| janfields |
Afternoon Open Forum
will begin in five minutes. Moderator Jan Fields welcomes any
writing related questions you may have. So, sit up straight and be
ready to chat in five minutes!.
|
| janfields |
Afternoon Open Forum
will begin in two minutes...strap on your seat belts and let's get
ready to chat!
|
| janfields |
Welcome to ICL's Open
Forum. Any and all writing related questions are fair game. If I
don't know the answer, I'll try to find out. So
welcome!
|
| janfields |
Today, I want to start
with a leftover question
|
| janfields |
And then feel free to
ask anything that's on your mind.
|
| soradina |
Where do you collect
information for the magazine markets on
|
| soradina |
Kidmagazine.com?
|
| janfields |
A lot of my info comes
from folks emailing me.
|
| janfields |
And most of y'all don't
have that in.
|
| janfields |
But I do get a ton of
new magazine info
|
| janfields |
from WOODEN HORSE
PUBLISHING
|
| janfields |
which is a
website.
|
| janfields |
Meg, the owner,
subscribes to a lot of the media trade magazines
|
| janfields |
and she gets press
releases
|
| janfields |
so she tends to be very
on top of new releases.
|
| janfields |
Usually, she doesn't
have much info on them.
|
| janfields |
So I'll GOOGLE the
magazine name
|
| janfields |
find the magazine's
site
|
| janfields |
And then ask the editor
questions or get more details from the site.
|
| janfields |
And then I put the info
I discover in ICL's eNews or in KidMagWriters -- or in
both.
|
| janfields |
I also get info from my
own reading of trade magazines for the publishing industry like
Media Week...
|
| janfields |
but really if you spend
much time with Wooden Horse, you'll be right on top of most magazine
news.
|
| jan_fields |
robinb How do I submit to
the ICL news?
|
| janfields |
Hmmm...if you mean the
eNews, you can just email me
|
| janfields |
jan.fields@forums.institutechildrenslit.com
|
| janfields |
and I'll put most
anything in that you want
|
| janfields |
But I can't pay...which
is why it's generally written by me
|
| janfields |
me, all me.
muwahahahaha
|
| janfields |
If you mean the
website, for which I do pay
|
| janfields |
again...same
email.
|
| janfields |
But I'm booked way
ahead in my slots so you're looking at a year before the article
would sell.
|
| janfields |
If you mean the
Children's Writer -- which pays way better
|
| janfields |
you can check out
http://www.childrenswriter.com
|
| janfields |
But you have to do
quite a bit of sourcing for stuff for her.
|
| janfields |
But you do get paid a
lot more.
|
| janfields |
The editor is Susan
Tierney
|
| janfields |
Ahhh...all good news
just goes to me.
|
| janfields |
And I am always so
happy to hear it.
|
| janfields |
Are you meaning your
good news about the chicken soup sale?
|
| janfields |
Do email me...I want to
spread the news around but I have a memory like
sieve.
|
| janfields |
Oh yes...all
publications count -- magazines, books, anthologies, newspapers,
online
|
| janfields |
buildboards painted on
the sides of donkeys
|
| janfields |
I'm easy. I love good
news.
|
| money |
who do your think are the
ten best children's publishers
|
| janfields |
Okay, if you mean book
publishers
|
| janfields |
I think the best thing
for authors looking to publish their first book
|
| janfields |
and who do not have an
agent
|
| janfields |
And don't want to spend
the next year + looking for an agent
|
| janfields |
Would be to look at
some of the small/medium publishers
|
| janfields |
Charlesbridge
|
| janfields |
Peachtree
|
| janfields |
Flashlight <-- this
is one of my favorites
|
| janfields |
Sterling
|
| janfields |
Hmmm.
|
| janfields |
I'm about to cheat and
look at my market guide...I'm such a sieve brain.
|
| janfields |
Tricycle.
|
| janfields |
Calkins
Creek
|
| janfields |
Boyds
Mills
|
| janfields |
Blooming
Tree
|
| janfields |
Some of these are very
small and only publish a few books a year.
|
| janfields |
But that doesn't mean
they aren't wonderful to work with.
|
| janfields |
Flashlight press does
gorgeous stuff.
|
| janfields |
But these publishers
usually respond more quickly.
|
| janfields |
More
personally.
|
| janfields |
And you'll get a lot of
personal interaction throughout the publishing
process.
|
| janfields |
You may not sell as
many books as Viking or Dutton but you'll get a lot of attention and
your submission will get read.
|
| janfields |
And paid attention
to.
|
| janfields |
The big presses get so
much slush that they are desperate for a reason to reject a piece
quickly so the busy editor doesn't have to read it
all.
|
| janfields |
That kind of response
just doesn't happen at the more medium/small
presses.
|
| janfields |
The editors are still
stressed but they normally read all submissions all the way
through.
|
| piperpan |
I have found Flashlights
response times to be very quick
|
| janfields |
They are also very very
nice folks there.
|
| janfields |
I've exchanged email
with people there a lot since I do reviews.
|
| janfields |
And I'm very impressed
by them.
|
| ccollier |
A great movie for writers
is Miss Potter, with Renne Zellwei
|
| janfields |
Hey, thanks. I'm always
open to good movie suggestions.
|
| coloradokate |
Are those publishers for
all levels, or mostly PBs, or... ?
|
| janfields |
They all have their own
preferences and specialities
|
| janfields |
Flashlight only does
picture books...and the books tend to be very ... heart
warming.
|
| janfields |
So if your picture book
is primarily comic, it may not match.
|
| janfields |
While Blooming Tree is
more for older readers, they do a nice job with
novels.
|
| janfields |
I think I read recently
that Charlesbridge is branching out -- they were once only picture
books, but I believe they are adding to their line.
|
| janfields |
It's always good to
research.
|
| janfields |
Learn as much as you
can about the publisher.
|
| janfields |
Send only what you
believe is a good match BECAUSE you went beyond what you read in the
market guide.
|
| janfields |
Really...at least read
everything on the publisher's website.
|
| janfields |
Oh...more on the move
POTTER...
|
| ccollier |
Beatrix Potter at the
turn of the century, I loved it!
|
| janfields |
Okay...I want to crow a
moment because I think it also is informational.
|
| janfields |
I sent an "action
rhyme" to HIGHLIGHTS
|
| janfields |
An action rhyme is a
short bit of verse
|
| janfields |
where each line is
followed by an action the child can do.
|
| janfields |
Making it like a
dance-ish thing.
|
| janfields |
They accepted it and
paid for it...la la
|
| janfields |
Then I got a letter
over the weekend.
|
| janfields |
The verse is going to
actually come out in HIGHLIGHTS HIGH FIVE
|
| janfields |
in the
spring.
|
| janfields |
So, if you want to be
published in High Five...submit to Highlights.
|
| janfields |
The funny thing
is...it's not going to be an action rhyme
|
| janfields |
It's going to be a
picture puzzle
|
| soradina |
Congratulations Jan. More
good news for you.
|
| janfields |
Thanks. I was happy to
be in Highlights for verse.
|
| janfields |
Since I am no
poet
|
| janfields |
But I'm even happier to
be in High Five, since it's one more market...I've been in
Highlights before.
|
| janfields |
So, folks have asked
how to get in High Five...that's actually how it
works.
|
| angel
eyes |
Do many magazines leave
comments on their rejections?
|
| janfields |
It
depends.
|
| janfields |
Some of the small
magazines seem to comment often.
|
| janfields |
I nearly always get
commentary from Hopscotch, for instance.
|
| janfields |
They don't get as many
submissions...and the editor is sorta dedicated to trying to send
everyone a comment.
|
| janfields |
I don't get commentary
from folks like American Girl or Boys' Life unless they want a
revision.
|
| janfields |
And it's off and on
with Pockets, Highlights, and similar
|
| janfields |
The Cricket group
always comments but that's PROBABLy because I've sold them a fair
bit
|
| janfields |
and interviewed them a
lot
|
| janfields |
I'm thinking they
probably aren't overly chatty normally.
|
| janfields |
Usually the more well
known the magazine, the more submissions it gets and the less time
the editors have to read submissions.
|
| janfields |
So the less often you
get comments.
|
| janfields |
Online markets nearly
always comment...it's so much easier in email.
|
| ccollier |
Did you decide to not
redo your article you sent them Jan
|
| janfields |
I really couldn't,
cc.
|
| janfields |
The changes they wanted
just weren't supported by the sources.
|
| janfields |
So, no...sigh...it
wasn't possible. Even if I didn't have sulky hurt
feelings.
|
| janfields |
Not that I ever
dooooooooooo
|
| janfields |
I'll give someone else
a shot at it, probably.
|
| soradina |
That's ok Jan you'll
heal.
|
| janfields |
Sniff.
|
| jan_fields |
robinb -- how much is too
much adult presence in a story?
|
| janfields |
I've actually seen
stories work where a parent is intimately important to the
story.
|
| janfields |
Editors don't hate
adults.
|
| janfields |
It's just that parents
seem so intent on taking over the action in so many
stories.
|
| janfields |
So if you can have a
story with a parent while the young character still drives the
action.
|
| janfields |
Then that's not going
to be a problem for the editor.
|
| janfields |
In fact, editors would
love to see more parents in stories, if that writer could keep the
parents in line.
|
| janfields |
It's not an easy thing
to do because so many of us tend to relate to the parent rather than
the kid
|
| janfields |
when both appear in the
story.
|
| janfields |
So we let the parents
take over.
|
| janfields |
As long as your kid is
driving the action -- don't worry about it.
|
| janfields |
You're welcome and good
luck.
|
| janfields |
Okay, we're at the
halfway point...and no question. Sigh. Time for the jan to
beg...please ask me something.
|
| piperpan |
hows the weather there
(kidding)
|
| janfields |
Hot, not too muggy but
a bit. maybe a little overcast.
|
| angel
eyes |
How much detail is
required for the main character?
|
| janfields |
I generally avoid a lot
of physical detail in my main characters.
|
| janfields |
I give the details the
reader needs to know.
|
| janfields |
But I give lots of
action detail...readers LOVE action detail.
|
| janfields |
And some visual details
will be included in the action.
|
| janfields |
Joey pushed his glasses
up his nose and peered at the dragon.
|
| janfields |
Helen gathered her wild
hair into a ponytail, and ran for the bus.
|
| janfields |
Stuff like that so that
you might get peeks at my characters
|
| janfields |
but you won't ever see
me stop the action and just stare at them.
|
| angel
eyes |
So, give details
through-out the story and not all at once?
|
| janfields |
Right, though don't
introduce SURPRISE details near the end.
|
| janfields |
Readers hate
that.
|
| janfields |
For example, if in the
fourth chapter you suddenly mention that character red
hair
|
| janfields |
Readers will be annoyed
if they pictured her as blond
|
| janfields |
So, that's one thing to
watch for...but otherwise, yes, slip them in all through the story
in action.
|
| jitterbug |
How many words is a novel
for middle graders usually run?
|
| janfields |
25,000 to 35,000 is the
average
|
| janfields |
But I have seen as
short as 20,000...not really much below that.
|
| janfields |
Mine actually ...the
one coming out this winter is 20,000
|
| janfields |
A lot of series fiction
is shorter.
|
| janfields |
Fantasy can run a lot
longer.
|
| janfields |
But mostly, that's the
average.
|
| jitterbug |
Did u hear who the
winners are for the Aventure in Sav. con?
|
| janfields |
No, you know...I didn't
I should see if I can find out.
|
| ccollier |
Have you ever submitted
to Woman's World, Im trying to
|
| janfields |
I think I did once...in
the first year it came out.
|
| janfields |
I was a lot younger and
my story sucked.
|
| janfields |
Since then,
nope...though I'm beginning to be drawn to the magazine on the
rack
|
| janfields |
just to see if I can
sell them something.
|
| coloradokate |
A friend had a PB
revision requested and then rejected; the editor said, among other
things, that the story was "slight." I know that's editor-speak, but
what exactly does it mean?
|
| janfields |
Most of the time
"slight" means it didn't have a strong enough
theme.
|
| janfields |
If a book has a plot
and is interesting and fun, but not thematically deep, "slight" is
usually the rejection word of choice.
|
| janfields |
And editor friend of
mine says it can also mean not enough plot
|
| janfields |
shallow
characters
|
| janfields |
or dialogue that feels
unreal.
|
| janfields |
But when I've seen
slight...they're talking about theme.
|
| janfields |
The editor wanted the
story to illustrate some "truth"
|
| janfields |
The editor friend of
mine also says sometimes slight doesn't mean anything -- it just
means the editor sort of didn't like it but can't vocalize
why.
|
| soradina |
There was something on
their website about winners being
|
| soradina |
announced in September
for the Adventures in Saving
|
| janfields |
Ahhh...September is
young. I shall have to watch for it.
|
| soradina |
Can you address conflict
in stories for us. Thanks.
|
| janfields |
Conflict ultimately
just means making it tough on your characters.
|
| janfields |
It doesn't have to mean
actual interpersonal conflict
|
| janfields |
It can just mean the
character doesn't get instant gratification.
|
| janfields |
If you write about a
kid who wants a cookie and goes in the kitchen, gets one and eats it
-- no conflict.
|
| janfields |
But if he goes in the
kitchen, finds no cookies, tries to make some
|
| janfields |
ends up covered in
flour
|
| janfields |
scares his sister so
badly that she runs away
|
| janfields |
has to go find
her
|
| janfields |
and gets home just as
the ice cream truck comes along
|
| janfields |
buys two ice cream
sandwiches and thinks, hey, this has cookies...only
better.
|
| janfields |
Then you have a plot
with conflict
|
| janfields |
Even though there was
no fighting.
|
| janfields |
So conflict really
means complications as much as anything else
|
| janfields |
Especially in stories
for kids.
|
| momx2 |
I 'm from Canada, any
tips on what's hot and what's not.
|
| janfields |
Hot for the Canadian
markets?
|
| janfields |
Or hot in
general?
|
| janfields |
I'm not on top of
Canadian book publishing at all...sadly.
|
| janfields |
I have seen a lot of
new Canadian magazines coming out
|
| janfields |
Like the American
magazines, many of them are niche magazines.
|
| janfields |
So, right now...what's
hot seems to be learning to write for magazines with very narrow
market focus.
|
| janfields |
General interest
magazines are getting fewer...though certainly not dead
yet.
|
| piperpan |
Orca publishing...BC
-Kids Can Press...Toronto
|
| piperpan |
Lobster Press...Montreal
(i think Montreal)
|
| janfields |
Really? See I would
have had to look those up.
|
| janfields |
I'm trying to get more
informed about book publishers though.
|
| jan_fields |
mk My main character is a
dog. She doesn't actually speak but understands the other animals
and humans. Is this OK?
|
| janfields |
Yes, I've seen a lot of
books with the POV
|
| janfields |
You don't see it as
much in magazine fiction
|
| janfields |
But a lot in
novels...animals usually understand humans but can't communicate
with them.
|
| janfields |
Which sets up an
interesting frustration for the characters.
|
| janfields |
It can work in picture
books...I can't think of one off the top of my head though I am sure
they exist.
|
| jan_fields |
mah50 Would you discuss
the difference between a picture story book and a beginning chapter
book?
|
| janfields |
Picture story book is
actually a mostly writer coined designation for long wordy picture
book.
|
| janfields |
Publishers just call
them long picture books.
|
| janfields |
They are usually for
school aged kids.
|
| janfields |
90+ percent of them are
either
|
| janfields |
published by small
presses
|
| janfields |
or written by
illustrators who are also authors
|
| janfields |
or
celebrities.
|
| janfields |
Big publishers don't
like long picture books...overall, they won't buy them unless they
are by celebs/illustrators or well-known writers because they don't
sell well.
|
| janfields |
As a normal everyday
writer, you aren't going to be able to sell a picture book over 1200
words
|
| janfields |
except to very very
very few publishers.
|
| janfields |
The usual length is 500
or less.
|
| janfields |
Now, a beginning
chapter book is longer.
|
| janfields |
Usually a couple
thousand words.
|
| janfields |
The whole style of the
writing is different since it's for kids just learning to
read.
|
| janfields |
Short sentences
containing one idea.
|
| janfields |
Short
paragraphs.
|
| janfields |
Stuff like
that.
|
| janfields |
Now, for illustrations
-- if you are a professional photographer.
|
| janfields |
And you have written a
story that works both in plot and theme
|
| janfields |
and have taken photos
that expand the story beyond the words.
|
| janfields |
But work perfectly with
the words.
|
| janfields |
You can certainly get a
publisher interested.
|
| janfields |
The success of "Into
the Woods" (which was originally self-published) has made publishers
sit up and notice
|
| janfields |
how much photographs
can offer
|
| janfields |
when they work with a
fully formed and plotted story.
|
| janfields |
I have never seen
photos in beginning chapter books unless the book is
nonfiction.
|
| janfields |
Okay. It's three
o'clock so THANKS so much for coming up with
questions.
|
| janfields |
I would have been so
lonely.
|
| janfields |
I'll be here again next
Tuesday afternoon, but just for hang around time.
|
| janfields |
See y'all then...I have
to go post this
transcript.
|
