Every June, the 24 Carrot Writing community celebrates June Year's Eve. June is the half-way mark in the year and a perfect time to evaluate our goals and reset our focus for the rest of the year.

In support of Black Lives Matter, we ask you to use this June Year's Eve to revisit your goals and add measurable targets for supporting black voices in our community. May we suggest the following: commit to amplifying black authors and illustrators by reading their books, reviewing their books on social media, and purchasing their books for your own library or a teacher's library. ​

We invite our 24 Carrot Writing community to use their creative talents and individual platforms to decry racism, and offer support to black authors and illustrators. We value the contributions and texture all voices add to 24 Carrot Writing and to the KidLit community, and we urge you to commit to a goal of actively amplifying the work of black authors and illustrators. ​​

~ By Amanda Smith​
 
Our final classroom take-over for the 2019/2020 school year comes from an amazing group of 7th and 8th graders. Back in the fall when I had asked them about their favorite books, none of us could have imagined the way this school year would end. Missing them as I work through their responses, I am reminded why I write for children. Our readers, these kids, draw hope and strength from our stories. They escape into fantasy worlds where they learn how to deal with reality. They gather compassion and empathy, grow strong and kind. And they become our heroes.

As I worked through the questionnaires, I found it interesting that the majority of 7th and 8th grade students focused their answers on characters and endings. So, as writers, we should make sure we listen and give them well rounded characters and satisfying endings. Let’s see what they have to say.

What kind of characters do you like?

Relatable characters:
Adrienne—I recently read the book WE ARE OKAY by Nina Lacour, where the main character is always there for her friends. I like this character because of the way she cares for and loves her friends. I would be friends with this character because she is sweet and loving, and matches my personality.

Avery – In MATCHED by Ally Condie, I like the main character, Cassie because she is relatable. I can connect to her and know what she feels when she doesn’t want to follow the rules.

Ella H. – In WINGS OF FIRE, Tui T. Sutherland creates a character named Sunny. Sunny is a small nightwing-sandwing hybrid and she is always happy and optimistic. I would be friends with her because she is basically the dragon version of me.

Ella K. – I look for depth in characters’ feelings, details of characters’ thoughts and an elaborate display of characters’ motives for the decisions they make. I look for these things, because it makes me feel connected to the main character and the people around them.

Claire – Glory is my favorite character form WINGS OF FIRE. She is a dragon who can change her color and spit venom with her fangs. She is not aggressive, but will fight when it is necessary. I think if she was real, we would be good friends.

Sebz -- Ben Ripley from SPY SCHOOL is a character I like, because he is sarcastic.

Marley – The character in JELLY BEAN SUMMER by Joyce Maghin is a young girl like me and I liked her so much, because her inner thoughts were very funny. I would be friends with her because she is kind and clever.

Elyssa – I would be friends with Frances from RADIO SILENCE by Alice Oseman, because she is relatable and headstrong.

Carolyn – I liked Raina in GUTS (Raina Telgemeier), because she is a good friend and sounds like she would be easy to get along with.
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Caden – I think I would be friends with Oliver in THE UNEXPECTED LIFE OF OLIVER CRAMWELL PITTS (Avi) because he is nice and very kind.

What kinds of endings do you like?
Just as with the 6th graders we hosted in March, these students appreciate a good cliff-hanger - provided a sequel is close at hand. But don’t leave them hanging with unresolved threads.  Like Ella B. said, “You can’t just end a book with a major cliff hanger and never write another book explaining what happens.” What I have noticed, though, is that these discerning readers expect an ending to deliver more than just a neatly wrapped up story.
Take a look:
Rosemary – The ending of THE KINDOM (Jess Rothenberg) was great. It did not end with a “happily ever after.” It ended with a nice resolution to the plot, but left the rest to the readers’ imagination.

Erin – I liked the ending of THE OUTSIDERS (S.E. Hinton). The ending is similar to the beginning.

Grace – I liked the ending of WHITE BIRD, because it had a good message and made me think of what I can do to change the world.

Corbin – REBOUND by Kwame Alexander ended in a way that linked up well with the first book THE CROSSOVER.

Emelyn – The ending of AN INQUISITOR’S TALE (Adam Gidwitz) revealed identities of mysterious characters and tied the whole book together really well.

CJ – I liked the ending of TYRANT’S TOMB (Rick Riordan), because it ended with a battle. I don’t like books that end with “happily ever after,” because it makes it feel as if nothing had changed since the beginning.

Hannah – TO CATCH A KILLER by Sheryl Scarborough ended so nicely and all the pieces fit together. It made me feel like life could be like that someday.
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Seventh and Eighth graders fall in that obscure place in the market – that crossover spot between upper middle grade and young YA, which can make finding the right book tricky. I doubt that they care much about marketing labels. However, they are clear about what they want: Adventure, escape, and hope.  A call to action. Glimpses of who they are. Examples of who they aspire to be. And inspiration to be brave and be the very best version of themselves.

by Kelly Carey

​Is your writing journey ready for our new virtual environment? Is your social media presence ready to be an asset to your writing?

If you’ve been timid about social media in the past, our new environment is the perfect moment to rethink.

We can’t meet in person and those wonderful connections you could make at workshops, conferences and book events are either no longer an option or they’ve all gone online. It’s time to pivot and create those connections virtually. That means you need to build a strong social media game.

Even when we are back to face-to-face days, your writing career will benefit if your social media community is full and rich.
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But are you stuck in a cycle of social media excuses that are holding you back? Let’s see. 

Excuse #1: Social Media Is A Time Suck

Everything can be a time suck and a distraction from your writing goals IF you allow things to obliterate your focus.  Setting an egg timer allowance of 15 to 30 minutes a day or a week can help remedy this excuse and I would argue you may actually find time saving and valuable information on social media.

In that short 30 minutes spent on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram you may find the #MSWL tweet from an agent looking for your exact book! Score! You may happen across a Facebook post about a revision workshop that is just what your middle grade novel needs. Win! You may see a Publisher’s Weekly article that a fellow author posted and it will make you more knowledgeable and aware of current industry buzz. Excellent!
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You can use your goals and focus your social media efforts so they are productive. 

Excuse #2: Connections On Social Media Are Fake
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Connections on social media are fake if you are being fake. Be your authentic self on social media and you will find real connections. I would argue that social media gives you the opportunity to make connections you might never have made if geographic proximity and chance were required.

If I read a book that I love, I tweet out praise and tag the author and/or illustrator and publisher. Almost 100% of the time one or all tweet back. There was NOTHING fake about my original tweet. It was genuinely motivated by my appreciation for a book. That is real. Social media gave me the mechanism to share my kind words directly with an author who I might never meet in person.  

If I come across a great article, interview or blog post and I repost it on Facebook, my fellow writing colleagues may appreciate the opportunity to see it. If I tag the author of the piece and thank them for their efforts there is NOTHING fake about my respect for the article, interview or blog post. If you go through the effort of putting something out to the internet universe, it’s nice when someone notices. I think the authors and blog owners that see me repost their work alongside kind words appreciate that I do that. Almost 100% of the time I get a response. And now we are connected.
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Be authentic and your social media connections will be real. 

Excuse #3: Connections on Social Media Are Shallow
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This is a situation of you get out what you are willing to put in. Granted, nothing can really replace the kismet meeting at a book launch that sparks a spontaneous conversation where you discover that you both had a childhood cat named Rex. BUT you can make connections that are deeper than ankle height. They will require effort and energy, just like any relationship. 

If you are a passive social media user who just lurks around the platforms and hits like or clicks a heart if you see something that you agree with or love, then yes, your connections will be shallow. Those options are like waving across the room to a colleague but refusing to walk over and shake someone’s hand. You need to shake hands and offer a bit of conversation. You cannot just wave. Instead of hitting like or punching hearts, make a comment. That comment shows effort and moves you into the realm of active participant. Be that person.  
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If you engage in a meaningful way, your connections will be meaningful. 

Excuse #4: I Stink at Technology

Me too! Just ask my kids. But you are a brave creative individual who puts manuscripts in front of critique groups. You can wade into Twitter and/or Facebook. Start small. As we suggest with all goals, make your technology goals manageable. We would never set a goal of writing three novels in one week, so why set a scary social media objective? Decide that you are going to set up a Twitter account and commit to 15 minutes of Twitter time a day and one tweet a week. You can do that. Want to get better at using Twitter? Add in a goal of watching a Twitter tutorial online.

Here’s the good news. While you are learning and figuring things out and making mistakes, like sending out a tweet with misspellings or forgetting to tag the author whose book you are gushing about, you will barely have any followers! So who is really going to see it anyway? In the beginning the only folks who see your tweet will probably be your crit group and your best friend! You’ll have time to hone your skills before a crowd is watching.
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You will only master technology if you take steps to improve your skills. 

Excuse #5: I Can Wait Until I Have a Book to Promote

No you cannot! Well before you have a book to promote and NEED your social media community you must put in the time to build the community and contribute to it.

I launched my debut book last month – in the middle of a pandemic that shut down everything! If I didn’t have social media, how would anyone have seen my book? The only reason I have followers on social media is because I posted and tweeted and tagged for years leading up to my book launch. The result was an online community ready to help boost news of my book because I had boosted their book news, retweeted their blog articles, and been a full participant in the social media community.

Even without the confines of the pandemic, my social media community puts my book news in front of WAY more folks than I could reach with face-to-face contact and to a much broader geographic reach.
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If you wait until you need social media, it will be too late. 

Are you ready to up your social media game, create real connections and build a social media community that will benefit your writing career? Great!
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(Now prove it by tweeting and/or reposting this blog!) 

~ By Amanda Smith

In last week’s blog, Lindsay Ward encouraged us to lean into our creativity and reinvest in our goals during this truly bizarre time. For some of us, writing in the midst of quarantine feels like sanity and welcome routine. However, I have heard other writers mention that they are unable to write, that they are not in the head-space to be creative. And others’ writing time is consumed by keeping young children on track with school work, or working longer hours from home. So how do we keep our writing goals?

At 24 Carrot Writing we have always proposed two kinds of goals: Creative goals and craft goals. The beauty of setting these two kinds of goals, is they access different skill-sets and even different brain hemispheres, so we can always keep moving forward in one area when the other seems inaccessible.

 If you are happily plugging along with your creative goals, writing your story and meeting your word-count targets, carry on. You’ve got this! However, I would urge those writers who feel as if their muse is quarantined in a whole different zip code to lean into those craft goals. Here are some ideas:

• Have you always been curious about Scrivener? Now is the perfect time to work through the tutorial and learn this amazing writing tool.
• Were the first couple couple of months of the new year filled with other projects and you missed out on Storystorm and ReFoReMo? Those blogs are still available to read. You may not have access to all the mentor books, but you may use this time to study some of the books you own as mentor texts, and discover why and how they work on a structural level.
• There are a myriad of online classes, webinars and author resources available right now, such as those from SCBWI. If you are experiencing writer’s block, taking some of these classes is a perfect way to develop your craft.
  This piece of advice comes with a caveat, though. The abundance of online resources could be a distraction and might be overwhelming. it’s okay to miss some! My rule of thumb is: Does this webinar fit into my yearly goals or support my WIP? If so, go full steam ahead. If not, you might find yourself like a squirrel in fall, gathering a bunch of nuts, but not remembering where you buried them.
• Speaking of workshops and notes, when was the last time you looked at any? Kelly often wisely says that sometimes we need to stop taking classes and apply what we have learned. This is a great time to pull out your workshop notes on plotting, or tension or whatever, and apply it to your WIP.
• While you are at it, you could also create order in your work space by filing your notes in a way that makes them easy to find again. ( Francine wrote a wonderful blog about taming conference notes a few years ago)
• Offer to be a beta-reader or critique partner for a writing friend. Some of my favorite quarantine hours have been spent reading and critiquing others’ work. Asking Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? about someone else’s work is easier and less intimidating than trying to muddle through your own. The added bonus is that it trains you to spot these things in your own work as well, strengthening your craft.

 
These last few ideas are craft/ creative cross-overs:

• Start an idea notebook. (Click here for Annie's blog on how.)  Most writing happens in our heads long before it happens on paper. If you are unable to write, but have thoughts about your WIP, or snippets of dialogue that wake you up in the middle of the night, it is handy to have one place to put it all. For picture books, I recommend Annie’s technique. For novels, have a designated notebook or folder per project. This way you will have your thoughts together for when you get back to writing.
• Do the behind the scenes work on your WIP. Tension charts and scene spreadsheets, story grids and all the analysis. This way you are staying in your novel, working towards your goals, and preparing for when the muse returns.

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Above all, feed your creative soul with what brings you joy! If writing doesn’t bring you joy right now, that is okay. Step away. Follow a few online watercolor tutorials. Play with clay. Write some poetry. Go dig in the garden. Make music. Sew a few face masks. Because your marvelous mind will be puzzling at your story, carving out your characters, and coming up with fresh ideas, all waiting for you when you are ready to pick up the pen again.
 

Guest Post by Lindsay Ward

​We are excited to host, Lindsay Ward of Critter Lit on 24 Carrot Writing. Lindsay has a BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University and her most recent books include This Book Is Gray and the Amazon Bestselling Dexter T. Rexter series: Don’t Forget Dexter!, It’s Show and Tell, Dexter!, and Vacation for Dexter! with Two Lions. Her work has been reviewed in Kirkus Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly, and the New York Times. Lindsay is the founder of Critter Lit, a free picture book manuscript and illustration critique service for up-and-coming authors and illustrators. 

We had originally planned on having Lindsay share a blog about giving and receiving critiques. But in these uncertain times, Lindsay has offered up a more poignant reflection on how to use your writing and goals to work through the stress of our current situation. 

Welcome Lindsay! 

​My life is hectic and busy with three kiddos under five. I’m trying to finish book deadlines, come up with new ideas, learn how to homeschool my oldest son, and stay sane amidst one of the biggest global events to happen in 100 years. Things are nuts right now. And I know you are all reading this thinking, “yep, life is bananas.” And it is. BUT, the one thing I’ve found that has kept me going and provided some balance has been creative work. Sitting down to write and draw everyday has given me a sense of purpose and structure, which I need. Especially now.

In early 2017 I launched Critter Lit; a website where authors and illustrators could receive free one-time critiques. I wanted to create a community where people could get feedback in a reasonable amount of time. One of the most frustrating things about publishing is how slow it is. Patience is key. But let’s be honest, nobody is that patient. I’ve been doing this for ten years and I’m just as impatient on submission now as I was the first time I went out. So I decided I could promise people two weeks. That seemed like a reasonable amount of time. It turned out, a lot of other people thought so too. 

​When I started Critter Lit, it was just me squeezing time between deadlines to read and critique manuscripts— but I always made the two week deadline. It was important to me to make the time to give back and help up-and-coming authors, as others had done for me. Many people took the time to critique my work and offer advice before I was first published. Now, my husband, Frank Tupta, and I run Critter Lit together. His first picture book comes out this July.

​In the beginning, most submissions came from writers who were just starting out. But soon published authors and illustrators started sending in manuscripts and art for critique. Sometimes they’d want to know if I’d give the same feedback as they were hearing in their critique group. Other times, they wanted some input before sharing the project with their agent. Since then, Critter Lit has grown to include a wide range of submissions. I’m thrilled that so many people have found our site helpful.
 
After about a year, I started to hear back from people who had received offers of representation or sold their manuscript to an editor. It’s incredible to share in the excitement of those moments with other creatives. That feeling never gets old. When I worry about what is going on right now, I try to remind myself of those moments.

In the midst of this pandemic, there has been a lot of concern as to the state of publishing. What’s going to happen? Will publishers still be buying books? When will things go back to normal? I ask those questions too. This is my family’s livelihood. My husband and I don’t have other jobs. This is it. Full-time writing and illustrating. And right now that is completely terrifying. I can’t control what’s going to happen. I don’t know what publishers are going to do. BUT, I do know they have to keep buying books to make a profit when this is all over. So I’m going to keep writing and drawing. I’m going to stay hopeful. Which, I’ll be honest, is hard right now.
 

Writing goals and deadlines are a welcome and helpful distraction and the amazing KidLit community and the critique requests we keep getting at Critter Lit have kept me motivated. I love that you are all still writing and trying to put your work out there. This is the perfect time to lean into our creative energy, keep writing, reinvest in our writing goals and appreciate the wonderful work we are all creating. 
 
Be well everyone.
 
Lindsay

For more information on Lindsay please visit her at https://lindsaymward.com/books/ and to order her new book, Rosie: Stronger Than Steel (Two Lions, April 2020) click here. 

For more information on Critter Lit visit here. 
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By Annie Cronin Romano 
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It is with joy and pride that the 24 Carrot Writing crew is celebrating Kelly Carey’s debut picture book HOW LONG IS FOREVER?, which launches Tuesday, April 7th. 

HOW LONG IS FOREVER? (Charlesbridge, 2020) is the story of a young boy’s quest to understand the essence of what forever really is. Through delightful storytelling, Kelly cleverly depicts how a child’s idea of “forever” (Grandma's pie will take forever to bake) varies considerably from that of an older person. This is particularly relevant during this time of stay-at-home orders when many children are feeling as though they've been home forever. As Mason hunts for the meaning of forever, he enjoys all the beauty and treasures his grandparent’s farm holds. Perspective is important in this story, and parents and teachers will find many jumping-off points for discussion regarding time and perspective. Children will easily engage with Qing Zhuang’s vibrant colored pencil and watercolor illustrations. And blueberry pie plays a key role in Kelly’s book as well. How yummy is that? 

​I had the pleasure of reading early drafts of HOW LONG IS FOREVER? and watching Kelly incorporate critique and feedback suggestions all the while staying true to her original vision for this story. As one of the co-founders of 24 Carrot Writing, Kelly knows the importance of setting writing goals and holding herself accountable to them. Her dedication to her craft is fundamental to her success. Oh, and she’s one immensely talented writer, too!

Congratulation, Kelly, on your sweet debut picture book, HOW LONG IS FOREVER! To quote Kirkus, "It won't take kids forever to return to this one." (https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kelly-carey/how-long-is-forever/) 

To learn more about Kelly Carey, visit her website: http://www.kcareywrites.com/.
To learn more about illustrator Qing Zhuang, go to https://www.qingthings.com/.

~by Amanda Smith
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To cap off our National Reading Month posts on favorite reads, we polled the ones whose opinion ultimately matters the most - the children for whom we write. These sixth graders are well read and they know what they like. Take a look - 

Tell us about a book that you just finished reading that you liked. What about the book caused you to keep reading to the end?
All the old favorites, such as Harry Potter, Percy Jackson,  and James Patterson's books were among the student's responses. I found it interesting that some students are still drawn to the classics, and that they enjoyed books from a variety of genres.

Adeline C. -  I just finished reading THE VANDERBEEKERS TO THE RESCUE by Karina Yan Glaser. I liked the book because there were parts that you just wanted to keep reading from the actions that the characters made.
Brady P. - I just finished reading RESISTANCE by Jennifer A Nielsen. What I really liked about the book was that it was full of action. I kind of like war books.
Emily B. - THE INQUISITOR’S TALE by Adam Gidwits. I really wanted to finish it because I had so many questions about it.
Emma O – HOLES by Louis Sachar, it was a very entertaining book. I kept reading to the end because of all the action. I understood every part of the book, so it wasn’t challenging. There were suspenseful parts and lots of interesting facts. 
Hazel M. - I reread PRISONER OF WAR by Michael P. Spradlin and it had so much action, humor, and just enough sadness, I just had to keep reading to the end.
Kacy B. - I just finished GUTS by Raina Telgemeier. I liked it because it showed young Raina going through tough times, but she got over her anxiety. My favorite part had to be when she made friends with a girl she hated in the beginning and how it relates to real life.
Noah G. - I liked THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS by James Fenimore Cooper because it is a very descriptive read with lots of twists, new characters, and unexpected events.
Ryan M. -  I just finished HATCHET by Gary Paulson. I read till the end because it was interesting and had cliffhangers.

~by Amanda Smith

Life has changed drastically for all of us, but one thing that remains unchanged is the comfort, escape and friendship good books offer. An unexpected benefit of self- quarantine is that we have more time to read. Even though physical libraries are closed, e-books and audio books are still available through apps such as Libby and Audible, and while we cannot browse our favorite Indie bookstores, we can still support them by ordering books through Indiebound.
So, snuggle up with some stories. Read aloud one of your kids’ best-loved novels, share some of your childhood favorites, or discover new darlings together.

 In honor of National Reading Month, here are some of my recent favorites: