri: What is your favorite subject to write about?
Loren: Animals. In fact, I consider myself an animal writer whether I’m writing a magazine article, adult pet-care book, children’s picture book or promotional material.
Sheri: What was your first book you published? Was it self-published or published by a traditional publishing house?
Loren: My first book, Macaws, was published by T.F. H Publications in 1979. My first children’s book, Caesar: On Deaf Ears, was published by The Benefactory in 1997. (They’re a small publisher devoted to producing true animal stories in picture book form.) I didn’t start self-publishing until recently.
Sheri: In your opinion, what is the benefit of self-publishing, or of traditional publishing?
Loren: At this stage of my career, I enjoy self-publishing because I have complete control of the story, illustration, design, printing etc. However, I’m also a publicist and enjoy marketing. Marketing skills are the key to success in self-publishing. With traditional publishing you are paid for your work (always nice) and receive the “respect” of being published by a traditional publisher. I promote all of my books regardless of how they are produced. Your members should know not all publications will review a self-published book.
Sheri: About how long does it take for you to write a book from idea to final copy?
Loren: A pet-care book can take up to two years. A children’s picture book a few months.
Sheri: About how long until the final copy is in print on shelves?
Loren: From the time I wrote my first children’s book until the time it was published took 11 years. That was Chelsea & The New Puppy. During that time, I had two other picture books published. Two to three years is not uncommon. And btw, no guarantee it will be on shelves.
Sheri: Good point, Loren. What do you think is the number one mistake of new writers?
Loren: Not realizing what a really tough business publishing is. It may appear glamorous to those on the outside but it is a long, hard journey for those who make a career of it. You must love the process and appreciate the benefits other than financial gain. In my case, readers have contacted me to let me know they have brought a certain breed of dog into their family as a result of reading one of my books. It’s extremely rewarding to have that kind of impact.
Sheri: What do you do to avoid or deal with writer's block?
Loren: Haven’t experienced it in years. My problem is having so many ideas and juggling numerous projects at once. Always feel I must improve my time management skills.
Sheri: Ready for the speed round now...
What's your favorite color? Yellow
Which do you prefer, writing at home, or on a writer's retreat? Home
Favorite adult book? Marley and Me
Favorite TV show? Wildfire (new series revolving around a race horse)
Favorite Movie? The Black Stallion or Black Beauty
What author inspires you? Albert Payson Terhune He wrote a series of children’s books about Collies that I’m sure had a great impact on my career.
Thanks, Loren. I think March 15th is going to be a lot of fun, informative, and inspiring! So please join us at the Hunterdon County Library on March 15 from 1 - 3 for a discussion about the children's book industry, traditional publishing, and self-publishing, and a book signing event! Oh, and bring a friend! We are presently recruiting new members to HCCWG, especially picture book writers.
See ya Saturday! Until then, happy writing everyone!
Sheri ks, ks
Showing posts with label Children's Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children's Books. Show all posts
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The NJ SCBWI Workshop
Hello all,
This is just a very brief posting saying... I've been to the NJ SCBWI workshop today. I met some lovely ladies in my group. (Hello Joelle, Marcie, Lynette, Hallee, Lisa, and of course, Leeza!)
In case you've never been to such an event, here's what happens...
About a month before, you are assigned a small group. The ladies mentioned above were in my small group. Each small group is assigned an editor to receive a one-on-one critique with for 20 minutes. So in that month’s time, you have to mail your first 30 pages of your novel, or your entire PB MS to Kathy Temean, RA of the NJ chapter of SCBWI. AND... you have to email your pages to the members of your group.
Then over that month you read and critique all the stories as they come in (or wait until the last possible moment - whichever way works for you...) Then, on the day of the conference, armed with the critiques you have written for one another, you show up ready to share.
Everyone takes turns presenting their feedback while, one at a time, a member will quietly dismiss herself (sorry no token males were present in our group) and meet with the editor in a separate room.
Then, around, well... lunchtime, there is a lunch where we can all mingle and meet other writers or editors present at the event. Then we go back and finish our critiques.
At the very end is an open mic Q+A session with all the editors. We get to learn what they are individually shopping for, how long their personal turn around is with scripts, and their tips and tools of advice and suggestions. We, as writers, are eager to eat up every nugget of info they are willing to provide.
And at the end of the day you've made friends (or enemies – no, only kidding!) and you hopefully will walk away feeling energized, renewed, and ready to revise, revise, revise.
I, on the other hand, always walk away feeling exhausted! I need a few days to not think about it, while all the while my subconscious is percolating, and simmering, deep in thought. Then, in a day or two... or three... I read everyone’s comments. I print out a fresh clean copy and begin writing notes of what the others have said. If someone else says the same thing, I put a check next to the comment. If again, another person says it, I add another check and so on. If there are comments that don't ring true to me, that no one else brought up, then I let that comment go. I toss it, as Joelle said in her “Take it, or Toss it” philosophy. If there are comments that spark something within me, even if no one else said, I star it.
Then I open my computer, copy and paste the story onto a fresh document and save it as... whatever the title is, the draft number, and I give it a new version number. For example, my novel... is on its first draft, but 5th version - 1.5. (For me, a new version is when I make changes within a single draft. Once I get to the end, any other changes would begin my next draft. And then process begins all over again, 2.0, 2.1, etc.) So now, I save it as a new document as TITLE, 1.6. Next, I take the hard copy with all the converted notes and I place it in that story’s binder. All of my stories have their own binders. Then in the binder, I mark it, TITLE 1.5 NJ SCBWI Feb 2008 conference. The editor’s version goes in the binder too, of course, and I attach her business card and her critique, so it is altogether.
And that's my process!
Another benefit of the day is... a good number of the editors that come to these workshops do not accept unsolicited work. But once you've met the editor at an SCBWI event, you are no longer considered unsolicited for a window of time - usually a few months. So even if you met with editor A, you are still welcomed and invited to send you MS to editors B, C, and D, as well. And most promise that they WILL read your MS and WILL write a personal (rejection) letter (OK hopefully not a rejection letter of course! I was only being funny!!!! He He He...)
So if you haven't ever tried an SCBWI conference or workshop. I highly recommend it. Visit SCBWI to find your state's chapter. To have that 20 minute one-on-one wiht an editor is so worth it!
This is just a very brief posting saying... I've been to the NJ SCBWI workshop today. I met some lovely ladies in my group. (Hello Joelle, Marcie, Lynette, Hallee, Lisa, and of course, Leeza!)
In case you've never been to such an event, here's what happens...
About a month before, you are assigned a small group. The ladies mentioned above were in my small group. Each small group is assigned an editor to receive a one-on-one critique with for 20 minutes. So in that month’s time, you have to mail your first 30 pages of your novel, or your entire PB MS to Kathy Temean, RA of the NJ chapter of SCBWI. AND... you have to email your pages to the members of your group.
Then over that month you read and critique all the stories as they come in (or wait until the last possible moment - whichever way works for you...) Then, on the day of the conference, armed with the critiques you have written for one another, you show up ready to share.
Everyone takes turns presenting their feedback while, one at a time, a member will quietly dismiss herself (sorry no token males were present in our group) and meet with the editor in a separate room.
Then, around, well... lunchtime, there is a lunch where we can all mingle and meet other writers or editors present at the event. Then we go back and finish our critiques.
At the very end is an open mic Q+A session with all the editors. We get to learn what they are individually shopping for, how long their personal turn around is with scripts, and their tips and tools of advice and suggestions. We, as writers, are eager to eat up every nugget of info they are willing to provide.
And at the end of the day you've made friends (or enemies – no, only kidding!) and you hopefully will walk away feeling energized, renewed, and ready to revise, revise, revise.
I, on the other hand, always walk away feeling exhausted! I need a few days to not think about it, while all the while my subconscious is percolating, and simmering, deep in thought. Then, in a day or two... or three... I read everyone’s comments. I print out a fresh clean copy and begin writing notes of what the others have said. If someone else says the same thing, I put a check next to the comment. If again, another person says it, I add another check and so on. If there are comments that don't ring true to me, that no one else brought up, then I let that comment go. I toss it, as Joelle said in her “Take it, or Toss it” philosophy. If there are comments that spark something within me, even if no one else said, I star it.
Then I open my computer, copy and paste the story onto a fresh document and save it as... whatever the title is, the draft number, and I give it a new version number. For example, my novel... is on its first draft, but 5th version - 1.5. (For me, a new version is when I make changes within a single draft. Once I get to the end, any other changes would begin my next draft. And then process begins all over again, 2.0, 2.1, etc.) So now, I save it as a new document as TITLE, 1.6. Next, I take the hard copy with all the converted notes and I place it in that story’s binder. All of my stories have their own binders. Then in the binder, I mark it, TITLE 1.5 NJ SCBWI Feb 2008 conference. The editor’s version goes in the binder too, of course, and I attach her business card and her critique, so it is altogether.
And that's my process!
Another benefit of the day is... a good number of the editors that come to these workshops do not accept unsolicited work. But once you've met the editor at an SCBWI event, you are no longer considered unsolicited for a window of time - usually a few months. So even if you met with editor A, you are still welcomed and invited to send you MS to editors B, C, and D, as well. And most promise that they WILL read your MS and WILL write a personal (rejection) letter (OK hopefully not a rejection letter of course! I was only being funny!!!! He He He...)
So if you haven't ever tried an SCBWI conference or workshop. I highly recommend it. Visit SCBWI to find your state's chapter. To have that 20 minute one-on-one wiht an editor is so worth it!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Sweet Surrender
Bits 'n' Bobs for Beginners:
Recently, I was asked to offer some advice for illustrators and/or authors, for a column soon to appear in an online magazine called Once Upon a Time. The column: "Releasing the Artist Within" is written by illustrator Linda T. Snider Ward, a member of SCBWI, whom I met at the conference in LA back in 2006. We've had a few new members join HCCWG lately, so I thought it would be nice to share my 7 Tidbits here, too. I hope you find them useful.
1. Become a member of SCBWI. THEE organization that opens many doors of opportunities on a variety of levels. Having access to local, national and international events brings you one step closer to an otherwise unheard of editor or art director. Join local organizations, too, like HCCWG — if you can't find one in your neighborhood, start your own, right Sheri?
2. Research! You need to have some understanding of the basics, not just how to create a children's portfolio, or write a story that is polished and ready for submission, but to also know what's happening within the industry. Forget trends, as such, I'm talking about learning which publishers create what type of books. Know that the larger publishing houses comprise of many imprints— each specializing in its own genre(s); know that the smaller houses can sometimes be more accessible to newbies; know that you can't send a picture book dummy to any Tom, Dick and Harry, just to get it 'out there' — be selective, know your publisher. Which brings me to number …
3. How do I know which publisher to submit to? That's easy and a fun process. Head off to your local library and visit bookstores. Take an hour at a time by yourself and thumb through the shelves. Start to notice which books you are attracted to and why — does the work contained in the book resonate with the way you work (probably). Create a pile of about 20 books, then go back through them and really 'look' at them. Consider layout, composition, color, style, texture and content matter. Pick out your ten favorites based on these things and with those ten books, turn to each copyright page. Who published those books? (Aim to make research like this a regular activity, like, once a month)
4. Make a list of the publishers, and note any particular names, either of editors, art directors or designers. Keep that list and start working on some promotional pieces, with your Web site and body of work to show off to the world, you can start to reach out to the people on your list. And don't forget, flattery goes along way — if there is a book your particularly loved, mention it and tell them WHY you loved it!
5. Make sure you are professional and present your work in the same way. Show that you can draw, show that you have done your research, show that you know how to write, revise and polish your work to the best it can be before submission.
6. Always remain open, courteous, willing and enthusiastic.
7. Despite all the competitiveness, research and hard work, that may take years to build, always, always keep it fun. Learn to love what you do, do it with passion, love your style and believe. How can you expect others to believe in you if you don't believe in yourself first?
Recently, I was asked to offer some advice for illustrators and/or authors, for a column soon to appear in an online magazine called Once Upon a Time. The column: "Releasing the Artist Within" is written by illustrator Linda T. Snider Ward, a member of SCBWI, whom I met at the conference in LA back in 2006. We've had a few new members join HCCWG lately, so I thought it would be nice to share my 7 Tidbits here, too. I hope you find them useful.
1. Become a member of SCBWI. THEE organization that opens many doors of opportunities on a variety of levels. Having access to local, national and international events brings you one step closer to an otherwise unheard of editor or art director. Join local organizations, too, like HCCWG — if you can't find one in your neighborhood, start your own, right Sheri?
2. Research! You need to have some understanding of the basics, not just how to create a children's portfolio, or write a story that is polished and ready for submission, but to also know what's happening within the industry. Forget trends, as such, I'm talking about learning which publishers create what type of books. Know that the larger publishing houses comprise of many imprints— each specializing in its own genre(s); know that the smaller houses can sometimes be more accessible to newbies; know that you can't send a picture book dummy to any Tom, Dick and Harry, just to get it 'out there' — be selective, know your publisher. Which brings me to number …
3. How do I know which publisher to submit to? That's easy and a fun process. Head off to your local library and visit bookstores. Take an hour at a time by yourself and thumb through the shelves. Start to notice which books you are attracted to and why — does the work contained in the book resonate with the way you work (probably). Create a pile of about 20 books, then go back through them and really 'look' at them. Consider layout, composition, color, style, texture and content matter. Pick out your ten favorites based on these things and with those ten books, turn to each copyright page. Who published those books? (Aim to make research like this a regular activity, like, once a month)
4. Make a list of the publishers, and note any particular names, either of editors, art directors or designers. Keep that list and start working on some promotional pieces, with your Web site and body of work to show off to the world, you can start to reach out to the people on your list. And don't forget, flattery goes along way — if there is a book your particularly loved, mention it and tell them WHY you loved it!
5. Make sure you are professional and present your work in the same way. Show that you can draw, show that you have done your research, show that you know how to write, revise and polish your work to the best it can be before submission.
6. Always remain open, courteous, willing and enthusiastic.
7. Despite all the competitiveness, research and hard work, that may take years to build, always, always keep it fun. Learn to love what you do, do it with passion, love your style and believe. How can you expect others to believe in you if you don't believe in yourself first?
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