New England SCBWI AGENT EDITOR DAY-April 3, 2022

If you are familiar with the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) organization, you know that they do many great things to help writers and illustrators of all levels with their craft.  In March of this year, I applied for the NESCBWI Agent Editor Day, a mentoring/training day with writing and illustrating professionals. Because of the overwhelming interest in this event, SCBWI selects a limited number of people by random lottery. I was one of the lucky ones this year. I also applied last year, but didn't get picked.  My message to all those writers interested in such an event is to keep applying each year.

The application process has you selecting a particular mentor who you would like to work with. Each mentor is assigned 6 people to work with in their group. I was fortunate to get Kate Meltzer as a mentor. She is an editor with Roaring Brook Press, a division of the Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. Before choosing Kate, I did a little research to find out more about her and the writers and books she has worked with. She has worked with Newbury Medal winner, Matt de la Pena as well as many other well published writers. Her husband, Brian Geffen is also in the publishing business. He is an editor with Henry Holt Books for Young Readers.

Being able to participate in such an event opens up doors that are normally closed for writers without agents. For instance, both Roaring Brook and Henry Holt do not presently accept unsolicited manuscripts. I recently made submissions to Kate and several other professionals as part of this SCBWI event. I'm hopeful that such participation will benefit my writing.

Ken

 

WRITERS FOR KIDS SUCCESS STORIES: 2022 # 50 PRECIOUS WORDS AND MORE

 I again entered the #50 Precious Words contest run by Vivian Kirkfield last month. Myself and one other critique group member was fortunate to place last year. For my prize, I was able to get a critique from Vivian! This year I didn't place, but did get an honorable mention along with another group member in the contest. The great thing this year was that one of my other critique partners did place high up in the contest!

Writers For Kids, the small online critique group I run is doing quite well. One member has an agent already, two members are presently in discussions with an agent/editor on manuscripts. To add to that, one member just placed in the very competitive PB Party contest and got over ten agent /editor requests!

This year I applied to the Agent/Editor Day run by SCBWI, which uses a lottery to select attendees. I was surprised and super happy to get picked this year. I along with five other writers attended a session with mentor Kate Meltzer, an editor with Roaring Brook Press. It was conducted online using Zoom. Each writer got feedback from Kate and the other writers on one manuscript after sharing it with the group.

I'm now planning to apply for a one month mentorship through PBChat tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Ken

Storystorm 2022

 

 

 

 

 

This year's Storystorm run by Tara Lazar just started up on January 1st, 2022!  This might be the biggest event to date based on the number of comments (over 2,500) I saw on Tara's website. Tara has assembled another great list of prizes too. I already generated a number of ideas and look forward to the rest of the event and the helpful writing posts each day from authors in January! Thanks Tara and good luck to all participants!

Ken

Susanna Leonard Hill's 2021 Halloweensie Contest

This is my entry for this year's contest. I created a riddle in a story for my entry. The two things each reader needs to figure out are 1) What is Hank, an animal or a human? (easy) and 2) What was Hank's costume? (harder) I hope you enjoy my rhyming story!

                                                                                                      Word Count: 100 

                   

HANK’S HALLOWEEN COSTUME

 

        By Ken Major

 

Hank’s costume was bright

On Halloween night.

It glowed in the dark

And blinked with each bark.

Equipped with two wings

And hidden round things,

He traveled with speed

On sugary feed.

His tail was unique

And looked oh so sleek.

The costume below

Had places to stow

More goodies for fuel

And drinks to stay cool.

When strangers came near

Goosebumps would appear,

All over their skin

From shin to their chin.

Hank ended his night

With one unkind fright.

He spooked a black cat

Who’s name was Sedat.

A WOOF and a YAP,

Then Hank took a nap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saying Good-bye to Calvin

 

 

 

 

Back in 2010 or so when I started this blog, my family welcomed a new member, Calvin, a energetic yellow Labrador retriever. He was such a friendly, loving dog and provided us with many great memories. We said goodbye to him yesterday after eleven years.

He was a inspiration to my writing and would sit under the computer desk by my feet while I worked creating new stories and editing older ones. I even included him in some of these stories too.

In addition to running, writing has been therapeutic for me and this is one of those times when I find I need it. Maybe it's because we got him at such a young age and he was such a great dog that I find myself hurting so bad. All the things that remind me of him seem to be staring at me almost all the time when I'm home.

Calvin loved his special pillow that we saved from an old couch we replaced. He also loved his piece of garden hose that he would carry around with him outside. He was a big fan of doggy snacks and we tended to spoil him. I miss him so much.  I hope they have doggy snacks, pillows and water hoses in heaven.

Ken

# 50 Precious Words Contest Run by Vivian Kirkfield and Haunted States Contest

After years of entering children's writing contests, I finally placed in one! Yes, I placed 35th in the # 50 Precious Words Contest. Prizes will be awarded to the best 51 entries. The prizes look awesome, which include professional critiques from editors, agents or published writers, spots in a number of children's writing classes or seminars, Zoom sessions with writing professionals and author-signed books. I won't know what my prize will be until they distribute the first 34 prizes. I'm hoping for a critique from an editor or an agent.

On another writing matter, my NF story about the Mark Twain House Haunting, which I wrote for the Haunted States Writing Contest run by SCBWI (rejected by the judges back in January), was published this week in Paranormal Underground Magazine. I actually got paid for it and will receive copies of the magazine too.

Ken

TARA LAZAR'S 2021 STORYSTORM CHALLENGE HAS CONCLUDED!

 

 

 

I had the pleasure of participating in this year's Storystorm. I was able to generate 32 story ideas with the help of all those great author posts that Tara lined up. I have been drawing on previous Storystorm lists for quite a while now. I was even able to mash up two ideas, one from 2017 and the other from 2019! I hope everyone had a great time. Now all participants that met the challenge requirements get to play the waiting game to see if they will win one of my many prizes offered. I commented once on all posts so I should be in the running for all the prizes. My fingers are crossed. Good luck to all and many thanks to Tara and all the guest hosts that wrote inspirational posts for the month, including my former critique partner, Margaret Chiu Greanias!

Ken