I had planned to take the last ferry on Friday night but misread the ferry schedule. Hey, it happens.
I attended three workshops:
Here's what I heard...
-the difference between an amateur and a professional author is that a professional never gives up.
-the more successful you are the more you need others in the publishing industry
Add to your To-do list...
-connect with your writing society
-you have to do stuff for free in the beginning and continue to do so
Mind-set
-there is room for everyone
-be open-hearted
-be focused
-continue to educate yourself
-stick with it
-be authentic
-building a successful career in the publishing industry isn't a race
Fundamentals for your author business
-web site
-business card
My takeaway: You can make a living as an author if you stick with it and are resourceful.
My takeaway: You can make a living as an author if you stick with it and are resourceful.
Here's what I heard...
Resources for generating funny ideas:
-newspaper
-newscasts
-conversations
-out of date practices or laws
What makes something funny?
1)Surprise
uniting two things that don't normally go together (the Pope on a skateboard)
interpreting something in two ways (knock, knock jokes)
2)Misfortune
This type of humour is generally cruel -- racial jokes
3)The Forbidden
-sex
-aggression
My example of this type of humour...
Jack and Jill went up the hill
And we all know why
nudge, nudge
wink, wink
Writing humour is hard because humour is subjective.
What will affect whether or not you find something funny?
your age
your sex
your background/culture
how you feel at the time
This is why it is important to know your intended audience.
Remember that you will never satisfy everyone.
If the reader takes offense, it's like offering candy to a diabetic. If the diabetic eats the candy it's her problem.
It's easier to write a publishable piece by adding humour
Time makes things funny
It's easier to write your story (article) first and then add the humour later.
All jokes need a beginning, middle, and end--like all stories.
My takeaway: It's easier to be a writer who adds humour to her writing, than a stand-up comedian.
My takeaway: It's easier to be a writer who adds humour to her writing, than a stand-up comedian.
Connecting with Children -- in print and in person by Lois Peterson
Here's what I heard...
To write for children...
-you have to connect with children. Find out what they are interested in and what books they are reading
-you have to remember the child you were, write for that child.
-you have to like children and want to be with them
-be honest about emotions
-find common ground
-share who you are
-know that you will have manuscripts that remain in the drawer and never become books
Don't start by wanting to teach your reader something -- morals, values, etc.
Storytelling is powerful. Children need it.
Why do presentations for schools and libraries?
Because you want to get your book in the hands of teachers and librarians.
To visit schools and libraries...
-prepare by learning how to tell a good story
-don't send out mass mailings. Instead, focus on the contacts you already have -- could be friends of friends of friends who are teachers or librarians
-make it as easy as possible for them to invite you.
-send them a letter of proposal for your presentation. A week before your presentation, send them a follow-up letter
-be very clear as to what you will need during your presentations. Express these needs to the teacher or librarian
-it's very helpful to know the curriculum. You are far more likely to get an invitation if your book fits into something they are currently studying.
During the presentation...
-go in prepared, but be prepared to be flexible to children's needs
-create a theme for your presentation (i.e. begin at the beginning or where ideas come from or how I grew up)
-use visual aids--but not technology, too stressful. These visual aids can serve as an anchor for presentation. They can also be conversation starts -- something to ask questions about, for you and the children
-engage the librarian or teacher
-do far more talking than reading
-talk to them about the process of writing a book. Make writing a book seem doable. Explain that it takes luck, skill, and hard work. Give them a realistic view of what it means to be an author.
-we are part of a culture, refer to other authors.
-invite them into the process by asking them 'what if...' questions
-be interested in them
-allow the children to be honest about your book. If they don't like your book explain that that's why there are so many other books.
-ask the children to sign your book
A children's fiction author doesn't make money by visiting schools and libraries. You make money by having your books nominated
for example...
-the Forest of Reading Festival
To write for children...
-you have to connect with children. Find out what they are interested in and what books they are reading
-you have to remember the child you were, write for that child.
-you have to like children and want to be with them
-be honest about emotions
-find common ground
-share who you are
-know that you will have manuscripts that remain in the drawer and never become books
Don't start by wanting to teach your reader something -- morals, values, etc.
Storytelling is powerful. Children need it.
Why do presentations for schools and libraries?
Because you want to get your book in the hands of teachers and librarians.
To visit schools and libraries...
-prepare by learning how to tell a good story
-don't send out mass mailings. Instead, focus on the contacts you already have -- could be friends of friends of friends who are teachers or librarians
-make it as easy as possible for them to invite you.
-send them a letter of proposal for your presentation. A week before your presentation, send them a follow-up letter
-be very clear as to what you will need during your presentations. Express these needs to the teacher or librarian
-it's very helpful to know the curriculum. You are far more likely to get an invitation if your book fits into something they are currently studying.
During the presentation...
-go in prepared, but be prepared to be flexible to children's needs
-create a theme for your presentation (i.e. begin at the beginning or where ideas come from or how I grew up)
-use visual aids--but not technology, too stressful. These visual aids can serve as an anchor for presentation. They can also be conversation starts -- something to ask questions about, for you and the children
-engage the librarian or teacher
-do far more talking than reading
-talk to them about the process of writing a book. Make writing a book seem doable. Explain that it takes luck, skill, and hard work. Give them a realistic view of what it means to be an author.
-we are part of a culture, refer to other authors.
-invite them into the process by asking them 'what if...' questions
-be interested in them
-allow the children to be honest about your book. If they don't like your book explain that that's why there are so many other books.
-ask the children to sign your book
A children's fiction author doesn't make money by visiting schools and libraries. You make money by having your books nominated
for example...
-the Forest of Reading Festival
This festival 'is Canada's largest recreational reading program of its kind. More than 250,000 Ontario children read and vote for their favourite book in eight age-specific award categories every year.' --from the Forest of Reading of Festival of Trees website
My takeaway: A children's fiction author is an advocate for reading.
And if this is true and you are a children's fiction author, you probably will be interested in this link: Reading Link Challenge
My takeaway: A children's fiction author is an advocate for reading.
And if this is true and you are a children's fiction author, you probably will be interested in this link: Reading Link Challenge
As you can see it was an information-rich festival. Well worth the expense and time (this year it took me two and a half hours) of getting there. Oh, yes, and the festival is free.
I carried a tip with me from my career as a knitwear designer to my life as an author.
Tip: keep creating
If you keep creating you'll be able to take advantage of opportunities as they are presented.
For example, recently I received an invitation to contribute to an anthology. I dug through my files and found a few short stories. I sewed them together like a quilter assembling a quilt. The result pleased me and the editor.
Then I found this quote by Sage Cohen...
Tip: keep creating
If you keep creating you'll be able to take advantage of opportunities as they are presented.
For example, recently I received an invitation to contribute to an anthology. I dug through my files and found a few short stories. I sewed them together like a quilter assembling a quilt. The result pleased me and the editor.
Then I found this quote by Sage Cohen...
'As you develop your platform, over time one piece of writing can become a foothold for the next--until you approach vistas you never before imagined possible. Instead of starting from scratch each time you pitch an article, workshop or book concept, build on the wealth of information you've already researched and written, while finding a new dimension to explore, a new audience to educate or a new way to share what you know.'I'll tell you more about the anthology when I know more. : )
