Sunday, April 27, 2014

What is SCBWI? By: Stephanie Burkhart



For those of you just starting to write (or illustrate) children's books, SCBWI is an organization designed to help support you in your efforts. My blog today is designed to give you a broad overview.  If you want more information or specific information check out the SCBWI website at: http://www.scbwi.org

Question: What does SCBWI stand for?

Answer: The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. It started in 1971 and is a non-profit organization.

Question: Who can join?

Answer: Any children's book author and illustrator, published or unpublished or a children's book publisher.

Question: What are some of the benefits of SCBWI membership?

Answer:  SCBWI sponsors two international conferences and several regional conferences. They send out a bimonthly magazine called the SCBWI bulletin and offer the Golden Kite Award for best fiction and non-fiction along with the Side Fleischman Award for humor. SCBWI has podcasts available as well as support forums. Upon joining, you become a member of your local region's chapter. The biggest benefit is that SCBI helps you become "discoverable."

Question: How much does it cost to join SCBWI?

Answer: $95.00 for the first year. $80.00 the following.


Question for you:  Are you a member of SCBWI? Has being a member been beneficial for you? If not a member, are you considering joining?


Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher with LAPD. She loves chocolate, adores coffee, and is a Cub Scout den leader for her son's pack. Her stories, "The Giving Meadow" and "First Flag of New Hampshire" are published with 4RV Publishing.

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:

TWITTER:

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Friday, April 25, 2014

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry month, and I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite poems.

The Listeners
by Walter de la Mare

"Is there anybody there?" said the Traveller,
Knocking on the moonlit door;
And his horse in the silence champed the grass
Of the forest's ferny floor;
And a bird flew up out of the turret,
Above the Traveller's head:
And he smote upon the door again a second time;
"Is there anybody there?" he said.
But no one descended to the Traveller;
No head from the leaf-fringed sill
Leaned over and looked into his grey eyes,
Where he stood perplexed and still.
But only a host of phantom listeners
That dwelt in the lone house then
Stood listening in the quiet of the moonlight
To that voice from the world of men:
Stood thronging the faint moonbeams on the dark stair,
That goes down to the empty hall,
Hearkening in an air stirred and shaken
By the lonely Traveller's call.
And he felt in his heart their strangeness,
Their stillness answering his cry,
While his horse moved, cropping the dark turf,
'Neath the starred and leafy sky;
For he suddenly smote on the door, even
Louder, and lifted his head:--
"Tell them I came, and no one answered,
That I kept my word," he said.
Never the least stir made the listeners,
Though every word he spake
Fell echoing through the shadowiness of the still house
From the one man left awake:
Ay, they heard his foot upon the stirrup,
And the sound of iron on stone,
And how the silence surged softly backward,
When the plunging hoofs were gone.




Fog
by Carl Sandburg


The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Jabberwocky

  by Lewis Carroll
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves 
   Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
   And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son 
   The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun 
   The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand; 
   Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree, 
   And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood, 
   The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, 
   And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through 
   The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head 
   He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? 
   Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" 
   He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves 
   Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
   And the mome raths outgrabe.


- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15597#sthash.VUMze8hI.dpuf

Jabberwocky

  by Lewis Carroll
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves 
   Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
   And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son 
   The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun 
   The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand; 
   Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree, 
   And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood, 
   The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, 
   And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through 
   The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head 
   He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? 
   Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" 
   He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves 
   Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
   And the mome raths outgrabe.
- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15597#sthash.VUMze8hI.dpuf


My Last Duchess
by Robert Browning

That's my last duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf's hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
Will't please you sit and look at her? I said
"Frà Pandolf" by design, for never read
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
The depth and passion of its earnest glance,
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,
How such a glance came there; so, not the first
Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, 'twas not
Her husband's presence only, called that spot
Of joy into the Duchess' cheek: perhaps
Frà Pandolf chanced to say "Her mantle laps
"Over my lady's wrist too much," or "Paint
"Must never hope to reproduce the faint
"Half-flush that dies along her throat": such stuff
Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough
For calling up that spot of joy. She had
A heart--how shall I say?--too soon made glad,
Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
Sir, 'twas all one! My favor at her breast,
The dropping of the daylight in the West,
The bough of cherries some officious fool
Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule
She rode with round the terrace--all and each
Would draw from her alike the approving speech,
Or blush, at least. She thanked men--good! but thanked
Somehow--I know not how--as if she ranked
My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name
With anybody's gift. Who'd stoop to blame
This sort of trifling? Even had you skill
In speech--which I have not--to make your will
Quite clear to such an one, and say, "Just this
"Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss,
"Or there exceed the mark"--and if she let
Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
Her wits to yours, forsooth, and make excuse,
--E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose
Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,
Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without
Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
As if alive. Will't please you rise? We'll meet
The company below, then. I repeat,
The Count your master's known munificence
Is ample warrant that no just pretense
Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;
Though his fair daughter's self, as I avowed
At starting, is my object. Nay we'll go
Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!











What are some of your favorite poems?







Jabberwocky

  by Lewis Carroll
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves 
   Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
   And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son 
   The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun 
   The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand; 
   Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree, 
   And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood, 
   The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, 
   And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through 
   The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head 
   He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? 
   Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" 
   He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves 
   Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
   And the mome raths outgrabe.
- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15597#sthash.VUMze8hI.dpuf

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Outsourcing Articles - Is it Right for You?

As a book marketer, keeping visible is a priority. That means writing content on a regular basis for your blog, article directories, and possibly guest posts.

How do you keep up with all the content you need to supply?

Recently, a writer/marketer, who always has valuable information, recommended outsourcing as a means of effectively and quickly getting a number of articles written. He was using a particular service to create a niche site for affiliate marketing, but it can just as effectively be used to create visibility and traffic to your own sites and products.

Remember though, it’s your content that creates the organic traffic funnel to your site. You should offer your visitors/readers quality content.

The marketer stated that he paid $3 to have articles rewritten and distributed to hundreds of article directories.

This is not a unique story. In another webinar, a well-known marketer mentioned that he paid around $12 for four articles of about 500 words each. He uses this type of outsourcing for his content marketing.

It would seem $3 per article is the going rate for this type of service.

But, wait a minute . . .

While these stories are true, how is this possible? How can anyone afford to write for $3 per 500 word article?

These articles couldn’t possibly be done by qualified and professional writers, unless the cost of living in their area matches the pay. Another scenario for such cheap articles is the writers are using a rewriting program.

A rewriting program chooses random words to change, or the author creates a list of words for the program to find and change. Some can also rework paragraphs, but it’s not the same as a writer. The programs allow for multiple versions of the same article. The drawback to rewriting programs is they can’t tell if they’re missing the mark on clarity in the content, or if they’re changing the meaning.

Outsourcing these types of articles is similar to purchasing private label rights (PLR) articles. You pay for a bunch of articles written by someone else and put your own byline on them.

For those who use PLRs or cheap outsourced content, you do need to be aware. You may have an embarrassing situation on your hands if you don’t proofread and edit the articles before you use them.
Often, these articles are written by non-English speaking writers and who are overly concerned with quantity over quality.

For those of you who don’t mind having to edit each article, then PLRs or outsourcing on-the-cheap may be an option. I’m sure some writers feel it’s easier to rewrite an existing article than create one from scratch.

But, in these situations you might wonder how fresh or original the content can be.

One important factor as a writer is that your writing is a reflection of you and your writing ability. What you post on your site, or use for guest articles or article directories should be quality content and it should be fresh. This has never been more necessary than today. Google’s views ‘all about the reader content’ and ‘content shareability’ make them key ranking elements. So, from an SEO standpoint fresh content is a must.

Whether you buy content or are writing for your own needs, your content should always be the best it can be. Remember, your name will be associated with it. So, depending on your writing needs, you’ll have to decide if outsourcing content or using PLRs will be a worthwhile addition to your marketing toolbelt.

~~~~~
P.S. To get must-know writing and marketing information, along with free instructional webinars, join The Writing World today.

Karen Cioffi, Online Marketing Instructor
Build an Online Platform That Works

~~~~~

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Will Write for ___________?


If your family is anything like mine, springtime brings a torrent of busy activity into our lives. Spring gardening, school concerts and new sports, trips, shopping, cleaning, pets with muddy paws, work and more cleaning. Excuses to not write multiply faster than Easter bunnies. A novel has been “nearly finished” on my writing desk for months but never gets “done.” New ideas simmer but never quite get hot.

The well is dry. An abandoned muse scrapes the bottom of your imagination and comes up empty-handed, draped in cobwebs. Unrecognizable. If you come across this forlorn muse among the back alleys of your brain you may simply walk on by, unseeing what is right in front of you.

Do you beg that long-lost muse to come back? As I reflect on this persistent problem, I realize I don’t need lightning to strike with brilliant inspiration. What I need is motivation to sit and do what I have to do. The ideas are there, if a little dusty. Invite the muse back in by acting like Nike and JUST DO IT.

What motivates you to write?  
A designer bag? Peeps? Taking a day off with a movie marathon? 
A cookbook writer's guide titled Will Write for FOOD by Dianne Jacob makes me wonder what motivates other writers to do what they do. Most of us obviously don't write for the money. One author of chick lit fiction, Cathy Yardley shares in her humorous book Will Write for Shoes that she shops for a great pair whenever she finishes a manuscript. FINISHES. NOT SELLS. Finishing is a big deal. Do you promise yourself a reward for reaching a writing goal? Share what motivates you to write in comments!

Writers are not the most materialistic people out there (other than never owning enough books, maybe). Do you envision the look on your grandchildren’s faces when they hold a book written by their Grammy?

Tape a picture of your "prize" to your writing desk, and go for it!

What keeps you AWAY from writing? Analyze your schedule to see what chunks of time you might be wasting without realizing it.

           Set aside the cell phone. Put it on silent mode. Better yet, put it where you can’t hear it vibrate with every email that whispers it must be an editor or agent dying to get in touch with you.  

If you have particularly gabby friends and relatives that keep you from writing, make an appointment with yourself at the library or coffee shop. Go by yourself.

Take a notepad and paper to write without that pesky internet tempting you away from writing. The fresh air and fresh perspective might do the trick. You might even hire a teen to type up notes for you into the computer. Teens get tired of babysitting and might love a new way to make some cash.

Go ahead, buy yourself a bouquet of spring flowers--AFTER you write that new chapter. And please share what motivates you. My muse and I could use some fresh ideas.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Keyword Search and Article Marketing Content - Tips for More Effective Book Marketing

By Karen Cioffi

As an author you may not realize the necessity of keywords. You may feel they’re something a marketer or affiliate marketer needs to be aware of. It’s their area of business and their problem to find these mysterious words that help increase the ranking on search engines. But, that’s not really the case, not by a long shot.

Authors and book marketing go hand-in-hand. This area of online marketing is like any other and needs to use the same strategies to be effective.

While it’s true keywords don’t hold the same power they did a couple of years ago, they are still important to SEO and CDO (content discovery optimization).

Today, if you are promoting you and/or your book, service, business, or product, you need readers to now several things:

  • Who you are
  • Where you are
  • What you have to offer
  • Why what you’re offering is what they need
  • Why you’re qualified to be offering this product/service

Yes, there are a lot of requirements that need to be met in order to be successful in this ever expanding and competitive internet arena.

One of the basic strategies used to get noticed is writing or providing content – this is considered article marketing. I’m sure you’ve read or heard a hundred times that “content is king.” It is absolutely true. Imagine being a spec in the sky . . . so tiny and far away that you are invisible to the human eye. Well, that’s you in the internet universe.

So, how do you get a flickering light going and build it into a steady strong beam?

Valuable Content and the Keyword Search

The only way to get on the internet radar is to create valuable content, provide it regularly, and make sure it is keyword effective. As I mentioned, content is essential, without it you don’t have a chance. But, even with it, you need to fine tune your ‘must read information’ with keywords.

Don’t fret though. Finding and using keywords is not difficult to do. Most of it is really common sense, using words you would use to search for your topic.  But, a keyword tool affords a much larger pond to fish from and is search engine specific.

For this article I plugged in the word “keywords” at freekeywords.wordtraker.com (a free tool). The number one phrase for this keyword is “keyword research,” number two is “keyword analysis,” and number three is “keyword.” I really didn’t have to do a search to realize the word “keyword” would be there, I didn’t know, however, that “research” would be part of the number one phrase. Knowing the number one keyword phrase provides valuable information; this also means it is a highly competitive keyword.

The Long Tail Keywords

To make your keyword rich content even more effective look for what’s called long tail keywords.
These are words that will move you away from the general querying crowd—and the heavy competition.

For example, if your niche is children’s writing your key words would be: writing, children’s writing, and possibly children’s fiction and/or children’s nonfiction.

To elaborate on these keywords - to get more specific and narrow your target audience - you might use: writing for kids, children’s fantasy chapter books, picture books, middle grade fiction books, or kids’ nonfiction magazine articles. You get the idea; you need to focus in on your niche. Instead of aiming at the outer rim of a bull’s eye, go dead center, or at least very close.

To get started in this area of book marketing, try a free or ‘free trial’ keyword search tool from the three listed below:

http://wordstream.com/keywords/
http://keyworddiscovery.com
http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/

I hope this helps you move forward in your book marketing efforts.

Originally published April 2010 at http://karencioffiwritingandmarketing.com


~~~~~
Want must-know writing and marketing tips? Then get free access to The Writing World. It includes free instructional webinars and “How to Create an Optimized Website – 3 Essential Author-Writer Website Elements and 9 Must-Have Pages.” For more details, CLICK HERE.

~~~~~

Friday, April 4, 2014

The Beginning

"Realistically, that first line is all you have." So says multi-published author of inspirational romantic suspense, Camy Tang. With our books, we have maybe five seconds to catch the reader’s interest. We have no more than that to excite an agent or editor such as 4RV Publishing.

 
First lines count more than anything.

 
When you begin your story and edit it to prepare for submission, this question should be answered first.
 
Where do you start?
 

Writers have five possibilities for first lines.

1.     Dialogue

2.     Action

3.     Exposition

4.     Description

5.     Thoughts
 
Dialogue beginning: “This place is awful,” Victoria said, spewing all the venom that a fifteen-year-old could muster.” Victoria and the Ghost by Janet K. Brown

As you may guess, this is one of my favorite type first lines.
 

Action first lines: “The station wagon jolted over a rough place in the blacktop, and I opened my eyes and sat up.” The Hills of Homicide”  by Louis L’Amour
 
Action starts are more rare. I searched many books before I found one. No surprise that it came from someone like Louis L'Amour.


Starting a story with exposition: “On June-eleventh, ten days after my sixteenth birthday, my life as I knew  it came to an end.” Live On Hold by Beverly Stowe McClure
 
Beginning with exposition is found a lot, but it's tricky to make it fresh and captivating. McClure does a good job here catching the reader's attention. We want to know more.

    
 Description first lines: “The manger was empty.” Angels Everywhere by Debbie Macomber.
 
A reader can get lost in description, but here, Macomber uses four words of description to snare the reader. 
 
 
Beginning with thoughts: “Somewhere in her heart, Danielle Montgomery knew this was wrong, and her guilt had a face, Momma’s face.”  No One heard her Scream by Jordan Dane

 
Internal thought is used effectively here by Dane to get to know the protagonist and identify part of her problem.
 
 
 
 
If you catch the reader's attention with the first line, chances are they'll read a bit farther. Concentrate and construct the first several paragraphs carefully.

 

Elements to consider for the first page.

1.     Do you show if the story is humorous? Dark? Suspenseful? Inspirational?

2.     Have you put the reader into the protagonist’s mind?

3.     Have you grounded us on where this story is taking place?

4.     Have you identified the problem to be solved?

 

A journalist’s guideline works also for fiction. After reading the first chapter, do you know why, when, where, who, and how? The sooner the reader relates to the protagonist and lives in his or her world, the best chance the author has that the book will not be laid aside in favor of another.

 
 
 
North Texas Romance Writers of America does an annual contest for first lines. Winners have been announced for 2014, but here's the link to the rules in case you'd like to enter in a few months when the contest cranks up again.

 
Hartline Literary Agency posts a good blog on first lines. Here's the link for it:

 
 
A blog that I follow has this good article on writing that first page. Here's that link:

 


A parting thought:

    Does the rest of your novel keep the promise you made to the reader on the first page? Was that really what the story was about? Do you answer the question posed in the beginning.