It’s been 13 days since The Magic of 13 conference in Cleveland this month. I’ve had time to review my notes and relive the magic. And it was magical! On Friday, I was able to participate in an intensive class with Jodell Sadler of the Sadler Children’s Literary Agency and have a one-on-one manuscript critique with Nikki Garcia, Assistant Editor for Little Brown Books for Young Readers. Then I spent the full day, Saturday, attending workshops with Jodell Sadler again; and Marie Lamba, Associate Literary Agent with the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency; Kendra Levin, Senior Editor with Viking’s Children Books, the Penguin Young Readers Group; and Victoria Selvaggio, Associate Agent with the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. What a lineup! I talked with wonderful authors like Mary Kay Carson, Miranda Paul, Shutta Crum, Michelle Houts, and Liz Coley. However, there were other wonderful authors and illustrators I missed, like Denise Fleming, Gloria Adams, and Sophie Cayless… the days were just to full to see everyone! And of course, I met and worked with countless other writers and illustrators who attended the workshops. Oh, how I wish I had a week with these extraordinary people!
With the passing of 13 days since the Magic of 13, I want to share 13 things I learned with you. Hopefully these 13 tricks will help you get where you want to be in your writing and publication.
- Tell your story. Begin at the beginning. Go until you get to the end. Then stop.
2. Be on every page with the reader. See what they see, hear what they hear, smell what they smell, feel what they feel.
3. Use vivid words to paint a picture in the reader’s mind. Use fun and interesting language. Make your words work hard, make them pull double duty when engaging a reader.
4. Determine your character’s core values. These will guide his/her actions. Apply the emotional truths of what you know to new situations for your characters. You may never have been lost in a jungle like your character is, but you do know what it feels like to be lost. Use that to guide your character through unfamiliar territory.
5. The road to publication comes from employing plot, poetry, pauses, and personality.Â
6. Form allegiances with other writers. Support each other. Champion each other to do your best.
7. Study your craft. Find mentor texts and professionals to guide you along the way.
8. Find inspiration in those who have gone before you.
9. Forge your own processes. Don’t be afraid of doing things differently than what ‘everyone else’ says you should be doing.
10. Have a strong hook. Your story must be easy to pitch. Prepare a one sentence log line, a description that can be used to promote your work. It must evoke feeling.
11.Stay current on today’s market and know where your book fits. Yours should be the same but different. It must fit into a market audience.
12. Be aware of your social media presence. Contribute to the promotion of yourself. Be professional. Be positive in your social interactions at all times.
13. Have fun! If you’re having fun, your reader will have fun!
…and now for the magic…
Abracadbra… Poof!
Tags: 2015 Northern Ohio Conference, allies, authors, core values, Denise Fleming, Gloria Adams, illustrators, Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, Jodell Sadler, Kendra Levin, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Liz Coley, Marie Lamba, Mary Kay Carson, mentors, Michelle Houts, Miranda Paul, Nikki Garcia, Penguin Young Readers, publication, Publisher's Marketplace, Sadler Children's Literary Agency, SCBWI, Shutta Crum, social media, Sophie Cayless, The Magic of 13, Victoria Selvaggio, Viking's Children Books, writing process, writing workshops
Juliana Lee 