Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Sad Little Wildflower wins Mom's Choice Gold Award

      4RV author Yvonne Morgan's children's book The Sad Little Wildflower received the Mom's Choice Gold Award. The The Mom's Choice Awards evaluates products and services created for children, families and educators. The program is globally recognized for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. The organization is based in the United States and has reviewed thousands of items from more than 55 countries.

     The Sad Little Wildflower is Yvonne's first children's book published through 4RV. Her second is ABCs from the Bible.  She also has a memoir of her mission work, Turning Mountains into Mole Hills, published by the company. Her third children's book is in the designing stage of publication.

    Copies of her books can be bought through the 4RV Website, as well as signed by her if ordered from her website, and from other bookstores and online sites.

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

4RV places in Critters Readers' Poll

 
 
 
     
     The 2022 Critters Readers' Poll results were released, and 4RV Publishing placed in the top three of each category with a nomination.
 
    First place finishers were Big Bill Returns by Vivian Zabel, illustrated by Jeanne Conway, in Best Children's Book; If the Sky Falls, Duck by Wayne Harris-Wyrick, illustrated by Aidana WillowRaven, in Best Nonfiction Book; and Cheryl Malandrinos as Best Book Editor.
 
    Second places went to Jeanne Conway as Best Artist;  Vivian Zabel as Best Author; and 4RV Publishing in Best Bookstore.

    In third place were Best Book Cover Aidana WillowRaven for Wayne Harris-Wyrick's When the Sky Falls, Duck and 4RV Publishing for Best Publisher.

    

Saturday, January 8, 2022

Entering Writing Contests

 

 

 

         I don't enter many writing contests even though a judge for the Writer's Digest contest told me, "Entering contests is a good idea. There were so many dreadful entries a half reasonable piece stands a good chance of getting at least an honorable mention. But is entering worth getting an honorable mention? Perhaps, entering gives more than a chance at a "prize."

         Getting a prize, no matter how small, gives a person a lift. It makes writers feel that they can write. But what have we gained besides the good feeling? There are many, many reasons why we won't be a finalist: the judge doesn't like the style; the selection doesn't meet the criteria the judge wants (not all judges are as objective as others); and, of course, perhaps the piece has problems. How can we know where we fall in this continuum?

         Unless I get something more than a pat on the back, I don't think it's worthwhile to enter a contest. A prize alone doesn't do it for me. I want to know why I wasn't chosen, or what the judges liked, or didn't, about my work. Judges are usually chosen because they have credentials in the industry: published authors, agents, and publishers. If they like my work and the feedback is positive, I know I am on the right track even if I didn't win. If they don't, I have work to do.

         How do you deal with negative feedback is key. I recently read a chat session where people were complaining about the feedback they received in the Amazon Breakout Novel Contest. Negative feedback, while not pleasant, can tell you what other people think of the story line, characters, and style. It should be taken very seriously. You may not agree and certainly judges can be wrong. The judge may be the wrong person to appreciate your work, but at least you have some idea of why your story or novel didn't fly. Sometimes we get too comfortable with our critique groups and beta readers. Getting outside feedback from a few strangers can be valuable.

         We may get positive feedback and don't win, what does that mean? We live in a culture that respects winning, and we didn't measure up, but think about it: Someone likes your or my work. They may not like it as much as some other piece, but if someone in the industry likes it, we do have a market. Perhaps not this publisher or editor, but another one will see the potential in what we wrote. Positive feedback should have us charging ahead. feeling great even if we aren't "winners."

         So, I'll spend the time to enter a contest, but only if I get something for it, and for me, the feedback is more important than winning. Entering at least a few writing contests is a major New Year goal.

         Finding writing competitions can be daunting, but Writing.Com is a good place to begin. I entered many of their contests over the past 21 years.

         Another contest that I like, have entered for 21 years, and have judged many categories is the OWFI (Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc.) yearly competition. Oklahoma is in the name because that's where the organization center is, but people from all over the world are members and enter the contest. For information, go to owfi.org and check on Writing Contest in the navigation bar. Most contests have entry fees, but the OWFI entry fee covers all the categories you want to enter, whether one or all thirty-four. The entry time period is January 1 until February 1 at 11:59 PM.

         Below is a list of other contests for writing and/or illustrating. I haven't checked recently to see if any are no longer in existence, but if anyone is interested, he/she can quickly check.

1. CYBILS AWARDS - www.cybils.com Nominate in October.
2. THE BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK AWARDS - www.hbook.com/bghb/submissions_bghb.asp
          Publishers submit between June 1 and May31 of preceding year. Deadline May 15.
3. RANDOLPH CALDECOTT MEDAL - www.ala.org/alsc/caldecott.html Deadline, December 31.
4. EDGAR AWARDS - mystery/crime/suspense genres - www.ala.org/yalsa/edwards Deadline, November 30.
5. THEODOR SEUSS GEISEL AWARD - www.ala.org Beginning Reader in the U. S. Deadline December 31.
6. GOLDEN KITE AWARDS - www.scbwi.org Must be member of the SCBWI - Entries accepted between June 1 and December 16.
7. EZRA JACK KEATS NEW WRITER AWARD - www.ezra-jack-keats.org Children’s books - Deadline: December 14.
8. NEWBERY AWARD - www.ala.org/alsc/newbery.cfm Deadline December 31.
9. SCOTT O’DELL AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION - www.scottodell.com Deadline: Ongoing
10. INDIE BOOK AWARDS - www.indiebookawards.com/entryguidelines.php Enter by Feb. 24, 2012 - Fee $75.00 per entry.
11. DAN POYNTER GLOBAL EBOOK AWARDS - http://awardsforebooks.com
12. CRYSTAL KITE MEMBER CHOICE AWARD For book covers. Members of SCBWI
13. READERS FAVORITE BOOK REVIEWS & AWARD - http://readersfavorite.com Deadline for award entry: May 1, 2012 - $85.00
14. FOREWARD MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS - http://www.forewordreviews.com/services/book-of-the-year-awards/ $99.00
         Deadline Jan. 13, 2012
15. ERIC HOFFER AWARD http://www.HofferAward.com

         Won't you join me in making one goal for 2022 to enter at least one or more writing contests?

Sunday, January 2, 2022

Foreshadowing in Fiction


 

Foreshadowing is a literary device used to make the reader wonder. It gives the story a sense of mystery or anticipation. It can also create tension.

According to Literary Devices (1), using this device, “a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story."

Foreshadowing is a great device to keep the reader involved in the story and the characters.

There are a number of foreshadowing strategies. Below are four of them.

An Approaching Event

An example of this type of foreshadowing is in “Walking Through Walls.” Wang (the protagonist) listens as his friend, Chen, tell how neighboring warriors kidnapped his sister.  

The reader surmises or anticipates that there will be an upcoming battle to rescue Chen’s sister.

The Pre-scene

A pre-scene hints at something on the horizon.

Another example might be a new student entering a classroom and another student eyes him up and down. Nothing else happens in that particular scene.
 
The reader automatically anticipates there will be trouble between the boys down the road.

In an article at Novel Writing Help, “a pre-scene is simply a smaller version of a larger scene to come. They are not significant by themselves, but they imply that there is something more spectacular waiting to happen right around the corner.” (2)

The Loaded Gun

This strategy is attributed to Russian author and playwright Anton Chekhov.

He said, "If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on a wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it’s not going to be fired, it shouldn’t be hanging there." (3)

This type of foreshadowing doesn’t have to use a gun; it could be any object.

For example, suppose a boy is cleaning out the attic of a hundred-year-old home for a neighbor. He finds an old corroded coin. He absent-mindedly shoves it in his pocket.

The reader knows the coin is significant and expects something to happen pertaining to it in the story. If the writer is smart, she will fulfil the reader’s expectation.

The Prophecy

With this type of foreshadowing, a glimpse of misfortune to come from something that happens is given to the reader.

As an example, the albatross is a sign of good luck if seen by sailors. With the reader being privy to this knowledge, a sailor sees one fly over his ship at the midway point on every voyage he’s on. But, on this particular voyage, there is no albatross to be seen.

The implication to the reader is that there is going to be trouble for this sailor and this voyage.

Don’t Overdo It

While adding foreshadowing to your fiction story is an effective writing device, you don’t want to overdo it.

In an article at NY Book Editors, it explains that “to balance your story, there needs to be revelations and circumstances that catch the reader off-guard. If your reader is in a constant state of analysis [over foreshadowing], your pacing will suffer. To strike the perfect balance, introduce hints but then jolt your reader with something unexpected.” (4)

If you’d like to read more about foreshadowing and your fiction writing, check out the references below.

Foreshadowing is an excellent literary device when used properly. As mentioned early, it creates reader anticipation among other things.

This post first appeared at:
https://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com/2018/04/08/writing-fiction-what-is-foreshadowing/

About the Author

Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, successful children’s ghostwriter, and an author online platform instructor with WOW! Women on Writing. Check out her middle-grade book, Walking Through Walls, and her new picture book series, The Adventures of Planetman: Click here.