tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42061843055195690482024-03-12T09:41:40.391-07:00Bookshelf Detective by Kim TomsicKim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.comBlogger247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-76295906536398722132023-12-30T03:00:00.000-08:002024-01-11T09:37:28.014-08:0011 Mistakes to Avoid When Querying a Literary Agent<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt;">Congratulations! You’ve completed and polished your manuscript. You’ve written your three-part query letter. Now, here are a
few things not to do—no matter how tempted you are. Why? Because publishing is
a business, and you want to showcase yourself as a professional.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 9pt;"><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 9pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">11 Mistakes to Avoid When Query a Literary Agent by Kim Tomsic</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO-mDAuyqYAebzp_AhNhbF2m-zAHE7ktq35g9NCBZjNnevBdRLYyxaKNmiriQs1jUnVgukGp8CeJKhnd5SWcX7oTXuz-MaSf9v8LbWqFSQ6jKSiGKVvILBfPEzPfBYrugvxPAhfBvHT6NbpKHIGdhioYYs4X2mgBT7-85tu6pNuFMmCbZWiiPiOdw7v_L/s2100/shutterstock%20dec%202023%20artsy%20man%20inside%20mans%20brain.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="2100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO-mDAuyqYAebzp_AhNhbF2m-zAHE7ktq35g9NCBZjNnevBdRLYyxaKNmiriQs1jUnVgukGp8CeJKhnd5SWcX7oTXuz-MaSf9v8LbWqFSQ6jKSiGKVvILBfPEzPfBYrugvxPAhfBvHT6NbpKHIGdhioYYs4X2mgBT7-85tu6pNuFMmCbZWiiPiOdw7v_L/s320/shutterstock%20dec%202023%20artsy%20man%20inside%20mans%20brain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt; margin: 9pt 0in;"><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 54.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; mso-bidi-font-family: Lato; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Lato; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Don’t tell the agent that your mom, sister, classroom, and
neighbor LOVED your book.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 54.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; mso-bidi-font-family: Lato; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Lato; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Don’t call your manuscript a fiction novel (that’s like
calling it a story story or a book story).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 54.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; mso-bidi-font-family: Lato; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Lato; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Don’t submit to multiple agents WITHIN the same agency (but
do send to your top five or ten agents at one time. Almost nobody expects an
exclusive submission unless you’ve had that conversation).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 54.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; mso-bidi-font-family: Lato; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Lato; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Don’t forget to ask your critique group to review it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 54.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; mso-bidi-font-family: Lato; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Lato; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Don’t pack your letter in an envelope and mail a query to a
"green" office (and certainly don’t include rainbows and glitter!).
Most agents only accept emailed submissions or online forms. Read their agency
guidelines.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 54.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; mso-bidi-font-family: Lato; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Lato; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Don’t skip the submission guidelines – notice if you are
supposed to paste your manuscript pages within the body of the email, or if you are supposed to attach it as a Word Document. Don’t add
attachments UNLESS the agent says they prefer to receive submissions that
way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 54.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; mso-bidi-font-family: Lato; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Lato; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Don’t send a “Dear Sir or Madam” email and then email ten agents on the same outgoing message. Not only is it
unprofessional and lacks the personal touch, but your email might also filter
to their trash as spam. Avoid getting filtered as spam by refraining from adding special do-dads and gifs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 54.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; mso-bidi-font-family: Lato; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Lato; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Don’t misspell a name and please don't say "Dear Agent." Remember,
address the letter to their name, spell it correctly, and let them know why you
personally selected them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 54.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; mso-bidi-font-family: Lato; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Lato; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Don’t query an agent with a picture book manuscript if they
only accept YA. Read their #<a href="https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAwP6sBhDAARIsAPfK_wYklgITp5ppmsq6LlVR8-snBcubHRTHUmgLqLpDHZ_x5p-iIAIuwIoaAnAtEALw_wcB" target="_blank">MSWL</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 54.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; mso-bidi-font-family: Lato; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Lato; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Don’t query if they are closed to queries.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 54.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; mso-bidi-font-family: Lato; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Lato; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Don’t query too soon. Slow down and make sure your
manuscript is polished.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 54.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; mso-bidi-font-family: Lato; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Lato; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Don’t
worry! Be professional and let your writing do the talking.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OcARAXYod0nsBgsVDUyehInRhlCjag7fQqsSfnSEZka_Jfrwzic5y88nKXA2JnDBZbH-KNKOXgN_BxPxa8ubqhihuWFyVpcjwW1JNAtAeABkbaVt0wUzxeMC20GqS2MGz6PwCeTP559eZvVpkr9scdRQd8COS1IGoKDHZRIHa8cvEKe_43bRSinNuNMk/s2289/gograph%20retro%20typewriter.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1526" data-original-width="2289" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OcARAXYod0nsBgsVDUyehInRhlCjag7fQqsSfnSEZka_Jfrwzic5y88nKXA2JnDBZbH-KNKOXgN_BxPxa8ubqhihuWFyVpcjwW1JNAtAeABkbaVt0wUzxeMC20GqS2MGz6PwCeTP559eZvVpkr9scdRQd8COS1IGoKDHZRIHa8cvEKe_43bRSinNuNMk/s320/gograph%20retro%20typewriter.jpg" width="320" /></a><span face=""Lato",sans-serif" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-58140232368747624032023-12-29T23:00:00.000-08:002023-12-31T11:17:23.452-08:003 Quick Tips on How to Write Dialogue Tags<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldWBIdiASWUiZ0sEvdIUDy69wSQRHn-1coYUo08PRu7PCDkf_0A9POYKIeQ1SInF9SKng9b88wCg4eLMOpxEIygrMYiYUL4tTXYdZJj-D9R3RXKrKYSbi955oEYMSVgOOaiUJHq_67IaeemPQg8B0HXTZ04_-ri8xN6z8mJrvLn4c6OD1N9uC3pMchQ/s3555/shutterstock%20workshop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2418" data-original-width="3555" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldWBIdiASWUiZ0sEvdIUDy69wSQRHn-1coYUo08PRu7PCDkf_0A9POYKIeQ1SInF9SKng9b88wCg4eLMOpxEIygrMYiYUL4tTXYdZJj-D9R3RXKrKYSbi955oEYMSVgOOaiUJHq_67IaeemPQg8B0HXTZ04_-ri8xN6z8mJrvLn4c6OD1N9uC3pMchQ/s320/shutterstock%20workshop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />"Let's chat about dialogue tags," she said.<p></p><p>"Okay!" I said. "I'm game."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOiu4XNyANzu8ZxCxXMYA9r_cpj1h0bNU38pRH4gB6jkbFJMCtRZ_P-wuzH6i6PbyJosNTDhPXLUD3Ezk29Ukh8W2j_VQQjEotMg5AgyzcXJq9-76z5_vrT2xlmGUnveqqTmpH2zY6pdTPh_JYsqx2gh8Z_aFmfUvia43dQ_FEtL7dg8isciUWg84rA/s5000/shutterstock%20red%20typewriter%202023.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5000" data-original-width="5000" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOiu4XNyANzu8ZxCxXMYA9r_cpj1h0bNU38pRH4gB6jkbFJMCtRZ_P-wuzH6i6PbyJosNTDhPXLUD3Ezk29Ukh8W2j_VQQjEotMg5AgyzcXJq9-76z5_vrT2xlmGUnveqqTmpH2zY6pdTPh_JYsqx2gh8Z_aFmfUvia43dQ_FEtL7dg8isciUWg84rA/w250-h250/shutterstock%20red%20typewriter%202023.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><p>I know, I know. Riveting conversation above.🤣</p><p>What is a dialogue tag? It's what you put after you close the quotes and designate the speaker.</p><p>Some tags you might have written or seen include:</p><p>...," he said.</p><p>...," she whispered.</p><p>...," they bellowed.</p><p>...," Kaia exclaimed.</p><p>...," Sharma whimpered.</p><p>And the list goes on. </p><p><b>Firstly, no!</b> Please try to stick with "said" and use the other examples sparingly. More on why below.</p><p><b>Secondly, formatting</b>: Notice that there is a comma inside the quotation marks. The sentence ends after the tag. For example, "We are talking about dialogue tags," they said. If the statement ended in an exclamation point or a question mark, it would replace the comma. For example, "What are you talking about?" she asked. But look - "she" remains lower case. </p><p><b>Thirdly</b>, why dedicate a blog post to dialogue tags? </p><p>There tends to be a lot of opinions on this topic. But remember, opinions are not rules. Here are my thoughts (and I'm not alone on this, so please feel the peer pressure😼): Using the tag "said" keeps the characters talking and the author out of the scene. What does that mean? It means when tags are used to add pomp and flourish to the prose, they demand attention and the dialogue takes second place to the tags. This happens when an author feels unsure that their words are doing the work, so they plant tags to carry the weight. </p><p>Not always. Never always. But too many flourishy tags in a row can stifle flow. Uh-oh, there goes the suspension of disbelief. </p><p><a class="external" href="https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-dialogue-tags" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"><span class="external_link_icon" role="presentation" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-start: 5px;"><span class="screenreader-only" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); display: inline; height: 1px; margin: -1px -1px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; transform: translateZ(0px); width: 1px;">Links to an external site.</span></span></a></p><p style="margin: 12px 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnat6aosuUzTL2LkcAq5gYmoSI8yRxj_YnSlzLRk9GtCWdkQev41np_0np07yS6cYMpFd0Q7CbSHKFBn1_pXYL3o4IxzhVW_IPyDYE00uSZJ1Rovi0tqGG3Qpzh6rNXblQnKl1ffSUww3x-On4W1JkhGGOOklQ9IBiPjaFqB8lpy7F37sXuJIS_HGmHg/s1523/On%20Writing.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1523" data-original-width="1000" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnat6aosuUzTL2LkcAq5gYmoSI8yRxj_YnSlzLRk9GtCWdkQev41np_0np07yS6cYMpFd0Q7CbSHKFBn1_pXYL3o4IxzhVW_IPyDYE00uSZJ1Rovi0tqGG3Qpzh6rNXblQnKl1ffSUww3x-On4W1JkhGGOOklQ9IBiPjaFqB8lpy7F37sXuJIS_HGmHg/w103-h157/On%20Writing.jpg" width="103" /></a></div><br />Style books and editors often prefer <strong>he said</strong> or <strong>she said</strong> or <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;">they said or </strong><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/on-writing-a-memoir-of-the-craft-stephen-king/15212476?ean=9781439193631&gclid=CjwKCAjwgqejBhBAEiwAuWHioLJGNwg1rIcGDDSxVeQzD8KmqLYmWvcrs-uZyx8svMYAa-QAmGxVshoCmxIQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Stephen King</a> said or Kim said, because such a tag is invisible. It's invisible because the reader can rush past the word "said" and stick with the moment and characters. With a rhythm of simple "saids", the tags fall away and the story remains front and center. <p></p><p style="margin: 12px 0px;">On the other hand, if an author injects themselves on the page and shows off with a lot of effusive tags, the rhythm is interrupted, the reading slows down, and the reader is reminded that there is a clever author in the background. They are reminded that they are reading. Alas, they are robbed of the experience of being immersed in the magic and the moment with the characters. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6I2edn5ySU69_OytH0Dzji7R_hK3XjnveKLxSPpinMRno6NjJ519i6Ygjv0n4RXJQz7Inmi0DkNHwX9ZsRSGpv7Y3e_EroHgiMr-5JoO773lkuS3nCM-lxj92f9oedskEYKF2C_siCKYp4clK9bppen2wxVji-ItOIVCCgGzXvuHobxkFx5LONpljw/s1280/the%20language%20of%20fiction.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="859" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6I2edn5ySU69_OytH0Dzji7R_hK3XjnveKLxSPpinMRno6NjJ519i6Ygjv0n4RXJQz7Inmi0DkNHwX9ZsRSGpv7Y3e_EroHgiMr-5JoO773lkuS3nCM-lxj92f9oedskEYKF2C_siCKYp4clK9bppen2wxVji-ItOIVCCgGzXvuHobxkFx5LONpljw/w105-h157/the%20language%20of%20fiction.jpg" width="105" /></a></div><p></p><p style="margin: 12px 0px;">Brian Shawver in his book, <em><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-language-of-fiction-brian-shawver/1111429170" target="_blank">The Language of Fiction: A Writer’s Style Book</a></em>, says, “Part of writing smoothly about a character involves moving the reader from the external events to the interior world of the character with elegance.”</p><p style="margin: 12px 0px;">This is not to say you'll never add extra flare to a tag. Simply consider choosing other tags sparingly as a way to allow the dialogue the chance to flow smoothly. Make strong word choices and verb choices so your tags don't need the bonus lift. </p><p style="margin: 12px 0px;">Furthermore, sometimes you can leave a tag out altogether. Trust your readers. If they know who is talking, don't tag. For example, if there are only two characters on scene, there will be many sentences where the tag is unneeded.</p><p style="margin: 12px 0px;"></p><p style="margin: 12px 0px;"><br /></p>Here's a blog from Mastercraft covering <a href="https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-dialogue-tags" target="_blank">Five Tips for Writing Dialogue Tags</a><p></p><p style="margin: 12px 0px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 12px 0px;"> If you’d like to read more on this topic, <a class="external" href="https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-dialogue-tags" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Master Class has an interesting article<span class="external_link_icon" role="presentation" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-start: 5px;"><svg style="fill: currentcolor; height: 1em; vertical-align: middle; width: 1em;" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 1920 1920" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M1226.66667,267 C1314.88,267 1386.66667,338.786667 1386.66667,427 L1386.66667,427 L1386.66667,853.666667 L1280,853.666667 L1280,693.666667 L106.666667,693.666667 L106.666667,1493.66667 C106.666667,1523 130.56,1547 160,1547 L160,1547 L1226.66667,1547 C1256.10667,1547 1280,1523 1280,1493.66667 L1280,1493.66667 L1280,1280.33333 L1386.66667,1280.33333 L1386.66667,1493.66667 C1386.66667,1581.88 1314.88,1653.66667 1226.66667,1653.66667 L1226.66667,1653.66667 L160,1653.66667 C71.7866667,1653.66667 0,1581.88 0,1493.66667 L0,1493.66667 L0,427 C0,338.786667 71.7866667,267 160,267 L160,267 Z M1584.37333,709.293333 L1904.37333,1029.29333 C1925.17333,1050.09333 1925.17333,1083.90667 1904.37333,1104.70667 L1904.37333,1104.70667 L1584.37333,1424.70667 L1508.96,1349.29333 L1737.86667,1120.38667 L906.613333,1120.38667 L906.613333,1013.72 L1737.86667,1013.72 L1508.96,784.706667 L1584.37333,709.293333 Z M1226.66667,373.666667 L160,373.666667 C130.56,373.666667 106.666667,397.666667 106.666667,427 L106.666667,427 L106.666667,587 L1280,587 L1280,427 C1280,397.666667 1256.10667,373.666667 1226.66667,373.666667 L1226.66667,373.666667 Z" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"></path></svg> <span class="screenreader-only" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px -1px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; transform: translateZ(0px); width: 1px;">Links to an external site.</span></span></a>. Mary Kole has an even better article on dialogue tags on the KidLit.com blogsite called <a class="external" href="https://kidlit.com/how-to-write-dialogue-tags/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="margin-bottom: 0px;" target="_blank">How to Write Excellent Dialogue Tags<span class="external_link_icon" role="presentation" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-start: 5px;"><svg style="background-color: white; color: #347bad; fill: currentcolor; font-family: "Lato Extended", Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 1em; vertical-align: middle; width: 1em;" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 1920 1920" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M1226.66667,267 C1314.88,267 1386.66667,338.786667 1386.66667,427 L1386.66667,427 L1386.66667,853.666667 L1280,853.666667 L1280,693.666667 L106.666667,693.666667 L106.666667,1493.66667 C106.666667,1523 130.56,1547 160,1547 L160,1547 L1226.66667,1547 C1256.10667,1547 1280,1523 1280,1493.66667 L1280,1493.66667 L1280,1280.33333 L1386.66667,1280.33333 L1386.66667,1493.66667 C1386.66667,1581.88 1314.88,1653.66667 1226.66667,1653.66667 L1226.66667,1653.66667 L160,1653.66667 C71.7866667,1653.66667 0,1581.88 0,1493.66667 L0,1493.66667 L0,427 C0,338.786667 71.7866667,267 160,267 L160,267 Z M1584.37333,709.293333 L1904.37333,1029.29333 C1925.17333,1050.09333 1925.17333,1083.90667 1904.37333,1104.70667 L1904.37333,1104.70667 L1584.37333,1424.70667 L1508.96,1349.29333 L1737.86667,1120.38667 L906.613333,1120.38667 L906.613333,1013.72 L1737.86667,1013.72 L1508.96,784.706667 L1584.37333,709.293333 Z M1226.66667,373.666667 L160,373.666667 C130.56,373.666667 106.666667,397.666667 106.666667,427 L106.666667,427 L106.666667,587 L1280,587 L1280,427 C1280,397.666667 1256.10667,373.666667 1226.66667,373.666667 L1226.66667,373.666667 Z" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"></path></svg><span face=""Lato Extended", Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #347bad; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></a></p>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-2807373698991639452023-12-17T04:00:00.000-08:002023-12-19T05:17:21.662-08:003 Steps to Demystify How to Write a Query Letter and Attract a Literary Agent<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCH1e5np2YkqRk3yHk5uPdg-a-E6IH326fBInUrg4GswHDGj3NKzkJaONwLKEhp2JHf-OiyoThpg_OjwX4C6YOYPDIM_MTVGtnmzlWQ1NsLxxTMqLC5f-1avKGJAyLxtOY7izHwLTEotBLasxZrR3N-qk2DEuOLRKbHgTz4sunLMBWJHVBcoKCQsFaIpV/s1080/three%20parts%20of%20a%20query%20letter.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCH1e5np2YkqRk3yHk5uPdg-a-E6IH326fBInUrg4GswHDGj3NKzkJaONwLKEhp2JHf-OiyoThpg_OjwX4C6YOYPDIM_MTVGtnmzlWQ1NsLxxTMqLC5f-1avKGJAyLxtOY7izHwLTEotBLasxZrR3N-qk2DEuOLRKbHgTz4sunLMBWJHVBcoKCQsFaIpV/s320/three%20parts%20of%20a%20query%20letter.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Lato Extended", Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 12px 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; margin: 12px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Congratulations! You've finished writing your manuscript. Now, you're ready to query an agent or editor.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; margin: 12px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Let's go! </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; margin: 12px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There are </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">three parts of a query letter: </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; margin: 12px 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the hook, </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; margin: 12px 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the book, </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; margin: 12px 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">and the cook. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; margin: 12px 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">All parts should fit on one page.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; margin: 12px 0px; text-align: left;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><u style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></u></strong></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><u style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Paragraph One (the hook):</span></u></strong></h2><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><u style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRo1vYiiUC8ClYOLfA2lAmivR0rGEwrzRF4xivbsgSwy3IKgwzrSPhtVcchuUbMw8PJbvRA5vkPkN4uBeHw_hBlizHag1PGXm1r6f71M22BoTJ2NP3KL0mXCYKEtwnW9wE9reU2UcclGCl14uyEk2NUtbSoVyFZzyac5t8xzqqAWtCGYeBgTh4P7NmJnX4/s6748/shutterstock%20secret%20key.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3700" data-original-width="6748" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRo1vYiiUC8ClYOLfA2lAmivR0rGEwrzRF4xivbsgSwy3IKgwzrSPhtVcchuUbMw8PJbvRA5vkPkN4uBeHw_hBlizHag1PGXm1r6f71M22BoTJ2NP3KL0mXCYKEtwnW9wE9reU2UcclGCl14uyEk2NUtbSoVyFZzyac5t8xzqqAWtCGYeBgTh4P7NmJnX4/s320/shutterstock%20secret%20key.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></u></strong></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; margin: 12px 0px; text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Include the following in “The Hook” paragraph</b>:</span></h3><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 6px 25px; padding: 0px;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">WHY - Why you chose the agent (e.g., I enjoyed your presentation at the 12x12 webinar)</span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 6px 25px; padding: 0px;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">HOOK - Include a sentence with the logline/hook: <a href="https://kimscritiquingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/09/whats-high-concept-hook.html" target="_blank">a “hook”</a> is a single sentence that fast-forwards a readers' understanding of your story, and it can include comp titles (e.g., SEE SHELL is a friendship and perspective story that's like Carson Ellis's DU IZ TAK meets Brenden Wetzel's THEY ALL SAW A CAT but set at the bottom of the sea). </span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 6px 25px; padding: 0px;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Title (in all caps, e.g., SEE SHELL)</span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 6px 25px; padding: 0px;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Genre</span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 6px 25px; padding: 0px;"><li style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Word count</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a class="external" href="http://kimscritiquingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/09/whats-high-concept-hook.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="margin-bottom: 0px;" target="_blank"><span class="external_link_icon" role="presentation" style="display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-start: 5px; text-indent: initial;"><span class="screenreader-only" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px -1px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; transform: translateZ(0px); width: 1px;">Links to an external site. title, genre and the word count of your book. Julie Fogliano had a sale post this week in Publishers Marketplace, so I’ll use the posted logline as an example (want to see more examples, subscribe to Publishers Lunch). If Julie had been querying this story, her hook++ lines might sound like this: </span></span></a><span style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45;">FIRST LINE</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-weight: 400;"> of the paragraph: Your first line should tell the agent why you carefully considered and queried them: </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-weight: 400;">Thank you for speaking at SCBWI New York</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-weight: 400;"> or </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-weight: 400;">I enjoyed your webinar at blah blah blah </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-weight: 400;">or </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px;">I enjoyed your interview on such-and-such blog and …your #MSWL…</em></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 12px 0px;"><b style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px;">SECOND and THIRD and FORTH LINE</b><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400;"> (or so) for this paragraph: Y</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">our</span><a class="external" href="http://kimscritiquingcorner.blogspot.com/2011/09/whats-high-concept-hook.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px;" target="_blank"> hook</a><b>, </b>TITLE, and word count.<b> </b></span></span><span style="color: #2d3b45;">Agents might have a particular order in which they’d like to see your first paragraph. I've made this executive choice on the order for the sake of this example. I'll also refer to <b>Julie Fogliano</b>'s sale that was announced this month in </span><a href="https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/" style="color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">Publishers Marketplace</a><span style="color: #2d3b45;">. If Julie had been querying this story, her hook++ lines might've sounded like this: </span></p></span></span></span><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px; margin: 12px 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">EXAMPLE: Please consider my 464-word picture book manuscript, BECAUSE OF A SHOE, the story of a tantrum, and how even in the middle of NOT putting on a shoe, parent and child are still their unconditionally loveable selves.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px; margin: 12px 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">EXAMPLE - a novelist might write: Please consider my 70,000-word YA sci-fi manuscript, THE UNACCOUNTED. It's teenage Jason Bourne meets The Prisoner of Zenda.</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><em style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; margin-bottom: 0px;"></em></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px;"></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: left; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><u style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400;">PRO TIP: want to see more examples of loglines, subscribe to </span><a href="https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/lunch/subscribe.html" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400;" target="_blank">Publishers Lunch</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400;">). </span></u></strong></span></strong></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><u>Paragraph Two (the book):</u></strong></span></h2><span style="font-family: georgia;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4-bLXuFkQyAyHg95SiaDI8imWHZAfYP4AuGluPF-6NofCeV7OPDGYBqN-XWkkaHa75UzmutKwkONA5zFEbSCIEFTfz_oa4eneJ9F0EbcjPQVWe7TRphnsTl4FbVhgZaEGW1UTQXynbnWRP8HsS9VKynLkwGg3mY0Y3fK3QDp8vbIKGUTO5YIcREhQo-V/s6700/shutterstock%20book%202023.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3700" data-original-width="6700" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4-bLXuFkQyAyHg95SiaDI8imWHZAfYP4AuGluPF-6NofCeV7OPDGYBqN-XWkkaHa75UzmutKwkONA5zFEbSCIEFTfz_oa4eneJ9F0EbcjPQVWe7TRphnsTl4FbVhgZaEGW1UTQXynbnWRP8HsS9VKynLkwGg3mY0Y3fK3QDp8vbIKGUTO5YIcREhQo-V/s320/shutterstock%20book%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></u></strong></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px; margin: 12px 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Write a paragraph about your manuscript that reads like jacket flap copy. Present an exciting glimpse of the story, and make us care without giving up the ending.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px; margin: 12px 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you wrote a hero's journey story (rather than a concept book or something else) consider showcasing:</span></p><ul style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 6px 25px; padding: 0px;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">The protagonist</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">The inciting incident</span></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The stakes (why we care)</span></li></ul><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px; margin: 12px 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Look through your favorite books that fall in the same genre as your manuscript to understand the cadence for how a jacket flap sounds (you'll leave off the “about the creative team” portion). Imagine that you only have mere seconds to capture the reader's attention. A good jacket flap describes the story in such a gripping way that bookstore browsers are ready to slap down their hard-earned cash to buy the book. Agents may use this copy to help present your manuscript to a publishing house, so create a compelling and tight paragraph. Make it easy for the acquisition team to say yes! </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-size: 16px; margin: 12px 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">PRO TIP: Once you’ve created your tight paragraph, notice if your copy sounds like a bunch of stuff happening to the protagonist (uh-oh, that won’t be good), or if your protagonist sounds like a character in action (huzzah!).</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><strong><u style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtD3uZlGmtM1va7wDQgeZVSzvOzQPSmxLWaQqsOJD_o_L3hXj15-H3Y4k4GLexqaB9mbe0rdXqTo596jgj7NFaMrnIOMJ8jOUQFNP_Gnn09qruTRRhyphenhyphenWJA4AWLSyskvC_mo5b4PRHJ9inKdwLXzaRAhaMA1-p2m6fSyM9Rc46nCCb0QOJ_tm_0XRJ1i80/s6581/shutterstock%20chef.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6581" data-original-width="6310" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtD3uZlGmtM1va7wDQgeZVSzvOzQPSmxLWaQqsOJD_o_L3hXj15-H3Y4k4GLexqaB9mbe0rdXqTo596jgj7NFaMrnIOMJ8jOUQFNP_Gnn09qruTRRhyphenhyphenWJA4AWLSyskvC_mo5b4PRHJ9inKdwLXzaRAhaMA1-p2m6fSyM9Rc46nCCb0QOJ_tm_0XRJ1i80/s320/shutterstock%20chef.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><br /></u></strong></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><strong><u style="margin-bottom: 0px;">Paragraph Three (the cook)</u></strong><u style="margin-bottom: 0px;">:</u></span></h2><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a class="inline_disabled external" href="https://writerunboxed.com/2013/05/27/may-2013/comment-page-3/#comment-396428" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="margin-bottom: 0px;" target="_blank"><span class="external_link_icon" role="presentation" style="display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-inline-start: 5px; text-indent: initial;"><span class="screenreader-only" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px -1px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; transform: translateZ(0px); width: 1px;">Links to an external site.</span></span></a><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 12px 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This is your biography. Make sure you include only relevant information—memberships (e.g., SCBWI), high-caliber writing courses, your MFA, publications, publishing awards, work as a librarian or work in schools. If you've written a STEM book about a scientist and you are a scientist, include that information - that would be an example of relevant information. Nobody explains the “how’s” of writing a biography better than Chuck Sambuchino in <a class="inline_disabled external" href="https://writerunboxed.com/2013/05/27/may-2013/comment-page-3/#comment-396428" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="margin-bottom: 0px;" target="_blank">Writers Unboxed </a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: georgia;">, so please visit the blog post. He includes an important list of dos and don’ts (e.g., don't say it is copyrighted, don't say how many drafts you went through, don't say your neighbor's children loved it, etc.).</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin: 12px 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: georgia;">You've got this! Congratulations on arriving at this step. Query letters take a lot of time and research. It's worth the effort!</span></p></span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Good luck!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cheers,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kim<br />P.S. SUBJECT LINE: A subject line will typically include the TITLE + GENRE. However, it might also include the word "Query". Please <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px;">carefully read submission guidelines/instructions</strong> for each agent or editor you query. They will have these guidelines listed on their website. Don't assume any two will be alike.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d3b45; margin: 12px 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p></div>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-89199576292176495042023-12-10T05:40:00.000-08:002023-12-10T05:40:00.133-08:007 Quick and Easy Tips for Writing Dialogue Tags<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGn3FR6Xu1xwyb-tPDAXv9c-T3Fp6bjuSbqPyzGlesfROhw7ziM8lQe1Wd5yRknLsnQRAtDQNozuwMeUWtBW5zlME1Q9dK7fSqm4GIiZ1LB6VM9m_0wsbYmD1DPMFhktGaFWnX1PDmiYjf3Sgfa6WB7oOyN0DZ_EGYIC1Zbn0EEb3qGIQW0aLVNt420dW/s4720/shutterstock%20discussion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3284" data-original-width="4720" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGn3FR6Xu1xwyb-tPDAXv9c-T3Fp6bjuSbqPyzGlesfROhw7ziM8lQe1Wd5yRknLsnQRAtDQNozuwMeUWtBW5zlME1Q9dK7fSqm4GIiZ1LB6VM9m_0wsbYmD1DPMFhktGaFWnX1PDmiYjf3Sgfa6WB7oOyN0DZ_EGYIC1Zbn0EEb3qGIQW0aLVNt420dW/s320/shutterstock%20discussion.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Let's chat about dialogue tags - when to use them, where to place them, and how to format. Below you'll find five best-practice tips to look like a professional.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">DIALOGUE TAGS</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYMH_oYtacEbtzq_u6D2VcU8y0-AkVdoewGe-Ylad0DyUGFyCJ2cBfjx7m1N7P-EWxSpZTDyhrERKLlPeTRUcfA7WI6CwW3EhWU377xty0YfilA9-hNdWQN0nXEk9PBy1rU1rP15YrFyG-EVnBOb6bKYzyMVytigcknHbqMl5cnTO7WcSNtCgJolW1Ok97" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYMH_oYtacEbtzq_u6D2VcU8y0-AkVdoewGe-Ylad0DyUGFyCJ2cBfjx7m1N7P-EWxSpZTDyhrERKLlPeTRUcfA7WI6CwW3EhWU377xty0YfilA9-hNdWQN0nXEk9PBy1rU1rP15YrFyG-EVnBOb6bKYzyMVytigcknHbqMl5cnTO7WcSNtCgJolW1Ok97" width="207" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dialogue
is what your characters say. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A <b>dialogue
tag </b>is how you designate who is saying what (e.g., she says or Mom says). Use
a dialogue tag whenever you need to make it clear who is speaking. If the
reader knows who is speaking, then no tag is needed. For example, when only two characters
are speaking, you won’t need to tag every single line. When your character has a distinct voice or distinct phraseology, you probably don't need to tag. When your character speaks while doing an action, you don't need to tag. More on that below. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Tip One: JANE SAID vs. SAID JANE <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Ideally, you will tag with <b>he said, she said, they said, or Proper
Noun</b> said <i>rather than </i>placing the said before the pronoun or proper
noun. This isn’t a rule. Sometimes one or two variations can feel fresh and welcome,
but when you write “said Kim” rather than “Kim said” it takes on the old Dick-and-Jane book sound.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"><b><br /></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGHT5kR6AKrs-twDhckiuqrb5WLlU3IyKCGI7SYEYb2C8AZtRfjz6ckWxfda8Z_zoehzQIPNww7N2t8k1vH0PjHotmaBktQyzyw2zEZ-S-XlSFLiJZ_8p2vwFOEjvXhOnMX2NXSSnpn9LDcGcucQKnW8BEv6X1Fj4haKlE8PkZvptihunqhjznFQpPABd/s5000/shutterstock%20pen%20pencil%20creative%20magic%20nov%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5000" data-original-width="5000" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGHT5kR6AKrs-twDhckiuqrb5WLlU3IyKCGI7SYEYb2C8AZtRfjz6ckWxfda8Z_zoehzQIPNww7N2t8k1vH0PjHotmaBktQyzyw2zEZ-S-XlSFLiJZ_8p2vwFOEjvXhOnMX2NXSSnpn9LDcGcucQKnW8BEv6X1Fj4haKlE8PkZvptihunqhjznFQpPABd/w212-h212/shutterstock%20pen%20pencil%20creative%20magic%20nov%202023.jpg" width="212" /></a></b></div><b><br />Tip Two</b>: <b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">CHOOSE SAID (instead of exclaimed, declared, etc.)</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Use “said”
as an invisible word. You can also use “asked” here and there or “answered”. But
it becomes too heavy handed when an author uses back-to-back lavish or effusive
tags like, “Wow!” she exclaimed (or any of the like phrases). That doesn’t mean
there’s not space for one or two specialized tags, just don’t use them like confetti. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Why “SAID”
for the win: Using “said” disappears nicely and keeps the dialogue flowing, it
puts the characters center stage, and it keeps the author’s presence from
intruding on the page (which messes with the suspension of disbelief). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Tip Three: PUNCTUATION</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Hello!” she says. “Are you reading this?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Yes,” you answer. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">"Can you believe this post?" she says.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Notice
that after the dialogue, the tag of <b>he says or she says or they say</b> (all
pronouns) are not capitalized even when it follows an exclamation point or a
question mark. If you’re using a tag, the sentence is over <i>after</i> the tag,
and it ends in a period. If the character is asking a question, the question
mark goes within the quotes, but the period comes after the tag, e.g.,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“How did this happen?” Dad
asks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Or<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“How did this happen?” my
dad asks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Or<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“How did this happen?” she
said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Obviously,
when dialogue is followed by a proper noun, the proper noun will be capitalized
as proper nouns always are, e.g., <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Hello,” Kim says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Tip Four: My Mom vs. mom<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Notice
that when you refer to my mom, it is not a proper noun, but when you refer to Mom
as a name (I asked Mom vs. I asked my mom), then it is a proper noun and
capitalized. For example, all work:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Dinner time!” Mom said. “We’re
having fried rattlesnake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Dinner time!” my mom said.
“We’re having fried rattlesnake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Dinner time,” my mom
said. “We’re having friend rattlesnake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Tip Five: PLACEMENT (tags at beginning,
middle, or end)</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You should
decide if you need a tag or not. If you do, choose the best tag placement (beginning,
middle, or end) for your story and for the moment. Read your piece as a whole
to make this decision.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Tag
Placement Examples Round One</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">BEGINNING</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">If you’d like the tag before the dialogue it will
look like so:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">My mom said, “Dinner time!
We’re having fried rattlesnake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Or<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mom said, “Dinner time! We’re
having fried rattlesnake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>MIDDLE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Dinner time!” Mom said. “We’re
having fried rattlesnake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Dinner time!” my mom said.
“We’re having fried rattlesnake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">END<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Dinner time! We’re having
fried rattlesnake,” my mom said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Dinner time! We’re having
fried rattlesnake,” Mom said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 37.3333px;">Tag Placement Examples Round Two</span></u><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 37.3333px;">:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">BEGINNING</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">If you’d like the tag before the dialogue it will
look like so:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 32.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She said, “You know we only wear vegan
leather, right? I thought John told you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>MIDDLE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 32.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“You know we only wear vegan
leather, right?” she said. “I thought John told you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">END<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 32.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“You know we only wear vegan
leather, right? I thought John told you,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Tip Six: QUESTION MARKS, EXCLAMATION
POINTS, AND COMMAS</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">If you
are not using a question mark or an exclamation mark after the dialogue, BUT
you are going to add a dialogue tag, then you will end the dialogue with a<b> <u>comma</u></b><u>
,</u>followed by quotes, followed by the dialogue tag, followed by a period.
For example:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Wow! It’s a gorgeous day<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">,</span>” she said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Wow!” she said. “It’s a gorgeous day.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“How did you come to land on a star?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Harshita landed on a star,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Amazing! You landed on a star,” she said. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“You did it,” she said. “You landed on a star!”</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 34.6667px;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 34.6667px;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUU4yv8gd2vI5AfypyIpD5feMOhyphenhyphenjfztReOnCOpV5U8_LiCKN7_SONRGqRvJBiZryeaR6aCnJDpByign8C0kUAdJq1HTw6dCkV5TLAYMpFyHp47Jxo3zp6m7nmc7H_r4U0rbbn_pmSMWGW2CPmh2xakbz2ziAwKodKRqRDjVnKschgJaybsFRF24dJlFa/s6000/shutterstock%20owl%20heart%20December%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="6000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUU4yv8gd2vI5AfypyIpD5feMOhyphenhyphenjfztReOnCOpV5U8_LiCKN7_SONRGqRvJBiZryeaR6aCnJDpByign8C0kUAdJq1HTw6dCkV5TLAYMpFyHp47Jxo3zp6m7nmc7H_r4U0rbbn_pmSMWGW2CPmh2xakbz2ziAwKodKRqRDjVnKschgJaybsFRF24dJlFa/s320/shutterstock%20owl%20heart%20December%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br />Tip Seven: </b><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 37.3333px;">Replace a dialogue tag with an action:</span></b><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">When you put your character in action, you can simply end their dialogue with a
period, and then write their action on the same line to indicate which character is
talking. For example,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“It’s
cold outside.” Mom wrapped a soft scarf around Anson’s neck.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> <b>“Would
you like mittens, too?”<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I didn’t
eat the cookies.” Amita brushed crumbs from the corner of her mouth. “I swear.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Notice in
the above examples that you don’t need to say who said the dialogue lines. We
know it is Mom in the first example and Amita in the second example, because they are the ones doing an action.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Let’s put
it all together. Here’s a peek at what I turned in with my manuscript GUITAR
GENIUS.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawaZQhDKHgI4cxFu_NqmPAB_iAgfZF2CnpQzrKhGdT5RgQu-fC7HFmq99Y1G60_uk3JFzgWM2_bqNJSdhit2f6-7BapHpR0iqZv1syH49y1k4OnCTUU5iqUAkhdLqN-t8tAR2DP57sJHoZOedU8SP6cFFcz-uYAziSFONMJ1bMpZIx0RwKNCxX70_Xx-L/s1080/Guitar%20Genius%20Waukesha%20Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawaZQhDKHgI4cxFu_NqmPAB_iAgfZF2CnpQzrKhGdT5RgQu-fC7HFmq99Y1G60_uk3JFzgWM2_bqNJSdhit2f6-7BapHpR0iqZv1syH49y1k4OnCTUU5iqUAkhdLqN-t8tAR2DP57sJHoZOedU8SP6cFFcz-uYAziSFONMJ1bMpZIx0RwKNCxX70_Xx-L/w238-h238/Guitar%20Genius%20Waukesha%20Collage.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">[SPREAD 1]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In a three-story schoolhouse near the
Fox River in Waukesha, Wisconsin, children scrambled into the music room. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">[SPREAD 2]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Tambourines shimmied, drums boomed,
and bells clanged. Little Lester loved it all—the punchy pluck of banjo chords,
the bright twinkle of piano keys, and the rise and fall of notes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Lester couldn’t read the music
sheets. Those tracks of squiggly lines and black dots didn’t make sense. But it
didn’t matter. The fun part was all the sounds he could make. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">[SPREAD 3]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">At his after-school</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> piano lesson, his teacher sighed and pinned a note to his shirt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> skipped
all the way home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“What does it say?” he asked, grinning
from freckle to freckle. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Well,” Lester’s mother said gently.
“It says you’ll never be musical.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Lester’s shoulders sank. His eyes
stung. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Don’t listen to her.” His mother tore
the paper into tiny pieces. “You are going to be great.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“Really?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“You can do anything you put your
mind to.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Lester thought about that. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">[SPREAD 4]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">He did a lot of thinking. One day
while he was stuffing newspapers for his paper route, his buddy, Harry, showed
up wrapping wire around an empty oatmeal can.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“What are you doing, Harry?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“I’m building a crystal radio set.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Well, that was interesting. So Lester
gathered bits and parts [art: aluminum foil, telephone receiver] and built his
own crystal kit. Then he wired it right to the bedsprings in his mattress for
an antenna . . .<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Out from his home-built radio floated
the warm drawl of guitar strings. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wowza!</i>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Happy writing</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Cheers,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Kim</span></span></p>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-72959951049150126682023-12-04T17:37:00.000-08:002023-12-08T06:51:03.400-08:0011 Tips on How to Format Your Picture Book Manuscript or Novel Before Submitting to an Agent or Editor <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcC77XmRvQ6qV4YiU0fYHnWcBpIFD4sKabG00zuwUBtFYndzWjvQ7ftaFT9cPUGkvpBKnpVdYr_az7aOgxlQagYZZ_qLibIARP0Sij7PtNX1rhmbfxCzFBK4WhH_iULo7DwC68mmX2sMIQ32tHJ26xp_KxhZ7tSBI4auCd344NprZ5vJwSqxsNPXuawAt/s5748/shutterstock%20typewriter%20dec%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4598" data-original-width="5748" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcC77XmRvQ6qV4YiU0fYHnWcBpIFD4sKabG00zuwUBtFYndzWjvQ7ftaFT9cPUGkvpBKnpVdYr_az7aOgxlQagYZZ_qLibIARP0Sij7PtNX1rhmbfxCzFBK4WhH_iULo7DwC68mmX2sMIQ32tHJ26xp_KxhZ7tSBI4auCd344NprZ5vJwSqxsNPXuawAt/s320/shutterstock%20typewriter%20dec%202024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Curious about how to format a picture book manuscript?
How about a novel? The age of your reader might vary, but your formatting will
remain consistent. Here are 11 tips to properly format your manuscript before
submitting it to an agent or editor. Check out the two bonus tips I include at the end.</span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">11
Formatting Tips Before You Submit</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">double-space<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">12-point font<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Times New Roman—this is a profession
font choice (you don’t want this to be a distracting choice, nor do you want
reading hard on the eyes).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">One-inch margins<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Add contact details. Include your name and contact
information on the first page in the upper left
corner:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Name<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Email address<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Mailing address<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Phone number<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Center your TITLE and the manuscript's word
count on the first page (title in all caps or cap first letter of words)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Place your name and word count centered under the title:<s><o:p></o:p></s></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Name<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="mailto:email@address.com">email@address.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">mailing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">mailing
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">phone
number<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">This is My Title and it’s
Really Great<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">by Kim Tomsic (488 words) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Include page numbers starting on the second page and forward. HOW: Select the “<b>Insert</b>” and click “<b>Page Number</b>” and then choose one or the other - "<b>Top of Page</b>" or "<b>Bottom of Page</b>" -I prefer bottom) and select based on the positioning you like (usually "<b>Plain Number 3"</b>, then type your title/last name, and then choose the box “<b>Different First Page</b>” so it starts
numbering on the second page forward. It should be formatted like so:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="color: #a6a6a6; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #A6A6A6; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=65000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 166;">This is My Title and it’s Really Great/TOMISC Page 2<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Indent new </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">paragraphs</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> and/or
new stand-alone lines within the manuscript. Also indent new lines of dialogue (watch for my dialogue post to come next week).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">When you change which character
is speaking, make sure you create a new line break and indent it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Black
ink (please don’t get distracting with colors).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">11.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Use brackets [ ] to indicate
when something is in the illustrations and not in</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJlA81XO0KhLsnBCG9zZO7uoQBF6Wf2w0wrKRfmIND0ZCmemyEpMZKEY3lT7DzJSmspxy76r00HYRlWslemcazUK9MP9qEnL60G3TAw1AisD1DtSQA3gaBN4bif8MrBEkRrF9tiS0dmJ_c7JGSAuzUR8oaXZq2dcLJ82oNxQ0b2xjFtH0Zia66fcnER2g/s500/COMSTOCK.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="500" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJlA81XO0KhLsnBCG9zZO7uoQBF6Wf2w0wrKRfmIND0ZCmemyEpMZKEY3lT7DzJSmspxy76r00HYRlWslemcazUK9MP9qEnL60G3TAw1AisD1DtSQA3gaBN4bif8MrBEkRrF9tiS0dmJ_c7JGSAuzUR8oaXZq2dcLJ82oNxQ0b2xjFtH0Zia66fcnER2g/s320/COMSTOCK.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> the text. For example my
nonfiction book,<i><a href="https://www.changinghands.com/book/9781452127835" target="_blank"> The Elephants Come Home</a></i> is a true story, and so the facts
needed to remain factual. The elephants arrived during a downpour, it was part of the mood and tone, but I did not
write it in the text. Therefore, I left a note for the illustrator [raining]. Avoid
illustration notes unless absolutely necessary. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Hitting the Tab Key to Indent:</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Each
line that comes after a purposeful line break will be indented like so. This
means that the first line in the paragraph will be indented (as you see in this
paragraph example). However, once you move on to a new line of text or new dialogue
and hit the return key, you’ll indent the next paragraph or the dialogue that
follows. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “Now,”
I say. “Does this make sense so far?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> “Yes,”
you say. “Tell me more!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> And
so I will </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">. Next
week, I will cover dialogue, dialogue tags, where to place the tags, how to add
punctuation, and more. Let’s go! By the way, I am a card-carrying exclamation
point abuser. However, I urge you to avoid getting carried away with
punctuation in your manuscripts. Let your words carry the weight and meaning of
your prose. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFecU_CYulMHSOxow8VrbiRB-KoYoXZpPdMMuUf1qUTLfgz5Dlo8W9dkTg78m6BnVja6EjxPRTOvNK8Jm36mbBjTBSfoFkieySxkJOScZORouc2RYLvfJbfFOEPuccZC0k-OA4fl3vugdw2WBOTVxBbesjCM0m0_1p3fxecsroQ2hVdYhovkNhWk-VWLH2/s5906/shutterstock%20book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5906" data-original-width="5906" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFecU_CYulMHSOxow8VrbiRB-KoYoXZpPdMMuUf1qUTLfgz5Dlo8W9dkTg78m6BnVja6EjxPRTOvNK8Jm36mbBjTBSfoFkieySxkJOScZORouc2RYLvfJbfFOEPuccZC0k-OA4fl3vugdw2WBOTVxBbesjCM0m0_1p3fxecsroQ2hVdYhovkNhWk-VWLH2/w181-h181/shutterstock%20book.jpg" width="181" /></a></b></div><b><br />Sidenote
for novelists</b> – the first paragraph of a new chapter is served in a block (the first
line is not indented), but then each new paragraph after the first paragraph is formatted with the first line indented. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Good luck!</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Kim</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">P.S. Here are two bonus notes:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">An
ellipsis</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">
is three evenly spaced dots (periods) and stands in for an unfinished thought
or action. It looks like this <s><o:p></o:p></s></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">…</span><span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">An
<b>em dash</b> is when a character or thought gets interrupted or abruptly cut
off for another reason like a car crash or a cake shoved into a mouth. The em
dash name comes from the fact that it’s the typeset length of the letter “m”. It
looks like this<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">—</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<br />Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-92171214252425781892023-11-02T10:53:00.002-07:002023-11-02T10:55:01.516-07:003 Ways to Ignite Readers' Connections With Your Characters and Give Them a Shoulder-to-Shoulder Experience<h2 style="text-align: left;">Story is about </h2><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>emotionally compelling characters</li><li>who face seemingly impossible hurdles </li><li>because enormous stakes are on the line (thank you Christopher Vogler and Michael Hague)</li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYX2IDU-sr-t7mIAquWJpEP1l2K4rpC7MZJwQwl58fcrV6dpsJMdgw9kwq2pyfEI3gMVJoCoAOyvVpC8xhd73qP7fCsNpid67r0J76t97GJ9mXm25vvOQnwVKftXHb4cnNO7_vKEXSk25eVf8RYDtvWljjdOa0bvcqKgEOjylPBqKIY37wolsr8HYbMhv/s4219/shutterstock%20invisible.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4219" data-original-width="4035" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYX2IDU-sr-t7mIAquWJpEP1l2K4rpC7MZJwQwl58fcrV6dpsJMdgw9kwq2pyfEI3gMVJoCoAOyvVpC8xhd73qP7fCsNpid67r0J76t97GJ9mXm25vvOQnwVKftXHb4cnNO7_vKEXSk25eVf8RYDtvWljjdOa0bvcqKgEOjylPBqKIY37wolsr8HYbMhv/w181-h189/shutterstock%20invisible.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><br /><b>WEARING THE PROTAGONIST'S SHOES: </b>Readers want to be entertained and to feel something. They want to put their feet in the shoes of the protagonist and have an experience - brain science + Lisa Cron's book <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/wired-for-story-the-writer-s-guide-to-using-brain-science-to-hook-readers-from-the-very-first-sentence-lisa-cron/12745502" target="_blank"><i>Wired for Story: </i><span style="color: #2c293b; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.75pt;"><i>The Writer's Guide to Using Brain
Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence </i></span></a>has proven this. </div><div><br /></div><div>So let's deliver that! </div><div><br /></div><div><b>3 WAYS: </b>Here are three ways you can pull your readers in for a shoulder-to-shoulder experience with your protagonist:</div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZo4PUWIraimmdq6V0v4vSzW1e4TaAu-DDvcDW2QFKJrFendg7VaYcmT9RexDiDvqB76_FTJcCLvYPmpNm3YH2wqKCeHImEDI1tGjnebVHzMgG2XKkmhcRafVzFThb9Pbqjb48q1C2SJPNkEv_VPhTIX5sbY64aFnoVH1oYCsV7BZSvzhbeLCg_4qd-gi/s5000/shutterstock%20monster%20hug%20oct%202023.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5000" data-original-width="5000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZo4PUWIraimmdq6V0v4vSzW1e4TaAu-DDvcDW2QFKJrFendg7VaYcmT9RexDiDvqB76_FTJcCLvYPmpNm3YH2wqKCeHImEDI1tGjnebVHzMgG2XKkmhcRafVzFThb9Pbqjb48q1C2SJPNkEv_VPhTIX5sbY64aFnoVH1oYCsV7BZSvzhbeLCg_4qd-gi/s320/shutterstock%20monster%20hug%20oct%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. HUG CLOSE: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Delete words (when it
makes sense) that keep the reader at arm’s length. To draw the reader closer, so
that they have a shoulder-to-shoulder experience alongside your protagonist, consider
deleting:<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">She heard<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">She
saw<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">She
felt<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">She
knew<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">The reader does not want to be a spectator who is told
what is happening and what the character feels, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>the reader wants an experience</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">,
they want all the feels. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Be judicious. Only remove (saw, heard, felt, knew)
whenever reasonable. It’s not an “always” rule, it’s a
try-it-and-see-if-you-give-your-reader-a-closer-experience exercise. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Questions to ask yourself:</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Does keeping or removing
such words make sense at that moment in your plot? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Is the reader being held
at arm’s length? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">How can I invite the
reader closer?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> 2. </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">REAL TIME: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Put reader in “real” time.<b>
</b>To prioritize the reader in storytelling, keep them</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wEd15PyvY7uXap4PDy6x2Nxshz3V98eMhu1b8weORrDu3vZCr8EXnfJTYBcQUeB2yoSYl1gE2Dku29ycj2oEwS_oIcEmoASKPwOU3Y4DCz8B9I8W26hi0BVNJDWF25d0d5aGoTo21oL7uCUAeGKggHJh19kZ9AbOdTTsFUFhMI5igYTFZ6iPmcDe_jkf/s4131/shutterstock%20clock.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2754" data-original-width="4131" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wEd15PyvY7uXap4PDy6x2Nxshz3V98eMhu1b8weORrDu3vZCr8EXnfJTYBcQUeB2yoSYl1gE2Dku29ycj2oEwS_oIcEmoASKPwOU3Y4DCz8B9I8W26hi0BVNJDWF25d0d5aGoTo21oL7uCUAeGKggHJh19kZ9AbOdTTsFUFhMI5igYTFZ6iPmcDe_jkf/s320/shutterstock%20clock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> close and allowing them to have experiences at the exact same time as the protagonist(whenever possible). <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Putting a reader in “real time” allows the reader to experience an event alongside the protagonist, even if you’re writing in past tense.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">For example, rather than saying: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">"She heard snakes hissing in the castle turret …</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Avenir Next LT Pro"; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">…” instead, put the reader<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>shoulder-to-shoulder with the protagonist, and
let them hear the hissing at the same moment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Example from <i>The Very Last Castle</i> by Travis Jonkers
illustrated by Mark Pett.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Hiss, Hiss, Hiss,” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Snakes,” said Ibb’s grandfather. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Notice that not only is the reader experiencing the snakes at
the same time as Ibb (even though the story is in past tense), but also the story
transforms into more of a performance piece!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 12pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg289KG2fOPpy3nYgwcr77rRhdJqIJLEh7y3CzmNA7ebZNSmdFpA3ESKI_ynelosAilMGqZuaWgyK3MowWILNpU2FhJrHhlWkNix5WDQkjCaytRn420EaJeADUfFfGL9072UxyCrY4o5-eEke836YsM-pfJh3nxsQTh9wY10-BAxFO3V7T6my5dGkxrl_NU/s6016/shutterstock%20June%202023%20book%20magic%20heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg289KG2fOPpy3nYgwcr77rRhdJqIJLEh7y3CzmNA7ebZNSmdFpA3ESKI_ynelosAilMGqZuaWgyK3MowWILNpU2FhJrHhlWkNix5WDQkjCaytRn420EaJeADUfFfGL9072UxyCrY4o5-eEke836YsM-pfJh3nxsQTh9wY10-BAxFO3V7T6my5dGkxrl_NU/s320/shutterstock%20June%202023%20book%20magic%20heart.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><br />3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">FEEL don’t NAME</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Let readers feel emotions rather than hearing
you, the author, name the emotion. Give us those gripping, exciting,
threatening, heartfelt moments whenever possible by selecting strong verbs
rather than by naming the experience. For example: <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instead of “He was excited” you might change to “He
pumped his fist” or “He bounced from foot to foot.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Search your manuscript for “to be” verbs and see
how you might transform those verbs to workhorses for your story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">STRONGEST CURRENCY IN
STORYTELLING</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">: “In storytelling, emotion is the</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7qp3C8NxDAQzte9ZRmHiqrINNf8hAilNQoFQmQPqm7aUWShezgXO3PDUlc0TADgo4hJ-xCtnlcc2c5WgoDiTx9dDhyphenhyphenBOhifdat0pMe05FY35TgECQ4Bx1MLACqL-taDAN_FwRaH4jg7SNK575RSD7H0SadiV7QhxpLaP-s7Ae62SoY3gdTk2vdTpU_JJ/s2575/shutterstock%20typewriter%20June%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2561" data-original-width="2575" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7qp3C8NxDAQzte9ZRmHiqrINNf8hAilNQoFQmQPqm7aUWShezgXO3PDUlc0TADgo4hJ-xCtnlcc2c5WgoDiTx9dDhyphenhyphenBOhifdat0pMe05FY35TgECQ4Bx1MLACqL-taDAN_FwRaH4jg7SNK575RSD7H0SadiV7QhxpLaP-s7Ae62SoY3gdTk2vdTpU_JJ/w204-h202/shutterstock%20typewriter%20June%202023.jpg" width="204" /></a></span></div><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /> strongest
currency. It lasts longer than novelty or tension, and it makes the rest of the
story more engaging…” but for emotion to work, there “has to be something in
the scene worth getting emotional over…Readers should witness characters
reasoning and coming to conclusions, rather than simply hearing a summary of
their thought process…</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Readers need the context provided by thoughts and feelings.
Without understanding what the character is thinking and feeling, they won’t
know what to think or feel either.” Quotes from Narrating a Close Point of View and The Power of Close Perspective
by Chris Winkle.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t cork up the character’s feelings and don’t belabor
feelings either. Pay attention to what the illustrator is going to deliver and
note when simple and/or power verbs deliver the emotion!</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBj_cQJH6w-cOIdOUupAGiGsB7H8VAMRRRymUEYoONi8HFBgx_imgTFbqbI-wkCDKdjm_Yev_XsXLKIdqIPV_PYOVKB54S82tD1K40aJlMYcTNqOPocsOyMs_OCzphrD5qUdee7vPwIG5JTuXmNJOaOJ682622VZDIQEPLynSP2usjuDh0ZsDPx3mU-LwU/s8244/shutterstock%20mfa%20606%20September%202023%20brain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4159" data-original-width="8244" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBj_cQJH6w-cOIdOUupAGiGsB7H8VAMRRRymUEYoONi8HFBgx_imgTFbqbI-wkCDKdjm_Yev_XsXLKIdqIPV_PYOVKB54S82tD1K40aJlMYcTNqOPocsOyMs_OCzphrD5qUdee7vPwIG5JTuXmNJOaOJ682622VZDIQEPLynSP2usjuDh0ZsDPx3mU-LwU/s320/shutterstock%20mfa%20606%20September%202023%20brain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Reminder</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">: <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-emotion-thesaurus-a-writer-s-guide-to-character-expression-second-edition-angela-ackerman/10017539?ean=9780999296349">The
Emotional Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression</a></i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>can help you with ideas for using body feels
and/or movements for expressing emotion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Happy
writing!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kim<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-90284923271312507722023-10-27T00:00:00.001-07:002023-10-27T09:34:16.798-07:00Sensitivity Readers and Knitting<p><span style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7XnGSk9ZIhel93tgvFC_Id79DHaOI24KwABHhPS4J31slcHzQ7PyU0ulw63ppO3KMJLH1UYcEpP8fZNsgPfrDwLXztvh6P59gEi3fIUvusNgG0bnB8K26Yxi5QpfmxA5kaEseNEthYPiSMiSJjmphSy_as13tFou6yDGmPiWV_j_ATduiz4FDdA0bA/s5616/cat%20in%20sweaters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3744" data-original-width="5616" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7XnGSk9ZIhel93tgvFC_Id79DHaOI24KwABHhPS4J31slcHzQ7PyU0ulw63ppO3KMJLH1UYcEpP8fZNsgPfrDwLXztvh6P59gEi3fIUvusNgG0bnB8K26Yxi5QpfmxA5kaEseNEthYPiSMiSJjmphSy_as13tFou6yDGmPiWV_j_ATduiz4FDdA0bA/s320/cat%20in%20sweaters.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />When you write outside of your lived experience, a sensitivity reader is someone who helps make sure that your writing delivers accurate and authentic representation rather than perpetuating a stale, harmful, or even wrong stereotype. </span><p></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The best presentation I've attended on this subject was given by the Newbery Award-Winning author <a href="https://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Ow-Sh/Park-Linda-Sue.html" rel="noopener" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Linda Sue Park</a>. Park says that it's hard to accurately write a character from a different culture if you've never sat at their kitchen table. She used knitting to demonstrate her point.</span></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Park has been a life-long knitter. She showed the audience an image of the proper way to hold knitting needles—ends down, tips up. Then she showed us images featuring illustrations of characters knitting but holding the needles the wrong way (ends up, tips down). Clearly, the illustrator of the inaccurate images isn't a knitter. In fact, they've probably never held knitting needles. It's not their lived experience.</span></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">💡This was a lightbulb moment for me. When Park gave this simplified example, I thought</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzwZcqJHqhsjGPlNhbBvNLULyj2JzBpx1H4roBdaCfNpfBeg1WyHS_TtXcDPzuOkRDDt4lnyl_6TqzcdVjgEMfYnQbMsRlNxdCUWo10nqOvBv8QmWkFtzIImuZJul_oS696YInjLBjiM4KFos-uDRg3RRCXnr5AvpR_gLNWOrLU8-l1LTbQk7SXJ0vA/s720/yoga%20class.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzwZcqJHqhsjGPlNhbBvNLULyj2JzBpx1H4roBdaCfNpfBeg1WyHS_TtXcDPzuOkRDDt4lnyl_6TqzcdVjgEMfYnQbMsRlNxdCUWo10nqOvBv8QmWkFtzIImuZJul_oS696YInjLBjiM4KFos-uDRg3RRCXnr5AvpR_gLNWOrLU8-l1LTbQk7SXJ0vA/s320/yoga%20class.JPG" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /> of all the times I've seen purported yoga instructors (aka actors) on television holding a pose the wrong way. Knitting needles and yoga poses are minor mistakes, but Park's point demonstrates how easy it can be to get the details wrong. Sometimes, inaccurate details harm the suspension of disbelief, and sometimes they are culturally wrong and/or offensive errors.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><b>AVOID ERASURE</b>: Erasure is when an author shies away from featuring an inclusive cast of characters, because they are only comfortable writing in their lane. Writing takes work. A lot of work. I am not suggesting appropriation or writing a protagonist from outside your experience, but I am urging you not to erase a group of people either. <span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In my upcoming 2024 novel, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-truth-about-5th-grade-kim-tomsic/18960508?ean=9780063038714" target="_blank">The Truth About 5th Grade</a> (HarperCollins, summer 2024) co-written with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mark_parisi_otm/?hl=en">Mark Parisi</a>, I've written a scene where a supporting character celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. I am not Latinx, so I <a href="https://sensitivityreviews.com/certified/" rel="noopener" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">hired sensitivity readers</a> to take a look at my manuscript. I also leaned into my critique partners who are Latinx. The sensitivity readers and critique partners were able to share valuable insights on ideas and issues that I would have never thought of on my own (e.g., adding a cumbia playlist). </span></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here is a fantastic four-minute video (4:21) that explains why a sensitivity reader can be a great idea if you are writing outside of your lived experience. </span><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m26MtfYV2gY?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&rel=0" title="Working With Sensitivity Readers" width="500"></iframe></p><p style="color: #202122; font-family: Lato, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;">If you have time for an 18-minute video, this TED Talk by <strong>Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie called <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en" rel="noopener" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">“The Danger of a Single Story”</a></strong> is excellent! </p></div>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-44112674294232127252023-08-08T09:10:00.006-07:002023-08-08T09:29:26.985-07:00Classroom Activities for World Elephant Day and National Elephant Appreciation Day with The Elephants of Thula Thula<p>Hello and Welcome! 🐘</p><p>You have arrived at the right spot to find information, a puzzle, or fun projects for your students. I hope you enjoy celebrating two special awareness weeks:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7q3M6dlZQsrsP6dz6vpXpN8GFZnajHv515qYdwr5mNz-XtYWYJF9Uv2rfUhFHqodt-6djnPQtwNWkNOFPGrgHa5WC-IloVYjsLpniccBtZIxbW6P-yinEnS9C5thfGHqnt34WuLmluSwCUI6oQsF36bJuAqYRgIppemAsUfA0l9BUwrImKKx12GdmUNOW/s940/World%20Elephant%20Day%20Facebook%20Post.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7q3M6dlZQsrsP6dz6vpXpN8GFZnajHv515qYdwr5mNz-XtYWYJF9Uv2rfUhFHqodt-6djnPQtwNWkNOFPGrgHa5WC-IloVYjsLpniccBtZIxbW6P-yinEnS9C5thfGHqnt34WuLmluSwCUI6oQsF36bJuAqYRgIppemAsUfA0l9BUwrImKKx12GdmUNOW/s320/World%20Elephant%20Day%20Facebook%20Post.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>August 12, World Elephant Day </li><li>September 22, National Elephant Appreciation Day</li></ul><p></p><p>Here's a list of activity ideas and links. Also, scroll down to find a printable word search puzzle as well as some ecology definitions.</p><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; border: 4.5pt double windowtext; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; padding: 1pt 4pt;"><p align="center" style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Classroom Activities & Resources<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"></span></span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="image.png" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="141" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9fa455a904&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-a:r-6756859596886882890&th=189d07262afe37b5&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ8VgjZ3OddehgZCDl4pFVRNvGpnGn-gUhgGjeNgnCqG0BJKN29ZQu-UoZYkvuPYuBDV9Ydz9_UHCz3SoW1okffBx5ciEXK8C6d5I0CDrpuRj-AiM8PcN_VREM4&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ll02w0lx1" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 0px; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="164" /><img alt="image.png" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" data-image-whitelisted="" height="141" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9fa455a904&attid=0.2&permmsgid=msg-a:r-6756859596886882890&th=189d07262afe37b5&view=fimg&fur=ip&sz=s0-l75-ft&attbid=ANGjdJ-U1tewFROZjvmZKfYKkHzk4W9W4IekZigTqQAjBWZdZ7J49ZaMyfhnifme1ByU9yjhFwNCTQ2teetqe19nes_n3s_5UeQU2k-k7EDb_EzVuVlHBRdSAqUIePw&disp=emb&realattid=ii_ll02woxc2" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="134" /></div><p style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0in;"><b>READ: </b>I hope you enjoy reading <i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.pagesabookstore.com/book/9781452127835&source=gmail&ust=1691593609057000&usg=AOvVaw26zKR8txlCc2djFUlj3T9F" href="https://www.pagesabookstore.com/book/9781452127835" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">The Elephants Come Home</a> </i>, a 2024 finalist for several state awards!<b></b></p><p style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0in;"><b>LISTEN: Elephant Voices</b>: <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"> </span>How do elephants communicate with one another? What does the position of their trunks mean? Why do they flap their ears? What is infrasound? Learn all this and more at “Communication between Elephants Voices and Sounds.” <i>Elephants in Zoo and Circus Elephant Encyclopedia</i>. *Bonus, scroll to the bottom of the page and hear recordings of elephants! <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.upali.ch/communication/&source=gmail&ust=1691593609057000&usg=AOvVaw2LIPWIPPRhQLOsrEfMpPWT" href="https://en.upali.ch/communication/" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">https://www.upali.<wbr></wbr>ch/communication_en.html</a><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: georgia, serif;">. MORE: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: georgia, serif;">Ear flapping. Head Waggling. What does it all mean? Check out </span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.elephantvoices.org/elephant-ethogram/the-science.html&source=gmail&ust=1691593609057000&usg=AOvVaw01mN_x2vzVqS9rz0GyqVWz" href="https://www.elephantvoices.org/elephant-ethogram/the-science.html" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">Elephant Voices</a><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: georgia, serif;">.</span></span></p><p style="border: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0in;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><b>WATCH: </b>Elephants aren't puppies yet watch eco-warrior Lawrence Anthony call for the herd featured in <i>The Elephants Come Hom</i>e(seven-minute <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DF4nvQbfQAUg&source=gmail&ust=1691593609057000&usg=AOvVaw07kP2V5vlFSBDFCAmn3fg2" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4nvQbfQAUg" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">YouTube video</a>). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">EXPLORE: The five senses: </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">Would you like to learn more about an elephant’s vision, hearing, or their keen sense of smell? Check out elephant senses: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://seaworld.org/animals/all-about/elephants/senses/&source=gmail&ust=1691593609057000&usg=AOvVaw2O-bCtyMujo2eM-2rNcFdP" href="https://seaworld.org/animals/all-about/elephants/senses/" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">https://seaworld.org/<wbr></wbr>animals/all-about/elephants/<wbr></wbr>senses/</a><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">Warm Blooded vs. Cold Blooded Creatures<b>: </b><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://seaworld.org/-/media/seaworld-dotorg/pdfs/classroom-activities/grades-k_4/k_4_animal_sing_along.ashx?version%3D1_201811145307%26la%3Den%26hash%3DD6BBAB85DDBEC487290DF7A74DD0D9EA89F8E8D2%26hash%3DD6BBAB85DDBEC487290DF7A74DD0D9EA89F8E8D2&source=gmail&ust=1691593609057000&usg=AOvVaw1KIRWzhUOKI7dgT6R4o2T1" href="https://seaworld.org/-/media/seaworld-dotorg/pdfs/classroom-activities/grades-k_4/k_4_animal_sing_along.ashx?version=1_201811145307&la=en&hash=D6BBAB85DDBEC487290DF7A74DD0D9EA89F8E8D2&hash=D6BBAB85DDBEC487290DF7A74DD0D9EA89F8E8D2" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">At this link,</a><b> </b>Sea World features a classroom activity for teachers and students to discuss warm blooded vs. cold blooded animals. Make sure you add elephants to the conversation!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">SPELL: Animal Spelling Bee</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">: The SeaWorld website features another fun activity. You can host an <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://seaworld.org/-/media/seaworld-dotorg/pdfs/classroom-activities/grades-k_4/k_4_animals_and_the_law_spelling_bee.ashx?version%3D1_201811145313%26la%3Den%26hash%3D879C6FD01DC93CDD09005AEC417CFF7837B301F6%26hash%3D879C6FD01DC93CDD09005AEC417CFF7837B301F6&source=gmail&ust=1691593609057000&usg=AOvVaw3pREpshKGOYHDKcrIuxENH" href="https://seaworld.org/-/media/seaworld-dotorg/pdfs/classroom-activities/grades-k_4/k_4_animals_and_the_law_spelling_bee.ashx?version=1_201811145313&la=en&hash=879C6FD01DC93CDD09005AEC417CFF7837B301F6&hash=879C6FD01DC93CDD09005AEC417CFF7837B301F6" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">animal-centered spelling bee</a> – just add “elephant” to the list. You’ll discuss words like “conservation”, “habitat”, and more. Consider adding “Zululand, South Africa” to the list, and discuss the difference between a continent and a country.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">SCHOOL VISIT: <img alt="❤" aria-label="❤" class="an1" data-emoji="❤" loading="lazy" src="https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/e/notoemoji/15.0/2764/72.png" style="height: 1.2em; vertical-align: middle; width: 1.2em;" /></span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">I love chatting with students. Please check out the “<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://kimtomsic.com/contact/&source=gmail&ust=1691593609057000&usg=AOvVaw3xonpjwkVnryjSitJMs_0s" href="https://kimtomsic.com/contact/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Contact</a>” page on my website (KimTomsic.com ) <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"></span>for a full menu of <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Kim-Tomsic-Menu-of-School-Visit-and-Presentation-Options.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1691593609057000&usg=AOvVaw3z-iIAEuq-Ca3gtO4FiOL_" href="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Kim-Tomsic-Menu-of-School-Visit-and-Presentation-Options.pdf" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">school visit</a> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Kim-Tomsic-Menu-of-School-Visit-and-Presentation-Options.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1691593609058000&usg=AOvVaw3lpnVpPyEPW2mTpBPd7V7z" href="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Kim-Tomsic-Menu-of-School-Visit-and-Presentation-Options.pdf" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">options</a> (live or via Zoom).<b></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">MEET: </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">“Meet” the Elephants of Thula Thula<b> </b>(pronounced toola toola). Learn <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thulathula.com/conservation/elephant-adoption-fund/&source=gmail&ust=1691593609058000&usg=AOvVaw3c8-xbcsyB3C2hFKx3Lnpu" href="https://thulathula.com/conservation/elephant-adoption-fund/" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">the names of the elephants</a> that live in the wildlife sanctuary.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"></span>BECOME AN ECO-WARRIOR</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">: Consider a classroom fundraiser, “Pennies for Protection” and <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thulathula.com/conservation/elephant-adoption-fund/&source=gmail&ust=1691593609058000&usg=AOvVaw3c8-xbcsyB3C2hFKx3Lnpu" href="https://thulathula.com/conservation/elephant-adoption-fund/" style="color: #0563c1;" target="_blank">adopt</a> an elephant.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;"><br /></span></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Word Search Puzzle (High-quality <a href="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kim-Tomsic-Elephant-Word-Search-Puzzle.pdf" target="_blank">Printable</a> version at this <a href="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kim-Tomsic-Elephant-Word-Search-Puzzle.pdf" target="_blank">link</a>) :</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYciUAvbuwRCJQ93a177vgeei_DltHEtZ2XAmzUgsDp5YF1xsZji631straSLfDffoVsX34uawWLGJgo4nrf75Crjp9km8Bou1FZui9XWU5r0Gu8rzot9tdJW1wNVekyIc_GPJFwuh1eDGe-PlcaEB_EXx1k-y_jET5Zwc4YvmC_R2rq7932zmdHqBWzAy" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="607" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYciUAvbuwRCJQ93a177vgeei_DltHEtZ2XAmzUgsDp5YF1xsZji631straSLfDffoVsX34uawWLGJgo4nrf75Crjp9km8Bou1FZui9XWU5r0Gu8rzot9tdJW1wNVekyIc_GPJFwuh1eDGe-PlcaEB_EXx1k-y_jET5Zwc4YvmC_R2rq7932zmdHqBWzAy" width="205" /></a></b></span></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /><br /></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Definitions:</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; border: 4.5pt double windowtext; color: #222222; padding: 1pt 4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #121212; font-size: 12pt;">Habitat –</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #121212; font-size: 12pt;">A </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;">habitat is </span><span style="color: #040c28; font-size: 12pt;">an environment where an organism lives for normal life and
growth</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;">.
The habitat contains all an animal needs to survive such as food and shelter.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Biome – </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #121212;">A </span><span class="cursor-pointer"><span data-test-id="glossified" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; outline: none; overflow-anchor: none; text-wrap: nowrap;" tabindex="0">biome</span></span> is a large area characterized by its
vegetation, soil, climate, and wildlife.” – <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/five-major-types-biomes/"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">National Geographic</span></a>. A
biome is a community made of all the habitats in a region and climate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #121212; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #121212; font-size: 12pt;">Boma</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> – </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Boma” is a<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #121212;">
word borrowed from the Swahili language. It is a coral that is built as a space
to help animals get used to their new home prior to letting them enjoy the
entire wildlife reserve. Read more about bomas and how they are built at <a href="https://ourplanetinmylens.com/travel/african-safari/what-is-a-boma/"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Our Planet, My Lens</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #121212; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #121212; font-size: 12pt;">Reserve</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #121212; font-size: 12pt;">: A “reserve” is a managed area meant to protect wildlife and
their habitats. There is no hunting on a wildlife reserve. Lawrence and
Francoise Anthony started the wildlife reserve called <a href="https://thulathula.com/our-story/"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Thula Thula</span></a>. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #121212; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #121212; font-size: 12pt;">Thula Thula:</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #121212; font-size: 12pt;"> Lawrence and Francoise Anthony started the wildlife reserve
called <a href="https://thulathula.com/our-story/"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Thula Thula</span></a>. Thula Thula is a Zulu word that means “peace
and tranquility”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elephants</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> – seven elephants came to Thula Thula. The matriarch’s
name is Nana. Her sister’s name is Frankie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Eco Warrior</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> –someone who makes hands-on effort to protect the environment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">South Africa</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">: South Africa is a country just like the United
States is a country. It is located on the continent of Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Province: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Some countries are divided into provinces which are, according
to Merriam Webster, “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #212529;">an administrative district or division
of a country</span>.” </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9rjMXAEj5xFWTP65dHt4ixDI4iDTlnxjmfE7AJAjmQPjj96XvVyMQp_XegMg9augj1qDT5KU8tPyHWyHiT7dbQmiE3CoqQi-PSUwvEmATSPvCbh5E04RnfhxiYRnuHPAHFIn_MSI2M0xLvfaZmNiOFu8U6oMshpo5CikKDlc3gtlmlfNoH0yyC8seuAx/s8033/shutterstock%20Africa.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8033" data-original-width="8033" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9rjMXAEj5xFWTP65dHt4ixDI4iDTlnxjmfE7AJAjmQPjj96XvVyMQp_XegMg9augj1qDT5KU8tPyHWyHiT7dbQmiE3CoqQi-PSUwvEmATSPvCbh5E04RnfhxiYRnuHPAHFIn_MSI2M0xLvfaZmNiOFu8U6oMshpo5CikKDlc3gtlmlfNoH0yyC8seuAx/w280-h280/shutterstock%20Africa.jpg" width="280" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><br />MAP</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">: From zoomed out to zoomed in (biggest to smallest)
here’s where ThulaThula and its elephants are located: <o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">Africa
is the continent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">South
Africa is one of the 54 countries on the continent of Africa. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">KwaZulu-Natal
is one of the nine provinces within South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">Zululand
is the region in KwaZulu-Natal where the elephants lived on the reserve.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">Thula
Thula is the game reserve in Zululand where the elephants live.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" style="border: none; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span data-test-id="glossified" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; outline: none; overflow-anchor: none; text-align: start; text-wrap: nowrap;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: times;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></o:p></span></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;"></span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lx5BS3ZtVoSqz6GK6FcKxJZPsKlHeLV2XuvUH_0zH3O0fBaZqJE8IBvtmYTE5lA1ntlpS4LDOg_hQ6iCeMoBJG-uu97REMEwFQPLWk_25B26uehMf5TT3V7XH_IYm-Gw0IZYfpQN2eCTkMp1nUJwx29t7YBpDjsulnRVqvwAz09SeQn2iZoVLw54Bs0j/s3600/shutterstock%20award.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lx5BS3ZtVoSqz6GK6FcKxJZPsKlHeLV2XuvUH_0zH3O0fBaZqJE8IBvtmYTE5lA1ntlpS4LDOg_hQ6iCeMoBJG-uu97REMEwFQPLWk_25B26uehMf5TT3V7XH_IYm-Gw0IZYfpQN2eCTkMp1nUJwx29t7YBpDjsulnRVqvwAz09SeQn2iZoVLw54Bs0j/w233-h155/shutterstock%20award.jpg" width="233" /></a></u></b></div><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u><br />Awards & Critical Praise</u></b><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">:</span><p></p><div id="m_-7286110925553807038m_4490237949053753746m_8042944728786586148m_-4444203536075078820gmail-:1gf" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 8px 0px 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div id="m_-7286110925553807038m_4490237949053753746m_8042944728786586148m_-4444203536075078820gmail-:1gg" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-size: small; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; overflow: hidden;"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_signature" dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div style="border: 4.5pt double windowtext; padding: 1pt 4pt;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;"></span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRiPNxqZb8hMD4AnW3ffTEE_Ihd6RSKaE3xkthJjM96pcC0jCFBJhm9H9gOjTvBjXPOEHqmvmexIwlG5x9dO9XGQDERxHWU52UP-3p_m0GTbuyKk_fOj9YVd2rWHQBXDhEujPl1A3YhIa-TRugB7FpayQzWJ_JBuhQmK08xF8dVjE8j0xal6ab-hatszS/s1080/Awards%20for%20Elephants%20(this%20one).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRiPNxqZb8hMD4AnW3ffTEE_Ihd6RSKaE3xkthJjM96pcC0jCFBJhm9H9gOjTvBjXPOEHqmvmexIwlG5x9dO9XGQDERxHWU52UP-3p_m0GTbuyKk_fOj9YVd2rWHQBXDhEujPl1A3YhIa-TRugB7FpayQzWJ_JBuhQmK08xF8dVjE8j0xal6ab-hatszS/w172-h172/Awards%20for%20Elephants%20(this%20one).jpg" width="172" /></a></span></i></b></div><b><i><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;"><br />The Elephants Come Home </span></i></b><b><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">by Kim Tomsic illustrated by Hadley Hooper. The amazing true story of a herd of elephants, the man who saved them, and the miracle of love that brought them home. </span></b><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">One day in 1999, Lawrence Anthony and Françoise Malby Anthony receive word that a herd of wild African elephants need a new home. They welcome the elephants to their wildlife sanctuary—Thula Thula. But the elephants are much less sure they want to stay. How will Lawrence prove to them that they are safe and loved? What follows is a gorgeously illustrated real-life story of friendship . . . and the story of the miraculous way that love given freely will return—greater and more wonderful than it began. Chronicle Books, ISBN: </span><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">978-1452127835</span><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;"></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">2022 Norman A. Sugarman Children's Biography Honor </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><a name="m_-7286110925553807038_m_4490237949053753746_m_8042944728786586148_m_-4444203536075078820_m_3656187740518705410__Hlk103925779" style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">2022-23 Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award Primary Grade Winner</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">2023 Minnesota </span><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">Comstock-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">Gág Book Award Winner</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">2022 Blue Grass Award Finalist</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">2022-23 Alabama Children’s Choice Camellia Award Finalist grades 2-3</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">2023-24 California Young Reader Award Finalist</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">2023-24 Iowa Goldfinch Award Finalist</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">2024 Utah Beehive Award Finalist</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">2024 Connecticut Nutmeg Award Finalist</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">2024 Illinois Bluestem Award Finalist grades 3-5</span><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;"></span></p><div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div></div></div></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;"><b>Resource - free! </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETHznzegKy0RrRtrB1Ma0Cshs70mqEQgy-BYxvoiL26Q6W_zi9INb-dAsBG88uA17h6FuHVi6N4n0uwf0JsTPrUb7riX5QBtfuUXQcEoZLa18Z0x7Ou-isAKRhryexME4L64UStdXP4H6PQ2Q-a8YNYy55KRbwLExUZAHKaH88QHpgN8ffmAmT0KtJ1UX/s1539/Elephants%20spread%202%20of%2033.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1539" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETHznzegKy0RrRtrB1Ma0Cshs70mqEQgy-BYxvoiL26Q6W_zi9INb-dAsBG88uA17h6FuHVi6N4n0uwf0JsTPrUb7riX5QBtfuUXQcEoZLa18Z0x7Ou-isAKRhryexME4L64UStdXP4H6PQ2Q-a8YNYy55KRbwLExUZAHKaH88QHpgN8ffmAmT0KtJ1UX/s320/Elephants%20spread%202%20of%2033.png" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br />Book available for purchase at:</b><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">The Wandering Jellyfish: <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-elephants-come-home-a-true-story-of-seven-elephants-two-people-and-one-extraordinary-friendship-kim-tomsic/15311414?ean=9781452127835" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Click Here</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Changing Hands Bookstore: <a href="https://www.changinghands.com/book/9781452127835" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Click Here</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Barnes and Noble: <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-elephants-come-home-kim-tomsic/1138919069?ean=9781452127835" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Click Here</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Indiebound (or to check your local bookstore): <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781452127835" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Click Here</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Red Balloon Bookshop: <a href="https://www.redballoonbookshop.com/book/9781452127835" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Click Here</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elephants-Come-Home-Extraordinary-Friendship/dp/1452127832/ref=sr_1_1?crid=OCO70OAHUDV5&keywords=the+elephants+come+home&qid=1644260502&sprefix=the+elephants+come+home%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Click Here</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Or simply ask your local bookseller!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Please reach out if you have any questions!</b></span></span></p>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-85576003323238726542023-07-14T05:00:00.004-07:002023-08-06T10:27:00.972-07:00Awards and Classroom Resources for Elephants!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="bookcover" style="background-color: #e3e3e3; box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 3px 5px 5px;"><img alt="THE ELEPHANTS COME HOME" class="attachment-book-thumb size-book-thumb wp-post-image" decoding="async" height="691" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Elephant-Cover-duplicate-800x691.jpg" srcset="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Elephant-Cover-duplicate-800x691.jpg 800w, https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Elephant-Cover-duplicate-300x259.jpg 300w, https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Elephant-Cover-duplicate-1024x884.jpg 1024w, https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Elephant-Cover-duplicate-768x663.jpg 768w, https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Elephant-Cover-duplicate-1536x1327.jpg 1536w, https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Elephant-Cover-duplicate-2048x1769.jpg 2048w, https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Elephant-Cover-duplicate-200x173.jpg 200w" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; vertical-align: bottom; width: 266.053px;" title="THE ELEPHANTS COME HOME" width="800" /></div></div><div class="twocol-image" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; float: left; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding-right: 30px; width: 306.019px;"></div><div class="twocol-text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; width: 714.051px;"><div class="book-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #d63c2c; font-family: Bach, Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 40px; line-height: 50px; padding: 0px 0px 20px;">THE ELEPHANTS COME HOME</div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">(<a href="https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/the-elephants-come-home" target="_blank">Chronicle Children’s Books</a>, May 18, 2021) <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">ISBN: </strong>978-1452127835</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pRgmQjVwvovXN3uTL1IPiOnZjlWWQSONlhE8Il4QuPTBduYrZVhY56vsMtcN73eLQzsPeUmMCYsQcPuaWDY_0-kBSG6HZ-BVdG1NamTInn2BnqC-i9_A8LCKC_JtXLQyZ8M5i-kToz-7y17N-8dOmWjRRSyPtAtOK5jYK_7HglKp03A_bD4GXsB7h4e8/s594/shutterstock_small%20school.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="594" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pRgmQjVwvovXN3uTL1IPiOnZjlWWQSONlhE8Il4QuPTBduYrZVhY56vsMtcN73eLQzsPeUmMCYsQcPuaWDY_0-kBSG6HZ-BVdG1NamTInn2BnqC-i9_A8LCKC_JtXLQyZ8M5i-kToz-7y17N-8dOmWjRRSyPtAtOK5jYK_7HglKp03A_bD4GXsB7h4e8/w209-h148/shutterstock_small%20school.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">*<a href="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Classroom-Activities-and-More-THE-ELEPHANTS-COME-HOME.pdf" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">*Printable Classroom Activities & Resources Page</a></span></h3><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">**<a href="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Kim-Tomsic-Menu-of-School-Visit-and-Presentation-Options.pdf" target="_blank">Book a School Visit </a></p><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnz4x4IkjOY_lFUuwbk8NMOTSBn_KXyEDjL9TwZl1k_UWNmWFrt3mRlVSuRfi6I06dYZPDvGO5bJM_ghnq7sb-Tx28d_EfuU0yjCs6ilMb_9OhZAsR2UL_VMQ3lpyULrtZowy0L2cEMb2_S5uilBvF_AbUFgVdwSvMrl_zlXkqRRFCXE-Sq0yjuvattL_T" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnz4x4IkjOY_lFUuwbk8NMOTSBn_KXyEDjL9TwZl1k_UWNmWFrt3mRlVSuRfi6I06dYZPDvGO5bJM_ghnq7sb-Tx28d_EfuU0yjCs6ilMb_9OhZAsR2UL_VMQ3lpyULrtZowy0L2cEMb2_S5uilBvF_AbUFgVdwSvMrl_zlXkqRRFCXE-Sq0yjuvattL_T" width="240" /></a></div></b><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">The amazing true story of a herd of elephants, the man who saved them, and the miracle of love that brought them home.</b></h3><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">One day in 1999, Lawrence and Françoise learn that a herd of wild African elephants needs a new home. They welcome the elephants to their wildlife sanctuary in Zululand, South Africa—Thula Thula—with open arms. But the elephants are much less sure they want to stay. How will Lawrence prove to them that they are safe and loved? What follows is a gorgeously illustrated real-life story of a friendship . . . and the story of the miraculous way that love given freely will return—greater and more wonderful than it began.</p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEroq-EBtSuZNVl59ezU4UmLiPUCFfTZcnATvEPqrbwbhbYMYDEPbbRa8WJSyE5zCEafpC9764evWjLwH5iAYRIJxqd9Fc-L4-lh0T3UDZJ6m6Q4uY4UOSZfyuLYRUlPp957Eb16oAEhHdaV5IL1nAKqsWBRUWii7-pO5A3Ru3jLADMvmmBXfsq2bHVvxI/s5000/shutterstock%20teacher%202023.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3500" data-original-width="5000" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEroq-EBtSuZNVl59ezU4UmLiPUCFfTZcnATvEPqrbwbhbYMYDEPbbRa8WJSyE5zCEafpC9764evWjLwH5iAYRIJxqd9Fc-L4-lh0T3UDZJ6m6Q4uY4UOSZfyuLYRUlPp957Eb16oAEhHdaV5IL1nAKqsWBRUWii7-pO5A3Ru3jLADMvmmBXfsq2bHVvxI/w227-h159/shutterstock%20teacher%202023.jpg" width="227" /></a></h3><b><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b>Classroom Resources and Activities</b></h3></b><p></p><p class="pf0"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elephant Voices</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">: How do elephants communicate with one another? What
does the position of their trunks mean? Why do they flap their ears? What is infrasound? Learn all this and more
at “Communication between
<a href=" https://www.upali.ch/communication_en.html" target="_blank">Elephants Voices and Sounds</a>.” *Bonus, scroll to the bottom of their webpage and hear recordings
of elephants!</span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">THE FIVE SENSES: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Would you like to learn more about an elephant’s
vision, hearing, or their keen sense of smell?
<a href="https://seaworld.org/animals/all-about/elephants/senses/" target="_blank">Check out more about elephant senses</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Warm Blooded vs. Cold
Blooded Creatures: </span></b><a href="https://seaworld.org/-/media/seaworld-dotorg/pdfs/classroom-activities/grades-k_4/k_4_animal_sing_along.ashx?version=1_201811145307&la=en&hash=D6BBAB85DDBEC487290DF7A74DD0D9EA89F8E8D2&hash=D6BBAB85DDBEC487290DF7A74DD0D9EA89F8E8D2" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">At this link,</span></a><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sea World features a
classroom activity for teachers and students to discuss warm blooded vs. cold
blooded animals. Make sure you add elephants to the conversation!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Animal Spelling Bee</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">: The Sea World website features another fun activity.
You can host an </span><a href="https://seaworld.org/-/media/seaworld-dotorg/pdfs/classroom-activities/grades-k_4/k_4_animals_and_the_law_spelling_bee.ashx?version=1_201811145313&la=en&hash=879C6FD01DC93CDD09005AEC417CFF7837B301F6&hash=879C6FD01DC93CDD09005AEC417CFF7837B301F6" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">animal-centered spelling bee</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> – just add “elephant” to the list. You’ll discuss
words like “conservation”, “habitat”, and more. Consider adding “Zululand,
South Africa” to the list, and discuss the difference between a continent and a
country. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Meet the Elephants of
Thula Thula </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(prounounced toola
toola). Learn </span><a href="https://thulathula.com/conservation/elephant-adoption-fund/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the names of the elephants</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> that live on the wildlife sanctuary. Read about their
conservation efforts or the history of the reserve. Perhaps you will decide to
work together to save “Pennies for Protection” and adopt an elephant. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4nvQbfQAUg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Video</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> (7:12): </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">See Lawrence
Anthony call for the herd like you might call in a puppy from the yard. This
seven-minute video titled</span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto;"> </span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-size: 12pt;">“Lawrence Anthony's Rehabilitation of Elephants</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">”,
will be sure to delight you and your students. You will <a href=" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4nvQbfQAUg" target="_blank">see all the stars of <i>The
Elephants Come Home</i></a>.</span></p><h1 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://www.elephantvoices.org/elephant-ethogram/the-science.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elephant Voices</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">:
This webpage takes a deep dive into identifying elephant behaviors, defining
terms, and naming modes of communication. </span> </h1><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-align: center;"><b><u>Awards & Critical Praise</u></b></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqn_1-xrxxtqwql-9jVlSEzAEBnAPLgIij83gFiL489f4uOG_V6rw1-ZUW3UM3Riym6UULAYkIez8HgUvo2tepp0gaW71I0M1f00mBHVGh95sCrYgpNEWMY_A-ZhU6ShY6gqPMHdytVw9EHg-_QLO6INK8HWZ3jXZJgC5reuUUEzsZGXn-SDTNV7YnuFL/s3600/shutterstock%20award.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqn_1-xrxxtqwql-9jVlSEzAEBnAPLgIij83gFiL489f4uOG_V6rw1-ZUW3UM3Riym6UULAYkIez8HgUvo2tepp0gaW71I0M1f00mBHVGh95sCrYgpNEWMY_A-ZhU6ShY6gqPMHdytVw9EHg-_QLO6INK8HWZ3jXZJgC5reuUUEzsZGXn-SDTNV7YnuFL/s320/shutterstock%20award.jpg" width="320" /></a></u></b></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-align: right;"><span style="text-align: left;">Awarded the </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;">Norman A. Sugarman Honor</strong><span style="text-align: left;"> in Children’s Biography</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Winner! <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award Primary Grade Winner</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Winner! <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Minnesota Comstock-Gág Book Award Winner</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Finalist for <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Alabama Children’s Choice Camellia Award Finalist grades 2-3</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Finalist for <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">CYBILS</strong> Award</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Finalist for the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Kentucky Blue Grass Award</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Finalist for the 2024 <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Connecticut</strong> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Nutmeg Award</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Finalist for the 2023-2024<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> California Young Readers Medal</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Finalist for the 2023-2024 <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Iowa Goldfinch Award</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Finalist for 2024 <a href="https://aisled.org/bluestem/" target="_blank"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Illinois Bluestem Award</strong> </a>grades 3-5</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Finalist 2024 <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Utah</strong> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Beehive Award</strong></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDm0aO0OXYjLaGtGr19v6Ea0ZRR2eTbF8iBKJlzvR5HAnQuC4b2Q6SNLEai03TrGwqgr_ZLDISMva9CB5O4rNrLhAVS6nMbI2Rkziu4CsgUDP3g725qgnL9wzAqxLm7VpyI9uThpzDWMWUXSU9pwG7vWu2mgAyXpzL5zAI8iVT1pitiHkdryrmnoZbN-KD/s1600/Bologna%20Book%202022%20Twitter%20Post.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDm0aO0OXYjLaGtGr19v6Ea0ZRR2eTbF8iBKJlzvR5HAnQuC4b2Q6SNLEai03TrGwqgr_ZLDISMva9CB5O4rNrLhAVS6nMbI2Rkziu4CsgUDP3g725qgnL9wzAqxLm7VpyI9uThpzDWMWUXSU9pwG7vWu2mgAyXpzL5zAI8iVT1pitiHkdryrmnoZbN-KD/s320/Bologna%20Book%202022%20Twitter%20Post.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Showcased at the Bologna Children’s Book Festival’s <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">BRAW Amazing Bookshelf</strong> of “<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">100 publishing gems</strong>” chosen from a selection of 2,200 books submitted by publishers from around the globe.<p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">“The story’s flawless, gentle pacing illuminates the animals’ initial fear and the time, patience, and compassion it takes for attentive Lawrence to earn their trust…Hooper’s…shades of rich blue and soft rose heighten the story’s emotional impact.”—<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Horn Book Magazine</em></strong></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">“In brief action-packed sentences, Tomsic informs readers of all the steps taken to bring [the elephants] back, with the text placed against Hooper’s beautifully realized illustrations of African animals and the vast, gorgeous landscape…with its focus on the elephants and the protagonists, this book is lovely, tender, and moving.” —<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Kirkus Reviews</em></strong></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">This touching true story portrays conservationist Lawrence Anthony’s relationship with a frightened, hunted herd that found a home at his reserve in South Africa, Thula Thula..The importance of conservation shines through the friendship story here, and both themes are beautifully complemented by Hooper’s detailed, atmospheric drawings of the elephants and their surroundings.”—<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Booklist</em></strong></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </em></strong>“The illustrations are expansive with a limited color palette of warm oranges and cool greens and blues. The animal characters are dynamic, humorous, and emotive…A sentimental but high-interest story based on true events of the bond between wild animals and the humans who care for them.” —<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">School Library Journal</em></strong></p><p align="center" class="pf0" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-align: center;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif" style="color: #232323; font-size: 16px;">Where to Find:</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-align: left;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif" style="color: #232323; font-size: 16px;">Your local library. If they don't have a copy available, please request that they carry!</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif" style="color: #232323; font-size: 16px;">Available at</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">The Wandering Jellyfish: <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-elephants-come-home-a-true-story-of-seven-elephants-two-people-and-one-extraordinary-friendship-kim-tomsic/15311414?ean=9781452127835" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Click Here</a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Changing Hands Bookstore: <a href="https://www.changinghands.com/book/9781452127835" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Click Here</a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Barnes and Noble: <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-elephants-come-home-kim-tomsic/1138919069?ean=9781452127835" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Click Here</a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Indiebound (or to check your local bookstore): <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781452127835" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Click Here</a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Red Balloon Bookshop: <a href="https://www.redballoonbookshop.com/book/9781452127835" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Click Here</a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elephants-Come-Home-Extraordinary-Friendship/dp/1452127832/ref=sr_1_1?crid=OCO70OAHUDV5&keywords=the+elephants+come+home&qid=1644260502&sprefix=the+elephants+come+home%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Click Here</a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">Or simply ask your local bookseller!</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Classroom-Activities-and-More-THE-ELEPHANTS-COME-HOME.pdf" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSy_r8vml9dLd2JAVwmbblfeijL6Bnotk_fBgWLrSqW0x-B_bPxTJZozfzdT4pczChx39YbUlkvOivpuEZI7kW-4Wcv0YLOncqwTyZo8mkWP9ndbgrt1RqR4UXbIEoBtakMw2yukHA62RODP6R1GQCMjh6c4pPKBqH28jr8xIoM9QfDLqLA_OG9OiLjHv/s2575/shutterstock%20typewriter%20June%202023.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2561" data-original-width="2575" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSy_r8vml9dLd2JAVwmbblfeijL6Bnotk_fBgWLrSqW0x-B_bPxTJZozfzdT4pczChx39YbUlkvOivpuEZI7kW-4Wcv0YLOncqwTyZo8mkWP9ndbgrt1RqR4UXbIEoBtakMw2yukHA62RODP6R1GQCMjh6c4pPKBqH28jr8xIoM9QfDLqLA_OG9OiLjHv/w147-h146/shutterstock%20typewriter%20June%202023.jpg" width="147" /></a></strong></div><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br />*<a href="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Classroom-Activities-and-More-THE-ELEPHANTS-COME-HOME.pdf" target="_blank">Printable Resource Page</a>: CLASSROOM RESOURCES</strong> available<a href="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Classroom-Activities-and-More-THE-ELEPHANTS-COME-HOME.pdf" target="_blank"> here</a>. <p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232323; font-family: "Roboto Slab", Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em;">**Book an in-person or virtual <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Kim-Tomsic-Menu-of-School-Visit-and-Presentation-Options.pdf" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98001; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">School Visit</a></strong>!</p></div>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-10288916769163890582023-07-05T09:50:00.003-07:002023-07-05T10:38:03.310-07:004 Success Stories - How a Children's Book Writing & Illustrating Conference Launched the Careers of Four Authors and Illustrators<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5R-Ge1SW56i6tqJU0y34Gc255fMjLMYTLqeMnOFrL41m9uC-gyeIRQjDidLul-tKEudYShmKbCxRJyJcHfjKl3JjqFKH9vtQxLQVf0UmOkbVs3Ndy3UTrF6r2y_PtoAu0x3WJIJne5cWnZOCl00b2r6sgrpUpNZYgZv-IeFAV2laWQdYtCKfwl4do6i5n/s7406/shutterstock%20book%20castle.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4594" data-original-width="7406" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5R-Ge1SW56i6tqJU0y34Gc255fMjLMYTLqeMnOFrL41m9uC-gyeIRQjDidLul-tKEudYShmKbCxRJyJcHfjKl3JjqFKH9vtQxLQVf0UmOkbVs3Ndy3UTrF6r2y_PtoAu0x3WJIJne5cWnZOCl00b2r6sgrpUpNZYgZv-IeFAV2laWQdYtCKfwl4do6i5n/s320/shutterstock%20book%20castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Conferences
are kingmakers. It’s true! Talk to published authors and illustrators, and you'll discover that more often than not an attendee’s career moved into hyper-drive after taking part in a
conference. A conference is where you meet people with a shared passion, and you develop new neural pathways for craft. Ideas bubble to mind, and important connections are made. Many publishing
hopefuls met their agent or editor attending breakout sessions, getting
critiques, or selecting the right seat at an open-table luncheon. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydloLuEldMlFcIn8s8lArNg3s1MD-PubB0sRci6POyMoWUBpH8MP7GhaeVoj7bbBO8CS5GPDdE0xkHFIJkc7pLGqFeq7OKepACc6v2XZH15bmYKydNhJ4lPdfz1SVZwJxOf4X2UfZxXFQ/s1600/BeneathTheIce_BrookeBoyntonHughes.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydloLuEldMlFcIn8s8lArNg3s1MD-PubB0sRci6POyMoWUBpH8MP7GhaeVoj7bbBO8CS5GPDdE0xkHFIJkc7pLGqFeq7OKepACc6v2XZH15bmYKydNhJ4lPdfz1SVZwJxOf4X2UfZxXFQ/s320/BeneathTheIce_BrookeBoyntonHughes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustration courtesy of Brooke-Boynton Huges</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><a href="http://www.brookeboyntonhughes.com/" target="_blank">Illustrator Brooke Boynton Hughes</a> attended <a href="http://scbwi.org" target="_blank">SCBWI</a>'s International conference in
California more than a decade ago. She entered her portfolio in the illustrator showcase, didn't win but got noticed. In fact, she signed with agent <a href="https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/marietta-b-zacker/" target="_blank">Marietta Zacker</a> and landed a book deal that same year! Furthermore, Brooke signed up for the one-on-one portfolio review. She received feedback throughout the conference weekend and learned nuanced details about craft. When she returned to the event the following year (2013), she walked away as the Portfolio Showcase Honor Award winner and the Mentorship Award winner! In 2014, she received the Portfolio Honor Award at SCBWI's Winter Conference in New York. </span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>Brooke's success
didn't come from one conference. She says, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="background: white;">I
think the most important part about attending conferences is the chance to have
one-on-one portfolio critiques and the opportunity to learn about your
craft. I attended six or seven international conferences and three or
four regional conferences before I was published and before my portfolio was
recognized in the showcase." </span></blockquote>Now her illustrations are
published in books with <a href="https://www.simonandschusterpublishing.com/beach-lane/" target="_blank">Beach Lane</a>, Disney Hyperion, and Random House.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguii8txdYMJMCKMQ2TC3HvZTUf7b937Sx8wIVeZB0l9dp5HidF6F9L6tPd20DWB7xEmP3_Iz_T1IitQy5BuOFJMThcfGShHmhC9-jR3ZjNgTOQ6ptl3MBHpjgLwlhH35b4Y4SXRaJv12oQ/s1600/SOCK+THIEF.JPG" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-indent: 0.5in;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguii8txdYMJMCKMQ2TC3HvZTUf7b937Sx8wIVeZB0l9dp5HidF6F9L6tPd20DWB7xEmP3_Iz_T1IitQy5BuOFJMThcfGShHmhC9-jR3ZjNgTOQ6ptl3MBHpjgLwlhH35b4Y4SXRaJv12oQ/s1600/SOCK+THIEF.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPT_cb314Q03qcuwGOrw4ktjdY4kwypNuWW2m7laxq0ZNmzPcgCJK5j8kcVqhE7jaRbJ6HeTaQ6fM-tqjTpq7jkFvIgXvvT0NxCaq7sxV6ka5xegtH53TkYLAEu5ZpnTEEhZ4OO_zQ_lxwI8CsK7eO37mmD1_Nbg4aP8xTAjhxs8QehYGYNAvAInyNTHn-" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><img alt="" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="768" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPT_cb314Q03qcuwGOrw4ktjdY4kwypNuWW2m7laxq0ZNmzPcgCJK5j8kcVqhE7jaRbJ6HeTaQ6fM-tqjTpq7jkFvIgXvvT0NxCaq7sxV6ka5xegtH53TkYLAEu5ZpnTEEhZ4OO_zQ_lxwI8CsK7eO37mmD1_Nbg4aP8xTAjhxs8QehYGYNAvAInyNTHn-" width="186" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPT_cb314Q03qcuwGOrw4ktjdY4kwypNuWW2m7laxq0ZNmzPcgCJK5j8kcVqhE7jaRbJ6HeTaQ6fM-tqjTpq7jkFvIgXvvT0NxCaq7sxV6ka5xegtH53TkYLAEu5ZpnTEEhZ4OO_zQ_lxwI8CsK7eO37mmD1_Nbg4aP8xTAjhxs8QehYGYNAvAInyNTHn-" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Author
turned agent </span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://eastwestliteraryagency.com/book_author/ana-crespo/" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext">Ana Crespo</span></a> met her editor, <a href="https://read.sourcebooks.com/editorial-kelly-barrales-saylor.html" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext">Kelly Barrales-Saylor</span></a> who was then an editor with <a href="https://www.albertwhitman.com/" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext">Albert Whitman and Co</span></a>. (she is now an editor with
Sourcebooks) during the regional Rocky Mountain SCBWI conference. Ana signed up
for a manuscript critique and landed a feedback timeslot with Kelly. After
listening to Kelly’s edit suggestions and taking ample notes during workshops,
Ana was armed with ideas to improve her writing. Ana went home, reworked and
edited her story, then queried Kelly who bought and published <a href="https://www.anacrespobooks.com/" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext">The Sock Thief</span></a>. Ana went on to sell four
books to Albert Whitman in a series called JP BOOKS, MY EMOTIONS AND ME.
During another conference, she met Alvina Ling Executive Editorial Director of
Little Brown Books. Alvina later published <i><a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/ana-crespo/hello-tree/9780316425261/?lens=little-brown-books-for-young-readers" target="_blank">Hello Tree</a></i>, illustrated by <a href="https://artbydow.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dow Phumiruk</a>.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span><o:p></o:p><p></p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzI3EEvOeOizfxfzOw6BF4umyieTA7TUbvXm__QFAUvNJriAC69pg6GefCaRm9q8fkHE8abub3kaneKu1vKNfumBundXYO-P0JbWBLkHSaTzmGNXEjP4NBZC9KUw-zGv7DFWiloKA5Pz0y/s1600/smash.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzI3EEvOeOizfxfzOw6BF4umyieTA7TUbvXm__QFAUvNJriAC69pg6GefCaRm9q8fkHE8abub3kaneKu1vKNfumBundXYO-P0JbWBLkHSaTzmGNXEjP4NBZC9KUw-zGv7DFWiloKA5Pz0y/s200/smash.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I met
my editor, <a href="https://www.onlypicturebooks.com/2020/12/28/editor-interview-melissa-manlove/" target="_blank">Melissa Manlove</a> of Chronicle Books, at an SCBWI conference, and
let’s just say it involved an unofficial scavenger hunt, an Aperol Smash, and a
failed pitch. But that failed pitch was part of a connection, and in the end I
received a business card and an email address. A year-and-a-half later I worked
on the craft points I’d learned at the conference, I worked with my critique
group, I read and drafted, and then I sent a query letter about a new manuscript—here’s
where I cue the drum roll and build to a frenzy—I got a YES! That’s how I sold
the award-winning picture book, <a href="https://www.changinghands.com/book/9781452127835" target="_blank">THE ELEPHANTS COME HOME</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-P69gLYiYMAWT6cmIpmRCiPZfM7EDxVczT9P1GmTDln3rUu629EN799iz2FXJLMP8rgiB5nEYbVTmoeDj7ML_j8ki1-YiEB9MNXGCjJQ0x5wG62Yifrw9dEk9XuDeKPKLNU-fSZKC1JhOypdQuM67KWNky-9DXuJTs74-ayr8Lv5WzqASkwVJ7bnaMdSK" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-P69gLYiYMAWT6cmIpmRCiPZfM7EDxVczT9P1GmTDln3rUu629EN799iz2FXJLMP8rgiB5nEYbVTmoeDj7ML_j8ki1-YiEB9MNXGCjJQ0x5wG62Yifrw9dEk9XuDeKPKLNU-fSZKC1JhOypdQuM67KWNky-9DXuJTs74-ayr8Lv5WzqASkwVJ7bnaMdSK" width="160" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">If the
above three stories haven't convinced you that conferences are kingmakers, here’s
one more. Author <a href="https://martha-brockenbrough.squarespace.com/" target="_blank">Martha Brockenbrough </a>met the editor of her debut picture book </span><i>The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy<span style="color: blue;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">at
a conference. His name - Arthur Levine of Arthur A. Levin at Scholastic (he is now an
editor and founder of </span><a href="https://www.levinequerido.com/submissions" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span color="windowtext">Levine Querido</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">). Martha says
in an interview with SCBWI, “Truly. Every picture book I’ve ever sold has come
directly from my time at an SCBWI conference”. Martha has since sold many
picture books and highly-praised novels. Her latest middle grade novel</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">, <a href="https://bookshop.org/search?keywords=Martha%20Brockenbrough" target="_blank">To Catch a Thief</a></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">,
is out now!<br /></span></div>
Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-49833359949077246212023-07-03T10:09:00.000-07:002023-07-03T10:09:27.683-07:00Walter Grant by We Need Diverse Books <p>What would it take to get you to the next phase of your writing or illustrating dream? A computer? A class? A conference? Something else? We Need Diverse Books and the Walter Grant offer an opportunity to help you take a step forward. </p><div><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-family: times;">Take a glimpse at some of the awesome books created and/or contributed to by previous Walter Grant winners: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><p style="color: #0b5394;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><img alt="" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="350" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4h-A895NNlCs2bXtnDFNGsro2AHHhJefKKOrQPvm1LlMvDc82PUmX3B0zo8YG-Ucdc-idBGoBt-fSqG2sthPAT8frGIuuuNrwNUEJ7aMioKrtEc8dI_Z-YVcx1_X8E5rEQfoFKeWIIQ6AGYTvGX-d3U-RYTzMHvRPBsPp6Th6XOGVvBUE3lRcCzJUlD9N" width="159" /><img alt="" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="350" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5SQDXmGCYkrhLJvRp_xQ8Mdrb6HhCZHkQLVZ2iJNG8Yt2lRNo_Ljx4fU8EAaY8l1QoaCuu4omzmqX5M4mhEZuO1KpOQ4CNZabCPeJxyu7xvg9ebGE5vKRM94kAsJ3aoNzuhn6rrI0BPlp4jLzS7oTpyuEpX8F8W_j5F3qDDCa_uRyCWy85zzPIrKmYSy0" width="158" /><img alt="" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="238" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjosSqHzc29WZLuxusZcfFk-I3ic5fxlXaAIe19319YaixglbzGD3N_2f2Rt5qb3f1dpgZFrbtwXD8Gt3Z7e6hrG3Y-62dQwA4W496bPlPAbOHZUZt-sPSyiGvE-h043qA7E0MMriUrWsKO9DqOiP9ZSxOMnXusKfLPDVnt25F9yF0w_X0gBfXks245QKIS" width="158" /><img alt="" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="947" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjh5x0T3iCtppJgN5cYSwV3kO6W3yVxdXtdzr196FMt9x5jD2flYJkySA6k60q4iRVLgVhrXPmX6WgHeHWxB_jGSjrLQ35EG0GfnlBCiDf2E27Ruj9Iuy0LmHQ_rleMxElQH0JAlVTGow67CucEqU-DZGVkSs57epvFlPqeAj4of1YHGuWRvgxPJKpIDxte=w175-h214" width="175" /></span><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><img alt="" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="552" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtZIE8mEs3wQP3nzpJXF1ode4PQbxnLCrCZMjOrBcr5TdDd7edx-H3SL0BYtv0ykFblF572R0JSyhDD2-jfwtJXV65d_Iiww9x0UZsy8sXNH2bqReQ7_mszqYYIbPj-ZTp3icRo_DAVdgjc2wh898_zVgmEIoSXOyDCRXQqjksg_6ieICo2kd20aBfEGaP" width="204" /><img alt="" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEie8nIo8gbrmFGZ64nvdYPmKRTHQglrPkIoyOSoGW4M_DAi7ZOP_X8CcdX0v2h2WnU2krit0ovsmX-Chk3LmjUTDuhnQPS8uKjidTSyd0GvjTXKrmqI5Rby6Yjc3P88YYXVb1mA0zl4-4jPMQpOQ_tVbb80EoHePJgC_MRXwvgDbWJIJaOvLeyDdbZvLnZW" width="192" /><img alt="" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1650" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiujTmyhUvl0xB90ex41bmYfn6W2MViwAkv8jP0z6zwoP5PGlDAecKk6dVpfaaIm_KIjjLlsEHL0p1Dbc4nV8m0lQ-FPhrAULYzBRNaxhvaqt2yliMIMjOKjyc2u_QJASG8QxNP8Xe_JJ87Q7dBlgWFe6LJo0povlxzbwVmCxgEWR4LnzZ8knOjUE42ixP6" width="160" /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0b5394; text-align: left;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7hhxOtLOd_flEGMOmH1vawcNyvB4dTGof3bRkRrLDYaFXY4KAopm1UUq1mc4CzCIR9IZ6A2GheE6Hq6-yNJjjcPDamETEejvHN3BDel9tr2SvRLbdKXUVAjOfGvChGUevvz0WHq2cjznpAxNQF40KK4ji62O1Pfaj5v---ZrMB_pTMea-PbCXVjxDSTTy" width="300" /><img alt="" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-KbNP5ERvelLdvKXyCs-iG-ruBP2_IUH3e-P9MN4zNrJAxc9iRujLmuX4bbIqEAd26PicGl-sI-VlWIO5Xe2ia4DY1mbPrZ25X9adJtWW5Qyf7P17Whd2D1jWGLWOLoO5f-ymnLEI34HswNsm-67bynwUkdk5l0Mmuq62nl8USmZb9C6W6ltiQpjjxqxb" width="160" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbRCyPyG81cV5Ut1LcRE5UtvN9kz7MO2zCCRlpmQRkK_yr2aUgibDpgHH7WExCoI_5qVGefjJ6E2AFedWWTcKkykDneddl0T--GgsPNUjBcfJ2wyxgH_NovleGExAPjQLV-Dvp991GUdYHTm7iAjP980pAFjVdtV09e7KQ312POGi2eMSj8IUypgThUPLu" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="350" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbRCyPyG81cV5Ut1LcRE5UtvN9kz7MO2zCCRlpmQRkK_yr2aUgibDpgHH7WExCoI_5qVGefjJ6E2AFedWWTcKkykDneddl0T--GgsPNUjBcfJ2wyxgH_NovleGExAPjQLV-Dvp991GUdYHTm7iAjP980pAFjVdtV09e7KQ312POGi2eMSj8IUypgThUPLu" width="159" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p>We Need Diverse Books extended the deadline to <a href="https://diversebooks.org/programs/walter-grant/" target="_blank">apply </a><span>for the 2023 Walter Grant to July 10, 2023. If you miss the deadline, read on to get an early start for next year. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGIlsgl1tgdJot0y_5r23rXudEyIS4yqR--ZnPGeXvTpTaPKZk9nlEPZRjXNDzEZm6MFuSHgvi4o8dsO0qsyo57qKdMwdUeSXVfzarsU57VSUpEzDW9woLexha22z37u1zG1l97NywSC_VvylaboiZeAnVuBlu0f4xJiNzet_hR1LTli_vGnbXX35d6Yw/s11738/shutterstock_%20hand%20heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5809" data-original-width="11738" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGIlsgl1tgdJot0y_5r23rXudEyIS4yqR--ZnPGeXvTpTaPKZk9nlEPZRjXNDzEZm6MFuSHgvi4o8dsO0qsyo57qKdMwdUeSXVfzarsU57VSUpEzDW9woLexha22z37u1zG1l97NywSC_VvylaboiZeAnVuBlu0f4xJiNzet_hR1LTli_vGnbXX35d6Yw/w211-h104/shutterstock_%20hand%20heart.jpg" width="211" /></span></a></div><p>From the <a href="https://diversebooks.org/programs/walter-grant/" target="_blank">We Need Diverse Books</a> website: </p><blockquote style="color: #0b5394;"><div>"<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: inherit; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; text-align: center;">The Walter Dean Myers Grant program was established to provide</span><span style="color: inherit; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; text-align: center;">grants of $2,000 each</strong><span style="color: inherit; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="color: inherit; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; text-align: center;">to promising diverse writers and illustrators who are currently unpublished. Since 2015, we have awarded 45 grants. Current and former grantees have gone on to publish or contract over 50 books for children and teens."</span></span></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0b5394; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhXjCYl0HDnj4AGuBD7fAx1f-qBzHCVYvhE1Cy0KOgAgu2al8zrhi2bx7v00zpKWlLNqoW8PVUgVpRl593pDQ--kHedh5HiDv7yYoXALeHJ646o6aU7MjsyMnaK1TgKasddsr51g1u8_Xq2J3AI4d40J6OVD7l244NBCd3LF9Za3lELH7pMmXnIfrOqFD5" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2417" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhXjCYl0HDnj4AGuBD7fAx1f-qBzHCVYvhE1Cy0KOgAgu2al8zrhi2bx7v00zpKWlLNqoW8PVUgVpRl593pDQ--kHedh5HiDv7yYoXALeHJ646o6aU7MjsyMnaK1TgKasddsr51g1u8_Xq2J3AI4d40J6OVD7l244NBCd3LF9Za3lELH7pMmXnIfrOqFD5" width="159" /></a></div><br />2015 winner, Angie Thomas, used her award to buy a computer. She went on to write the New York Times Bestseller <i><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hate-u-give-a-c-thomas/1124651146?ean=9780062498533" target="_blank">The Hate U Give</a></i> and other award winning books. Read more about previous winners in this article by </span><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://diversebooks.org/celebrating-wndbs-published-walter-grantees/" target="_blank">Andrea Ruggirello</a>.</span> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">Requirements when applying - you'll include:</span></h3></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: times;">a brief statement (200 words) about how you will use your grant money to further your writing career. </span></li><li>a 200-word summary of the work you're submitting.</li><li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">1 500-word essay about how diversity impacts your writing and/or illustrating career.</span></span> </li><li>a 2,500-word excerpt of your work (in the genre in which you are applying) or 4 to 6 illustration samples </li></ul></blockquote><p>Read <a href="https://diversebooks.org/programs/walter-grant/">here</a> to learn details about submission guidelines, application process, and eligibility details. </p><p>Where to apply: Right on the webpage - read and scroll down to complete. There's a list of FAQs at the bottom of the webpage: <a href="https://diversebooks.org/programs/walter-grant/" target="_blank">We Need Diverse Books Walter Grant </a></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">D<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 20px;">irect any questions to </span><a href="mailto:waltergrant@diversebooks.org" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;">waltergrant@diversebooks.org</a></span></p><div><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: times;">Cheers,</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: times;">Kim</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div><span style="font-family: times;">P.S. Who is "We Need Diverse Books"? </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: times;"><blockquote style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">We Need Diverse Books™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.</span></blockquote><div><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div></span></div></div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black;">Details </span><a href="https://diversebooks.org/programs/walter-grant/" target="_blank">here</a><span style="color: black;">.</span></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><br /><p style="color: #0b5394;"></p></span></div>
</div></div>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-1747983937202267542023-06-26T10:31:00.005-07:002023-06-29T08:34:43.129-07:0010 Proven Ways to Jumpstart Your Writing Career<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXW8-ufGYm0ssN-IL2oJNoT8Aq8AVgsa8aYtQnh1jvzs38a_QUci6vvxJdx5q9Dxe0KJCyIfp3-RaJ_DIsENZOnKe2o8p49yrYtiovipxbG8_uLIkKteZBzLdno5pnc4fomQAIJt5-n_9e/s1600/pencils.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXW8-ufGYm0ssN-IL2oJNoT8Aq8AVgsa8aYtQnh1jvzs38a_QUci6vvxJdx5q9Dxe0KJCyIfp3-RaJ_DIsENZOnKe2o8p49yrYtiovipxbG8_uLIkKteZBzLdno5pnc4fomQAIJt5-n_9e/s320/pencils.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">A few times a year, someone I know - a friend, cousin, neighbor, </span><span style="color: #141823;">dental hygienist,</span><span style="color: #141823;"> etc.</span><span style="color: #141823;"> - confesses they’d
like to write a book. They mention how they've heard about my upcoming release, </span><i style="color: #141823;">The Truth About 5th Grade</i><span style="color: #141823;">, co-written by me and </span><a href="https://www.offthemark.com/" target="_blank">Mark Parisi</a><span style="color: #141823;"> (summer 2024, HarperCollins). </span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #141823;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOiXaqQwBOE-5e0uLogJSSp0_Qpp5bScs_RdlT0CrdI3VIoynhfuEFqqnHjLAioMGJI5Op_7VICNevf4RWZRh68E5XVqAT9H4Eyb0ECdRmdUkjvDevAnN2suNgP5EB1YThg9J6xGPzF79XVw9VfZKh2PA5TKhDStFv_8jDcVI-TNm7Ebg_YaHab3gOy2Xx" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="3893" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOiXaqQwBOE-5e0uLogJSSp0_Qpp5bScs_RdlT0CrdI3VIoynhfuEFqqnHjLAioMGJI5Op_7VICNevf4RWZRh68E5XVqAT9H4Eyb0ECdRmdUkjvDevAnN2suNgP5EB1YThg9J6xGPzF79XVw9VfZKh2PA5TKhDStFv_8jDcVI-TNm7Ebg_YaHab3gOy2Xx" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.offthemark.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Mark Parisi</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Or they mention my award-winning books with <a href="https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/the-elephants-come-home" target="_blank">Chronicle</a> or one of the writing classes I teach. </span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #141823;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #141823;">All ask the big "H" question - “how”. How do you write books and/or have a successful writing career?</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #141823;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #141823;">I love sharing goals and dreams with friends, so the question is a huge compliment!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBu4IaQievsWvvKWxh4HiE3anVSS0JVGskOvSRYUVfTxIUhdek0tAFsE2lGWFeTw6AWpqWSsKwSVF_KqHNe9YNXzbCv9a0DeY8Cq75OxQR_uTvGFsWWuNU-KnGexrpv0sG5KRlPzBW13AhKfIxafYqW3e70URyyiVxQZ729sjhPJryDDx-Ze8y6XeZ7kc/s2600/shutterstock%20mail%20girl%20bird%202023.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2600" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBu4IaQievsWvvKWxh4HiE3anVSS0JVGskOvSRYUVfTxIUhdek0tAFsE2lGWFeTw6AWpqWSsKwSVF_KqHNe9YNXzbCv9a0DeY8Cq75OxQR_uTvGFsWWuNU-KnGexrpv0sG5KRlPzBW13AhKfIxafYqW3e70URyyiVxQZ729sjhPJryDDx-Ze8y6XeZ7kc/w248-h191/shutterstock%20mail%20girl%20bird%202023.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />My most recent email sounded like this: </span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #141823; line-height: 150%;"></span></div></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #141823; line-height: 150%;"></span></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">Hey Kim! I know you are a writer, correct? I am thinking of
writing a true life story. Any pointers you can give me? How do I go about
presenting to a publisher? Is it best that I get a writer to assist me in my
story? Any help/guidance would be greatly appreciated</span>. Thanks!</span></div></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #141823;">Here’s my evolving answer. I hope the following information is
useful to you, too:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">I'm happy to hear you're interested in writing a book. Good
for you to ask questions early! When I decided I wanted to write, I spent a year creating a 60,000 word novel. After I finished, I read a book on craft and talked to experienced writers—that’s when I discovered the one-million
things I did wrong, haha—oh well! The best thing I did was sitting my
butt in a chair and getting started. Here are my recommendations:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBSuphM9ObaSvf3fnARp_UwQAEC8YX0WkprTVnFN0QfrVga8HaWCqbD-ZYRh-wB0rrnJUfO6NaVtnZ2MIfKU38cbKYItPKUe1Gu6Kl94ZnOCzn9bKQxOSUsp3tB45KmhWYNs6WE2zBwIVLyQAu6XBO3w6vzwaNi_9E6U509nkaF-Itq2TpE8b2CW2FTcQ/s4500/Shutterstock%20typewriter%20and%20busy%20woman%20June%202023.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4500" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBSuphM9ObaSvf3fnARp_UwQAEC8YX0WkprTVnFN0QfrVga8HaWCqbD-ZYRh-wB0rrnJUfO6NaVtnZ2MIfKU38cbKYItPKUe1Gu6Kl94ZnOCzn9bKQxOSUsp3tB45KmhWYNs6WE2zBwIVLyQAu6XBO3w6vzwaNi_9E6U509nkaF-Itq2TpE8b2CW2FTcQ/w206-h182/Shutterstock%20typewriter%20and%20busy%20woman%20June%202023.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #141823;">1. <b>BIC (butt in chair)</b>. Have a goal
of how many words a day you plan to write and do it (by the way, word count is where it's at; not page count). S</span><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 150%;">et aside
a time every day to write and commit to that schedule. For me, it is first
thing in the morning. One of my friends writes at night after everyone has
gone to bed. </span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #141823;">2. <b>Join an Organization. </b>Join a genre-specific organization and participate in activities and events. I write children's books, so I joined the <a href="http://www.scbwi.org/" target="_blank">SCBWI</a> (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). There are many organizations. It might take a bit of research for you to find the right fit (Romance Writers of America; History Writers of America, <a href="https://www.sfwa.org/" target="_blank">Science Fiction Writers of America</a>, etc.).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">3. <b>Connect with Other Writers. </b>Research to see if anyone in your area hosts a writers connection event (a writer get-together). When I lived in Colorado, I co-hosted a Connect for SCBWI members who lived in Boulder area. </span><span style="color: #141823;">The other co-host and I picked a topic and moderated a group discussion. We covered novel structure, character development, craft book discussions, goal setting, etc. </span><span style="color: #141823;"> Now that I live in Phoenix, and I co-host a Write Night. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnTqIokH6q9RQl6rqkhUKph_BLVHeznY_PgxvSlx0l3cCIivgkbvc-1rD7hQ6J6LN7_qlxq2xIYdk6zoRPhF4NxqjDefP1CCCh2GqFGQFg4sU0QaPiXcipdS4ocF0g3iDRaO79t78yUMo9NuMHzFkIyseKciYaK-yl_E_Ov8U2QNx8AwjNgMC_xqxjGxt/s2101/shutterstock_bear%20reading%202023.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="2101" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnTqIokH6q9RQl6rqkhUKph_BLVHeznY_PgxvSlx0l3cCIivgkbvc-1rD7hQ6J6LN7_qlxq2xIYdk6zoRPhF4NxqjDefP1CCCh2GqFGQFg4sU0QaPiXcipdS4ocF0g3iDRaO79t78yUMo9NuMHzFkIyseKciYaK-yl_E_Ov8U2QNx8AwjNgMC_xqxjGxt/w197-h195/shutterstock_bear%20reading%202023.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>4. <b>Read: </b>Find craft blogs and read, read, read. <a href="http://www.kimscritiquingcorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My blog</a> is geared toward children's book writers and readers. I post book recommendations, interviews with agents and editors, and writing tips. I like the <a href="http://scbwi.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">SCBWI</a> blog by Alice Pope, and several others such as Deborah Halverson's <a href="http://deareditor.com/" target="_blank">Dear Editor</a>. I also like Adventures in Children’s Publishing, and one by <a href="http://blog.nathanbransford.com/" target="_blank">Nathan Brandsford</a>. In addition to blogs, read craft books like <a href="https://savethecat.com/" target="_blank">SAVE THE CAT</a> by Blake Snyder, or WIRED FOR STORY by Lisa Cron, or SCENE AND STRUCTURE by Jack Bickham, or THE BREAKOUT NOVELIST: Craft and Strategies for Career Fiction Writers by <a href="http://maassagency.com/books-on-writing/">Donald Mass</a>, or Everybody Writes: Your New and Improved Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by <a href="https://annhandley.com/" target="_blank">Ann Handley</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">5. <b>Find or form a critiquing group</b>. This is crucial! It takes a village to write a great book—your village starts with your critique group. A good critique partner tells you about your glows and grows. I like the sandwich method—that's when you begin by talking about what you specifically like and what works well and even why you think it works well; next you discuss what needs work <i>and</i> <span style="font-size: large;">why</span>
(in your opinion); lastly, close with something specific and positive. If you can't find an in-person critiquing group, there are many on-line forums.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2gm2aD8MUFUcAH8KZs60awpQ9FH1CN2mOVXqtb22Vefn0UUsHcZcqMaRftnsSLMQZNcdXz1RJaxISD7zpbAXaMnK3SvNDRi-LeEkEaB2VncKKM3E_tKGy-GW0ISbFVyCVw17r94d1eZOSQe2CHei8vc95sZRA0wJdrPeH6MT_wOf9SLqlxzEEDWBR0pc/s12000/shutterstock%20animal%20banner%20May%202023.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3500" data-original-width="12000" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2gm2aD8MUFUcAH8KZs60awpQ9FH1CN2mOVXqtb22Vefn0UUsHcZcqMaRftnsSLMQZNcdXz1RJaxISD7zpbAXaMnK3SvNDRi-LeEkEaB2VncKKM3E_tKGy-GW0ISbFVyCVw17r94d1eZOSQe2CHei8vc95sZRA0wJdrPeH6MT_wOf9SLqlxzEEDWBR0pc/s320/shutterstock%20animal%20banner%20May%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">6. <b>Social Media</b>. Find a social media forum that fits your style and “follow” a focused base of people who are experts, consumers, and also novices in your field—through them, you can stay on top of what is relevant—i.e. conference chatter, or when is the so-and-so book award coming out, or when is Dear Editor giving away a free critique, or what's the latest in Publishers Marketplace, or what did so-and-so say this time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">7. <b>Subscribe. </b>Consider a subscription to <i><a href="https://www.writersdigest.com/" target="_blank">Writer's Digest</a>, <a href="https://www.pw.org/" target="_blank">Poets & Writers</a>, </i> or <a href="http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/" target="_blank">Publishers Marketplace</a>. Subscribe to the free email offered by Publishers Lunch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">8. <b>Attend a conference</b>. The knowledge you'll gain at a conference will close the learning gap quickly (craft, formatting, word count, looking professional, how to, and more). Also attend a writing workshop, one that is craft and feedback focused.</span>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAp2ahwJ4G0RLLYF5y0Qwnr_LUXALh6fk-unOodrl_QTbBhCH0eSVYqN7DhPDIc3W7skgOQe1GLfCuwE46pVQhP3nXYvP_fGBBk9HpfKx0nc6CO8NwYudozGQtvmBURBVb4l3mhOmhTdmsJFeB-TCHFU4rhVTDTwhqyWgrEXejEtjJH59vst6xFmnfdH4/s4551/shutterstock%20dog%20and%20airpods%20headset.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3029" data-original-width="4551" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAp2ahwJ4G0RLLYF5y0Qwnr_LUXALh6fk-unOodrl_QTbBhCH0eSVYqN7DhPDIc3W7skgOQe1GLfCuwE46pVQhP3nXYvP_fGBBk9HpfKx0nc6CO8NwYudozGQtvmBURBVb4l3mhOmhTdmsJFeB-TCHFU4rhVTDTwhqyWgrEXejEtjJH59vst6xFmnfdH4/w237-h158/shutterstock%20dog%20and%20airpods%20headset.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><br />9. </span><span style="color: #141823; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Podcasts</b>. </span><span style="color: #141823;">Listen to <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl/" target="_blank">Grammar Girl </a>podcasts and become familiar with
</span><a href="http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/index.html">The Punctuation Guide</a><span style="color: #141823;">,
then forgive yourself for how many things you get wrong (but fix them).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">10. <b>READ read and read</b>. Reading is important to mention a second time! Be a good literary citizen. Good writers need to be avid readers first, especially in the genre they want to write. It is bananas to me when someone says they want to write a children's book, yet all they read are adult books. <b>The best writers are readers first.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">Good luck! I look forward to seeing your name listed under <i>New York Times </i>Bestsellers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-85078989189404299702023-06-13T13:54:00.004-07:002023-06-17T08:17:48.679-07:005 Quick Reasons Why Reading Connects You with Literary Agents, Authors, and Editors<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorGCq4FvSpfIGmGmWnK9zBio5cyF5HZm6UeiAnbmNgXo9OoOix7d7KnQ1zwk1tosaM1Qwzv9TW1Az0lfDZOrZe-3rlWSu4Yiv6expaX6NTaENetbuS7LvgppkCZT6jqCozXSNSDYC5kL5Dip3SuD1TRYEFo4arhKusw8kbf_0_nBaWlAPy0bciiWdtw/s6912/Books%20June%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="6912" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorGCq4FvSpfIGmGmWnK9zBio5cyF5HZm6UeiAnbmNgXo9OoOix7d7KnQ1zwk1tosaM1Qwzv9TW1Az0lfDZOrZe-3rlWSu4Yiv6expaX6NTaENetbuS7LvgppkCZT6jqCozXSNSDYC5kL5Dip3SuD1TRYEFo4arhKusw8kbf_0_nBaWlAPy0bciiWdtw/w453-h227/Books%20June%202023.png" width="453" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /><b><br /></b></div>
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If you’re
planning to attend a local event, regional gathering, or even an international publishing conference, I strongly urge you to READ! Reading the faculty
members’ books prior to the event will give you more bang for your
buck! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Connecting with Authors and Attendees</b>: Reading select books in
advance is a great way to connect with what is said in the keynote speeches and breakout sessions, and it provides a common ground with fellow attendees. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-m7YLDnJQgAoFnOR6xTgZ9KdM6i08aibUfBgjLDqpFNrulCzbKz4hEYHqJwHCqbD0V0SxGFzPpeI8dadj1AeJyWh2r8KAldY2Jv16G03YFn2HSnGKpsN8XP4MiFyV66rflT1c4IViWdhm/s1600/Books.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-m7YLDnJQgAoFnOR6xTgZ9KdM6i08aibUfBgjLDqpFNrulCzbKz4hEYHqJwHCqbD0V0SxGFzPpeI8dadj1AeJyWh2r8KAldY2Jv16G03YFn2HSnGKpsN8XP4MiFyV66rflT1c4IViWdhm/w291-h183/Books.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><b>Connecting with Agents: </b>Read books written by the agents' clients - especially the agents whom you'd like to connect with. Reading an agent's clients' books is a great starting point to vet if an agent might be a good fit for you. You'll get a sense of their taste, and you might see the agent acknowledged in the back of the book. Furthermore, reading an agent's clients book offers material for nice conversation starters. If you like the agent, another step to vet them is by checking out what they're looking for on their <a href="https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/find-agentseditors/how-to-search/" target="_blank">manuscript wish list</a> at <a href="https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/about/" target="_blank">#MSWL</a>. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Connecting with Editors</b>: Furthermore, read books the editors on the faculty
have worked on. Get to know an editor's taste and style. When you land in an elevator or bump into an editor at a conference-sponsored coffee or cocktail party, you'll have something authentic to talk about that is "them" focused.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve been to dozens of <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/" target="_blank">SCBWI</a> conferences. Every year, I’m thankful I did my self-imposed homework—it's worth
the effort. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHyvDLsoKtadLVzP6JjSHOrgmUl42UwkKNSCay6-Gp8vtZyDVkF8xthMZ1CamScFThkxxb44ZIhyphenhyphendHhjZuKz5xQGu_UkHw-yLO2t3xJES8ebYPCEba14P57cGqqAv1azrm2mH-f7VQc_u/s1600/Books+to+read%2521.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHyvDLsoKtadLVzP6JjSHOrgmUl42UwkKNSCay6-Gp8vtZyDVkF8xthMZ1CamScFThkxxb44ZIhyphenhyphendHhjZuKz5xQGu_UkHw-yLO2t3xJES8ebYPCEba14P57cGqqAv1azrm2mH-f7VQc_u/s400/Books+to+read%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here are the top
five reasons reading books written/edited/or agented by conference faculty will
give you a RICHER, MORE TEXTURED conference experience:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCkjXnXPjnxJjXgr8DpBsZSjShKzLEGbp2OuNBSQDqgWEdT0Tq_vmaWxiUGxM-A07DOGmcH5_PlELu0wdTiSCehMWacdXfbmgJ_rguSgEPNv7gDVOtvnIcyzvVoTHaqqg_kASrwavfo46/s1600/scbwi+Mem+Fox+2015.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCkjXnXPjnxJjXgr8DpBsZSjShKzLEGbp2OuNBSQDqgWEdT0Tq_vmaWxiUGxM-A07DOGmcH5_PlELu0wdTiSCehMWacdXfbmgJ_rguSgEPNv7gDVOtvnIcyzvVoTHaqqg_kASrwavfo46/s320/scbwi+Mem+Fox+2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://memfox.com/" target="_blank">Mem Fox</a> reading to the audience!</span> </div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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1. <b>You'll enjoy keynotes on a deeper level</b>, because you’ve already crawled inside the
author’s <o:p></o:p></div>
head. Instead of looking at a stranger standing at the podium, you’ll feel like
you’re listening to a friend. When a speaker refers to their book in a keynote or
break-out session, you’ll be connected and understand the “inside” jokes and
references. Do you have to read books before coming—No. Do the speeches feel
more engaging and meaningful if you do—Absolutely, yes!<br />
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2. <b>You
have conversation starters</b> and a better opportunity to connect with
the faculty, not to mention connecting with fellow attendees. I can't tell you
how many times I've turned a stranger into a friend, because we both gushed over a faculty member's book. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7dDekaaaRs3PSrAXC1PVdyRBLfaNFJkhDLt26ahA0jslsJ7Pc1w7MVnm_fYKGz1DSNkPpo7uNwAKMtHYSiT4RvMt5dSz_XDzFLEETFGYGVPSUyn6ua3X-ve9sU-1z8shansL9Y74Nk-F/s1600/SCBWI+conference+2015+in+sparkles.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7dDekaaaRs3PSrAXC1PVdyRBLfaNFJkhDLt26ahA0jslsJ7Pc1w7MVnm_fYKGz1DSNkPpo7uNwAKMtHYSiT4RvMt5dSz_XDzFLEETFGYGVPSUyn6ua3X-ve9sU-1z8shansL9Y74Nk-F/s320/SCBWI+conference+2015+in+sparkles.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Reading your way to lasting friendships!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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3. <b>You
look like a professional</b>. Reading the work of relevant speakers shows that
you care about what’s happening in the publishing industry. You show that you are a good literary citizen. Furthermore, it’s a
great way to vet which publishing professionals might be a good fit for you. Other ways to stay on top of what's happening in the publishing industry is subscribing to a free weekly update in <a href="https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/" target="_blank">Publisher's Lunch</a> (by Publisher's Marketplace).</div>
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4. <b>You
get exposed to books and genres you may not have considered</b>—this helps
rev-up the creative juices. Who knows - perhaps your own work will benefit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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5. <span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Great writers are readers
first! </b></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div>
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Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-4022572859587041252023-06-07T16:37:00.001-07:002023-06-07T16:44:32.175-07:006 Golden Rules - Advice From Top Agents and Editors in the Publishing Industry - What Publishers Say About Your First Page Behind Closed Doors <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7H8OJ9c0NVHxBL5utNKH_U7g2ez_Tlysc-sPLC1hH7NPqYlIiDUphNMM-4quXaAy62N0BThCKkw_bwAWRuIR6x1G0m1X2yCWVJLX-ZbsAvy9iscF4bD4uFvUga6bVznlJoU1YLZtpzr0/s1600/first+pages+session.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7H8OJ9c0NVHxBL5utNKH_U7g2ez_Tlysc-sPLC1hH7NPqYlIiDUphNMM-4quXaAy62N0BThCKkw_bwAWRuIR6x1G0m1X2yCWVJLX-ZbsAvy9iscF4bD4uFvUga6bVznlJoU1YLZtpzr0/s640/first+pages+session.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DREAM TEAM: Nick Healy, Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown, Jennifer Mattson, Melissa Manlove<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Writers want to know
the secret sauce that makes editors, agents and readers turn a first page in a
book. Some say authors must get the inciting incident on page one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Screenwriting books advise the inciting incident should land on page ten (or
for books, the first 10% of a novel). Wendy Loggia of Delacorte Press/Random
House once told me it’s hard to care about an inciting incident until we care
about the character. She went on to say that many writers want to get to the
good stuff first, but it all has to be good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">To further understand
the art of the first page, I asked Andrea Brown, president of the<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciPW7utax3ty7I7KlVpgL-wO6fPwY6ihsyH2K-pAjSwf1M7fEG7rqktHUsiYpGNC01vk9aVCkPoEI5TRBoWJly5WNrBxa78hVxPWZMeCTtfPgZwsJgVjx7Jk4LnJ1ESJzc3xzL76impi1IPeKFFhHDiw7X0pYprIS5GKwmn3sPGVRVswXPRzxxcmaYg/s2575/shutterstock%20typewriter%20June%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2561" data-original-width="2575" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciPW7utax3ty7I7KlVpgL-wO6fPwY6ihsyH2K-pAjSwf1M7fEG7rqktHUsiYpGNC01vk9aVCkPoEI5TRBoWJly5WNrBxa78hVxPWZMeCTtfPgZwsJgVjx7Jk4LnJ1ESJzc3xzL76impi1IPeKFFhHDiw7X0pYprIS5GKwmn3sPGVRVswXPRzxxcmaYg/w186-h185/shutterstock%20typewriter%20June%202023.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><br /> Andrea Brown
Literary Agency (ABLA), to host a panel session during the Big Sur in the
Rockies writing workshop held in Boulder, Colorado. On a rainy Saturday afternoon,
participants submitted the first page of their work-in-progress and gathered to
hear feedback from a dream-team of publishing professionals—Melissa Manlove
from Chronicle Books, Nick Healy from
Capstone Publishing, and three ABLA agents: Andrea Brown, Caryn Wiseman and
Jennifer Mattson. The panel provided
insight on what works and what doesn’t on the first page of manuscripts,
everything from picture books to YA novels. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Here’s what I heard:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">1. Don’t
rob readers of experiencing the emotional state of the character.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">
This is another reason agents and editors (and readers) want you to SHOW DON’T
TELL. For example, writers should not write <i>George
was upset about his report card</i>—that TELLS the emotional state. Write
something along the lines of <i>George
wadded up his report card and shoved it to the bottom of his backpack</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">2. Picture
Book Writers—</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">WATCH OUT for subjective-clause filled sentence
structure. Instead, choose an appropriate sentence structure for your audience. Let sentences end so readers land on an idea. Simplify your language and
let the art carry a good portion of the story's weight. (And on a sidenote, it’s a good idea to keep emotional conflict out of bedtime stories). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">3. All
Manuscripts—<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Avoid over choreography.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Read your pages out loud and listen for
repeating words or repeating a character’s name—fix if you’re over using it and it doesn't sound natural. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Choose active verbs. Instead of using
“to be” verbs, choose verbs powerful enough to eliminate adjective and adverbs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Remember that books set in the 1980’s and 90's are now considered historical fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Don’t lead with generic circumstances
that stay generic, stay away from common storylines and add something fresh and
original. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Don’t write a book with didactic intentions
and please don’t write with a didactic tone; kids will see right through this.
“We don’t go to stories for lessons,” says <i>Melissa
Manlove </i> (though please see Melissa’s
additional feedback listed at the end of this article).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Be careful so that you’re not long and
heavy on details. Readers don’t want to wade through the mundane to get to the
good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">“Many
editors dislike prologues and we want you to be as rejection-proof as possible
so don’t use them unless you really must.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> <i>Andrea Brown</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Some panel members are not fans of
mixing anthropomorphized animals with talking humans. That’s not a rule, just a
note of preferences when querying this panel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The Picture Book industry is currently
hot on having character-driven picture books, but characters still needs to
have a motivation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">4. Using
illustration notes in picture books. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Please know this varies
between editors (for example, never (never ever) send an illustration note to Beach
Lane Books). Per the members on this panel, illustration notes are fine, but
only if it is necessary for the editor or agent to get an inside joke or a
something that is not relayed in the words. Do not use illustration notes to
describe your character or provide unnecessary art direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">5. Writing
in Rhyme. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">If you are writing in rhyme, please take a look at
any book that’s won a Geisel Award (p.s. fun fact—Andrea Brown worked with
Theodore Geisel long ago!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I’ve attended dozens upon dozens of conferences, and though many agents and editors say they don’t like rhyme, many
also say it’s because they don’t like bad and forced rhyme. Furthermore, if a
story rhymes in English, that doesn’t mean it’s going to rhyme in French or
Spanish, so rhyming books are difficult to sell beyond the U.S. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">6. Author/Illustrators—</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">if you work as both an author and illustrator, you should submit a sketch dummy for
your full picture book along with only a couple of pieces of finished art. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">**Post workshop Melissa
and I chatted, and she states there’s another side to this list of advice. To
learn more, I suggest you read her interview titled <a href="http://boingboing.net/2015/03/02/noir-and-horror-for-your-kinde.html" target="_blank">“Noir and Horror for your Kindergartner” by Maggie Tokuda-Hall </a>posted on the Boing Boing blog <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-55639751122408165312023-06-05T12:30:00.003-07:002023-06-05T14:16:10.477-07:005 Answers That Demystifying How Librarians and Book Stores Choose Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTn_VQA7Bm2mnrKfNudDT57Ffya-1WbkANzh7pRttPbFesNaRpaFVW07Yq6rlXq0x57bM9SIbNIyCz0_Ijuu97-bSFHVPJWLx0HOHjomYV4ESIP-bIaycLnxr6S8X9yCmJM0U9N6TWsLM/s1600/typewriter+purchase+from+GoGraph.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTn_VQA7Bm2mnrKfNudDT57Ffya-1WbkANzh7pRttPbFesNaRpaFVW07Yq6rlXq0x57bM9SIbNIyCz0_Ijuu97-bSFHVPJWLx0HOHjomYV4ESIP-bIaycLnxr6S8X9yCmJM0U9N6TWsLM/s320/typewriter+purchase+from+GoGraph.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdOhKcEvi1XMClMfPH1bcd5KCSwce84A7elmTA58Kz9-aZyjMdfpLWlx4Og7a4RzAbIpeQuaVY0BQULoWAmDJyG2_u8k3FqO6i4IDLaEQPSPcvr9ZBlROBVGymdp9liTIOqfMN1ZiLuXc/s1600/stack+of+books+brighter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdOhKcEvi1XMClMfPH1bcd5KCSwce84A7elmTA58Kz9-aZyjMdfpLWlx4Og7a4RzAbIpeQuaVY0BQULoWAmDJyG2_u8k3FqO6i4IDLaEQPSPcvr9ZBlROBVGymdp9liTIOqfMN1ZiLuXc/s320/stack+of+books+brighter.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Demystifying
the Book Selection Process: Featuring Tattered Cover buyer Stephanie Coleman,
and children’s books librarians McCourt Thomas and Ida Olson<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Have
you ever wondered how books get chosen for bookstores or libraries? In a gathering of authors, librarians, and book buyers, attendees enjoyed the rare opportunity to hear the inside
scoop - how are book buying decisions made at the corporate level? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Our panel of experts included Stephanie Coleman, McCourt Thomas, and Ida
Olson. At the time of the meeting, Stephanie served as Director of Buying at <a href="https://www.tatteredcover.com/" target="_blank">Tattered Cover Bookstores </a>which has
four brick and mortar Denver locations plus airport stores. McCourt Thomas is a
librarian whose title is Head of Youth Services <a href="https://lyons.colibraries.org/" target="_blank">Lyons Regional LibraryDistrict.</a> Ida Olson is a writer, freelance editor, and served as a middle school
librarian in Cheyenne Wyoming. Each panelist talked about the book buying
process, what factors influence their decisions, and what authors can do to help
their books have the best chance at getting noticed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">McCourt Thomas Head of Youth
Services Lyons Regional Library District</span></u></b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> McCourt was introduced first. She explained that libraries often have book selection committees, however she
is the decision maker at her location in Lyons. She has a policy she must
follow when making a purchase:</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> to identify two justifications for every
book she requests. Justifications can include things like popular appeal,
starred reviews, good reviews in respected sources, and/or that she read it
herself and strongly recommends the book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4TRmeyW8EDW-xrVpzwEozljGx4Oa01xhzii7thBv-HXwprSKIu3d3k5w2k9ZrsCrz1jAjkZ5D4Im-fcnyrOMsn4Jw8tW_PIvPNe4bo5Kvb8jCbELTGPgoaRQOrEYRZ95tXSPlpVlh-lG/s1600/starred.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="1600" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4TRmeyW8EDW-xrVpzwEozljGx4Oa01xhzii7thBv-HXwprSKIu3d3k5w2k9ZrsCrz1jAjkZ5D4Im-fcnyrOMsn4Jw8tW_PIvPNe4bo5Kvb8jCbELTGPgoaRQOrEYRZ95tXSPlpVlh-lG/s320/starred.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">⭐Kirkus <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/melanie-crowder/three-pennies/" target="_blank">Starred review</a> THREE PENNIES by Melanie Crowder</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">McCourt finds books by reading
sources like <i><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/" target="_blank">Publishers Weekly</a>, <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/indie-reviews/?campaignid=17796079094&adgroupid=137461333605&adid=338307033980&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=Kirkus+Branded&utm_source=adwords&utm_term=kirkus%20book%20reviews&hsa_grp=137461333605&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_acc=6163958527&hsa_mt=b&hsa_kw=kirkus%20book%20reviews&hsa_tgt=aud-355503609257:kwd-178434563&hsa_cam=214446933&hsa_ver=3&hsa_src=g&hsa_ad=338307033980&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj_ajBhCqARIsAA37s0zgOGxu4F4qkvYFKagO0SKMWi_ymXtR9y2-S0CAUL0w9Nny_BY3MccaAip8EALw_wcB" target="_blank">KirkusReview</a>, <a href="https://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist" target="_blank">ALA Booklist</a>, <a href="https://www.slj.com/" target="_blank"></a></i>, and others respected
publications. She also reads </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">AudioFile Magazine</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> and often checks the </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/earphones-awards/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Earphone Award</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">. She
likes referencing magazines that provided themed lists (a themed list might be
books about construction trucks, books about inventors, or even books about
underpants). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">McCourt says another way she discovers books is through publishers’
webinars featuring upcoming releases. She watches those to see what grabs her
attention. Furthermore, she attends conferences like ALA, PLA (Public Library
Association), <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/" target="_blank">SCBWI</a>, and she receives galleys from publishers or she requests
early reads on </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://www.netgalley.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Netgalley</span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">(Netgalley provides e-galleys of
books to vetted readers)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">McCourt’s
buying decisions are also influenced by user requests, popular relevant subject
matter, and what moves off the shelf (e.g., action books move more than “issue”
books). Lastly, publishers constantly
send out blurbs about their frontlist. "Frontlist” books are newly released
books, or re-released older books but with new covers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">McCourt reads through
to see what fits the bill. Space at her location is constrained, so she has to
make informed decisions and she typically stocks only one copy of a title.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6RFmEq_-3GzOU0YtPE0wHwrfQV4gfnhyfKPO7iR0H4oV4ZB36n6cQBOj7NnJV3f-7Lf5os8eDUg_P_z2cpy2XNvOS3NdX2k9hX-SKtADuFSzpsmSpAgPCHF2_v5TW4qk2XRe_C8v1Gwe/s1600/Bitty+Bo+and+Balloon.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6RFmEq_-3GzOU0YtPE0wHwrfQV4gfnhyfKPO7iR0H4oV4ZB36n6cQBOj7NnJV3f-7Lf5os8eDUg_P_z2cpy2XNvOS3NdX2k9hX-SKtADuFSzpsmSpAgPCHF2_v5TW4qk2XRe_C8v1Gwe/s320/Bitty+Bo+and+Balloon.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Can the text and art of my<br />picture book cut through the noise and caputre<br />kid's attention when the primary audience includes<br />doezens of two, three, and four-year-olds?" BITTY BOT by<br />Tim McCanna and I HAVE A BALLOON by Ariel Bernstein<br />do just that!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">McCourt’s big advice for picture
book writers is to think of story time in a library, school, or bookstore, and
then ask yourself, “Can the text and art of my picture book cut through the
noise <i>and</i> capture kid’s attention
when the primary audience includes dozens of two, three, and four-year-olds?” McCourt
says writers should cut out the wordiness and think about strong word choices,
sounds, and page-turns—they matter!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">McCourt
explained that librarians often buy their books through large distributors like
</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://www.ingramcontent.com/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Ingram</span></a></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> or </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.btol.com/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Baker
& Taylor</span></a></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Stephanie
Coleman-Director of Buying, Tattered Cover Books</span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD8vAcDkSKSxJfFE6bL09K4XGvO_CYj3X46U1rQxO4rpXRaLMXjm24fDpJjpAL-FS1ztVHa1ZCHCAjOc40Fc_F4Nmn21ixBt0spF_Pu5VFwt3Uf4krF22VQVoypAm2XOLnSJGuIqwimuh/s1600/Tattered-Cover-image1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="451" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD8vAcDkSKSxJfFE6bL09K4XGvO_CYj3X46U1rQxO4rpXRaLMXjm24fDpJjpAL-FS1ztVHa1ZCHCAjOc40Fc_F4Nmn21ixBt0spF_Pu5VFwt3Uf4krF22VQVoypAm2XOLnSJGuIqwimuh/s320/Tattered-Cover-image1.jpg" width="252" /></a></u></b></div>
<b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Stephanie agrees with
McCourt’s sources for discovering books and adds that sales representatives
from the publishing houses also influence her buying decisions. When a sales
rep is excited about a book, the bookstore gets excited about a book. Sales
representatives are often the publishing houses’ gatekeeps. They talk up their
favorites, send specific links from </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Edelweiss</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">
(Edelweiss is an online source that carries all publishing house catalogs),
share the book specs, plus they share their markup notes(i.e. if there is a
movie coming out, if there are a lot of marketing dollars behind the book, if
the author is going on tour, if the author has any high profile interviews in
the works, like being featured on NPR or a talk show). When making a buying decision, Stephanie also
considers how an author did in their stores in the past and/or how comparable
titles performed in sales. If the bookstore doesn’t have a track record on a
particular author or illustrator, they plug a comp title into their computer
and tally up results to see if they believe a similar title will generate
interest. Sometimes the buyer loves a book and is willing to put in time to
make sure it gets noticed through good in-store handsellers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBE5mNpmYYoZm-sZFCRnHMUUpUxnoFSwRBHl5CVbJVdrl5MYeAfk16dwi1gMSzZmfASxusVHKIJRF_22otcYy57Fg-ANd9SsDueQIyroKxvNqLO5dOBrSs768lvoQWLugxaUGBBmByFefs/s1600/richard+peck+book+buy.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBE5mNpmYYoZm-sZFCRnHMUUpUxnoFSwRBHl5CVbJVdrl5MYeAfk16dwi1gMSzZmfASxusVHKIJRF_22otcYy57Fg-ANd9SsDueQIyroKxvNqLO5dOBrSs768lvoQWLugxaUGBBmByFefs/s320/richard+peck+book+buy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">When Tattered Cover is
enthusiastic about stocking a title, they purchase three to five copies of the
title (as a general rule). Stephanie noted that she finds it interesting that sometimes
a book in one region is a smashing success while in another region it isn’t a
hit, but there’s no standard answer on why this occurs (other than the obvious
being if a book is released in the author’s hometown or if marketing specifically
targets a region). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Whereas librarians make
their purchases through </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://www.ingramcontent.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Ingram</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">
or Baker & Taylor, bookstores buy directly through the publishers (the
receive better pricing, plus they can return with publishers).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">DISPLAY: Which books get faced out?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">There’s not a clear
formula for this answer, however local authors often receive a front faced</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_JNDxNsxiE3h5PVa9Oizt-_TOQ7ucepeDQ22I45HorcbG-nLfhcra4anhrzXCL1lyKDX9aCpUym-GFJ5RAwyvBf2y7SfHrvimBzRHnw1B1SnTSD1rt-ttwr45ltCVRK990i5jzZKWgxK/s1600/Faced+books.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1262" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_JNDxNsxiE3h5PVa9Oizt-_TOQ7ucepeDQ22I45HorcbG-nLfhcra4anhrzXCL1lyKDX9aCpUym-GFJ5RAwyvBf2y7SfHrvimBzRHnw1B1SnTSD1rt-ttwr45ltCVRK990i5jzZKWgxK/s320/Faced+books.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
display
as do authors who are offering a signing and authors with “important” books or
popular appeal books. Tattered Cover also has staff who make “Staff Picks”. Under
special circumstances, publishers will send a “dump” which is a display case designed
specifically for a particular book because the bookstore plans to buy quite a
few.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Ida Olson: writer, freelance
editor, and middle school librarian in Cheyenne Wyoming. </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> Email: idaedits at gmail dot
com </span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">When </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.idaolson.com/contact-me/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Ida
Olson</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> isn’t winning the Sue Alexander award or
writing hysterical tweets @IdaOlson, she’s a busy junior high librarian for
seventh and eighth grade students. Ida acquires 300-500 titles per year for her library. She
noted that signed books are a big deal to students. When making buying
decisions, she agrees with McCourt and says she is obligated to find justifications
such as reading the book herself or finding review sources through <i>School Library Journal, Booklist</i>, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Like McCourt, Ida purchases through Ingram, Baker and Taylor, and also </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://www.follettbooks.com/fb3/index.jsp"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Follett</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"> (they provide books plus
library management software). These websites provide useful vetting tools, for
example, when considering a particular book these websites list all of the reviews
in one spots: reviews from <i>School Library
Journal, <a href="https://www.hbook.com/section/bookreviews" target="_blank">The Horn Book Review</a>, Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, etc.
</i> can all be seen on a single page so
the research is easy to compare and consider. Ida admits she tends to buy books
that have stars, but she also wants to know “what the people really think” and
she visits Amazon reviews, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgblw0DQSYeEHrGJfgtFA7YZQYkkzKMjq3gb5o6Q_K67zrfl2XrSO3gUmtXLd4YsvzTGkEGmLmU6jZNK92f1Y94hnFIECyERE0SDtYfwdWJzQW328BKMh7qZXGkgyHHhh31iD5twcF0auao1EQ1OcBgndiJlxH9P-wMmgJJoJ7TnGQnPU4j5DPhxFUy2A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgblw0DQSYeEHrGJfgtFA7YZQYkkzKMjq3gb5o6Q_K67zrfl2XrSO3gUmtXLd4YsvzTGkEGmLmU6jZNK92f1Y94hnFIECyERE0SDtYfwdWJzQW328BKMh7qZXGkgyHHhh31iD5twcF0auao1EQ1OcBgndiJlxH9P-wMmgJJoJ7TnGQnPU4j5DPhxFUy2A=w540-h180" width="540" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">One thing Ida says that
bothers her is when reviewers say a story is cliché, because really, “How many
things are cliché to a twelve-year-old?” </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">Though it is hard for
self-published authors to land in libraries, self-published authors now have a
better chance to capture librarian’s attention by meeting the required
justifications of positive reviews, since </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/indie-reviews/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=kirkus%20paid%20reviews&utm_campaign=KirkusBranded"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Kirkus</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">
now offers unbiased paid-for reviews. If a self-published book gets a star or a
positive review, librarians are able to use that as a justification.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78Z_1NDdTlgIGLO2cZKxwN4cGhfAisj2cPLMHJas6AHaw2c6q2s-EDJp32q_O9IARUSlwGLVTgiP71Qu6B9rqSqdjlnH8-6usxgcB9GE4VUUQl1rWA49nckTzhobaGw6WILKUXVFkZgSofdDAdwFrBRDCZqXDhb7ekGzQ6DOTK6lrn8LwwS6iI9Mo0Q/s1920/Miracle%20Karen%20S.%20Chow.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78Z_1NDdTlgIGLO2cZKxwN4cGhfAisj2cPLMHJas6AHaw2c6q2s-EDJp32q_O9IARUSlwGLVTgiP71Qu6B9rqSqdjlnH8-6usxgcB9GE4VUUQl1rWA49nckTzhobaGw6WILKUXVFkZgSofdDAdwFrBRDCZqXDhb7ekGzQ6DOTK6lrn8LwwS6iI9Mo0Q/s320/Miracle%20Karen%20S.%20Chow.png" width="180" /></a></div><br />Ida is passionate about advising
librarians to “select broadly”—books need to <a href="https://diversebooks.org/" target="_blank">represent</a> everyone and help
showcase various viewpoints. Ida’s
library choices represent a broad range of colors and experiences. As far as
displays go at her library, she rotates to make sure everything gets displayed
as eye candy for kids. She also creates seasonal displays, back to school
displays, sports displays, Halloween and holiday displays, and displays to
promote what the reading teacher is working on in their classrooms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">QUESTIONS:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">How IMPORTANT is a book cover in the buying selection process?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">The answer was unanimous:
it’s HUGE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">“Cover is key,” Stephanie
says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Titles:
It seems like there are 50 generic one-word title, but that’s okay. Titles
don’t influence as much as covers do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Staff
recommendations also influences buying decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;">McCourt advises to avoid
the curse of the brown cover and says you should check out some of <i>School Library Journal blogger</i>, <a href="https://afuse8production.slj.com/" target="_blank">BetsyBird (Fuse 8)</a> to see what she says about sepia or brown covers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What about ARCS
(Advance Reader Copies)?</span></i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How
often do you receive/read them; how do you feel about authors reaching out to
you with an arc; do you have more than you have time to read?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stephanie
from Tattered Cover says they receive ARCs all the time. She considers then extremely
helpful. Though she doesn’t have time to read every single ARC, she does pass
many to the Teen Advisory Board or she puts them in the staff break rooms and also
gives to bookstore volunteers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">McCourt
says she can request ARCs through Netgalley in order to receive online copies. She
often reads picture books through this source and makes fast buying decisions.
Book bloggers can sign up to read ARCs through Netgalley and if approved, they
too can receive preview copies to read on phone, tablet, or e reader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHqIBBEj5GhWnMc7TN3lQdCuJAQcvdN_jJlImsLAp7FO4FmdBD3qqZlWusHnD6TznOccjW6IYgAj30_HDbAEGd3QnJZDBukeeEtvcSmQAaBeUpe5a78gZz6ITG7r4JT-g9o1fHgt8FHccjaWYTvrWf74_Nb-BjcOL_bNQSuWbuKC8_xFc14npdBp5vTw" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="496" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHqIBBEj5GhWnMc7TN3lQdCuJAQcvdN_jJlImsLAp7FO4FmdBD3qqZlWusHnD6TznOccjW6IYgAj30_HDbAEGd3QnJZDBukeeEtvcSmQAaBeUpe5a78gZz6ITG7r4JT-g9o1fHgt8FHccjaWYTvrWf74_Nb-BjcOL_bNQSuWbuKC8_xFc14npdBp5vTw" width="243" /></a></div><br /></span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are there any factors
that influence your book buying habits that might surprise authors?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Author’s should know what the summer
reading program is going to be and see if their book is a fit. Also, check out
“Friends of the Library” to find out the yearly, nationwide collaborative
theme. Collaborative themes for 2017,2018, and 2019: construction (2017); music(2018); space(2019).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Authors who are willing to come do
story time, author event, or teen event influence a buyer’s decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At what point do you
choose to take a book off your shelf/remaindered books<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IDA: 10 years old; looks at how many
times book has been checked out. Considers if a book has a niche value. Even if
it is not checked out often, she considers if the book represents an
unrepresented group and has an important reason to stay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">STEPHANIE: twice a year the bookstore does returns. It’s
important for a bookstore to stay fresh. Diverse books they keep in stock for a
long time. They keep a core backlist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Has to do an inventory count once a
year. Stephanie says they wait six to
nine months and if the book has absolutely no activity they stop ordering
completely (they do cycle counting). If books are part of a series, they keep the
first book of series and the most recent release at minimum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MCCOURT – deselection is based on if
a book is damaged, has no checkout activity, or gut decision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What else should we know?</span></i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Parting
fast tips: Common core is moving out and narrative nonfiction as well as STEM
are the new hot thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Parents
come in and ask for themes (bulldozers, underwear, unicorns)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Story
time attracts the four and under crowd. Use catchy phrases and alliteration to
keep their attention. Read your manuscript out loud and see how it sounds, then
ask someone else to read it to you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Write
a funny and a scary book!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-77296081579340354912023-05-27T11:28:00.003-07:002023-05-28T06:09:50.335-07:00Top 10 Tricks to Revise your Writing and Make Your Manuscript Sing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedL8TVrvuEsKdoJiIiFXTcVC1EZgfDyZBzBqsePKwb-4JamkHPQkUMh4qzh05gCF5sTIcZ13_H8Nvz6JNgOF2G7yJGCIyXmzNsvKJ5Pw9oV2n75tvom5RJgwltYYgMN_bycfTz57kGW126c7-um5QY8eBliMtzoWWoAu5Y8tAsHOXiTdmJH-EfD03Ag/s4191/Shutterstock%20typewriter%20and%20alligator%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4191" data-original-width="4191" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedL8TVrvuEsKdoJiIiFXTcVC1EZgfDyZBzBqsePKwb-4JamkHPQkUMh4qzh05gCF5sTIcZ13_H8Nvz6JNgOF2G7yJGCIyXmzNsvKJ5Pw9oV2n75tvom5RJgwltYYgMN_bycfTz57kGW126c7-um5QY8eBliMtzoWWoAu5Y8tAsHOXiTdmJH-EfD03Ag/s320/Shutterstock%20typewriter%20and%20alligator%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Top Ten Tricks to Revise your Writing and Make your Manuscript Sing©<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By Kim Tomsic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I recently met with a group of children’s book
writers for a brain-storming session on revision techniques. </span>Here’s what we
came up with:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Choose strong verbs</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
to make your sentences active NOT passive.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkAzQ5MHpXKlvVxk36db9_zHfmqC6-jaQP5I3uzcT2q264hX-yUY_n622EFwmnHIjwhM7SjV27aDLSewEPTGdlUw5_zG9COhTKeoOjMwFphGwMg0fkYQXTqaVBLNSh9bCSe8Ppu5sD5JD/s1600/photo+(10).JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkAzQ5MHpXKlvVxk36db9_zHfmqC6-jaQP5I3uzcT2q264hX-yUY_n622EFwmnHIjwhM7SjV27aDLSewEPTGdlUw5_zG9COhTKeoOjMwFphGwMg0fkYQXTqaVBLNSh9bCSe8Ppu5sD5JD/s200/photo+(10).JPG" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Use consonants to nail humor. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Comedy writers say consonants are
funnier than vowels, so revise word choice where needed. For example, corndog is funnier
than ice cream, upchuck is funnier than vomit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Watch out for using “STARTS”.</b> Avoid having your character “start” or “begin” something.
Don’t have him start walking down the street or begin making dinner. Think like
Nike™—just do it! The exception: “Started”
works when the character begins to do something, but then stops, i.e.<i> “I started to close the door, but the
stranger caught it with his foot.” <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Showing makes us feel closer to the protagonist</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">. Duh! As writers, we’ve heard this a gazillion
times—show don’t tell. And sure, there are moments to tell, but if you want your reader walking shoulder-to-<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43Cwx3g0sUzafz4ETvSnv6yimzXXxkf-V6K1gVzylrYxxK9lDhObN0p5UUSFADe9RYRjiBMBmeAqMWelA6G-0YNP2kSkkdZlHdlfr8FY3jCNAvBCrlT-l0MrXxvROFfVvXZxnRMtJ7lqKRNoEJK82UK2N2fg1GQ6K4p0SoEbuOXRQzNOcJ-CYSCipVg/s500/we%20were%20here.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43Cwx3g0sUzafz4ETvSnv6yimzXXxkf-V6K1gVzylrYxxK9lDhObN0p5UUSFADe9RYRjiBMBmeAqMWelA6G-0YNP2kSkkdZlHdlfr8FY3jCNAvBCrlT-l0MrXxvROFfVvXZxnRMtJ7lqKRNoEJK82UK2N2fg1GQ6K4p0SoEbuOXRQzNOcJ-CYSCipVg/w179-h274/we%20were%20here.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><br />shoulder with your protagonist, showing is a smart way to put the reader in the protagonist's shoes. We all know that, yet we still make the mistake of too much telling. Not to worry,
that’s what revisions are for! When editing your manuscript, weigh every sentence
in your story. Does it show or does it tell? I have an amazing example borrowed
from Matt de la Pe</span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #5f6368; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">ñ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">a’s book,</span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/We-Were-Here-Matt-Pe%C3%B1a/dp/0385906226/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1685211257&sr=8-1" target="_blank">We Were Here</a>.
</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">In the book, the main character is smack in the middle of a first kiss</span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">.</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Instead of giving the reader a “tell” line
like, “I was nervous” or “I felt awkward” the author shows how the character felt
by writing:</span></div></span></span></i></b></div>
<p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On the outside I tried to make
like everything was super smooth and calm and my palms were dry as hell, but
inside my mind was thinking all kinds of crazy thoughts like: How long do I
keep my mouth open? And when do I turn my face? And how much tongue do I use? And
where do I put my hands? And how are we supposed to breathe?</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(255).</span></div></blockquote><p> </p>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Listen to the voice. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ask yourself if each line meets the
voice you intend to convey. Read it aloud and think of your audience. If you
get bored with the sound of your prose, your audience will grow bored, too. Next,
have somebody else read your story aloud and listen to the words with fresh
ears (especially picture book writers). You may hear the reader emphasize words
you did not intend to highlight, or you may hear the story exactly as you
anticipated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">DO
THE EXTRA WORK</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. If you know your writing weaknesses,
search your manuscript for those problem areas. Read books in your genre. Use
tools—author </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/John-McPhee/e/B000AQ4582/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1370453811&sr=8-2-ent"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">John
McPhee</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> advises writers to skip the thesaurus and use the
dictionary when looking for better words. He says the dictionary gives the subtle
nuances around the meaning of words and can inspire better choices. I say use both! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Keep
a rules book</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, especially if your story has magic. And
let your readers in on the rules, so they <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYSwXZBe-c75s1TZDyGwEzsr7_zsulEVMDz4RHrDUxDTij30RQHSSY-f94g2RgOI-VymK136AVykvqlrCm6n0m2JbbcPsMnRRGekxRho67C8KV5WhKXxvGjMeIgeo51l1kEl_fY3RIschi67Cb68opMfSvnJO-1Djz55VFyV4_bmPW5FL3KzjeiIxTQ/s4482/shutterstock%20PICTURE%20BOOK%20GRAPHIC%203.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3744" data-original-width="4482" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYSwXZBe-c75s1TZDyGwEzsr7_zsulEVMDz4RHrDUxDTij30RQHSSY-f94g2RgOI-VymK136AVykvqlrCm6n0m2JbbcPsMnRRGekxRho67C8KV5WhKXxvGjMeIgeo51l1kEl_fY3RIschi67Cb68opMfSvnJO-1Djz55VFyV4_bmPW5FL3KzjeiIxTQ/w277-h231/shutterstock%20PICTURE%20BOOK%20GRAPHIC%203.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br />understand the stakes. Also make a
timeline for your story to keep things in sync. I remember one author saying
his copy editor found he had eight weeks in his October!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Make
a check list</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> to see if your story contains
satisfying plot elements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">¨<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Does your character have a want (and does reader want to root for MC)?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">¨ </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16px;">Do you have a flawed protagonist? I hope so! Nobody wants to root for a perfect character.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">¨<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Is there an inciting incident? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">¨<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Does your story have real stakes and tension?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">¨<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Does your main character (m.c.) make things
happen, instead of having a bunch of things happen to him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">¨<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Do you have a compelling antagonist vs. a
gratuitous antagonist?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">¨<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Do you have interesting subplots?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">¨<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Does your protagonist make a big decisions that
propels them through a couple of “doorways” ? A doorway, in my eyes, is a point
of no return—imagine toothpaste squeezing out of a tube, once you squeeze it
out, you can’t put it back in. Some giant examples include: killing someone,
announcing a classmate's secret over the school’s loudspeakers, burning down a
building…those are all things you can’t undo…you can’t unkill (in most books),
you can’t untell, you can’t unburn. **Please note—the doorways are the most compelling when your
main character makes a decision, NOT when something happens to them. However, sometimes a protagonist is thrust into Act II. But from that point forward, make sure they drive the plot movement.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">¨</span> Do you have "But" or "Therefore" action between story beats (you should!) rather than "and then this happens...and then this happens." Want to know more? Check out this video at<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jEg9uiLOU" target="_blank"> NYU with the makers of South Park</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">¨<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do
you have a second doorway that leads into Act III? I hope so!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">¨<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Do you have a black moment when your main
character almost gives up or feels at his low?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">¨<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Do you have a showdown moment and/or a climax?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">¨<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Does your main character change by the end of
the story?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">¨<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Did you tie up loose ends?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: 'New York', serif; font-size: 12pt;">9.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b> JOIN A CRITIQUING GROUP. </b>G</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">et involved in a critiquing group and listen to
at least some of the advice. Be a good receiver and a good reviewer. We get so
close to our work, it's hard to hear it clearly after a while. The more you
critique somebody's work, the more you're able to see the flaws that need
fixing in your own manuscript.</span><span style="font-family: 'New York', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCyrFIVrOnh7teQs7b2XNcFki8dXwdAmvaQfF9tHwJuxGZCQu9oe8zy9HKe7HWzzHiW3BBY_bjR12cpyYxl1X8ZakBqKkAFvE94hElyskWUGAXNWOz0tnyg7UdG3-4XEVXGxSO3a48qbu/s1600/photo+(11).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCyrFIVrOnh7teQs7b2XNcFki8dXwdAmvaQfF9tHwJuxGZCQu9oe8zy9HKe7HWzzHiW3BBY_bjR12cpyYxl1X8ZakBqKkAFvE94hElyskWUGAXNWOz0tnyg7UdG3-4XEVXGxSO3a48qbu/s200/photo+(11).JPG" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: white; font-size: 12pt;">10.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">10. </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Add tools (craft books) to your toolbox: </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.tatteredcover.com/book/9781475004953">The Emotional Thesaurus</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spunk-and-bite-arthur-plotnik/1100622494?ean=9780375722271">Spunk and Bite</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rivet-Your-Readers-Point-ebook/dp/B007PUMQ1O/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1371918534&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=riveting+your+reader+with+deep">Rivit Your Reader with Deep Pointof View</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.strandbooks.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.results&hasInventory=true&searchString=+Save+the+cat&x=-1059&y=-121">Save the Cat</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">WORKING WITH ME: I'd love to speak at your workshop, conference, or school</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">! <a href="https://kimtomsic.com/contact/" style="color: #213abb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Contact me here.</a></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><br /></div>
Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-1100035276861627042023-05-26T00:30:00.005-07:002023-05-28T08:11:47.522-07:00The 20 Best Questions to Ask Your Character When Writing a Novel<p> </p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNoLPbRTSBPCiIuAbCq8O2xsjAQt9AhDq6odsuipGNwPgxHWgjQZAnfjDXxdoLs3yjzXVBQxzfRmp27euJLCPvi5NFdlF_tgshOn2chjXeZdaTHE0dFI-H1cMqgNO7KZL1BuOhgCvNxbBpmS1yet5R8fZigWVbrXGH6LVCWia4-T8DGWuLy74KDT0EA/s2828/shutterstock%20typewriter%20and%20paper%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1886" data-original-width="2828" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNoLPbRTSBPCiIuAbCq8O2xsjAQt9AhDq6odsuipGNwPgxHWgjQZAnfjDXxdoLs3yjzXVBQxzfRmp27euJLCPvi5NFdlF_tgshOn2chjXeZdaTHE0dFI-H1cMqgNO7KZL1BuOhgCvNxbBpmS1yet5R8fZigWVbrXGH6LVCWia4-T8DGWuLy74KDT0EA/w390-h260/shutterstock%20typewriter%20and%20paper%202023.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><br />Action and plot are great, but without compelling characters, you’ve got zippo. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVKH1_AaFPR6aWgSiFEqPCdKERhRajcwTHHbM_OAEtEYCUXvAqMLJ8yaEd8mgrtFb1_89ERjiaTiwm4PUa-xNq4WcVfn4U_9FfA4iPjPIiwF9bTjtZNJz_248h39RRb-dcNbGqz_r_eIY4Zqg55aAl_TX9SnmY_qCsz_YQIEd-TV4Lm2NiD5zywFEMA/s5905/shutterstock%20character%20bible%2011.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5905" data-original-width="5905" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVKH1_AaFPR6aWgSiFEqPCdKERhRajcwTHHbM_OAEtEYCUXvAqMLJ8yaEd8mgrtFb1_89ERjiaTiwm4PUa-xNq4WcVfn4U_9FfA4iPjPIiwF9bTjtZNJz_248h39RRb-dcNbGqz_r_eIY4Zqg55aAl_TX9SnmY_qCsz_YQIEd-TV4Lm2NiD5zywFEMA/s320/shutterstock%20character%20bible%2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">You can transform your characters beyond ideas or paper dolls to living/breathing beings by giving them hopes, dreams, flaws, friends, foils, motives, stakes, passions, and more! How? Create a character bible! </span><p></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Many authors lean into character bibles rather than outlines to help them suss out their story. You can, too! </span></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">By asking your protagonist a series of questions, you can u</span><span style="font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">ncover what your character wants, why they want it, what lengths they’ll go to get it, and what secrets they’re keeping. As you continue to get to know your character, you’ll discover what lies your protagonist believe about themselves, what they’re hiding in their sock drawer, and what decision they’ll make when given an impossible choice. </span></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">I once attended a lecture on character lead by</span><span style="font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> </span><a href="https://marielu.com/books" rel="noopener" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">Marie Lu</a><span style="font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">(author of NYT Bestselling series,</span><span style="font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> </span><i style="font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Legend</i><span style="font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">), and she said she spends two or three months creating a character bible before she starts writing a new story. By the way, in this episode of</span><span style="font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> </span><a href="https://88cupsoftea.com/marielu/" rel="noopener" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">88 Cups of Tea</a><span style="font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">, she shares how music helped her create her villain’s voice. </span></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Invite me to speak at your school or conference!</b> I lead a character bible workshop. First, I dissect the five benefits for crafting a character </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">bible. Next, I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">walk participants through the process of unlocking your character’s motives, so they can create believable plots, rich stakes, and compelling stories. Lastly, I provide worksheets so participants can continue building their characters at home. I look forward to an invitation to your conference or workshop! <a href="https://kimtomsic.com/contact/" target="_blank">Contact me here.</a></span></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">In the meantime, here are some questions you can use to get started interviewing your characters:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixP6YO5wQIctK5pyOQ4V3b8pI_Lnu70--2iAkjLtcEnKh0NBGOEfm3uI0EdjmCqath3Txmbznx0aZbRBtjzJ1HdNyEKjPMZoCsOtiRPItJqa7bX5XTb1h1HTQAlfESNJdZll1fy_GAtzReQNLBOcQN5h4e0wZLJH3HtokD7oGxMeGwaz48Cb9dBN5_vg/s2450/shutterstock%20interview%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1634" data-original-width="2450" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixP6YO5wQIctK5pyOQ4V3b8pI_Lnu70--2iAkjLtcEnKh0NBGOEfm3uI0EdjmCqath3Txmbznx0aZbRBtjzJ1HdNyEKjPMZoCsOtiRPItJqa7bX5XTb1h1HTQAlfESNJdZll1fy_GAtzReQNLBOcQN5h4e0wZLJH3HtokD7oGxMeGwaz48Cb9dBN5_vg/s320/shutterstock%20interview%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Write a paragraph
describing R.O.A.R.S. (race, orientation, abilities and disabilities, religion, sex). How do
they identify? What are their feelings/attitiude about their personal ROARS? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are the top five things your character notices about their home, and
who else lives there? How do they feel when they bring others inside their home? What sounds do they notice in their bedroom?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is your protagonist's flaw?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What’s their most
precious item in their room and why does it hold value to your protagonist? What are they hiding in their bedroom, where are they hiding it, and who are they hiding it from?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who's their best
friend and what’s that origin story? How does their best friend support them and how do they disappoint them? What is the one thing that could change their relationship?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who is your protagonist's nemesis
and why? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">What’s the one thing your protagonist's doesn’t want the antagonist to know and what might it mean if it is found out?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What's your protagonist's favorite
smell and why (does it evoke a memory)? What is a particular smell that brings up bad memories and/or good memories?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is their source of comfort? What does your protagonist value the most? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">What is the mystery, lore, or the gossip in their town?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">11.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where is their "safe place" and what would happen if that safe place was removed, disappeared, burned down, or was taken away?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">12.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What’s the one thing
they don’t want their best friend to know and why? <o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">What’s the one thing they don’t want their parents to know and whyt?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">13.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who is the foil
character, and how does this character make the protagonist shine?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">14.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What’s your potagonist’s
proudest moment and why?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">15.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What's their most
embarrassing moment and why?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">16.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What’s something that
they can freely laugh about regarding their personality or quirks? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">17.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What’s something that
really bothers them when others laugh about it? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">18.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are the TOCs in
their home (Traditions, Observations, Celebrations) and how does your protagonist feel about these events?</span><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> – they can be real or made
up.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">19.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What do </span><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">they carry in their pocket? What</span><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">'s their favorite thing to wear and why?</span></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">20.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What does your character want more than anything else, and what is at stake if they don't get it? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-left: 66pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #2d3b45; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Put the goods to work and think like <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5356632.Lisa_Cron">Lisa Cron</a>, author of <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av5MyoW6d2w" target="_blank">Wired for Story</a></i>, <i><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/story-genius-lisa-cron/1123049432" target="_blank">Story Genius</a></i>, and other books on writing. She says to make sure every scene includes what your character wants, even if it's just a cup of water + ever scene has stakes. The reader should know what your character thinks will happen, what they hope will happen, and what is at stake. </span></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /></span></p>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-78271284073842993372023-05-08T05:00:00.007-07:002023-05-28T06:30:27.394-07:00The Elephants Come Home: A True Story of Seven Elephants, Two People, and One Extraordinary Friendship<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1BNfxQ0iFQpONyoYyXNcMUekIL-ui5No2s8DB3NHSF04S7xro5E8WVB25_ZtK3s5KnUGKs2KneFoF9zjGH0zM5Y3hPtHQq5vJL5HC2PLRKipk-NLM7ScBfoTfdEYlZHVvTFn7eiOLlNi/s2048/Elephant+Cover+duplicate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1769" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1BNfxQ0iFQpONyoYyXNcMUekIL-ui5No2s8DB3NHSF04S7xro5E8WVB25_ZtK3s5KnUGKs2KneFoF9zjGH0zM5Y3hPtHQq5vJL5HC2PLRKipk-NLM7ScBfoTfdEYlZHVvTFn7eiOLlNi/s320/Elephant+Cover+duplicate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><div style="border: 4.5pt double windowtext; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Winner of the <a href="https://ksla.wildapricot.org/Keystone-to-Reading" target="_blank">Keystone to Reading Award</a>!</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><b>Winner of the <a href="https://cpl.org/aboutthelibrary/subjectscollections/youth-services/norman-a-sugarman-childrens-biography-award/#:~:text=The%20award%20is%20presented%20to,published%20in%20the%20United%20States.">Norman A. Sugarman Honor</a>!</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><b>Nominated for the2023-2024 <a href="http://www.californiayoungreadermedal.org/nominees" target="_blank">California Young Readers Award</a>!</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><b>Nominated for the 2024 <a href="http://www.claubeehive.org/2024-nominees.html" target="_blank">Beehive Award</a>!</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><b>Nominated for the 2024 <a href="https://www.nutmegaward.org/2024-nutmeg-nominees" target="_blank">Nutmeg Award</a>!</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The Elephants Come Home (</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">ISBN: </span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #111111; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">978-1452127835) </span><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">is the amazing true
story of a herd of elephants, the man who saved them, and the miracle of love
that brought them home.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>DO YOU DO SCHOOL VISITS</b>? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Absolutely!</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">I'd love to your speak to your students in person live or via Zoom</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">! <a href="https://kimtomsic.com/contact/" style="color: #213abb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Contact me here.</a> We can customize a visit, or you can check out my<a href="https://kimtomsic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Menu-of-School-Visit-and-Conference-Presentation-Options.pdf" target="_blank"> menu of school visit options here</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">One day in 1999, Lawrence Anthony and Françoise
Malby Anthony receive word that a herd of wild African elephants need a new
home. They welcome the elephants to their wildlife sanctuary—Thula Thula—with
open arms. But the elephants are much less sure they want to stay. How will
Lawrence prove to them that they are safe and loved? What follows is a
gorgeously illustrated real-life story of friendship . . . and the story of the
miraculous way that love given freely will return—greater and more wonderful
than it began.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhME-OzaFQQ8RxiNuvLz0EYwPC162JfHCV5qJj4SWcRJ7LuuHczEg3sC0suAo1WBymZIy0398MpfPL6OOJglWb0PA712YDR_q83FUF6dwj2n52cJMy9he9b5ZUVXZzZ5usOjEc0ijjmIhO-//" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhME-OzaFQQ8RxiNuvLz0EYwPC162JfHCV5qJj4SWcRJ7LuuHczEg3sC0suAo1WBymZIy0398MpfPL6OOJglWb0PA712YDR_q83FUF6dwj2n52cJMy9he9b5ZUVXZzZ5usOjEc0ijjmIhO-//" width="320" /></a></div><b><u><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Critical Praise</span></u></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">:<br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">“[A] moving true story. . . (Have tissues handy.) [</span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elephants-Come-Home-Extraordinary-Friendship/dp/1452127832" target="_blank">The Elephants Come Home</a></i><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elephants-Come-Home-Extraordinary-Friendship/dp/1452127832" target="_blank">’</a>s] flawless, gentle pacing [and] pages with saturated, eye-catching teal, copper, and emerald hues. . . . heighten the story’s emotional impact. . .”</span></span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">—</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.hbook.com/story/review-of-the-elephants-come-home-a-true-story-of-seven-elephants-two-people-and-one-extraordinary-friendship" target="_blank">The Horn Book Magazine</a></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“In brief action-packed sentences, Tomsic
informs readers of all the steps taken to bring [the elephants] back, with the
text placed against Hooper’s beautifully realized illustrations of African
animals and the vast, gorgeous landscape…with its focus on the elephants and
the protagonists, this book is lovely, tender, and moving.”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">—</span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Kirkus
Reviews</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">This touching true story portrays conservationist
Lawrence Anthony’s relationship with a frightened, hunted herd that found a
home at his reserve in South Africa, Thula Thula..The importance of
conservation shines through the friendship story here, and both themes are
beautifully complemented by Hooper’s detailed, atmospheric drawings of the
elephants and their surroundings.”—</span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Booklist</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #222222;">“</span><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">The illustrations are expansive with a limited color palette of warm oranges and cool greens and blues. The animal characters are dynamic, humorous, and emotive. . . . A sentimental but high-interest story based on true events of the bond between wild animals and the humans who care for them, suitable for early elementary students.” </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">—<b><i>School Library Journal</i></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUqouX4YDq7ls0Nl0vw6u3uv7Ofb3QsjZXYePNbD2jpR_FR9bSPEx7U8YMQq3_jOakjH2EbWB1GHbHrl6oFk9sWT0MVFSvrqe3kVtchmrTN6p51igqwrPxqBMIA3p4twjgxN8fCrULJAL//" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1135" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUqouX4YDq7ls0Nl0vw6u3uv7Ofb3QsjZXYePNbD2jpR_FR9bSPEx7U8YMQq3_jOakjH2EbWB1GHbHrl6oFk9sWT0MVFSvrqe3kVtchmrTN6p51igqwrPxqBMIA3p4twjgxN8fCrULJAL/w392-h400/hadley+signs.jpg" width="392" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-small-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-small-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333;">Copies are available at <a href="https://www.changinghands.com/book/9781452127835" target="_blank">Changing Hands Bookstore</a></span></p><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt;">• TOUCHING ANIMAL FRIENDSHIPS: Owen and Mzee, Tarra and
Bella, Rescue and Jessica . . . touching true stories of the emotional bonds
possible between species are charming, and speak to the limitlessness of love.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">• <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant" target="_blank">ELEPHANTS</a>: Elephants are one of the most
fascinating and charming wild animals in all of nature. This heartwarming true
story will intrigue & inspire children, turning the most reluctant readers
into elephant enthusiasts.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">• CONSERVATION THEME: This book tells the true
story of caring for one of the world's most beloved endangered animals: the
African elephant. This book is a great, upbeat jumping-off point for
discussions of the importance of preserving endangered species and their
environments.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">• ENGAGING NONFICTION: There's no better way to
get readers hooked on factual books than to offer them real-life stories with
heart and meaning.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">• STRONG CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: The Next
Generation Science Standards (NGSS) emphasize learning about animal
habitats/biomes in K–2 curriculums, while later grades address topics like
conservation and endangered species. With a depth of research and an engaging,
highly visual narrative, this book is an excellent resource for librarians and
primary school educators.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;"><b>Perfect for ages 4-9</b>:</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">• Kindergarten and elementary school teachers<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lovers of animals, wildlife, and the
natural world</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">• Parents and grandparents<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>Zoo and
natural history museumgoers</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">• Librarians<span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span>Parents
and Kids of all ages</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
</div>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-7783616847856398282023-04-26T09:01:00.000-07:002023-04-26T09:01:19.759-07:00Creating a Critique Group: Part Three Clarifying Questions and the Reader's Gaze<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Asking Your Critique Parnter Clarifying Questions:</span></h2><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__E-9oioyBTda5UoUu2ZRkH0lNkScGj1jlisEF-f0s6JbOfm20jNDYuwbh8a3sJuIRu4Apl5Q7DBC8l70wrSbWft8FabaeOU-zODXUg_SfAE9_XdGdCfb2q15aTAQ_4jEd816LKUus_zApUwhMJXbcjoVTgGl7IUjenQRDd_5OTpJAACj0bRDgt1JEg/s6566/shutterstock%20dog%20pencil%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4377" data-original-width="6566" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__E-9oioyBTda5UoUu2ZRkH0lNkScGj1jlisEF-f0s6JbOfm20jNDYuwbh8a3sJuIRu4Apl5Q7DBC8l70wrSbWft8FabaeOU-zODXUg_SfAE9_XdGdCfb2q15aTAQ_4jEd816LKUus_zApUwhMJXbcjoVTgGl7IUjenQRDd_5OTpJAACj0bRDgt1JEg/s320/shutterstock%20dog%20pencil%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />When you work with your critique partners, you can mark simple errors in their manuscripts with easy notes, e.g., in paragraph one they were eating breakfast, but here you're calling it dinner - there's no need to tiptoe around those notes. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #202122; font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">However, when you wonder if an author made a stylistic choice (but you're unsure) it's important to ask. Maybe you suspect the writer's goal is to enhance poetic delivery, or nod at a secret, or reveal character in a clever way, or something else. Regardless the reason, the author needs to know you've paused reading. The choice unintentionally interrupted your reading process (your suspension of disbelief). This feels like a great spot for a clarifying question.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxn53Ef0u7_1S9ZJJVyn0xj5Up4ZjjmDSOQdxTJn5YLzRz1zkXLTYCP3hVou1ckMq_ADn4kzyOwdYFBukQG6J6KJjDeG28D3HVupek4aUIr-cbIJ1BUY-awSQnjPLBHvl4XvDSkbhSFozl7vBZqic0OZ98wBkFQoItkWVocVLZtj9hUUhGRfwx3tsOA/s4951/shutterstock%20idea%20monster%20april%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4518" data-original-width="4951" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxn53Ef0u7_1S9ZJJVyn0xj5Up4ZjjmDSOQdxTJn5YLzRz1zkXLTYCP3hVou1ckMq_ADn4kzyOwdYFBukQG6J6KJjDeG28D3HVupek4aUIr-cbIJ1BUY-awSQnjPLBHvl4XvDSkbhSFozl7vBZqic0OZ98wBkFQoItkWVocVLZtj9hUUhGRfwx3tsOA/w298-h272/shutterstock%20idea%20monster%20april%202023.jpg" width="298" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="color: #202122; font-size: 19px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When you are early in the critique process, you are discovering the nuances of the story, so you might mark with a comment bubble (stylistic choice?). If it is, the author will move on, or the author will think - yes, stylistic, but did I go too far, or how can I finesse? When you ask clarifying questions, you provide the author with valuable information about the reader's gaze and where you were potentially pulled out of the story. </span></p>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-65080681809518060282023-04-14T00:00:00.013-07:002023-04-14T00:00:00.169-07:00Wordless Picture Books<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ3WRG24MBpSFyarucvG2W302B7WTpBOjX40P-gJHd-hpzcwAGRXhbzPwPExpcku-K1MbA46G7wNWh1ngdb2dEtbL7D7xyRgJbRBL391SoU09xUXrmAG49AtasqCWLfwzoJ3yYAydCQawXW-h-ZEHWN6-pJxnM3OHIk75HsDpvCm1nY_tc3PdeWslzGA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZ3WRG24MBpSFyarucvG2W302B7WTpBOjX40P-gJHd-hpzcwAGRXhbzPwPExpcku-K1MbA46G7wNWh1ngdb2dEtbL7D7xyRgJbRBL391SoU09xUXrmAG49AtasqCWLfwzoJ3yYAydCQawXW-h-ZEHWN6-pJxnM3OHIk75HsDpvCm1nY_tc3PdeWslzGA" width="192" /></a> Whenever anyone talks about wordless picture books, Linda Ashman comes to my mind. She used to have a "how to" link on writing wordless pbs, so I wrote to her to ask for that link. Instead, she sent back a great example of her book <em>Rain</em>! Illustrated by Christian Robinson. These links are rich with material! </p>
<div class="gmail_default">Here's the link to Linda Ashman's page: <a class="inline_disabled" href="https://lindaashman.com/books-written-by-linda-ashman/rain/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LINDA ASHMAN</a></div>
<div class="gmail_default"><a class="inline_disabled" href="https://lindaashman.com/books-written-by-linda-ashman/rain/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a>Here is what she submitted: <a class="inline_disabled" href="https://lindaashman.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/RAIN_Submission.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Submission</a> </div>
<div class="gmail_default">Here is her storyboard: <a class="inline_disabled" href="https://lindaashman.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/RAIN-Storyboard1.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Storyboard</a> </div>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-62429675227508831882023-03-31T00:00:00.061-07:002023-03-31T00:00:00.165-07:00Creating a Critiquing Group: Part Two<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TwsXICvmFkgZankMYqKvXj5sY_yYbzTLHsQ_crfHj-QZcEuu4KnQ4RUTc2DlL-dqsGZ9jIDAdLoxo28eTmMsNtAOjyxdR3WLg7vRe8Vk8tiOo9OJx5lbTi4HN_exzsMiGRVCGyARRHiNaYlQJ5866FHQAJzOIuBcO-5qexUlXrDaIRVnOM1xn3xnQA/s4960/shutterstock%20typewriter%20with%20wallpaper%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4960" data-original-width="3719" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TwsXICvmFkgZankMYqKvXj5sY_yYbzTLHsQ_crfHj-QZcEuu4KnQ4RUTc2DlL-dqsGZ9jIDAdLoxo28eTmMsNtAOjyxdR3WLg7vRe8Vk8tiOo9OJx5lbTi4HN_exzsMiGRVCGyARRHiNaYlQJ5866FHQAJzOIuBcO-5qexUlXrDaIRVnOM1xn3xnQA/s320/shutterstock%20typewriter%20with%20wallpaper%202023.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />A healthy critiquing group establishes agreed upon guidelines.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Workshop Guidelines</span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfYcQc6IPxdIHXZzVP3zRHkAjqnX8DhNcEGmsxuHHpbCfZlhGaKrEv3BBZ5e0-xAxluwFMCaL9a5SaHxKWrzvgAXMP35qSZ8JmXggHrxS7dlM7qxIwHhtl7QhIQw9dpCmVBBj6ucfGzNmbhmIemlvXen7vvGTQRa8Mx6PuCavmfFMh_FWqQguVlIrxw/s829/compliment%20sandwich.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="829" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfYcQc6IPxdIHXZzVP3zRHkAjqnX8DhNcEGmsxuHHpbCfZlhGaKrEv3BBZ5e0-xAxluwFMCaL9a5SaHxKWrzvgAXMP35qSZ8JmXggHrxS7dlM7qxIwHhtl7QhIQw9dpCmVBBj6ucfGzNmbhmIemlvXen7vvGTQRa8Mx6PuCavmfFMh_FWqQguVlIrxw/s320/compliment%20sandwich.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Here are some guidelines you might consider: First, understand the author's goal(s). From there, your goal should be to provide useful, specific, and authentic feedback in a kind and
respectful manner. During the critique session, I urge you to employ the sandwich
method: <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">discuss the specific positive
aspects of a person’s work<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">discuss the specific questions you have for the author or the opportunities for clarity or improvement within
that work<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">use craft language whenever possible<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">don't spend a lot of time polishing the turds (fixing commas, etc.), focus on the content</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">answer the questions the author
might have included with their piece<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwS2YgycGQzpDhyKd7m472M6ApWtm2NXEgBVvpFOshxN-OGGL2mUf4s8LgxtjN-YrdOiQit8M4QmObDfNQ2JbOtYdH5hrovxYh40rkGE_uAugEL2TEyeNkZLEqSuJ_TL7e5BnrBF7NV318_nlzW5L57KDEAi_mMS6Sic_9R3O4oelxHcfvOqeBMCvSw/s2000/Haiti%20hands%20and%20heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwS2YgycGQzpDhyKd7m472M6ApWtm2NXEgBVvpFOshxN-OGGL2mUf4s8LgxtjN-YrdOiQit8M4QmObDfNQ2JbOtYdH5hrovxYh40rkGE_uAugEL2TEyeNkZLEqSuJ_TL7e5BnrBF7NV318_nlzW5L57KDEAi_mMS6Sic_9R3O4oelxHcfvOqeBMCvSw/w98-h98/Haiti%20hands%20and%20heart.jpg" width="98" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />On reading and implicit
bias: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In a workshop I attended in 2018 lead by executive
editor Tiff Liao, she explained that most readers (including PB-YA) assume they
are reading a white, straight, cisgender, able character, and she challenged
that we need to de-center the norms in publishing. Think R.O.A.R.S., she said,
which stands for race, orientation, ability, religion, sexual identity. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">According to <a href="https://time.com/5558181/jennifer-eberhardt-overcoming-implicit-bias/"><span style="color: blue;">Jennifer Eberhardt, MacArthur</span></a>, psychology
professor at Stanford University, “…you don’t have to have a moral failing to
act on an implicit bias.”(<i>Time Magazine</i>, March 2019). Please pause and
notice any implicit bias you might have when you read. According to <a href="https://aaww.org/the-past-is-always-still-there-luisa-a-igloria/"><i><span style="color: blue;">AAWW</span></i></a><i>’s </i>interview with Virginia
Poet Laureate, Luisa A. Igloria, she was “…someone who didn’t cut her teeth in
the North American writing workshop model, [and] feels ‘liberated by the idea
that I have seen other ways of doing things, other models from global literary
traditions that we can draw from.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPltK4CfqBfTcYs1G3b0OP6mNrmb2tt6QZy9UL8lWIypYk2maU-AXNz6qo3Ja0KQYTbfPSJyk9IsaZuuIN57tPwb6TYK3p4UVqKBqE1bdaKChHuG3Ah3SAnsHiLtD5zzAKQIcs5azMqOnPdvDmNXlbOFoRoW3jwCVYP0KbgC8bFtUeaVynGoxJwNjZQ/s5342/shutterstock%20feedback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2307" data-original-width="5342" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPltK4CfqBfTcYs1G3b0OP6mNrmb2tt6QZy9UL8lWIypYk2maU-AXNz6qo3Ja0KQYTbfPSJyk9IsaZuuIN57tPwb6TYK3p4UVqKBqE1bdaKChHuG3Ah3SAnsHiLtD5zzAKQIcs5azMqOnPdvDmNXlbOFoRoW3jwCVYP0KbgC8bFtUeaVynGoxJwNjZQ/s320/shutterstock%20feedback.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />IDEAS FOR POSSIBLE GUIDELINES ON RECEIVING AND GIVING A CRITIQUE</span></b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">:<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The writer will present the work
with a brief description of their intent. What was the goal of the piece?
What questions does the writer have about the piece?<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The readers will answer these
questions about the piece:<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What do you think this piece is
trying to do?<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What specific elements of the
piece surprised you or excited you and what did the author do well?<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How did the writer deliver a scene or use a
specific craft elements well?<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What questions do you have for
this piece?<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Where specifically did you find
opportunities to strengthen this piece and why?<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Provide responses to the
writer's questions.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #212529; line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">During the critique, the writer
can engage with feedback and ask questions or the writer can choose to be silent/invisible until the end. This can be the writer's choice.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I suggest you work in a paradox! That means
that you work in an atmosphere where you don’t interrupt one another, but you also
leave space for engagement.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIl51fmUxxrfyliMDtPPJgm8CLRUYhw3qc9fVJysuGOaHlkEeMyMI_D5-vnd6hgmwSma06umxGbFZNdiDLHPNflz0oIExxdUEj5RFP7wxlLhhWd9ZDzS6ZcGU440ELuEgJ_Ftg4jIIxWcNz5s4tYK7PWkx3HB0NcJwhw1D13yziUDbtx8uH-vBawPLng/s7904/shutterstock%20hats%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3163" data-original-width="7904" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIl51fmUxxrfyliMDtPPJgm8CLRUYhw3qc9fVJysuGOaHlkEeMyMI_D5-vnd6hgmwSma06umxGbFZNdiDLHPNflz0oIExxdUEj5RFP7wxlLhhWd9ZDzS6ZcGU440ELuEgJ_Ftg4jIIxWcNz5s4tYK7PWkx3HB0NcJwhw1D13yziUDbtx8uH-vBawPLng/s320/shutterstock%20hats%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Note to the receiver: The person receiving
does not have to take anyone’s advice, nor do they have to agree. Let the
feedback marinate and decide what to do with it when you are ready—you might
toss out the ideas; you might incorporate some of the notes, none of the notes,
or all of the notes. That is up to you! You might even use the ideas to unlock
a door that neither you nor the critique members considered. Embrace the
possibility of being surprised!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;"><strong><u><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"></span></u></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVbBvB0IarB3MM6eMopospdMOcf3xv_T7GGIK7RKvUUnB3aw849QMJApTY7pnhpIfN5pfFygFjjr2vL3fwTje_kjPpkuAins4rfx0uVyCyE2e5YAGeOm_9JTGyeNBrzXu1NaCoNHx0kQzZwoMBdW0SuqPWGOweIH7E6hhgg8bw-ccBZxQN4N2UPV6zQ/s3071/shutterstock%20winter%202022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="3071" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVbBvB0IarB3MM6eMopospdMOcf3xv_T7GGIK7RKvUUnB3aw849QMJApTY7pnhpIfN5pfFygFjjr2vL3fwTje_kjPpkuAins4rfx0uVyCyE2e5YAGeOm_9JTGyeNBrzXu1NaCoNHx0kQzZwoMBdW0SuqPWGOweIH7E6hhgg8bw-ccBZxQN4N2UPV6zQ/s320/shutterstock%20winter%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></u></strong></div><strong><u><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><br />EXAMPLE of giving positive
feedback</span></u></strong><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">:<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""Segoe UI Symbol",sans-serif" style="color: #212529; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Symbol";">☹</span></strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Unhelpful</span></strong><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> positive feedback might sound like, “Your story sounded
nice. I really liked it.” You can absolutely tell someone that you liked their
manuscript, but please follow up with something useful and <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">specific</span></strong>.
Please note that we authors often question ourselves, so it’s nice to know what
specifically works, otherwise if nobody comments on it, we might second guess
ourselves and delete it!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="color: #212529; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span></strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Effective/Helpful</span></strong><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> positive feedback includes something specific that
identifies what the author did well in their craft, for example if I had been
in Traci N. Todd’s critiquing group and had given her feedback on her beautiful
book <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nina-traci-todd/1138929421" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #3a60ee; font-family: "Georgia",serif; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Nina</span></em></a>, I
would have told her that I enjoyed her various uses of poetry, like her use of
consonance and alliteration in this line, “…it was deep in the woods and a
world away.” Why? Because that line has a lovely read-aloud quality, it is
delightfully lyrical, and it enhances the showing of how far the character
walked. I’d also use this moment to mention other places that her poetry
made my heart soar.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYAePjuP_nof3Mh1peGPPxEFrMptPLFi1UcKL0yGT9RhEavgXPz0aOgvLJdZxdHe3jFj_Jz_jtqaUrkvXDn-OZRJPZvhZVRLd25h_mfAk2eEDb6wP92Zq6Xskk0YwUxFGde-56m7ZU7ugcZ8cpnJ6ExFPYmbxO99RLLRMS_vTb-d4zZvN7pYIxjBbaA/s500/Nina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="407" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYAePjuP_nof3Mh1peGPPxEFrMptPLFi1UcKL0yGT9RhEavgXPz0aOgvLJdZxdHe3jFj_Jz_jtqaUrkvXDn-OZRJPZvhZVRLd25h_mfAk2eEDb6wP92Zq6Xskk0YwUxFGde-56m7ZU7ugcZ8cpnJ6ExFPYmbxO99RLLRMS_vTb-d4zZvN7pYIxjBbaA/w207-h255/Nina.jpg" width="207" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;"><strong><u><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">EXAMPLE of discussing an
opportunity for an author to improve their manuscript</span></u></strong><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Discussing
opportunities might feel uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to. Once you
understand how to talk about craft, you remove the pressure of discussing work
in a way that might feel like a personal insult. Discussing questions in terms
of craft choices treats the author and their work with professionalism and
respect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Segoe UI Symbol",sans-serif" style="color: #212529; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Symbol";">☹</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Unhelpful</span></strong> feedback
regarding a writer’s work and an opportunity for improvement within their
manuscript might sound like, “I don’t like this. Nothing happens.” If I heard
that feedback, I wouldn’t know where to begin, and it comes across as mean.
Providing quality feedback is hard work. It requires combining your knowledge
and instinct—instinct for noticing that something sounds off and then knowledge
of craft skills to understand why something doesn’t seem to work. This takes
time, care, and effort. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="color: #212529; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span></strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Effective/Helpful</span></strong><span style="color: #212529; font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> feedback is centered on an opportunity the author could
consider. It might sound like, “Although battling the dragon and dueling with
the pirate were both fun beats, they both felt like the <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">same</span></em> beat/same
note. To me that means the plot didn’t move forward by repeating this beat. Is
there a way to raise the tension in one beat or the other to differentiate the
beats and elevate the pace and plot experience for the reader?” Please notice
that this feedback is specific, it is not prescriptive, and it even poses a
question that gives the author something to think about.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-27466970156464941752023-03-24T00:00:00.002-07:002023-03-24T00:00:00.187-07:00Creating a Critiquing Group with Healthy Rules and Boundaries: Part One<p><strong></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oPdmss3ioHBqgEUF-YQHyqQQc4NDrPoZ2qD4AgPqzWpmkdGfMScdNqa_FYffxbTmiPCSLRRC8Wlvh1UevDzEshagxLgckvyUCh1rpGjrLssI8U2RSiB2r4ndR6gl0ALKGHTEO6qsRTVMdARnEK4G3B0LVNNOufSvMkst4IAUYvU2CifK614WQWKAVQ/s4000/shutterstock%20typewriter%20black%20and%20grey.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oPdmss3ioHBqgEUF-YQHyqQQc4NDrPoZ2qD4AgPqzWpmkdGfMScdNqa_FYffxbTmiPCSLRRC8Wlvh1UevDzEshagxLgckvyUCh1rpGjrLssI8U2RSiB2r4ndR6gl0ALKGHTEO6qsRTVMdARnEK4G3B0LVNNOufSvMkst4IAUYvU2CifK614WQWKAVQ/w223-h223/shutterstock%20typewriter%20black%20and%20grey.jpg" width="223" /></a></strong></div><br />Healthy and successful critiquing groups aren't made up of people who just want to be kind to one another. Your goal is to critically address the glows and grows in your groups' manuscripts, and you want to do that in an environment that promotes encouragement, growth, honesty, and productivity. Hopefully, your critique group feels invigorating. But it won't if someone's deliver gets under your skin. Creating healthy boundaries is a great way to plan for a group's success. <div><strong><br /></strong></div><div><strong>Establish a set of rules:</strong><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">I don't know about you, but I love clear boundaries. Last summer, </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-boundaries-and-goodbyes-lysa-terkeurst/1141293090#:~:text=Lysa%20TerKeurst%20understands%20this%20dance,they're%20a%20God%20idea." rel="noopener" style="cursor: pointer; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lysa TerKeurst </a><span style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">came to Scottsdale, and I attended her lecture on how good boundaries help establish healthy relationships. The principle of healthy boundaries can be applied to working with and establishing rules for critiquing groups. Perhaps you establish rules for a critique, noting what might be useful to help your group members stretch their skills.</span></span></p><p><strong>Sticky situations that can show up during in-person critique groups</strong>: I've walked into a new critiquing group where one person hijacked the entire meeting by doing all the talking. I've been in a group where a person recentered the discussion on their work rather than on the manuscript in hand. I've been in a group where an individual waxed on about the proper use of commas (also eloquently called polishing the turds), when the author was really hoping to discuss her protagonist's motives. Through these uncomfortable experiences, I've learned to manage expectations and outcomes by discussing and designing the rules in advance with my groups. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwG1RUMItqBp9o2FSwIGQB-vb8XikH-1L_BVqCL9Uox2da_fIX8r3aisY64QH3GYjn4KlHwB76LjWkAlhAaLSF6fIXB14n50OEikRvm_HiEK05wsJ5aFOefmqgPAKRInJ5-L3fsF571ldT7IdyQTgMpBD43NfE_g4XHNCS30PlngCH0rOFQdQrP9spA/s5858/shutterstock%20cat%20heart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3905" data-original-width="5858" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwG1RUMItqBp9o2FSwIGQB-vb8XikH-1L_BVqCL9Uox2da_fIX8r3aisY64QH3GYjn4KlHwB76LjWkAlhAaLSF6fIXB14n50OEikRvm_HiEK05wsJ5aFOefmqgPAKRInJ5-L3fsF571ldT7IdyQTgMpBD43NfE_g4XHNCS30PlngCH0rOFQdQrP9spA/s320/shutterstock%20cat%20heart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><!--x-tinymce/html-->
<p><br />Remember, without having clear and established boundaries, a critiquing group can get hijacked, dominated, or weave left when you were hoping to turn right. Setting yourself up for success is a matter of agreeing in advance to a few (or many) rules.</p></div>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-79682535918939123972023-03-09T23:00:00.000-08:002023-03-09T23:00:00.167-08:00An Inside Look at a Debut Deal<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><span style="color: #202122; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkceM7HpFg83Y0-yevMm-FbL2M5qiZsXE1-s5sSo_dh6_d3oV1oXuzjUbjQnQxf43Cyd4Ok2kUPI3eQc6V7mTFULZgENYk_6n2kJgWzE3MlRTaLfdTtFu1WUJBNiadp06Cs8u-zXAQPQr1ID7nbtllBHRpLmtaZGWZO_zgY8Q-QEilH8tVLEhLVIweHg/s1080/HarperCollins%20cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1080" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkceM7HpFg83Y0-yevMm-FbL2M5qiZsXE1-s5sSo_dh6_d3oV1oXuzjUbjQnQxf43Cyd4Ok2kUPI3eQc6V7mTFULZgENYk_6n2kJgWzE3MlRTaLfdTtFu1WUJBNiadp06Cs8u-zXAQPQr1ID7nbtllBHRpLmtaZGWZO_zgY8Q-QEilH8tVLEhLVIweHg/s320/HarperCollins%20cats.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />When I first entered the publishing world, I was surprised to discover that editors are regular human beings 😊. They eat, they sleep, they have personalized likes and dislikes. I know. I know. I was excited and intimidated, but I learned a lot with my debut sale. By the way, the above photo is a picture of me (wearing the orange scarf), my editor (next to me and in the center), and the HarperCollins marketing team all wearing the cat ears (a gift I brought to the office). </span></span><p></p><p style="color: #202122; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My debut novel was sold on pre-empt, and no, I didn’t know what that meant when it was happening. I like this definition from <a href="https://www.pw.org/content/what_is_a_preempt_anyway#:~:text=%22When%20a%20publisher%20wants%20to,to%20compete%20with%20other%20publishers." rel="noopener" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Poets & Writers</a> magazine, “When a publisher wants to preempt [it means] they are choosing to make an offer that will persuade the author’s agent to take a project off the table early. The publisher is grabbing a project they love and avoiding having to compete with other publishers."</span></p><p style="color: #202122; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><img alt="Book spines" src="https://learn.snhu.edu/content/enforced/1087137-MFA-608-X5658-OL-TRAD-GR.22TW5/Book%20spines%20(3).jpg?_&d2lSessionVal=IYGXRRcTDaKhdXrZkN1JUfusY" style="float: left; max-width: 100%;" title="Book spines" /><span style="font-family: georgia;">In my situation, my agent submitted my novel to a handful of editors, including Maria Barbo of Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins. When Maria said she wanted to make an offer, my agent invited her to sweeten the deal in a pre-empt to avoid an auction (an auction is when more than one house bids to buy a manuscript). But before anything was agreed upon, my agent asked me to get on the phone with Maria to see if I thought she would be someone with whom I’d like to work.</span></p><p style="color: #202122; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> As you can imagine, my head was spinning. I was suddenly in the driver’s seat. Long story short, this was a wise move. Making sure an author and editor have good communication chemistry is key to producing a great book. I asked Maria to tell me about her vision for the manuscript's edits, and since Maria is a genius, I was intrigued and excited about her ideas. As the cliché goes, it was match made in heaven, and we moved forward with the deal.</span></p><p style="color: #202122; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFwp9lchD036p27w__e_xi9Nsq3wUScyndq9Bi-0pykcsP4Ps5G4gnECYY5JHvkxisjd01ksbRco46dCxjVRZn21tls8vy22vMFUx4cRMxc74Y_OaoZavD1Tj13bPyHjxAaYdYUey7ZxdXkop3A0SiKm7QxwmZYYzv7Fpo9VBd3IbQhpz_nPQrlk5ow/s4000/shutterstock%20typewriter%20black%20and%20grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4000" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFwp9lchD036p27w__e_xi9Nsq3wUScyndq9Bi-0pykcsP4Ps5G4gnECYY5JHvkxisjd01ksbRco46dCxjVRZn21tls8vy22vMFUx4cRMxc74Y_OaoZavD1Tj13bPyHjxAaYdYUey7ZxdXkop3A0SiKm7QxwmZYYzv7Fpo9VBd3IbQhpz_nPQrlk5ow/w246-h246/shutterstock%20typewriter%20black%20and%20grey.jpg" width="246" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />That's my perspective as the author. But did you notice that Maria's job as the editor was to communicate a clear vision for her editorial direction of my manuscript? If you take a job as an editor with a publisher, you'll have times when you have to compete with other publishing houses in order to acquire a manuscript. Sure, money will play a role in the bidding process but so will your editorial skills and the ability to communicate your vision. Honing these skills now will benefit you as a writer, book doctor, critiquing partner, coach, and as an editor. Even if you decide a career in editing is not for you, as an author you will have a clear understanding of the editor's role which will make you an ideal client to work with. </span><p></p><p style="color: #202122; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy writing and editing!</span></p><p style="color: #202122; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cheers,</span></p><p style="color: #202122; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kim </span></p><p style="color: #202122; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> P.S. <a href="https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/about/" rel="noopener" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Writer Beware</a> is a fantastic website. It's sponsored by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America. Here you will find a wealth of information including insights on <a href="https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/editors/" rel="noopener" style="cursor: pointer; outline-width: 0px;">editors and editing</a>, writer’s services, how to avoid schmagents (fake literary agents), and more.</span></p>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-33550464817560463552023-02-09T23:00:00.002-08:002023-02-09T23:00:00.177-08:00Your Story's Interstitials<p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjCtxtxin95n01b8YhagMZT35GqsTbTvNODl77W0bEdl7cvqHTMWRS75GJc75WpTW7k8ewuoTSZQ03dluGTZTkkR6nREV0MlH_xAl0NbJUuRmf5mZkuwRt3n5GBaIOzu1zVpyP8w5pEnvT3VcVjnp3zGdQl5Y96ODLpBeXDK5vDBiuSGUffe_3FvZ9g/s5376/highfalutin.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5376" data-original-width="4123" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjCtxtxin95n01b8YhagMZT35GqsTbTvNODl77W0bEdl7cvqHTMWRS75GJc75WpTW7k8ewuoTSZQ03dluGTZTkkR6nREV0MlH_xAl0NbJUuRmf5mZkuwRt3n5GBaIOzu1zVpyP8w5pEnvT3VcVjnp3zGdQl5Y96ODLpBeXDK5vDBiuSGUffe_3FvZ9g/s320/highfalutin.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br />If you've ever hear me toss about a fancy-pants word, I probably learned the vocab from the brilliant Elana K. Arnold. She's so smart! In fact, if you're intersted in taking a master class, you should check out her </span><a href="https://elanakarnold.com/revision-season/" style="letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: left;" target="_blank">revision season</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-align: left;">. </span></div></span></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br />Onward to interstitials - one of the many words Elana taught me.</span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXB2GEsRNYtJ2o4g6adCSQ9JkOHHqoFt0j9DTCoUCpBT-QdupGUt3jXNWAjTtUs9gCefHrRMagXO3pzS32ahM3RTXHDH9GNIx2ULlztRn6NvA5o8awH84RlF0kXd_zHw6_tkh529HJ5vdP1dKsKrcvKKHjlj9Qotcj7yrJtOsVKJQHlbww6GMytldwAQ/s1051/elana%20k%20arnold%20books.png" style="clear: right; display: inline; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1051" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXB2GEsRNYtJ2o4g6adCSQ9JkOHHqoFt0j9DTCoUCpBT-QdupGUt3jXNWAjTtUs9gCefHrRMagXO3pzS32ahM3RTXHDH9GNIx2ULlztRn6NvA5o8awH84RlF0kXd_zHw6_tkh529HJ5vdP1dKsKrcvKKHjlj9Qotcj7yrJtOsVKJQHlbww6GMytldwAQ/s320/elana%20k%20arnold%20books.png" width="320" /></a><b style="color: #202122; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Interstitials </b><span style="color: #202122; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">sounds highfalutin</span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">, but we’re simply talking about the connective tissue within your manuscript. It’s what ties the story and the character’s choices together in a meaningful way (plot!). </span></p><h4 style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.05; margin: 21px 0px;"><strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">Why are interstitials important?</span></strong></h4><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">With interstitials in place, you have an interwoven story that is knitted together by character choices🤩👍. Without interstitials, you have a bunch of stuff happening that's without meaningful connections. Perhaps you'll want to add "check interstitials" to your revision checklist.</span></p><h4 style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 1.05; margin: 21px 0px;"><strong><span style="font-family: georgia;">More on Why:</span></strong></h4><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You probably want to write compelling manuscripts and/or guide your critique partners to develop page-turning, satisfying stories. To do so means that things don't just “happen” to a character. If a story is going to captivate readers, the protagonist can’t be a passenger</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2ThR3vADnVo9_dNaZHNMBqbh0soou39A6YkJ5WRN0kSXea01cQPLupjs5Mbx8Ce3-SzaUdJYOdX0bIc0rRuHbpnh3c6IPVOBxDDiAMk8YAHTrpTo7sJetnjunj67EpBsmVCStytgbmzKQixb6J1Y2EAPzGnZNlT9Cr72MkaI-X6F17MynFN2t0HLDg/s3293/shutterstock%20flying%20turtle.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2382" data-original-width="3293" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2ThR3vADnVo9_dNaZHNMBqbh0soou39A6YkJ5WRN0kSXea01cQPLupjs5Mbx8Ce3-SzaUdJYOdX0bIc0rRuHbpnh3c6IPVOBxDDiAMk8YAHTrpTo7sJetnjunj67EpBsmVCStytgbmzKQixb6J1Y2EAPzGnZNlT9Cr72MkaI-X6F17MynFN2t0HLDg/s320/shutterstock%20flying%20turtle.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /> flowing along in the current of life. The character must make choices that drive the plot. And each choice has a consequence that causes the character to make the next choice and then the next and so on.</span><p></p><p style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benefits: </b>With solid interstitials/connective tissue, you’ll see how:</span></p><ul style="color: #202122; letter-spacing: 0.2px; list-style-position: outside; margin: 1em 0px; padding-inline-start: 3em;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">the character drives the plot</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">the story draws the reader in deeper</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">the readers comes to trust that everything matters and therefore will want to know what happens next!</span></li></ul><div><!--x-tinymce/html--><p>I created this chart below so you can see how the interstitials track in Beauty and the Beast.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100.028%;"><caption><br /></caption>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th scope="row" style="width: 22.8259%;">CHARACTER</th>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"><strong>ACTION</strong></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"><strong><span style="color: #6038ff;">AND THEN... (or)</span></strong></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"><strong><span style="color: #6038ff;">THEREFORE...</span></strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row" style="width: 22.8259%;">Belle's father Maurice</th>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;">heads to the fair but gets lost and is chased by wolves</td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;">therefore, he illegally takes refuge in the Beast's castle</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row" style="width: 22.8259%;"></th>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;">because of that: the Beast holds Maurice prisoner.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row" style="width: 22.8259%;">Because Maurice is missing, </th>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;">Belle goes looking for her father</td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;">BUT the Beast won't let Maurice go, THEREFORE Belle tells the beast that she will be the prisoner in her father's stead. (THEREFORE she stays)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row" style="width: 22.8259%;">The Beast </th>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;">is a jerk </td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;">THEREFORE Belle won't have dinner with him</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row" style="width: 22.8259%;"></th>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;">and BECAUSE OF THAT the cups, saucers, teapots etc. server her dinner (kindly singing Be Our Guest)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row" style="width: 22.8259%;"></th>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;">and BECAUSE OF THAT Belle is comfortable and THEREFORE moves about the castle </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row" style="width: 22.8259%;"></th>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;">and THEREFORE discovers the enchanted rose</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row" style="width: 22.8259%;"></th>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;"></td>
<td style="width: 22.8259%;">and because of that she THEREFORE gets a glimpse of the beast's true and good self.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>As you know, the story goes on from there.</p>
<p>Notice that there are compelling reasons (character motivations) for Belle's choices, and each choice/action catapults into the next choice. Remove the choices and the plot unravels or hinges too much on coincidence. If a moment is followed by an "and then" the plot can stall or fall into a pattern of stuff happening to the character rather than the character making action choices (i.e. the action of Belle looking for her father, rather than Belle coincidentally meeting the Beast). </p></div><div><span style="color: #202122; font-family: georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #202122; font-family: georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Want more? Check out what the makers of South Park have to say about "because of this then that" in this two minute video:</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #202122; font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vGUNqq3jVLg" width="320" youtube-src-id="vGUNqq3jVLg"></iframe></div><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><br /></span></span></div>Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206184305519569048.post-56191645550659541762023-01-26T23:00:00.065-08:002023-01-26T23:00:00.181-08:00Top Four Things to Ensure Your Successful Publishing Path!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcQDeyjZ1k2RyFzSaac5aJNaOeoBl989UInZvGClW5-WifLCMrV-TrxmfxeLw8YiQ7Zlf8UeSBqbYT-5BdsZtAOBhe3NBaBCsaUaLn57oE_opjEPxqF4yEurJgG5Sbifby-vI91hvv5piFq3eNJpLEonx8rLioyxxDxbCFmbhj_hgSeLWxrha_M_tQQ/s2000/Haiti%20hands%20and%20heart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcQDeyjZ1k2RyFzSaac5aJNaOeoBl989UInZvGClW5-WifLCMrV-TrxmfxeLw8YiQ7Zlf8UeSBqbYT-5BdsZtAOBhe3NBaBCsaUaLn57oE_opjEPxqF4yEurJgG5Sbifby-vI91hvv5piFq3eNJpLEonx8rLioyxxDxbCFmbhj_hgSeLWxrha_M_tQQ/s320/Haiti%20hands%20and%20heart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><strong>Connecting with other writers is critical to your success</strong>. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVIZpriBRtpXKpwaA8H6IUSXk0zUc9TvmWGTBWOviZZsnn2HNkBZ0ogIGrqUclNP0sdPEWgI-PXQP_5bP_46SsongD3ABgFOc5a2wDlnZYC1-orvy828nR0WUMJF_6j61Ik7tYGSF0JE-nHUasxO7hyTWuqP57NQ3JBpQ8k3NEsc-cF-U-6m_SVzIOQ/s4032/book%20launch%20boulder%20will%20and%20penny.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVIZpriBRtpXKpwaA8H6IUSXk0zUc9TvmWGTBWOviZZsnn2HNkBZ0ogIGrqUclNP0sdPEWgI-PXQP_5bP_46SsongD3ABgFOc5a2wDlnZYC1-orvy828nR0WUMJF_6j61Ik7tYGSF0JE-nHUasxO7hyTWuqP57NQ3JBpQ8k3NEsc-cF-U-6m_SVzIOQ/w261-h196/book%20launch%20boulder%20will%20and%20penny.JPG" width="261" /></a></div><br />Straight talk - My creative writing skills <span style="font-size: 32px;">🌻</span>blossomed once I joined a critiquing group. In fact, I don't believe I would have ever reached publication without a critiquing group. <p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Why Join a Critiquing Group: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJ9V5NcChOeITXahuhzRhxm5kRh7tLkBCp0FFN8FDUMtjnEV_Bm8DnjYCXqnWmJqU-2qVvSiH0QGj3mr-pzKnEuJ9-wpvfuw5t-Lkiw5b0O4fj6eEMEoCFCrLh5XC8D-sT4RJqDJtbmoLYEXIszhKYIDb7vhMKM933e52776_gQ0-y04j-NdKvWETyw/s4032/guitar%20genius%20critique%20group%20celebration.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJ9V5NcChOeITXahuhzRhxm5kRh7tLkBCp0FFN8FDUMtjnEV_Bm8DnjYCXqnWmJqU-2qVvSiH0QGj3mr-pzKnEuJ9-wpvfuw5t-Lkiw5b0O4fj6eEMEoCFCrLh5XC8D-sT4RJqDJtbmoLYEXIszhKYIDb7vhMKM933e52776_gQ0-y04j-NdKvWETyw/s320/guitar%20genius%20critique%20group%20celebration.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></h4><p>As I participated and prepared to give my colleagues feedback, I had to critically and professionally think through the specifics of what worked and what didn't in my critique partners' manuscripts. I had to intelligently articulate the specifics of why these elements did or didn't work, and I had to use craft-centered language. </p><p>Here's the surprise - It was easier for me to notice what felt delightful or what didn't land in someone else's work than in my own - even when I had the same successes or errors. But as I continued to critique with others, my editing and revising neural pathways grew. I had developed skills to see from new angles. </p><p>Now, when I look back at my work, you guessed it—I'm able to find heaping piles of opportunities, and I still work with my critiquing partners who artfully point out my blind spots. </p><p><strong></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhwAsaMP3DgRKxJHLHRWDFtZ-9QIIZd3IfQsK2tXQYgDpeD0EJaFhQO5MuIY2n6RiGY1g0hfzEIjf5lc_ZrP-_oM3CWIFwmg3mUqhdTqBAK44HZquijK5S7NMc3zJ7lVwSFWiwFa6GmxCdT2bJdUJBewjEYg7jMEqNk_VqvYIMNXLJYb6yOynx9f8GQ/s4191/Shutterstock%20typewriter%20and%20alligator%202023.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4191" data-original-width="4191" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhwAsaMP3DgRKxJHLHRWDFtZ-9QIIZd3IfQsK2tXQYgDpeD0EJaFhQO5MuIY2n6RiGY1g0hfzEIjf5lc_ZrP-_oM3CWIFwmg3mUqhdTqBAK44HZquijK5S7NMc3zJ7lVwSFWiwFa6GmxCdT2bJdUJBewjEYg7jMEqNk_VqvYIMNXLJYb6yOynx9f8GQ/s320/Shutterstock%20typewriter%20and%20alligator%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></strong></div><strong><br />Top four. </strong>I did four things that I believe were critical to my publishing success:<p></p><p><!--x-tinymce/html-->
</p><p></p><p></p><ol>
<li>Read. Read. Read books in my genre</li>
<li>Joined a critiquing group (joined two!)</li>
<li>Joined a professional organization within my genre. For me, that was the <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">SCBWI</a>, a professional writing organization that focuses on the craft of writing and the business of publishing children's books. For you, it might be the <a href="https://www.sfwa.org/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Science Fiction Writers of America</a>, <a href="https://www.rwa.org/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Romance Writers of America</a>, or some other group. </li>
<li>Engaged with a community of writers on social media (you can find me on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kimtomsic/" target="_blank">@kimtomsic</a> ).</li>
</ol><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0x6XzBc1ixVqWAd5s66H8-2UcpSNLlVY8YrdRWCqWWFUHkmSzWiq8YDKT02_mL_Vg20NKvRj2jkmNtXSP7JCj-pAK2sTOY7IiqtzioLw3Uzh4pFWGad3nj4EUTdRG9FD_MpVCLNznfp_sykuGaEV0OZqhdk259aEWCDkTZRzCv-p10f5KCkraUu-fcw" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0x6XzBc1ixVqWAd5s66H8-2UcpSNLlVY8YrdRWCqWWFUHkmSzWiq8YDKT02_mL_Vg20NKvRj2jkmNtXSP7JCj-pAK2sTOY7IiqtzioLw3Uzh4pFWGad3nj4EUTdRG9FD_MpVCLNznfp_sykuGaEV0OZqhdk259aEWCDkTZRzCv-p10f5KCkraUu-fcw=w120-h180" width="120" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Good Luck!</div><div>Cheers,</div><div>Kim</div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. Check out <a href="https://www.changinghands.com/book/9781948226806" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Craft in the Real World</a> by Matthew Salesses for ideas to use within your critique group.<br /></div><!-- x-tinymce/html --><div><br /></div><!--x-tinymce/html-->Kim Tomsichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17550152159338202207noreply@blogger.com0