Think Writing Easy Readers Isn't So Easy...

...well, you're right! Writing easy readers--those books that bridge the gap between dependent reading of picture books and independent reading of novels--is not as easy at it looks! But my online writing course offered through UCLA Extension Writers' Program will help you learn the secrets of writing this important genre of books!


The class runs from April 9-June 11. For details about the course, please click HERE.

If you have any questions about the course, just drop me an email and I'll be happy to answer your questions!



ReviMo 2014!

Author and illustrator Meg Miller is offering the perfect follow-up to PiBoIdMo! From January 12-18, 2014, Meg will inspire writers to spend a week revising one of their picture book ideas. Click HERE for details.

There's no excuse now. No more finding reasons to put off developing your most intriguing picture book concept. Meg is giving you a way to commit to working on that idea for just ONE week. And really, sometimes isn't that all we need is just one swift kick-in-the-pants commitment to get going on a story?

I'm all signed up! I hope to see you there :-).

The Writing Gods Giveth and They Taketh Away...

This past week, the universe imposed opposing forces upon me. First, it giveth... Last month, for PiBoIdMo , I got a story idea and worked on it quite a bit. The only problem--I could NOT figure out how to start it. Everyday, I tried, but nothing came. Zip. Zilch. Nada. I wrote the middle and the ending, yet there sat my blank lines designated for the beginning, staring back at me.

 A couple of days ago, I was digging around in my nightstand drawer looking for some Chapstick. And there, pushed under some other things, scribbled on a notepad were four barely legible lines. I was amazed as I read them. It was my opening! I do not remember ever writing those lines down except to say that it was not anytime recently. I must have done it in the middle of the night or early one morning while still half-asleep, months ago. But somehow those four lines stuck in my subconscious and the rest of the story came to light under the inspiration of PiBoIdMo. Isn't it oddly serendipitous how a writer's brain can work? I was quite pleased with this turn of events.

 

But then the universe, in its constant working of the yin and yang, tooketh away... One morning last week, I was lying in bed with my cat snuggled down on my lap, sound asleep. I got a story idea but had no paper and pen within reach (if only my arms were a foot longer!). But I did have my cell phone! On it's Notes feature, I typed out the basic outline of the story, along with some strong opening lines. Again, I was quite pleased with things. A couple of hours later, long after the cat had woken up and freed me, I went to retrieve my notes off my phone so I could add them to my PiBoIdMo notebook. But my phone wouldn't work. Well, the phone worked but the screen did not. Long story short--I had to replace my phone. Luckily, still under warranty, the manufacturer sent me a replacement. All I had to do was keep my cards and put them in the new phone.

 

Do you see where this is heading? When I went to retrieve my fabulously brilliant notes, they weren't there. When my phone screen fried, I lost my notes! I've been trying to recall my wonderful beginning and overall structure, but it's just not coming back to me. I know, maybe I should look in my nightstand drawer, where serendipity seems to thrive!

 

Sigh...the gods of the writing universe giveth and they taketh away, but my lesson learned is to never trust technology and always keep pen and paper within reach!

An Interview...with Moi!

Children's author Robin Dobson interview with me this morning! Click here to read about Blackberry Banquet and writing in rhyme. Robin is also giving away two signed copies of my book!

What I found to be delightfully surprising is that Robin created a math activity to go with Blackberry Banquet, where she uses the Montessori Division Board. Why was this surprising? Robin had no idea that I hold an AMI (Montessori) Teaching Diploma and taught Montessori preprimary classes for twenty-two years. Now, that's serendipitous!

         

+

 

=  FUN!



How I Got My Literary Agent--Part II

In my previous post, I shared the part of my journey that led to receiving an offer of representation. Before I finish the story, let me first say—and I cannot stress this enough—take your cue from the Boy Scouts and BE PREPARED (figure out why you want an agent and what you’re looking for in an agent before you start submitting).
 
If you recall, I left off with three agents holding multiple manuscripts (Agents B and C, plus Tricia Lawrence). This made me become rather “OC” (obsessive-compulsive) about checking my email. So, around 6:00 one Friday morning, still blurry-eyed and half-asleep, I checked my phone for any news. There was a message from Agent C.

 

I slumped. “Darn it! I got my first rejection from one of the three agencies,” I said to my husband. He asked me what it said and I told him I didn’t know, that I hadn’t read it yet.
 

“Well, read it! Don’t assume the worst!” he said. 

But remember, I’d received 69 rejections prior to this so I’d gotten used to bad news. I was convinced it was a “No.” But of course, I opened it.  And I was stunned to see it was an offer of representation!

 Have you ever seen someone win at Wimbledon? You know, when the best tennis player in the world wins match point; then falls to her knees, face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably? 

Yep, that was me! Words couldn’t express the overwhelming joy and relief I felt, that finally, FINALLY, someone made me an offer. That someone really liked my work. It truly was surreal.

 

Agent C wanted to talk! I wrote her back right away and then stressed all day waiting for a response. By late that afternoon, I was convinced it was a mistake and that she’d accidentally written to the wrong Terry; that she meant to write another Terry who had subbed work to her (I know that sounds neurotic but this business can seriously mess with your mind). Finally, that evening, she wrote me back and we set up a time to talk.

 

I spoke with her by phone two days later* and we hit it off well. I was excited about the prospects of working with the agency. Even though it was a new one, it sounded wonderful and I personally connected with them. And there were benefits to working with a new agency (eager to sell my work, being a showcase author). She wanted to email me a contract that day but I told her I had two other agencies that had requested my work and I needed to give them a chance to respond.  

* Note: Before the phone call, I did my homework and was prepared. AgentQuery.com has a fabulous article on what to do when an agent offers representation. Not only did I understand how to handle multiple offers, but for the phone call I had the prepared questions in front of me, two pens, water, and I dressed as if I was going to an in-person interview just to keep me on my “professional toes.”
 
As soon as I got off the phone with Agent C, I emailed Tricia and Agent B to let them know I had an offer. Agent B wrote back that afternoon with a pass but wished me well. The next morning, Tricia wrote me and thanked me for letting her know. She asked for a week to review my work. I let Agent C know this right away and thanked her for her patience as I considered this highly important career decision.
 

Five days later, Tricia emailed me that she loved what I’d sent her and wanted to talk (more tears, but since I was eating breakfast at a restaurant at the time, I managed to contain myself). Tricia and I spoke two days later and she was amazing too. I was so impressed with her professional yet personable and friendly manner. Best of all, she was so enthusiastic about my work! My work! Nobody had ever seemed that excited about my stories. It truly felt like a dream. But--she wanted me to think on it a while, since I had another offer, so I would be certain to make the right decision.

So there I was, spinning in circles in my office, about to burst! Never in my life did I EVER think I’d have to choose between two fabulous agencies with agents whom I’d connected with personally and professionally. Needless to say, I did not sleep well for two nights (you would be amazed at how many things can happen that prevent a contract from being signed—at least in my dreams!).

I knew what I wanted in an agent going into my search—someone who offered editorial input, gave career guidance, communicated regularly and was accessible, and someone with a track record. Both of these agents satisfied the first three criteria, but Agent C was new and didn’t have a track record. Also, Tricia’s agency, Erin Murphy Literary Agency, brought a lot to the table that I hadn’t anticipated (their own client forum and their own annual retreat—it sounded similar to the Vermont College community). In my heart, which I had now learned to trust, I knew Tricia would be a perfect fit for me. So, even though it was painfully saddening to have decline Agent C’s offer, I was elated to accept Tricia’s offer and sign on with her and the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Talk about the yin and yang of life!  

 

Now, I’m anticipating getting to work with Tricia. I love feeling that I have a partner in my career and I will do everything in my power not to disappoint her. Onward ho!

So that’s my journey to finding an agent, which was more like a trek across the Himalayas… 

For anyone who is looking for an agent, here are some of my favorite online resources: 

AgentQuery.com

QueryTracker.com

SCBWI’s “TheBook” (Agent Market) 

Verla Kay’s Blue Boards (now merged with SCBWI Blue Boards)

Publisher’sMarketplace ($25 per month membership or you can subscribe to the Publishers’ Lunch, a free daily newsletter sent by Publishers’ Marketplace  

ChuckSambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents Blog   

LiteraryRambles   

Frolicking Through Cyberspace Blog  

New Online Writing Course Open for Registration!

My new online writing course, "Writing in Rhyme for Young Children" is now open for registration. This is the third course that I'll be teaching for UCLA Extension Writers' Program and I'm most excited about it! Being a bit of a rhymester, I love the idea of immersing students in the world of rhyming picture books (and easy readers) for this 8-week course. And I promise I will refrain from using cheesy rhymes! (and that's not easy, not to be cheesy! Oops...sorry!)

Please click HERE for more details. 

Happy writing!

PiBoIdMo Starts Today!

Today is Day One of PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month). I'm so looking forward to this event! And just based on the Day One post by the fabulous Tammi Sauer, I can tell it's going to be a great month of brainstorming and feeding the picture book monster within (of course, because it' a picture book monster, it's a cute, pink, endearing monster).