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Mary G
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| Posted: May 21 2006 at 7:17am | IP Logged
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I jut thought I'd post here --
yesterday I went to an awesome conference co-sponsored by Emrys Foundation and SCBWI called, From Inspiration to Printed Page (getting children's books published).
There were authors (from picture books to YA), illustrators, editors, agents, publishers and one lady from the ALA (who'd been on the Newbery/Caldecott committees three times). It was a wonderful conference and I'd heartily suggests anyone who wants to publish to attend a similar conference.
Here's the basic tips for getting published:
- write often
- read, read, read
- edit, edit, edit
- research, research, research
- get an agent (even if you're not published yet)
- slush pile is not a bad thing -- the publishers (one from a small publisher and the other from McElderry) said they get to ALL the submissions eventually
- wait patiently
- start the process all over again!
Also, it was encouraged to join SCBWI and attend conferences to network.
The woman from Peachtree Publishers (small one in Atlanta) said that the advice she took from one of her successful writers just before she left was "don't write to get it published, write it becuase you HAVE TO"
Just thought I'd share -- so many of you are such marvelous writers!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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JennGM
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| Posted: May 21 2006 at 7:33am | IP Logged
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This is great information, Mary. Thanks so much.
Now how do writers and illustrators team up? Say one want to write a picture book, but has the text and no pictures?
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Mary G
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| Posted: May 21 2006 at 8:59am | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
Now how do writers and illustrators team up? Say one want to write a picture book, but has the text and no pictures? |
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From what the editors, publishers and agents said, just send the complete story -- check each party's submission guidelines, usually on their websites (part of the research,research,research you're supposed to do) -- unless you are an illustrator. Writing the story doesn't always give you input on the drawings; and they don't want the sketched in by you parts -- they have pros that can do it.
does that help?
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Lissa
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| Posted: May 21 2006 at 9:16am | IP Logged
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Quote:
| slush pile is not a bad thing -- the publishers (one from a small publisher and the other from McElderry) said they get to ALL the submissions eventually |
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Mary, unfortunately this isn't the case with the larger houses. Harper was the last of the major houses to still read slush, but even they have stopped. By this I mean slush mailed just to generic "Editor" or "Submissions Dept" rather than to a specific person. The publishers at your workshop may have meant it's still fine to send unsolicited mss directly to an editor (still slush but you're sending to an actual person)--that kind of slush usually does get read eventually. To find the names of editors you have to poke around a bit. Harold Underdown's Purple Crayon site is helpful.
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Lissa
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Lissa
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| Posted: May 21 2006 at 9:25am | IP Logged
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Mary G wrote:
JennGM wrote:
Now how do writers and illustrators team up? Say one want to write a picture book, but has the text and no pictures? |
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From what the editors, publishers and agents said, just send the complete story -- check each party's submission guidelines, usually on their websites (part of the research,research,research you're supposed to do) -- unless you are an illustrator. Writing the story doesn't always give you input on the drawings; and they don't want the sketched in by you parts -- they have pros that can do it.
does that help? |
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Yes, Mary's right, publishers prefer to select their own illustrators for a manuscript. Submitting a picture book ms *with* illustrations (or with a letter that says I'd like so-and-so to illustrate it) can actually hurt your chances of acceptance. (Unless YOU are an illustrator yourself, which is a whole different can of worms.)
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Lissa
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MacBeth
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| Posted: May 21 2006 at 9:51am | IP Logged
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Mary G wrote:
I jut thought I'd post here --
yesterday I went to an awesome conference co-sponsored by Emrys Foundation and SCBWI called, From Inspiration to Printed Page (getting children's books published).
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Have always wanted to attend one of these. OTOH, though I have written several stories and have a few novels in the works (I write like I read...lots at once!), I have not had the nerve to send anything out. 
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God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
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MacBeth's Blog 
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Mary G
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| Posted: May 21 2006 at 1:22pm | IP Logged
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Just curious -- anyone (Lissa, etc) a member of SCBWI? I'm trying to determine if its worth it and I need some advice....THANKS!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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MacBeth
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| Posted: May 21 2006 at 5:07pm | IP Logged
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Mary G wrote:
| Just curious -- anyone (Lissa, etc) a member of SCBWI? I'm trying to determine if its worth it and I need some advice....THANKS! |
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I was a member, but I let my membership lapse. It was fun to look through the directory, and get conference notices.
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God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
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momwise
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| Posted: May 21 2006 at 6:24pm | IP Logged
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MacBeth wrote:
| though I have written several stories and have a few novels in the works (I write like I read...lots at once!), I have not had the nerve to send anything out. |
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Oh my gosh! I wish you would (or at least let me read them) 
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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JennGM
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| Posted: May 21 2006 at 6:35pm | IP Logged
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MacBeth wrote:
| OTOH, though I have written several stories and have a few novels in the works (I write like I read...lots at once!), I have not had the nerve to send anything out. |
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You need to get them published! And Maria, with her Super Hero Barnacle!
What about when your target audience is very narrow, such a Catholic, or, even smaller, Catholic homeschooling? Is that why so many people are self-publishing?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Wannabe Writers
