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Kid Lit Writers Get Together

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Kid Lit Writers Get Together

Kid LitCalling all Children’s Writers:

Kid Lit writers take note!  Writers of Kern and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) are teaming up for a Kid-Lit Mingle Saturday, January 30 from 1:00 to 3:00 at Russo’s Books, 1601 New Stine Rd., #182.

The SCBWI is one of the largest organizations for writers and illustrators.  The organization is dedicated to those writers and illustrators working in the children’s literature (Kid Lit) and young adult fields in all facets including magazines, film, and multi-media.  According to their mission statement the organization, “… to support the creation and availability of quality children’s books around the world. We accomplish this by fostering a vibrant community of individuals who bring books for young readers to the public including writers, illustrators, translators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers, bloggers, enthusiasts and others. We provide education and support for these individuals  and the community through our awards, grants, programs and events. We strive to increase the quality and quantity of children’s books in the marketplace, and act as a consolidated voice for writers and illustrators of children’s books worldwide.”

Whether you write picture books, middle grade or young adult, this is a great opportunity to meet fellow Kid Lit writers, share ideas and discuss writing goals.  Participants may bring the first page of a work-in-progress to share.

The event is not only social, Kid Lit writers will leave with 100 tips to help you on your path to publication.  If you are a writer or illustrator specializing in children’s literature, you need to come to this event.  To RSVP contact Rebecca Langston-George at cencal-ara@scbwi.org

Kid Lit WritersThe author of six non-fiction books for children, Rebecca Langston-George is the Assistant Regional Advisor of the Central Coastal Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). When she’s not writing Rebecca can be found in her fifth grade classroom or procrastinating at her keyboard beside her tribe of sock monkeys.  www.rebeccalangston-george.com

Blog Challenge Everything from A to Z

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The Writers of Kern 2016 “A-Z” Blog Challenge

It’s time for the A-to-Z Blog Challenge. Get your fingers warmed up.  The starting line is Monday, January 25 and you reach the checkered flag Saturday, April 23.

Here is your mission should you choose to accept it (hey, it’s not an IMPOSSIBLE Mission). For thirteen weeks you will write 2 posts per week for a total of 26 posts.  Choose any theme or topic you like.  You can even flip-flop around.  Blog writing is your writing.  Follow this one simple rule:  each post must feature one letter of the alphabet (in no specific order).

If you decide to participate in the Blog Challenge, there are two parts:

Part 1 – Publish two blog posts a week, for thirteen weeks. Posting Wednesday and Saturday are suggested, but not required.  You can choose any two days you like.  Remember, when you post consistently you draw more readers.  But the goal is for you to write, the readers will come.  If you are a member of Facebook, post a link to a post in the Writers Of Kern Group.

Part 2 – Your fellow members of Writers of Kern are here for support.  It may sound tough to write 26 posts.  It’s easier if you know you have readers who depend on seeing your posts.  Visit at least five other participants’ blogs each week, leaving thoughtful comments and encouraging words.  Join the Facebook group Writers of Kern to find your fellow bloggers.  We also have a list of bloggers on the Writers of Kern website.

If you don’t have a blog, now is the time to start one. Check WordPress and Blogger for free blogging options. If you have a blog and you’re not a seat-of-the-pants writer, you have some time to jump start your challenge plan.

Winners will be recognized at the WOK Honors Dinner in May.

NOTE: If you choose to participate in the WOK Blog Challenge, please email your blog site to events@writersofkern.com by Friday, January 22, 2016. Blog Challenge participants will receive an email listing blog sites of all who have accepted the Blog Challenge.

 

11 Publication Opportunities for Emerging Writers

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Admit it. The writer life can be a daunting one. We work hard to master story mechanics, sweat over voice and style, and struggle to determine just which writing rules to follow and which to break. After all that, finding a place to actually send our work for publication can feel like an afterthought.

Or worse, sometimes when we don’t know where to send our work, the writing can feel less worth it somehow.

Sure, we’re supposed to love the writing for its own sake. But that doesn’t mean we haven’t all been there anyway.

So here are eleven resources overflowing with publication opportunities for emerging writers. Use this list as the carrot stick that keeps you writing through your most recent work in progress, then find the perfect place from this list to finally hit submit.

Where to Find Publications That Accept Work from New and Unpublished Writers

The Review Review Magazine Database: offers a slew of literary and commercial publications that accept work from new writers. Here you can search publications by format (online or print), response time, and pay range.

The Review Review Classifieds: from the same publication that created the magazine search above, these classifieds save you the search time by listing calls for submissions for publications that are looking for work right now.

Chicken Soup for The Soul: publishes inspirational, true stories from “ordinary people having extraordinary experiences.” What’s great about this publication is the sheer number of titles they publish each year. That’s a lot of opportunities for new writers to get published. Be sure to check out their guidelines first for story themes and what they’re looking for.

Funds for Writers Newsletter: this email newsletter is particularly helpful for writers looking for fellowships, grants, and publication opportunities. With 35,000 subscribers, Funds for Writers must be doing something right.

Paying Flash Fiction Publications: these five paying publications listed on my site are looking for flash fiction only. Flash fiction stories range from 100-2000+ words, which means a great opportunity to get something under submission quickly. Resource lists payment rates, word counts, and deadlines for each publication.

LitReactor’s Publications by Genre: this resource covers more than just genre specific publications like Fantasy, Horror, Scifi, Literary, Mystery, and more. It also lists each publication’s professional ranking and how difficult it is to break in. Most of the publications listed here pride themselves on publishing work from unpublished writers.

Paying Freelance Publications: if you’re looking to publish articles instead of fiction, these 75 publications—listed on The Work at Home Woman—are looking for you. You’ll find a home for everything from blog posts to greeting cards, short stories, recipes, and travel writing.

Local Online and Print Magazines: don’t forget the publications in your own backyard. You’re more likely to know what’s important to the readers in your community when you live there too. If you’re from Bakersfield, these four publications will bring you up to eleven places to submit your writing: Bakersfield Californian letters to the editor, Bakersfield Life, Bakersfield Magazine, and Kern Business Journal. Pro tip: send a quick note through each site’s contact page to ask where to send your pitch ideas.

4 Simple Steps to Your First Publication

If you want to get published, you’ve got to submit your work. There’s no way around it, writer. So apply this easy strategy to ensure your publication success this year.

  1. Take a few minutes to pull all your finished writing, works in progress, story ideas, and articles you’d like to write into one place.
  2. Using the resources listed here, select 5-10 publications that match each one of your works or ideas. Keep this list of potential publications where you’ll see it every day.
  3. Send your work to the first publication on your list right now.
  4. When and if that first publication rejects the work (rejection happens and it’s okay!), send it immediately to the next publication on your list.

Apply this strategy to each of your works, and you’ll be way ahead of most writers. And with this recipe, you won’t be unpublished for long. Good luck!

Did I miss anything? Share it in the comments.

Mandy Wallace, writer & bloggerMandy Wallace is a writing coach and blogger with a bachelor’s in English Lit and a few academic writing awards under her belt. She shares weekly writing tips and interviews with publishing experts on her website for new writers, which clocked over a half million page views last year. Get her weekly writing tips here.

Crime Writers Guide to REAL Crime

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What Ever Happened to Nancy Drew?

A Crime Writers Guide to REAL Crime in Kern County

David E. Wolf, Deputy District Attorney

Crime WritersIt seems like most crime writers focus on PC 187 (that’s murder) and yet one of our most famous and long lasting mystery series, Nancy Drew, dealt almost entirely with fraud, scams, and theft crimes.

This presentation will be an overview of fraud in Kern County and discuss predictions for crime in 2016. You may be surprised to learn about some of the many different types of fraud (ID Theft, Workers’ Compensation Fraud, Contractor Fraud, etc.)

Crime writers will learn about other types of crime beside murder. These crimes could be the main plot of a story or the motive for a homicide. Crime writers will also learn some “nuts & bolts” about crimes that will be helpful in any story (mystery, romance, etc.) that involves law enforcement. For example, is that really the language a cop or DA would use?

Finally, everyone will learn some tips on how not to be a victim of crime and what to do if they are a victim.

David Wolf has been prosecuting criminals for over two decades. He is an award-winning prosecutor and has prosecuted crimes ranging from misdemeanors to murders. Mr. Wolf volunteers with the Young Writers’ of Kern writing competition. He also volunteers with Kern County Academic Decathlon, High School Mock Trial and We the People programs. He is also a volunteer member of the Kern County Search and Rescue, Frazier Park Mountain and Snow Rescue Team.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDVOLGeIwVs]

Kern County’s First Poet Laureate

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Calling Kern County’s First Poet Laureate

Poet Laureate

The Arts Council of Kern is heading the charge in the county-wide search for Kern County’s first poet laureate. We, community members and poets and writers, have the chance to help choose this history-making, pride-producing appointee.

As WOKians, we have poet laureate-hood in our genes. California Writers Club’s own Ina Coolbrith was California’s first poet laureate from 1915-1928 and the first for any American state.

What’s a poet laureate?

A poet connected to an area or group who is chosen as a representative that keeps the fire of poetry alive as a literary art. The poet laureate teaches and encourages, writes and shares his own work, and promotes the appreciation of poetry throughout the region.

The Kern County poet laureate will be a recognized poet/spoken word artist with a proven history of substantial publication of individual poems or books and will demonstrate an appreciation for Kern County.

How does having a poet laureate going to benefit Kern County?

Local poet and WOK member Portia Choi believes having a laureate will “raise the visibility of poetry” in our community.

The presence of Kern County’s community of poets may be a well-kept secret from many residents, but, “We have quite an active poetry community here,” Choi said.

Since 2010, WOK member Dr. Nancy Edwards and Choi have been instrumental in organizing multiple events for National Poetry Month, which is celebrated in April. Choi said, “Many of us, including poets Nancy Edwards, LisaAnn LoBasso, and myself, have presented workshops during National Poetry Month.”  

Regarding the importance of a Kern County poet laureate, Nancy Edwards said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to encourage writers to find or share their poetic voices and feelings with the community.”

How can YOU have a voice in the choice?

Candidates will be nominated by the public. Download the nomination form and fill it out. It’ll take a bit of time and a little research on your candidate. The deadline for submitting nominations is January 31, 2016.

The honored poet laureate will be selected by a committee comprised of Kern County poets, Writers of Kern and Arts Council of Kern board members, and academia.  I am proud to represent WOK on this committee.

Choosing a Kern County poet laureate to showcase poetry and its merits will have far-reaching effects. California’s newly appointed poet laureate Dana Gioia said, in a recent interview, “My life changed for the better by falling in love with poetry.  It made me a better student, made me a more alert human being.”  

Opening the world of poetry to a broad Kern County audience will have a positive effect right here at home.

Fill in and submit your nomination form today.

Annis Cassells serves  Writers of Kern as Hospitality/Sunshine chair. She is the Writers of Kern 2013 recipient of the California Writers Club’s Jack London Award for service. After her 34-year career teaching students of all ages, kindergarten through college, Annis finished a Masters in Counseling and became a life coach and speaker.  Annis’s work has been published in Bakersfield Life magazine, Bakersfield Magazine, and Bakersfield’s Wellness Quarterly as well as in professional journals and hobbyist publications.  She is a contributing author in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for the Young at Heart. Annis writes and publishes The DayMaker, an inspirational blog.