SO YOU WANT TO WRITE FOR CHILDREN....CHECK THIS WRITING RETREAT OUT!!!

INSPIRATION, MOTIVATION, AND CREATION  IN TWO DAYS JUNE 25 - 26, 2020

THE WRITING MAGIC WRITING RETREAT sponsored by CALLIE-METLER SMITH IS ABOUT Strengthening writing skills, clarity7 on writing goals, and inspiration for your writing passion. Please join me on June 25, 2020 at 2:00 EST. for my presentation of "BEYOND THE FAIRYTALE."      FROM CALLE: I've assembled some of my favorite and informative people (Melissa Stoller, Lynne Marie, Gayle C. Krause, Alayne Christian, Vivian Kirkfield, Stephanie Hansen, Doris Imahiyerobo, and Mira Reisberg) in the Kid Lit community to do just that! 8 experts over 2 days will teach you about bringing diversity to your books, how to find ideas in your own world, and how to write marketable ideas, among many other things.   Everything you need to know about the Writing Magic Virtual Retreat! WHEN The Writing Magic Virtual Retreat will run from June 25th-26th with a variety of presentations to choose from each day. WHERE I don't know about you, but I prefer to leave my house as little as possible. With that being said, you can tune into the retreat from anywhere with Internet access. PRESENTATIONS Presentations will be 45 minutes in length. The presentations and all other elements of the retreat will be available through August 31st to encourage you to stop waiting for the right time and take action along with hundreds of other writers. PARTY IT UP You’ll also have access to a private Facebook group for the retreat where we’ll be partying it up before the retreat starts and working together to write great books once it kicks off.

It is Time to Join Us Buy Your Ticket to Enjoy two packed full days of Fun, Kid Literature, and Writing Magic!

https://www.writingwithcalliemetlersmith.com/pl/187021

BRAID YOUR STORIES FOR MORE INTEREST and BOOK GIVEAWAY

BRAIDED STORYLINES

You’ve all heard of braided breads and French braided hair, but did you know stories need to be braided, too?

Braided stories should have three storylines, as each section of tresses in a plait. Writers who plod along on one story throughout the entire manuscript run the risk of writing a boring story. Readers need some unexpected happenings and this can be done a little at a time by incorporating three minor storylines into one larger manuscript.

You fold in layer by layer as the story progresses telling three smaller stories to keep the reader from losing interest. The reader likes to figure out plotlines before they actually get to the words that reveal them.  What makes that practice interesting is the twist that overlaps storylines to surprise the reader.

How to braid your stories:

·  Divide your story into threes

·  Write each one separately 

·  Incorporate in story.

Some writers do this instinctively. Braiding makes your stories come alive. It connects the reader to your characters. Let’s look at some examples of braiding.

#1 Harry Potter

Braid A – orphan boy neglected by his aunt and uncle. (family relationships)

Braid B – attends a secret wizard school (school relationships)

Braid C - discovers he is the nemesis if a most evil wizard (good vs. evil)

#2 Twilight

Braid A – teen-age girl is the mediator between divorced parents and moves in with her father on the other side of the country (family relationships)

Braid B – attends a new school, where she becomes mesmerized by a strange boy (school relationships)

Braid C – makes friends with the son of her father’s friend, complicating her relationship in Braid B

#3 Daddy, Can You See The Moon?

Braid A –  boy and his soldier dad concoct a way for them to share a special moment each night while his father is deployed.  (love between father and son)

Braid B – boy discovers his mother crying and finds out his dad was wounded in battle and helps him with his therapy. (family dynamics)

Braid C – boy grows up to be a soldier too. (role reversal)

So get your story threads separated, start at the top and overlap until you come to the end. Secure with a climax and satisfying end.

Comment below with braids of your favorite stories, be they picture book or novels and at the end of next week one lucky commenter will be selected to receive a copy of Daddy, Can You See The Moon?

KIDLIT FALL FRENZY WRITING CONTEST!

The time has come to enter holiday writing contests. KIDLIT Fall Frenzy, Halloweensie, and in December, Rock Star Santa's Bookbag.

So today I am entering The Kidlit Fall Frenzy Writing Contest. 

A ton of thanks to Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis for planning this event! They've gathered a ton of wonderful prizes. You might enter yourself.

https://mathiseverywhere439319476.wordpress.com/2019/10/07/official-kidlit-fall-writing-frenzy-contest-submission-page-2019/?fbclid=IwAR0vTnPv5SdFiUZvwBPEQQLTSF7kYcj6LnZpeUUlr-lhSjnQ7j9KzR6cwqc


Here is my entry based on this photo prompt.

Mostly Ghostly

My friends threw double-dares, 

so I climbed the creaky stairs, 

of the haunted mansion high up on the hill. 

I slipped through the front door 

and was more scared than before, 

but determined, I kept tip-toeing until... 

I touched cobwebs and I freaked, 

plus the stench of this place reeked, 

and farther down the hall a dim light flickered. 

It cast shadows on the wall—

a hand that waved a beckoned call 

and a warbling voice above me snickered. 

“You cannot go much closer. 

I must halt you, Mr. Ghost, sir,

for you're shuffling through the hall of doom. 

And if you decide to stay here, 

I cannot ease your true fear 

for this house may become your earthly tomb.” 

Just then I heard the laughter 

coming from the highest rafter,

and that’s when I knew that I’d been had. 

My friends were up there gloating, 

and beside them, clearly floating,  

was my brother, my mother, and my dad. 

“Surprise!” shouted the ghosts 

as they raised marshmallow toasts 

in the dark room, now blazing gold and green. 

They showered me with presents 

and suddenly it made sense.

I forgot my birthday falls on Halloween.

word count 195

Milford Library Presents... Children's Veterans Day with Author Gayle C. Krause

FRACTURED FAIRYTALE FUN PLUS 2 GIVEAWAYS

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

ONCE UPON A TWISTED TALE 

has arrived at castle Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Clearfork.

Please join me in welcoming the fantastic fairytale characters in their fractured "poetic stories." 

And there is a challenge for you........ a chance to win a signed copy and a rhyming picture book critique.

TO WIN:

1. Write a "fractured fairytale poem" of your own. 

POETIC FORM IS YOUR CHOICE.

What is a fractured fairytale?

It's a fairytale that has been modified in such a way as to make the reader laugh at an unexpected characterization, plot development, contrary point of view, or characters from other stories mixed together.

2.  Post it in the comments below.

3. Spread the word on social media and tell me where you shared it.

***TWO WINNERS will be announced on July 1st.

If you choose the book, address must be a U.S. address. The rhyming picture book critique is worldwide.

GOOD LUCK MY LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!

Interview with SPORK Author Erin Le Clerc

G'day, Erin.

 The Storyteller's Scroll would like to welcome a SPORK children's author from the "land down under." My readers will be interested in your path to publication.

1. How long have you been writing?

My whole life, really! But in terms of making a serious commitment to writing children’s fiction specifically, about three years.

2. When and where do you write?

Most of my writing is done in my favorite armchair in my living room, but I write best on my laptop, so can happily port it to wherever suits my mood. I feel my creative brain works better at night, so evenings tend to be my most productive.

3. When did you start the first draft of I’ve Got A Cow Called Maureen and how long, from that point, until the book was completed?

My first draft of Maureen was in August 2017 and was ready for submission in September. Clear Fork Publishing picked it up in November 2017!

4. How many revisions?

There were three significant revisions from the first draft to the one I submitted, and then smaller revisions right up until the final illustrated version of Maureen. Some of the illustrations affected text placement, and so a few paragraphs were shortened, and a few words were adjusted to suit. 

6. How long did it take to sell once you started sending the story out into the market? 

I developed Maureen in the Children’s Book Academy Picture Book Writing course in August 2017, and Maureen was actually picked up from the “Golden Ticket” submission opportunity at the end of the course. I know this is a slightly back-to-front route into publishing, as I’m now sending out submissions to agents for representation!

7. How did you become affiliated with Clearfork/SPORK?

Callie Metler-Smith from Clear Fork was one of the Golden Ticket judges, and Mira Reisberg of Children’s Book Academy had just taken on an editorial position with Clear Fork. Sometimes you end up in the right place at the right time!

8. Was there anything that surprised you about the editorial/publishing process?

I was so new to publishing that I went in without a lot of expectations, really! That said, the number of changes and adjustments, right up to the finish line, was a definite whirlwind! I was also really impressed with the kindness and support shown to me by my publisher, editor, and all the lovely authors I’ve met along the way! 

9. Would you please summarize I’ve Got A Cow Called Maureen for us in one sentence.

It’s the true story of how my Nana Maureen became Australia’s Champion Swiss Yodeler in the 1940s, despite being part-deaf!

10. Could you briefly tell us about what inspired this picture book.

The picture book is based on my Nana’s true story. I was trying to decide what to write during the CBA course when my mum mentioned a story about my Nana that made me laugh: every time she was introduced to a local farmer, they’d exclaim “Why, I’ve got a cow called Maureen!” This funny little anecdote was the “way into” telling the story of Nana’s amazing and unusual yodeling career!

 Erin is graciously giving away a picture book critique of 500 words or less. To be eligible please leave a comment below and share this post on your social media. Leave a link so we can see where you left fabulous comments for Erin. :)

One winner will be selected on May 7th. Stop back to see if you won and thanks for sharing Erin's debut picture book journey.

BOOK LAUNCH - Daddy, Can You See The Moon?

The book launch for my newest picture book, Daddy, Can You See The Moon? is set for April 27th.

I am very excited to share this important story with children and families.

Please stop by, if you are in Scranton, PA that day.

Thank you.