In This Issue:

'TIS THE SEASON
by Roxyanne Young

THE DAY AFTER
by Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon

WANTED: WRITERS SEEKING REPRESENTATION
by Roxyanne Young

WRITERS' RETREATS AND CONFERENCES
by Margot Finke

W.I.N.: SHORTS! WINNERS ANNOUNCED
by Marilyn Singer and Roxyanne Young

SHORT STORY TIPS FROM A JUDGE
by Marilyn Singer

ROBERT'S SNOW
by Agy Wilson

	SmartReaders.org donates hundreds of books every year to public school teachers and librarians, at no cost to the educators. Here, founder Roxyanne Young and her daughter, Danielle, are sending out another batch to teachers and librarians all over the United States. Can you afford $1 to help get books to kids in need?

In the 'Tis the Season Department...

SmartReaders.org donates books to public school teachers and librarians across the country, at no cost to the educators. They simply fill out a request and we try to send them the books they need. Unfortunately, there are a lot more requests than we can fill. If you have books in good condition, or cash to help us buy and ship books, please visit www.SmartReaders.org, or donate by clicking the button below through PayPal.

If every person reading the Journal this month donated just one dollar, we'd be able to provide books for hundreds of kids in need. Please help if you can.

BookCrossing.com encourages people to Read, Register, and then Release their books "into the wild" and then track where they go and the lives they touch. Great concept... share your books and follow their progress forever. Best of all, it's FREE.

Help spread the word by forwarding this to your friends, and of course be sure to visit www.BookCrossing.com!

THE DAY AFTER
By Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon

Congratulations! Your newly published book is finally for sale.  Now what should you do? Sit on your laurels and watch the sales roll in?  No way!

Get to work…And you thought writing was the hard part!

Finally, after eight years of struggling on my own as a writer, I paired up with my friend Rhody Cohon and we sold a chapter book series to Simon and Schuster.  Geared to 7-11 year olds, BLAST TO THE PAST books ask kids to think about what the world would be like if our famous American heroes, inventors and dreamers quit when things became difficult. Four third graders time travel to convince our great Americans not to give up their dreams. Teaching history in the guise of a fantasy time travel adventure, BLAST TO THE PAST was primed to cross the market from parents to kids to teachers and librarians.

On January 2, 2005, our first BLAST TO THE PAST novel, LINCOLN’S LEGACY, was released into bookstores everywhere.  Barnes and Noble.  Amazon.  Books a Million. Thousands of independent bookstores. We figured we’d be famous before nightfall.   But we quickly discovered that we were going to have to do more than sit back and watch our sales figures climb because without our own marketing and publicity push, not much was going to happen. 

Based on the sink-or-swim education Rhody and I gained as we went through the book-selling process, there are seven things that we suggest to any new author.  Seven things we wish we’d known. Seven things to consider in your own campaign to get your book sales moving.

1) Set high goals for yourself.  Do you want to make the NYT Bestseller List?  Sell your print run? Be in People Magazine? Get more contracts with your publisher? Set the goal and keep your eye on the ball.

2) Decide how much money you want to invest.  This IS a small business.  Treat it as one. Conventional Wisdom says half of your advance should be spent on promotion.  Can you afford more? Less? Set aside a specific amount.

3) Who do you know and how can they help you? Ask your friends and your friend’s friends to help you out (you’re working toward that goal you set.)

4) Learn the difference between publicity (pr) and marketing. Really important.  And give yourself time to do both.

5) Think outside the box. Creativity is not just for writing. Your book is about pets?  Call the animal shelters.  You mention broccoli?  Call the local farmer’s market. You are looking for ways and places to promote yourself.  Think big, broadly, and creatively.  Enjoy the absurdity.  You never know where that HUGE sale might come from!

6) Don’t forget the legalities.  You need to define your partnerships. Re-read your contracts and know what you can and cannot do for yourself.

7) Make a business plan.  Please.

These may seem facile, too simple and straightforward to work, but these seven principals have led to our appearances on CSPAN BOOK TV, KNX radio Los Angeles, Kool 105 in Denver, The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, plus the ABC, NBC and CBS affiliate stations in Tucson.  The list goes on and on.  Additionally, we have had reviews in multiple newspapers and publications and LINCOLN’S LEGACY was chosen as Book of the Week by the Washington Post.

Most importantly, we have driven sales so that our first novel is now in a third print run. Things are looking so good that our three book deal at Simon and Schuster has turned into a six book contract, plus we have been contracted for other writing opportunities at the publishing house outside of the BLAST TO THE PAST series. 

Rhody and I have made plenty of mistakes along the way and are eager to share our smartest moves with you.  Staring at the bestseller list won’t make your book rise. There are seven things you should be doing. Now that we’ve told you what they are…go uncork your own Champagne and get to work! It’s your book. Launch it in style.

Join Stacia and Rhody in our first-ever teleseminar in January!  Make sure you're subscribed to the Smart Writers Journal so you'll get the updates as they become available. Just sign up in the box at the upper right corner of www.SmartWriters.com.

WANTED: AUTHORS SEEKING REPRESENTATION
by Roxyanne Young

Ask any group of writers whether or not you need an agent and you're very likely to get a mixed response from "Yes absolutely - you'll never get into Random House without an agent," to "No, a lot of houses accept unagented queries, and who wants to give up 15% of your money to someone else?"

Sure, some writers are perfectly happy with handling all of that themselves, but can you take a day off and jet over to NYC to discuss your manuscript with the editorial director of Atheneum or Henry Holt, or get a meeting with the Art Director of Harcourt? Some writers are even comfortable negotiating their own contracts

The harsh reality of children's publishing, though, is that if you want to make sure your contract is written to your best advantage, if you want to get the largest advance you can possibly get, the best royalty terms, the most free copies of your book upon publication, and a host of other of the little nitpicky details that come long after you type "The End," then you need an agent.

Here are three who are currently accepting submissions from potential clients:

GINGER CLARK is looking for MG and YA novels, but will accept chapter books, too. She is not looking for PBs. Mail a cover letter that includes a short bio, a synopsis, and the full manuscript of your novel, to:

Ginger Clark
Curtis Brown, Ltd.
Ten Astor Place
New York, NY 10003

ANNA OLSWANGER will represent anything but picture books and is actively looking to grow her list. She earned her MFA in Illinois before going to London to be a playwright, and where she discovered her love of children's books. She's a published author, too, so she's seen the business from both sides. Her advice to unpublished authors: "Be persistent. Don't give up. You have to be willing to say yes to what life brings you – even if it's not a NY publisher. You need to give and not just take. See your work as something you can share. Help other people get published. It will come back to you." She said she's "looking for something different and something good in the manuscripts she receives. Maybe something mystical but not necessarily fantasy." She rarely reads a cover letter until after she's read the accompanying first three pages of sample writing. If she doesn't like
the writing, she says she won't care about the resume.

Anna Olswanger
Liza Dawson & Associates
240 West 35th Street, Suite 500
New York, NY 10010

And coming soon: our new Agents Directory! Check back for details in January!

"Short stories are designed to deliver their impact in as few pages as possible. A tremendous amount is left out, and a good short story writer learns to include only the most essential information." --Orson Scott Card

WRITE IT NOW: SHORTS!

A note from the judge:
 
I truly enjoyed reading these stories.  What a wealth of talent is out there!  There were more good pieces than awards.  I could've included more Honorable Mentions, but I decided to limit those to three in each category.
 
I judged each story on the basis of originality, strong characterization, voice, clarity, feeling,  and humor.   In every case I asked if the story did what it set out to do.  I also looked for stories that were not didactic or moralizing, that did not try to tie up everything with a big bow, and that were appropriate for their audience' s level of sophistication, interest, and emotional depth.
 
Although I could not give awards to all of the good stories, I want to encourage everyone to keep writing--and submitting.  Good luck to you all!
 
Marilyn Singer
 
And the Awards Go To...
 
Young Readers
 
1st Place:  "We're Not the Same at All!" by Jean Reagan, Salt Lake City, Utah
2nd Place:  "Moon Ranger 7" by Sara Francis Fujimura, Gilbert, Arizona
3rd Place:  "Baby Bear's Revenge" by Valerie Ipson, Mesa, Arizona
Honorable Mention:  "Corn Holler Aliens" by Janet E. Gill, Seattle, Washington; "Megumi's Gift" by Debbi Michiko Florence, Schenectady, New York; "Fish Live in Tree Houses" by Rachel Seydlitz, Irmo, South Carolina.
 
"We're Not All the Same at All!" is a perfect story about two kids trying desperately to figure out what they have in common--fresh and funny, it works because of the quirky details.  It's also especially appropriate for the age group.
 
"Moon Ranger 7" has a lot of heart and avoids sentimentality, which is the downfall of many stories, particularly those featuring disabled characters.
 
Although I'm not completely certain that "Baby Bear's Revenge" is for the younger set, it is a well-done spin-off parody of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."  Actually, I think folks old and young would enjoy it.
 
 
Mid-Grade Readers
 
1st Place:  "The Girls of Colbey Junior High" by Caroline Downs, Bowbells, North Dakota
2nd Place:  "Hold the Onions" by Robin Bridges, Gulfport, Mississippi
3rd Place:  "Purple Sock" by Laurie Calkhoven, New York, NY
Honorable Mention:  "Proof of Angels" by Tracy Holczer, La Crescenta, California; "Sunflower Summer" by Sundee T. Frazier, Renton, Washington; "Don't Bug Me!" by Donna Gephart, Jupiter, Florida.
 
How delightful to read a story that captures those first moments when a boy notices...girls!  "The Girls of Colbey Junior High" does that and makes the reader laugh, too.
 
It's hard to write a successful fantasy about wizards and dragons, especially a humorous one, in light of HARRY POTTER.   "Hold the Onions" does succeed because of the unique milieu of these particular wizards--a hamburger joint!
 
"Purple Sock" is a classic adolescent girl geek vs. mean girl story.  What makes it rise above others of that ilk is the strong voice of the protagonist and her enjoyable lack of ethics!
 
 
Young Adult Readers

1st Place:  "Get the Door, It's Dominique!" by David McGinnis Gill, Wilmington, North Carolina
2nd Place:  "Angel in the Whirlwind" by Melinda Cordell, Savannah, Missouri
3rd Place:  "This Is Jane" by Sarah Stevenson, Modesto, California
Honorable Mention:  "In & Out" by Lindsey Taylor Leavitt, Audubon, Pennsylvania; "Speaking Human" by Lisa Gomez Maakestad, Arlington, Texas; "Letters from Bobby" by Kathi Baron, Oak Park, Illinois.
 
When was the last time you read a great Girl Vs. Satan yarn?  Well, "Get the Door, It's Dominque!" featuring a potty-mouthed heroine, a demon, and a Cadillac as main characters, is one!  Dominique, come on in!
 
Carl Jung, a visitation by an angel, Bible study, rape, suicide attempts--these are elements that could so easily push a story over the top, or off the deep end.  But they all meld in "Angel in the Whirlwind" to make a compelling, moving, and intense tale.
 
An irritating and endearing protagonist, Jane has the heart and soul of an editor, and, we writers appreciate her.  The voice is original and the story is one that hasn't been overworked.
 
Special mention:  "Barefoot" by Jaime Lin-Yu of Jersey City, New Jersey. This is a truly well-written story, but it is really for adults and not teens.  It feels like NEW YORKER material. 
 
Grand Prize Winner:  A difficult choice because all three first place winners are SO good.  But my choice is "We're Not the Same at All!" because I wouldn't change one word of it.
 

Congratulations to all of our Write It Now: Shorts! W.I.N.NERS! The Mid-Grade and YA stories will now be forwarded to publisher Miriam Hees at Blooming Tree Press for inclusion in their upcoming anthology, tentatively set for publication late next year. The Young Reader stories will be shared with the editors of children's magazines where they're most likely to fit (Highlights and Cricket among them).

Well done, everyone! Check back here for updates on our W.I.N.NERS. As we hear back from them, their good news is shared here on SmartWriters.com. And look for something really special coming up with the 2006 Write It Now! Competition - it's revolutionary!

	Marilyn Singer, Author, Editor, and W.I.N.: Shorts! Judge

SHORT STORY TIPS FROM A JUDGE
by Marilyn Singer

There’s a quote by a famous writer (I forget which one) which goes something like, “This letter is long because I didn’t have time to make it shorter.”  Personally, that’s how I feel about novels vs. short stories—it takes an awful lot of time to keep ‘em short, and to get ‘em just right. 

As both a contributor to and an editor of a number of anthologies, I can vouch that there is no magic formula for writing short stories.  What I can do is offer some tips, based on my experience and my taste.

AND THE MORAL ISN’T...

Unless you’re writing parables or fables, the purpose of a short story is not to teach kids stuff.  That doesn’t mean kids can’t or won’t learn things from stories.  But a story is about characters and what happens to them, not about lessons.  A writer should focus on developing the characters, providing rich details, and telling the story—not on offering a moral.  Leave that to Aesop.

I SAW A SNAKE.  IT WAS SCARY.  THE END.

Something has to happen in a story.  Paul can’t just see a cobra and get a lesson about reptiles.  Jenny can’t discover that she has herpes and feel bad about it.  Stories really do need a beginning, middle, and end.

THE END DOESN’T HAVE TO BE...THE END

A story has to end, but it doesn’t have to end happily ever after, nor does it need to be tied up with a bow.  Lulu, who hates Betsy on page 1, does not have to be her best friend on page 10.  Henry, whose father is a drunk, doesn’t have to forgive Pop’s bad behavior on the last page. 

I do believe great character-based stories are about defining moments, so, sure, Lulu can begin to see Betsy in a new light and Henry can realize Dad isn’t going to change, but, in the end, these insights may be beginnings, not finales.

NO DEFECTIVE ANIMALS

An editor friend of mine used to have a sign on her office door:  “No Defective Animals.”    Few editors want picture books about the turtle without a shell, the nightingale without a song, the camel minus a hump or two, and they feel the same way about short stories featuring those poor critters.   Let Ripley’s Believe It or Not deal with defective animals, please, instead of you.

I SEE DEAD PEOPLE

I see lots of them—in short story after short story.   We all die, that’s true.  We all lose people and pets we are close to, that’s true as well.  But why the proliferation of stories about death?    Although some children and teens have certainly had to deal with loss, older folks have had to deal with it a lot more, and I’m suspecting that in too many stories the child is a stand-in for the writer, or a way to get the kid to be alone so that he/she learns something.   Stories about death can work—but I believe each writer must give an honest answer to the question “Why are you writing about this topic?”  Actually, that’s not a bad question to ask about EVERY story.  If your answer is, “I’m not writing about a topic; I’m writing about a character,” then keep going!

LOL (Laughing Out Loud)

Humor is good.  Kids like to laugh.  Hell, I like to laugh.  Don’t you?

THE NEXT VOICE YOU HEAR...

Voice.  We’ve all heard it—this story has a great “voice,” meaning fresh, unique, singular.  It could be the voice of the protagonist or the quirky voice of a narrator (think Henry Fielding in TOM JONES).   It could even be the syntax/vocabulary of a third-person narrator.  What type of voice does your story call for?  Figure that out—then work on developing it.

FINALLY...

I know I don’t need to say this, but I’m going to anyway:  If you want to write good stories, then READ good stories.  There are plenty of them out there.   And some of them are by you!

Marilyn Singer is the author of dozens of books for children and the editor of several anthologies of short stories. You can visit her website to read “What Is a Short Story?”:  www.marilynsinger.net

	Agy Wilson, Illustrator and Author

ROBERT'S SNOW
by Agy Wilson

Grace’s silver lining included rays of sunshine--some of these inspirational stories are included on the Web site www.robertssnow.com. Classes and schools created their own snowflakes. Families dealing with cancer, and others in memory of loved ones lost to the disease, bid on their favorite snowflakes. And the individual artists shared tales of how Grace's little Nor'Easter brought hope and beauty.

Whether you’re interested because of a love for wonderful art, children’s literature, or because cancer has touched your life in someway, I hope you revel in the snow! I hope you and anyone you tell will take the time to at least view the tribute of Robert’s Snow: for Cancer’s Cure www.robertssnow.com .