Free Ways to Help Authors
Ever want to help an author, but think you can’t afford to? Here are 10 ways you can help them–for free!
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Submit Your Children’s Book Without an Agent! *New List of >100 Open Publishers*
Now over *100!!* publishers accepting children’s books from #unagented writers! Come find one that works for you. #amwriting #kidlit Updated w/ 6 new houses Aug 15, 2023
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Welcome to the Author Platform Challenge!
What’s the 31 Day Author Platform Challenge and why do you need to join? Join other authors as you find out here, my friend!
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Bitsy’s 31-Day Author Platform* Challenge
Join this simple 31-Day Author Platform Challenge to up your social media presence! BitsyKemper.wordpress.com/31-day-author-platform-challenge-2
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“31 Day Author Platform Challenge” Prep
I know we’ve got a bunch of people that are finding out about the 31 Day Author Platform Challenge late and/or are just starting. Welcome! This challenge can begin at any time, so don’t feel rushed to catch up on every past day to match where we are now. Take the time to do each task properly! I wanted to be sure you start out on the same right foot the rest of us did.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 1: Cross-Platform Assessment
Day 1 of 31 Day Author Platform is looking at the big picture. We’ll take a cross-platform assessment so we know where we are, and where we need to go!
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 2: Set up with sign-ups
Day 2 of 31 Day Author Platform Challenge: Set up with sign ups
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 3: Quote it
Day 3 of the 31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 3 puts Day 1 and 2 to work with an easy challenge of posting a meme across all platforms
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 4: Author Pages
Day 4 of the 31 Day Author Challenge focuses on creating Author Pages-which is easy, as well as an effective part of author branding
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 5: Website homey
For Day 5 of the 31 Day Author Platform Challenge, it’s time to work on your author website, specifically your homepage.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 6: Bio, Bio Everywhere
It’s Day 6 of 31 Day Author Platform Challenge and we are all about the bio, the bio, the bio, the bio 🎶
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 7: Headshots
Smile for camera! For Day Six of the 31-Day Author Platform Challenge we are focusing on headshots.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 8: #WritersLift Shout-outs
You’ve known plenty of helpful people. Today, Day 8 of the 31 Day Author Platform Challenge we are showing them some (virtual) love.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 9: Why a Newsletter?
[Before we start, have you followed 10 new people yet?] Talk Directly to Those Who WANT to Hear From You Why are we talking about newsletters today? One of the problems with social media is that it casts a wide net. Everyone from everywhere is scrolling and watching. You never know who is paying attention so you never know if what you’re saying is being heard. Think about placing a billboard on a busy freeway. Yes, a TON of people will see it. But are they the right people? I mean, what do you know about those people? They have…
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 10: Pop-up & Capture
Day 10 of Bitsy’s 31 Day Author Platform Challenge is on capturing emails via pop-up sign-up forms.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 11: Magnet Ideas
Today we are coming up with a list of 10 things you can offer as a freebie—your lead magnet— as an incentive to get people to sign up for your newsletter’s mailing list. It has to be not only good, but enough…enough for them to hand over their precious email address and agree to stomach yet another barrage of emails.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 12: Let’s Make Freebies
Remember in Days 10 we talked about dangling a freebie to get people to sign up for your mailing list, and in Day 11 we brainstormed 10 potential freebies? Today, Day 12, we are going to pick one of those freebie ideas, and create it.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 13: Little Known Facts
Today you’re going to find a little-known fact that supports your brand or your book(s). Then you’re gonna create and publish a pretty little post about it.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 14: How to Boost Sign-ups
On Day 14 we are going to go back to our freebie, and create a campaign to kick off today. Yes, today. No sense wasting time.
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31 Day Platform Challenge Day 15: Good News
Today, Day 14 of 31 Day Author Platform Challenge, in a separate post from your poll result analysis, you are going to share some good news.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 16: Did You See That?
We’ve made several posts so far. Time to up the ante. Studies show videos get far more views and engagement than simple photo posts on social media.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 17: Why Not Ask?
On Day 17 of our 31 Day Author Platform Challenge, we are going to engage and interact by asking readers/followers an open-ended question.
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31-Day Author Platform Challenge Day 18: Talk About Me!
Today, research five podcasts and/or blogs you can make guest appearances on within the next two months.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 19: Being Real
Today, Day 19 I insist you have some fun creating a “My view today” video. And by that I mean, a 10-25 second video of what you are looking at, at the moment. That’s it, that’s all it’s going to be. Sort of like a BeReal, if you know what that is.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 20: What Do YOU Think?
We’re taking a poll! 31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 20 is fast and easy.
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31-Day Author Platform Challenge Day 21: Mutual Support
Today’s author platform task has two parts. First, you need to post the results of your poll. Then, you’ll post something timely and beneficial for a fellow author/
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 22: Let Me In
Day 22 of 31 Day Author Platform Challenge: Create a short-ish blog or FB post sharing a personal story.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 23: Time to Conference
Day 23 of 31 Day Author Platform Challenge: research conferences and events in your age and genre to be a resource for others that would be interested too. You can use that info anyway.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 24: TIL Video
“TIL” Today I Learned Maybe it’s a hack on scrambling eggs, or a shortcut in folding laundry, but odds are you learned something recently. Today, Day 24 of the 31 Day Author Platform Challenge, you are going to share that learning. Via video! (You need to get more comfortable in video. It’s the future!) And “TIL” is all the rage right now, so let’s hop on board. My recent key learning is a time saver called a “macro” which lets you type in a few letters and have your pc fill in the rest. It’s called a macro. It’s hugely…
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 25: SEO
Today, Day 25 of 31 Day Author Platform Challenge, we’re going back to your website and looking into “SEO” or “search engine optimization” which is a fancy way of saying “making sure your website has the right words for search engines to notice, so it pops up early in search results.”
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 26: Baby Pix
What age range are you writing for? Pull up some old file,s or photo albums (remember them?) and find some old baby pix of yourself at that age.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 27: Best Advice
Today, share your best piece of advice for your audience (is your audience writers? moms? YA readers? librarians?).
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 28: Listicle Love
One Day 17, you’re going to create a listicle today to share with your followers. You choose the topic. Suggestions include topics like “10 Best Travel Books for Toddlers,” “5 Favorite Bedtime Books with Elephants,” “7 Ways to Strengthen Your Story Arc.”
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 29: Things We Love
Let’s get friendly on Day 29. Time to share some of your go-to favorites in books, websites, webinars, conferences…whatever you consider crucial in your daily(ish) writing
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 30: Checklist Check
Day 30 of the 31 Day Author Platform Challenge…Today, make one clean (re)list of all the things still to be done.
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 31: We Made It!
Day 31 is when we check our progress! Let’s check our current numbers against where we started. Did we meet our goals? Did we try?
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31 Day Author Platform Challenge Bonus Day: Please and Thank You
For today’s Bonus Day, join me in tagging friends that have helped you along the way in improving your reach and attaining your growth goals.
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Writing Goals vs Writing Skills
What’s the difference between setting a goal and focusing on a skill? Hint: only one of them will make stuff happen. http://www.BitsyKemper.com/blog
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Writing and virtual socializing in the middle of chaos
Can I just say 2021 sucks? I hate to make hasty generalizations, as my college professor Dr. Funkhouser would point out, from the story he read to us about the man with the beaver-skin hat. But 2021 reeks. This was supposed to be the redemption year, the recovery year, the year we bounced back from from that crap-ball of 2020. Maybe it was the high expectation we all placed on it. <Delta variant laughs voraciously in the background> Maybe we made unfair assumptions, that anything would be better than last year. <see earlier reference to Delta laughter> Maybe we (and…
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Growth Along the Writing Journey
Growth Along the Writing Journey: How to know if you’re on the right path (Hint: it’s your path, your rules!)
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(Intangible) Gifts Ideas For Writers, 2020 Edition
Unique Gift Ideas For Writers They They Really Want (Hint: Not Another Journal) What a year, amiright? I think it’s okay for me to be blunt. 2020 has been so nutty that I think we all deserve some peace this holiday season. Let me help ease your mind with some unique gift ideas for your writer friends; gift ideas that will leave them happy and thankful you took the time to understand them, to see them. While none of these can be wrapped, they are all ways to better your writer’s life. And boy will they appreciate them. REVIEW THEIR…
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Writers Block: 3 New Ways to Overcome it
3 New Ways to Overcome Writers Block…Creating in the Time of COVID: When Having All the Time in the World Somehow Means Less Time to Create
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Daily/Weekly Writing Goals: What Make Sense?
Writing in the Time of COVID: Two Golden Rules of Word Count Goals (Hint: there is no magical number)
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Are Books Selling?
Are books still selling? Are agents and publishers still buying? A quick look at the state of the publishing industry from an author’s perspective
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Zoom Tips: the right link 🙂
Six Zoom Tips For Introverts: How to (Easily) Work the Camera and Adjust Your (Nervous) Attitude
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Six Zoom Tips for Introverts
Zoom Tips for Introverts: How to Easily Work the Camera and Ease Your (Nervous) Attitude
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Time to Write That Book?
Taking advantage of all that time at home….Resources to get started writing that children’s book of yours I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned I’m a children’s book author without the reply being, “Oh I’ve always wanted to do that.” (Well either that or the implications about how easy it must be but let’s save that for another time, shall we?) What better time to sit down and write that book you’ve been thinking about than in the age of quarantine? I mean, what better excuse do you have to tell your kids to get out of your room, you’re writing?…
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YOU’RE NOT A WRITER IF…
Writers tend to doubt themselves, amiright? “I’m not a real writer if I’m not published yet” or “Sure, I’m published, but compared to so-and-so I don’t consider myself a writer.” Knock it off. If you write, you’re a writer. That is, unless you fall into one of these categories…
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Lessons From An Oscar Party
Lessons from an Oscar party: not letting others control your happiness
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Presentation Skills For Introverts, Part II: Content
Got a presentation coming up and ready to start tackling content (the ‘what’ of your talk)? There are certain things all effective presentations have. Here are some kick-butt tips, from how to get started to what kind of visuals to include to how to handle difficult Q&A. Have a look.
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Presentation Skills for Introverts: 5 Easy Do’s and 5 Don’ts…plus 6 Bonus Extras
Public Speaking Tips for Introverts (AKA Most Authors): 8 easy Do’s and Don’ts for the timid, shy, or panicked
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Securing EIN vs SSN or TID for KDP. Wha? (NBD)
Easy ways to protect your privacy while setting up an Amazon Kindle KDP account
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True or False: SCBWI’S “The Book” Has Live Links [Hint: TRUE]
First let me say that SCBWI’s “The Book” is an online, members-only resource that I’ve always said is one of the single most valuable pieces of membership. You can also have it printed-on-demand and mailed to you, which I also recommend, as I’m tactile as well as visual and like being able to flip through it manually. But the online version IS WHERE IT’S AT! But recently I’ve realized many, many SCBWI members have no idea what the book is, what it offers, let alone how to use use it. Stick with me as I explain the #1 use most…
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Wasting Time Interviewing Wrong Agent?
If you interviewed an agent and it was a bust, does that mean you wasted your time? NO!! Find out why.
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To Write or Not to Write
Writing in the face of rejections: why do we do it? Is it an addiction? (don’t answer that)
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Iceland: Facts for Fiction
With the beauty, history, quirks and complexity, consider making Iceland a main character or setting to your next story. Here are some crazy facts.
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Getting Conference-Ready: 10 Conference Tips for the Introvert, Beginner, and Beginner Introvert
Whether you’re headed to your first conference or your fifth, you’re gonna want to plan ahead. Most writers are introverts, and panic at the thought of being in a room with strangers. Relax! You’re going to be fine. The children’s book industry is wonderfully welcoming and supportive. (I’ve attended and presented at conferences across the U.S., from local to international events, and never cease to be amazed at the kindness.) To help maximize your precious time, and all that coin you’ve already dropped on the event, here are some tips I’ve found most helpful: Conference tips: Have an overall goal…
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Creative Gifts for Writers 2018
Want to get your writer friend something different this year? Here are ideas for every price range–from free to wallet-full–and you’ll not have thought of many of them!
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Do you Want to Write For Hire? Take This Quiz to Decide
You may have wondered if Work For Hire is right for you. If you’re considering writing in the children’s book industry, I’ve created a quiz that might help. It’s based on my personal experiences as well as several colleagues I interviewed. [To give you some perspective on collective experience that I’m drawing from: I’ve written 16 kidlit titles for hire so far; picture books, chapter books, and YA–most of them as part of an existing series where the other titles were written by several other people. The fellow writers I talked to have authored close to 100 for-hire titles total.]…
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College Applications, Manuscript Submissions, and Lessons Learned
How attending a college info night gave me insight into writing what matters
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Laptime with our little ones
This guest blog post originally appeared on The Bedtime Stories Blog on May 2, 2018 on https://medium.com/bedtime-stories-blog Turning Classic Fairytales Upside Down Keeping The Old, With New Modern Twists! We all know the classics fairytales and storybook rhymes our grandparents taught us or read to us. But do our kids know them? Unless it was made into a movie or TV show, maybe not. If our kids have heard the rest of them, they probably think they’re dated. The challenge: How do we keep these classics, and traditions, alive? We make them relevant to today’s world. When I think of storybooks or fairytales, I think…
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Author Visits: First Questions to Ask Before Booking
Most authors and illustrators focus on “what should I charge?” and “what should I talk about” when looking to book their first rounds of author visits. Here are just a few questions to ask from the very first time you connect with the school or group, before you pick the date. 1. What are the age ranges in attendance they want you to speak to; is it the whole school or a few classes/grades, and if so–which grades? 2. How many students/kids total? You’ll want to know for handouts, any giveaways, yes, but initially to gauge the amount of work so…
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Gift Ideas for Writers: 2017
Here are some great gift ideas for the writers in your life (or for yourself!)
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How Do I know If My Manuscript is Finished?
How many times have you edited your manuscript? Figuring when you’re done might be easier said than done. Find out how to know.
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“I’ve written a children’s book…now what?”
“I’ve written a children’s book…now what?” As a published author, I hear this question a lot. Technology has made many things easier, but the publishing industry is still pretty standard. Sure, you could go the self-published route, which has earned a much better reputation than the past (but some small publishing houses are glorified self-publishers, so you have to be careful. Do your homework!), but you’ll still need to follow these first few steps. Don’t illustrate! First off, if you’ve written a picture book, and you’re not a professional artist, DON’T illustrate it unless you are self publishing. Don’t find…
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How do I Find an Agent?
Google “how to find a literary agent for children’s books” and you’ll get 1,580,000 hits. Over one and a half million! And that’s just in the kidlit world. There are many, many theories on how to find one, just like there are many many theories on how to write the perfect picture book. Many roads will take you there, my friend. You just need to start walking. THEY AREN’T GOING TO COME TO YOU. First things first. You need to make sure your manuscript is print ready. Never send something that isn’t perfect/finished! Has it been copy edited? Have you had…
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Shopping at IKEA
I dreamt that I was in IKEA, looking for a replacement piece for something from my kid’s room. I look all over the warehouse, up and down every aisle. You know how big that place is! Had people helping, looking part numbers up on the computer, nothing. Two hours. I’m out of options, on the ground floor near the register, when I decide to look a little closer, turn it upside down…and… It’s a Lego piece. Isn’t that how writing is sometimes? You exhaust every option trying to figure out a story arc or plot point or character tic, get…
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What Other Great Writers Said About Writing
Why reinvent the wheel, right? There are so many great writers with so many great thoughts on writing, that I thought I’d share some of the highlights from what they told me or what I overheard heard [read: eavesdropping] at the SCBWI conference last month in L.A. I admit the haunted hotel creeped me out to the point I didn’t sleep for five days so some of my notes may be totally made up, I’m not 100% sure. But they’re mostly accurate. Drew Daywalt, @DrewDaywalt, author of the wonderful and incredibly creative picture book The Day the Crayons Quit, and…
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Conference Tips for Writers
Headed to a big conference? Wondering how to make the most of it? You’ve already figured out it’s worth going, otherwise you’d be at home in your pajamas saving all that money you’re about to drop. Plan ahead to maximize your precious time. Conference tips: Have an overall goal in mind. This might change for every conference. It could be to find an agent, or simply break out of your comfort zone. But make it a little more specific. What exactly are you looking for in an agent? Figure that out before you go so you know what to look for,…
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Author Platform: Maximizing Social Media
Social media is one of the main ways you create your author brand, or platform. Since most of your readers will never meet you in person, it’s how most of your readers get to know you. This post is gonna look at ways to maximize social media so you can give yourself the best author platform. We’ll talk through some real examples, and give tips on how to maximize social media to your best advantage.
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Creating an Author Platform
Quick quiz: You’re told you need to work on your “Author Platform.” You:
A. Smile politely, then go back to searching online for cute cat outfits B. Nod, smile, then furiously Google “Writers’ d” hoping you’re not the last to know what the heck that is C. Think “Oh, yeah it really is time I update my Facebook, Twitter, blog and website,” then dig right in D. B or C but definitely not A (unless it was a really good sale)
Correct answer: D.
Find out what a writer’s platform is, why yo u need to have one, and how…
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2016 NY Writers Conference: Who’s With Me?
I’m headed to one of the largest children’s book writing conferences in the world: the SCBWI Winter Conference. You too? Here are some tips on how to survive it.
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3 Ways to Rock Your Bio
You never get a second chance to make a first impression, right? Your bio may be the only time someone decides if they’re going to invest more time or energy into getting to know you, into hiring you, or into trusting you. So you want to put your best foot forward. Make that both feet. 1. Know Your Audience What is the bio for? A book flap? Conference? Website? School visit? Who is reading it? Make sure your qualifications match the reason you’re there as a speaker, writer, professional. You’re a complicated (yet attractive) beast with many facets. You can’t possibly…
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Rejuvenate Your Resolve 2016
Here’s a short video I made for a writer’s group, with the theme “Rejuvenate Your Resolve.” It was 10 hours before my knee surgery, and the only makeup I’ve got on is lipstick, so no judging! https://youtu.be/wDZipJZ-f6c So, why do YOU write?
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Is My Picture Book Ready? A 13-point Checklist
Is My Picture Book Ready? A 13-point Checklist
You’ve Written a Picture Book…Now What? You’re pretty sure you’re finished. I hate to say it, but you’re just getting started. Roll up those sleeves because now the fun begins. From taking a step back to do some research to checking your word count and story arc, this check list will help you know if your manuscript is ready to be a book
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How Many Pages Should Your Manuscript or Book Be?
Sometimes it’s easier to see than explain:
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Pay to Enter a Writing Contest?
Why would you–or should you–ever pay to enter a writing contest? Does it sully the award? Or does the entry fee give credibility to the award? For the most part, paying to enter an award is a red flag warning DO NOT ENTER THIS CONTEST!
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Who Are You Writing For? Age Range Matters.
Here’s a typical conversation at a social gathering, grocery store, or school fundraiser: “Oh, you write children’s books? I’ve always wanted to do that. I’ve got an idea I always wanted to try.” Then they hold eye contact, waiting for me to ask them what it’s about. I smile and leave the silence for just a teeny bit longer than a normal conversation would have because I’m a jerk. Then I finally ask “What kind of book?” Usually they’re taken aback because it’s not what they expected to be asked. They say something like “to teach kids about fire safety” or “it’s about…
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Revision: Taking A Step Back
Have you ever been asked to read a friend’s manuscript, and, well, their work was borderline horrible? But that friend is so clueless that he/she thinks it’s PERFECT and is honestly thinks a movie deal will be offered any day now? Well I’ve been that friend. My first drafts were horrible. In fact, I didn’t even know they were drafts. I thought I had a final product. And I thought I had a GOOD final product. After the first pieces of feedback, I got busy rewording a few things here and there, changed a description or two. What I…
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8 Writing Tips in 8 Minutes: Bitsy’s tips for the newbie picture book writer
Are you one of the over 200 peeps headed to the SCBWI CA North/Central 2015 Spring Spirit writer’s conference? (wow, that was a mouthful) Are you looking for some beginner’s tip? Take a look here…”8 Writers Tips for Beginner Picture Book Writers” (uh,yeah, that was a mouthful too…don’t that that sway you on my mad writing skillz) Hope to see you Saturday!
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Current Status of Children’s Book Market, according to SCBWI NY 2015
Ah, so much went on at the international conference that I’m still basking in the fruitfulness. I’m pretty sure that’s not an expression, but you know what I mean. I’ve tweeted out much of the greatness. I’ve culled some more juicy tidbits to share, in random order: 1. Webinars are popular and great for those farther away from the masses. Expect to see more. 2. Webinars are NOT a replacement of in-person conferences, workshops, or gatherings. They are in addition to them. Nothing beats face to face contact. 3. Editors and agents find/book authors and illustrators at conferences, people they…
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SCBWI Conference in NY, Feb 2015
I’m attending the annual, (inter)national children’s book conference with SCBWI. I’m also taking over as the Regional Advisor (R.A.) for the Northern CA/Central region of SCBWI, which encompasses about 400 members in 33 counties (not sure if I want you to applaud or pity me, haha). Lately I’ve heard a bunch of beginner writer questions. I’m re-posting a Q&A-type video I made a little while ago, and hopefully it’ll help answer questions you didn’t even think to ask. Click the video on the blog post below. Did I leave anything out? Do you have more Qs that need As? I’m working…
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8 Writing Tips in 8 Minutes: Bitsy’s tips for the newbie picture book writer
As I’m headed to the (inter)national children’s book conference with SCBWI, I’ve had a few beginner questions about how to get started. Hopefully this video is as helpful now as it was when I first posted it.
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Setting Means More Than Location
We recently moved. We are only a dozen miles from our last house, but it’s a world away. We went from “the middle of flippin’ nowhere” to “closer to society.” The drive time alone makes a huge difference to my peace of mind. But there are other, seemingly smaller things that have an impact on the everyday me. It got me thinking about setting. I’ve been writing more now, and have been hyper sensitive to what is going on around my main characters. Where a story takes place is more than location. It affects a person’s (or character’s) mood, mindset, and…
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Where does “trick or treat” come from*?
At the risk of creating a post that will be immediately dated, I found out something today I never knew. Not one to bottle up joy, I thought I’d keep the cork off and share with you. Certainly you already know Halloween comes from Hallow and evening, that Hallowe’en was the original spelling with the v left out, and it stood for the evening before All Hallows Day on Nov 1st, making Oct 31st All Hallows Eve, which is the day/night before the feasts of the saints and souls of loved ones that have passed on. And certainly you know…
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Fall into writing
Ah, the beauty of Fall. Crisp apples, hayrides, upcoming family visits, free Halloween candy (shush, it’s not stealing, it’s a mommy tax). But also, it’s Picture Book Idea Month! This is a free club challenge, if you will, where those that sign up agree to come up with one picture book idea everyday for the month of Nov. Sounds easy, right? HA. I dare you! You don’t write a picture book every day, you “simply” create an idea for one. It’s like NaNoWriMo only it’s for the children’s book industry. There are other programs in Jan and Feb for you…
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A book award makes me livid? Disillusioned? Offended? All three maybe
To be recognized for your work feels great, especially when it’s by experts in your field. Right? Well you’d think it would. I got a wonderful email from someone representing a (seemingly?) legitimate industry award. They said they found out about me from one of my Twitter posts. When they looked into my books, one stood out among the others, and they felt it was so good it could win one of their awards. They were excited for me to be a part of it all! Please note they did not actually READ any of my books, just ABOUT them. …
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Twitter 101: The Basics, For Writers
Twitter 101 for Writers Part One The past few writers’ conference presentations I’ve given about Author Platforms have prompted many of the same questions. Most surround social media. I’m gonna tackle one biggie here: Twitter. Let’s look at the very basic concept of Twitter in this post, for the true beginner. How to use it effectively will be a different post, so be sure to keep looking around on my site if you need more help or detail. “I know what Twitter is, but I don’t know how to use it like I should. Is there a specific process?” “Why do…
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8 Phrases that should NEVER come out of your mouth
Here are eight words and phrases that should never, and I mean NEVER come out of your mouth. At least not to me. In random order: 1. When you see I’m in the midst of a book you’re already read: “Did you get to the part where…” Are you serious? What if I’m not there yet, you idiot? You just ruined it for me! 2. When discussing a book or movie I haven’t read/seen, but you have “Oh the ending of that is sooo unexpected.” Come closer so I can smack you. You pretty much just ruined any surprise I wouldn’t…
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“…finish at your leisure…”
When someone asks me to take a look at or work on something “at my leisure,” it takes everything to not point out that leisure, by its very definition, means time not spent working. It’s a time free from work/duty. So, reviewing something at my leisure is an oxymoron. If I’m not working, I am not going to look at work. I am not going to think about work. I used to think vacation meant less work, not no work. I now happily embrace the true meaning of leisure. Mostly. Quite frankly, wish I did sooner. Shutting off the…
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It’s not what y…
It’s not what you DID, it’s what you DO.” That thought occurred to me this morning, while I was driving. I can’t change what I did, but I can change what I do. So I’m gonna start doing. Who’s with me?
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Presenting at SCBWI Conference, April 2014
Oh the joys of being part of a tribe. I had a great time presenting “Marketing the @#&! out of Yourself with Twitter” at the Northern CA SCBWI Spring Spirit conference (#SpSp14) on April 5, 2014, held in the Sacramento area. I was surrounded by greatness and the common love of writing children’s books. Being “on faculty” had its privileges too…allow me to show, not tell: Here I am signing books right next to NYT best-selling YA author Jay Asher (@JayAsherGuy), as he enjoys a laugh with a conference attendee that just bought his book: Here I am next to author…
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“Not all treasu…
“Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate.” -Captain Jack Sparrow Besides giving me an excuse to picture Johnny Depp (hubba hubba), that quote is relevant because this Saturday is the annual Spring Spirit conference for the Northern California Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (try saying that three times fast…). [Man, there is just no easy way get those words out. Does “@NorthCalSCBWI #SpSp14 conf” sound any better? No? I’ll stick with conference then.] If you’re a budding writer or illustrator of children’s books and you haven’t heard of the event or the group or the conference, write it…
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April Kidlit Writing Contests
CONTEST TIME Do you work best under pressure? I do. (Don’t judge) Sometimes a writing contest is just the kick in the butt I need to get moving on a manuscript that’s been getting all dusty and lonely. I’ve scraped up a few contests that all have April or May deadlines, so consider this your official kick in the pants to start working on that in-need-of-attention manuscript that you haven’t have a reason to work on–until now. Yeah, you’re welcome. I can’t personally vouch for the hosts’ honor or intentions of these upcoming contests, but they look pretty good. And it’s…
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8 Writing Tips in 8 Minutes: Bitsy’s tips for the newbie picture book writer
Thinking of writing a children’s book? Have you written one but not sure what to do with it? Well a-looky here, I’ve got some slick tips for you, dear beginner. It’ll be the best eight minutes of your day! (Unless you won the lottery, in which case may I say how beautiful you look today?) Feel free to share the video on your own blog or website. Just please give a link back to me here, okay? Thanks, doll. If you have tips or tricks that you’d like to share with fellow newbies, please let me know! You may be…
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Watch “Bitsy Kemper’s tips for newbie writers” on YouTube
Bitsy Kemper’s tips for newbie writers: http://youtu.be/N4w2KVjLitY
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