Tara Lazar's 2021 Storystorm Event-January 1-31

 

 

I signed up to participate in the 2021 Storystorm event several days ago. I'm in the process of catching up since I was a bit late starting. This event tasks you with coming up with one story idea for each day in January. There are prizes you can win by commenting once on each daily post from guest writers.

I have yet to win a prize, but I'm going to continue to participate because it really nudges you to come up with ideas. Each idea isn't necessarily going to be great, but the process is great for the creative mind. Maybe this will be my year to win a prize.

Registration just ended about 30 minutes ago. Good luck to all participants!

 

Ken

Halloween Masks- Halloweensie Contest

 

                                                            Word Count: 99

                             HALLOWEEN MASKS

 

 

                                    By Ken Major

 

 

“Look what I bought for my Halloween costume for tonight, Mom!”

 

“What is it?” asked Mom.

 

“It’s a nurse’s costume with a special safety mask with skeleton bones. It’s my way of thanking all frontline workers in the pandemic,” said Rachel.

 

“That’s a great idea!” said Mom.

 

“The mask says, EVERYONE PLEASE WEAR A MASK. IT SAVES LIVES!”

 

“I wish everyone took this to heart and did what the health experts are saying,” said Mom.

 

“I think it’s creepy when the president mocks people that wear masks?” said Rachel.

 

“I agree. Let’s all do our part to save lives.”

UNIQUE WRITING OPPORTUNITY FOR SCBWI MEMBERS- THE HAUNTED STATES OF AMERICA

I recently received an email from SCBWI about a chance to get a story published in a proposed trade book about haunting issues in the USA. SCBWI members are tasked with writing a scary story associated with the state they either live in or have a connection to. The unfortunate thing is that only one story from each state/district/commonwealth will get published in the book. The fifty states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia makes 52 chances for SCBWI members to get published though!

I have been researching several haunting stories in Connecticut, trying to decide which topic to write about. The story can be up to 1300 words, must be written for middle graders, inspired by a local/regional event or myth and written by someone with a connection to that state/district/commonwealth.

I have encouraged my fellow critique partners to enter the challenge. We have writers in the group from all over the United States. I started one draft story so far, but I'm uncertain about whether or not this story will end up being my entry.

The deadline to submit your entry is December 1, 2020. You need to use an online contest form to file your entry. Good luck to all SCBWI members that enter the challenge!

Ken

Welcoming Two New Members to WFK

Writers for Kids, an online picture book critique group welcomes two new writers. Hayley and Callie join the three existing writers in the group. Since starting the group back in 2013, we have had some changeover, but also some success too. Two of our former members have published books in the last three years. WFK is a very supportive and helpful group. I have no doubt that both Hayley and Callie will fit in well here.

Hayley is a middle school teacher who happens to run and do triathlons.  She has a healthy living/food blog that she maintains, has experience in the children's writing market and has a goal of becoming a traditionally published author.

Callie works for a educational nonprofit as a curriculum writer and program evaluator and happens to be a professional musician that plays the violin. She has educational curriculum children's publishing experience. She is also pursuing the goal of getting a children's book published.

Writers for Kids is excited to have Hayley and Callie join the group. They will undoubtedly bring their skills to bear and enhance the group!

Ken

NYC SCBWI Conference February 7-9, 2020

First, I would like to congratulate SCBWI for putting on such a great conference. There were numerous technical writing sessions, which covered all aspects of writing so each participant could attend sessions that interested them the most.  Also, the keynote speakers were very good, especially Kate Messner. I have been to many conferences related to environmental issues in my previous job, but this was one of the best I've been to and my first related to children's writing.

My journey from Connecticut to NYC started around 3:00 pm on February 7th as my wife and I made our way to New Haven to catch a Metro-North train into the city. The Metro-North route we took stops at Grand Central Station and our hotel was connected to the station so we didn't even need to go outside. The conference was being held at our hotel too so that made everything so convenient and easy.

I attended three technical writing sessions and enjoyed them all. Unfortunately, I was only able to meet one of the speakers, Ann Whitford Paul, after her session, The Language of Picture Books on Saturday afternooon. My first session on Saturday morning, February 8th was Picture Books From Rough Draft to Submission Ready presented by Lesa Cline, Connie Hsu and Alexandra Penfold. There was a huge group in this session though, which made it almost impossible to speak to any of them. I do appreciate receiving a post-conference email from SCBWI with contact information and an offer to submit some writing to both Connie Hsu, Executive Editor for Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan Publishing and Alexandra Penfold, an agent with Upstart Crow Literary. I'm working on submittals for both of these invitations this week.

My last session on Sunday morning, February 9th, was Picture Book Beginnings and Endings (And How to Get From Here to There), which was supposed to be presented by Jane Yolen and her daughter, Heidi Stemple, but unfortunately Jane injured her hip and was unable to attend. Yolanda Scott, Associate Publisher and Editorial Director of Charlesbridge agreed to take Jane's place and they didn't appear to miss a beat. It was nice to see the video of Jane that was incorporated into the presentation. Unfortunately, during the session, I got distracted and missed writing down Yolanda's email. She had extended an invitation to submit a query to her within 8 weeks after the conference. I ended up snail mailing her a query per Charlesbridge's guidelines just before I received a tweet from Heidi that stated Yolanda had given out her email at the session. For what it's worth, I took about 4 pages of notes in this session.

I plan to attend another writing conference once the Covid-19 issue gets resolved. The NESCWBI conference was one that I had been thinking about since it's only about 35 minutes from my home.

Ken

 

Storystorm 2020

It's almost time for the 2020 version of Storystorm, Tara Lazar's program where writers try to come up with one new story idea for thirty consecutive days this coming January. I plan to participate again this year and hope my critique partners in Writers For Kids join in the fun too.

I have written two new stories in the last month from my 2018 Storystorm story ideas list. I'm in the process of revising several other stories I wrote from my 2017 Storystorm ideas list. Those lists are the gifts that keep on giving.

If you haven't participated in Storystorm, I encourage you to do so. It's very simple to do, it's free, you get a chance to win free critiques and other prizes, and it's fun too.

Ken

Publishing Success for Former Writers For Kids Critique Members

Since 2014, Writers For Kids (WFK) members have been working very hard to create great children's stories and help each other in the process.  In the last year and a half, one former member of Writers For Kids had a picture book published and another has one due out early next year. That's some really exciting news!

Margaret Greanias was a WFK member back in 2016. Her picture book, Maximillian Villainous, came out on August 28, 2018 from Running Press Kids. The book was illustrated by Lesley Breen Withrow.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37487231-maximillian-villainous

Also, Rebecca Koehn, a member the last several years, has a picture book, After the Rain,  set to be published on March 3, 2020 by Beaming Books. The book was illustrated by Simone Kruger.

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47317288-after-the-rain

Congratulations to both  Margaret and Rebecca. All Writers for Kids members hope to follow in their footsteps and get a book published too.

Ken