SCBWI

Do you belong? It’s important that writers for children check out this organization, the leading one for writers like us. Editors like to know we belong too. Every year they update their publishing guide, one of the best there is.

https://www.scbwi.org/

It has been too long

Over a year since I last posted. Family concerns took me away from my writing, but I am called to write and so am back again and, hopefully, this time to stay. As always, I will try to bring my followers of this blog up to date with news about writing for children. I know I’ll be back in the “slush pile” as my former editors have left their posts and other magazines have closed. But I also know that if I work at it, I will once again be back in children’s books and magazines. It does take work, no doubt about it.

A big change in recent years is that we now submit a lot more online. Many publishers no longer accept manuscripts the “old way.”

Here is the link for submitting to the “bugs” or the Cricket Group.

https://cricketmag.submittable.com/submit

If you have any special requests on information for writing for children, please email me at sramaley@cox.net

I also continue to be active in photography. This photo was just published in the Arizona Highways online magazine, in the issue on the Grand Canyon, and I shot this picture at the North Rim. Often my photos have appeared in children’s magazines, and I will post more about how to do that in the coming days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Tips for Writers

http://www.lianamahoney.com/4.html

And I know I have to read more. I get so busy I forget to just sit and read.

Lunar Eclipse, Sunday night

There will be a lunar eclipse this Sunday night. Because it is safe to observe this with the naked eye, I hope that some of you will be able to have children watch this eclipse with you. What a fascinating night that could be for a child.

Here is an excellent web page:   http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2015-september-28

Rhyme Zone

I couldn’t write poetry without Rhyme Zone.

http://www.rhymezone.com/

JacketFlap

JacketFlap is another good source for children’s writers.

http://www.jacketflap.com/

Are you on Facebook?

There are many children’s writer’s groups. Ask to join and I’m sure you’ll be accepted. I’ve learned a lot in the groups and made new friends, even met a few of them in person. I think Facebook is an excellent source for writers.

Getting out of the slush pile

We all want out of the slush pile, and it took me years to do so. Here’s a good article from the excellent Write for Kids website.

http://writeforkids.org/2015/05/how-to-rise-from-the-slush-pile-when-submitting-to-publishers/

Publisher’s Catalogs

Many publishers will send printed catalogs of their books for the year. These are free and most will be sent by regular mail if you request. It’s a good way to see the kind of material the publisher concentrates on and what they are interested in printing. I’ve also found that once I have requested a catalog, often publishers will continue to send the catalogs in future years, without another request.

Also, many are now on Facebook; another good source of material.

Write for Kids

A website presented by Children’s Book Insider. Full of information.

http://writeforkids.org/