Monday, August 17, 2009

Monday Musings

Okay, I missed last Monday--all right, I missed posting all last week. But here I am today!

Before I start with my links and tidbits of information, I want to give a BIG WELCOME to my newest followers from the last couple of weeks (months?). Thanks so much for your thoughts and encouragement!

Next, I want to offer my long overdue "CONGRATULATIONS!" to Shelli at Market My Words on acquiring her agent, Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media Group. Now, I did congratulate Shelli over at her own blog but I just wanted to give her a shout-out here, too. And folks, if you want some inspiration, read Shelli's journey here, and one of her more recent posts about The Editorial Letter. Also, today she interviews literary agent Kate Schafer Testerman of kt literary, part of her ongoing Monday's Marvelous Marketers series. Check out the previous & upcoming posts in this series. Great reading!

Wow. It's been so long since I've posted links to share with everyone, I almost don't know where to begin. But I really like finding new links to share about writing and publishing . . . so here I go!

You've more than likely come across these by now, but if you haven't . . . well, I hope they can help.

Since I last posted in depth, aspiring author Casey McCormick has shone the "Spotlight" on these agents:

Marietta B. Zacker (Nancy Gallt Literary Agency)
Daniel Lazar (Writers House)
Kelly Sonnack (Andrea Brown Literary Agency)
Sarah Davies (Greenhouse Literary)
Steven Malk (Writers House)
Jamie Weiss Chilton (Andrea Brown Literary Agency)
Rebecca Sherman (Writers House)
Ted Malawer (formerly of Firebrand Literary)
Marianne Merola (Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc.)
Jill Corcoran (Herman Agency, Inc.)
Erin Murphy (Erin Murphy Literary Agency)

And here's a few more agents who'll soon be appearing:

Bill Contardi
Rosemary Stimola
Merrilee Heifetz
Joe Monti
Brenda Bowen

So . . . go bookmark her site, Literary Rambles. NOW. Happy agent hunting!

-------------------------------------------------------

A while back, a blogger left a comment (question) about wanting to break into the children's picture book market. Now I'm really not much of a picture book expert (although I am working on 2 PBs on the side) as I've been concentrating mainly on revising my current work-in-progress, a middle-grade historical novel. BUT, in my perusings around the blogosphere & internet, I have come across some great links on writing picture books.

Here are some of them:

Tips for Writing Picture Books by children's author Dotti Enderle

A Children's Writing To-Do List by Tara Lazar

Another post by Tara Lazar on what she learned at a recent NJSCBWI first page session (for picture books & MG/YA) held earlier this year. Doesn't she take awesome notes?

Some helpful links from children's author Lisa Schroeder

Resources for Children's Writers by Rachelle Burk

Want info on How to Write the First Draft of a Picture Book? Just click here.

More recently, I found this great post by author Mary Ann Rodman on the Teaching Authors blog, on how she became the Accidental Picture Book Author

ALSO, be sure to check out this link from the recent SCBWI 2009 Summer Conference on Creating an Extraordinary Picture Book

Last, but not least, for some general writerly advice, go and review these TEN COMMANDMENTS by literary agent (and former editorial director) Michael Stearns


Sorry I took so long to do this, but I hope these help! (Oh, yes, if anyone else knows of any other picture book tips/links, please feel free to add.)

Happy Writing! :)

8 comments:

Tabitha Bird said...

LOL crystal *post coming* I am going to remember that when I am late with a post. By the way, we all understand what that's like. Life is very busy, sometimes blogging waits :)

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

we're waiting with bated breath :) the suspense.....

Crystal said...

LOL . . . Ooooh, man, the pressure . . . :) Hmmm . . . guess I better make this good. :)

Tess said...

Crystal..

I want to come over and say thanks for the helpful and thoughtful advice. You and I are thinking the same thing....trying to find a way to make it all work and still be true to our writing.

The situation is not w/ my current novel (With A Name Like Love). That's on submission and will fall wherever whenever, I guess. It's the advice I got from my agent to write something contemporary next. It is a far easier sell for him both here in USA and abroad, I guess. So do I go fishing for a new contemporary story line or say 'too bad' and stick w/ my original plan? I think the answer is somewhere in between. Like you, I don't have any desire to follow a trend, but maybe I can find some fun story about something somewhere a little more every day America, you know?

I just never thought about this issue before.

Am I just babbling here? sorry. thanks for listening. you're the best :)

Crystal said...

I know where you're coming from, Tess. And no, you aren't babbling. You're making perfect sense. I think you're right in trying to stay somewhere in between, that is, going for something contemporary while staying true to your voice. It is definitely something to think about. *Sigh* I guess I have my work cut out for me, too!

Anonymous said...

Hey, thanks for mentioning my blog. Lots of great links in your post!

Crystal said...

You're welcome, Tara! :)

Casey Something said...

OH! I never checked back after I saw the "coming soon."

Thanks so much for all the linkage! I'm glad you've found the Spotlights so helpful.