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Finding and Picking a Book Marketing Group

2/24/2021

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by Kelly Carey

​You’ve just sold your debut book?
Fantastic!

You want to join a debut marketing group?
Even better!
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What’s that? You’re not exactly sure what a marketing group is? How to find one? Or what kind of group to look for?
Don’t worry! Check out my tips on how to not only find a marketing group, but how to find a great one! 

Tip #1: Find a Book Marketing Group
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A book marketing group is made up of authors who join together to help promote each other’s books. Most groups are organized around a common attribute, like debut authors, or middle grade authors, or books publishing in 2021.

You can find marketing groups by:
  • Asking your agent and/or editor if they have other clients with books launching in your genre and/or launch year and then reaching out to those authors.
  • You can put a call out on Twitter and other social media asking for group organizers to contact you.  
  • Tap into your networks and ask your fellow writers, critique partners, and writing groups to help you find a marketing group. You never know who has a friend, who has a friend, who has a friend who is organizing a marketing group. Make sure folks know you are interested! Post a search for a marketing group on the 24 Carrot Facebook page!
  • Scan Publisher’s Weekly for book deal announcements and reach out to authors with books launching in your genre and publication year.  
  • If all else fails, start your own group. And if you need some guidance on how to organize and start a group, sign up for the Soaring’20s Debut group’s newsletter and they will send you a free guide on setting up a marketing group. 
Tip #2: Only Sign Up for One Group

Marketing groups are a huge help in plugging your book and in offering support and comradery during a launch. But you only need one group. While the benefits of a group are many, you will not multiple the benefits with more groups. One is plenty.
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For "branding" purposes, it’s also better to identify yourself as belonging to one group. There will likely be a group logo, and a cool group name that you can include on your website, and in your social media. Best not to confuse folks with multiple tags.
 
Finally, a marketing group requires time and energy on your part. There is no need to juggle the responsibilities of more than one group. You’ll be spending plenty of time marketing and you don’t need to double the workload! 
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Tip #3 Timing is Everything
 
It can take a few months to collect a group of like-minded authors for a marketing group. Once you have a group, it can take a few more months to agree on a name and logo, build a website and platform, and introduce your group to the world. It’s not too early to start looking for or forming a marketing group – um – today!
 
Your marketing group will want to start interacting with potential readers, librarians, bookstores, and teachers about six months before anyone’s book launches. That means you'll want your group to be forming about a year before publication dates. If your 2022 debut group wants to announce your fabulous new books to the world in the last half of 2021, you’ll want to find your marketing group in the first few months of 2021. 

​Tip #4 Assess the Group
 
Don’t be afraid to be picky if you get asked to join more than one group – you want to be in good one! The best way to do this it to ask a few questions and do a little research. I’d look for the following things in a group:
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  • Size Limit: You want the group to be a manageable size that allows for constructive interaction. I think 30 is a nice number. It allows for a good distribution of workload while keeping the group small enough to form meaningful working friendships.
  • Diversity: I loved that my debut group intentionally looked for folks around the country so that we had different contacts at bookstores, libraries, schools and writing groups. This allowed us to really amplify our marketing reach geographically.  We also looked to be diverse in terms of gender, race and ethnicity. Finally, we intentionally included illustrators. This was a huge help when it came time to create logos and website art. The more diverse your group, and varied the skill set, the more you will be able to accomplish.
  • Commitment: You want the group to work and that means the group members must be willing to work. Make sure that your group is asking for a commitment right up front – maybe a few hours a month or a requirement to volunteer to be on a sub-committee (giveaways, social media, reviews, newsletter...). You want to be in a group with folks willing to put in time and effort. 
​Congratulations on your upcoming book! I know you’ve worked hard on it and readers deserve to get ahold of it! Give yourself and your readers the best chance of connecting by finding a fantastic marketing group! 
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Is Your Manuscript Ready To Submit?

2/8/2021

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Guest blog by Sarah Jane Abbott

​As a writer myself, I understand the struggle of trying to figure out when a story is “finished.” Is it ready to submit? Or does it just need a few more months of tinkering before it’s ready to be extracted from the bowels of my laptop? The truth is, it’s easy to make little adjustments to a manuscript forever and never send it out. There’s a fine line between putting thoughtful, thorough revision into your manuscript and completely overworking it. So how is one to decide when it’s time to stop tinkering and start querying?


Take A Step Back

One of my best tips is to take a step back for perspective. It’s easy to get so close to a manuscript that objectivity is impossible; if you’ll excuse the cliché, you can’t see the forest for the trees. So put the manuscript away and work on something else. Try not to even think about it for several weeks. Then, when you come back to it, it should feel fresher and you may be able to see it in a way you couldn’t before. Maybe you’ll realize it needs more revision after all. Or maybe, after being away from it, you’ll see that it’s stronger and more polished than you remembered.
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Read Aloud

​Picture books are a unique and special form in literature in that they are often read aloud. I always suggest that authors read their work out loud before finalizing it. This will help you see numerous things: Is the language colorful and engaging? In a rhyming text, do the rhyme, rhythm, and meter flow naturally? Does the pacing move along quickly enough to keep a child’s attention, while allowing time for the plot to develop? If all of these things feel good during read aloud, it’s a positive sign that the manuscript is polished.

Get Feedback from Critique Partners

Another helpful tool to gauge readiness for submission can be input from a trusted critique partner or group. It’s one thing to have a non-writer family member or friend read your work; you’ll often be met with sincere, but vague feedback like, “this is really great!” Peers who are familiar with the world of writing for children specifically will be able to give targeted, constructive feedback on your work. Your critique partners can give their honest opinions about the readiness of the manuscript for submission and, if they think it still needs work, their thoughts on how it can be revised.

The possible pitfall, of course, is taking so much feedback from so many critique partners that you lose your own voice or intention. Maybe you’ve followed several different suggestions and ended up with so many different versions of your manuscript you barely remember the story you were trying to write in the first place. Maybe you’ve written both rhyming and non-rhyming versions, both first and third person narration, in past and present tense. It gets confusing! Or maybe you’ve tinkered and tinkered and even though you think it’s a strong manuscript, you just can’t seem to make yourself press send on any queries.

​If you feel stuck, maybe it’s time to bring in a professional. A freelance editor can use their experience and industry knowledge to give you an expert opinion on your manuscript’s readiness for submission as well as what areas need revision. They can read multiple versions and tell you which one they think is the strongest, or help you pull together the best pieces from different iterations of the manuscript to make the heart of your story shine through.
Celebrate!

Most of all, the important thing to remember if you’re thinking you’re ready to query is: it’s a big accomplishment just to be at this point! So take a breath, take a step back, and read through that manuscript one more time. Pressing send can be scary, but once you’ve put in the work to polish up a story you’re confident in, it’s an incredibly satisfying feeling to send it out into the world.

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​Sarah Jane Abbott is an experienced editor who has spent eight years making books for children. She got her start at Simon & Schuster’s Paula Wiseman Books and Beach Lane Books, where she had the pleasure of working with many wonderful authors and illustrators including Samantha M. Clark, Samantha Cotterill, Scott Magoon, Anita Lobel, Alice B. McGinty, and Diane Goode. In 2020, she established Sarah Jane Abbott Editorial, and works with authors and publishers on a wide range of projects. Visit her at sarahjaneabbotteditorial.com or get in touch at sarahjaneabbotteditorial@gmail.com. 

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The Three R’s of Writing Nonfiction for Children (#30000StitchesTour)

1/25/2021

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~Guest Post by Amanda Davis
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Hello fellow-24 Carrot Writers! My name is Amanda Davis. I’m an author-illustrator and high school art educator. My debut creative nonfiction picture book, 30,000 STITCHES: THE INSPIRING STORY OF THE NATIONAL 9/11 FLAG, will be hitting shelves May 4th. The story is illustrated by the amazing Sally Wern Comport and will be releasing with WorthyKids/Hachette Book Group. Thank you to the 24 Carrot Writing team for inviting me onto the blog today. I’m excited to kick off my MINI BLOG TOUR for my cover reveal (more about this at the end of the post)  by chatting about all things nonfiction. 
​I learned a lot about writing nonfiction from crafting my debut and attempted to boil my process down to the Three ‘R’s of Writing Nonfiction for Children.
Let’s dive in!

1. The first ‘R’ of Writing Nonfiction for Children is RESEARCH:
 
The research for my debut picture book, 30,000 STITCHES began seven years before I ever started drafting a manuscript for it. Late summer of 2011, I was searching for a lesson I could facilitate with my high school art students to honor the tenth remembrance of 9/11. As I was researching, I came across the story of the National 9/11 Flag and knew I needed to share it with students. We learned all about the flag and then created our own patched together flag inspired by the story
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The story of the flag continued to linger, and as I began more seriously diving into the world of kidlit, I was drawn back to it. I have a background in journalism so uncovering stories, facts, and resources, is right up my alley!
 
My boiled down nuggets from the research are:

  • Ask yourself why?:  To begin your research, ask yourself, why am I writing this story? Why is it important to me? Why is it important for my readers to learn about? Why am I the person to write it? For me, I was not directly impacted by 9/11 but was alive during the events, which will forever be ingrained in my memory. This pushed me to want to teach about the events in my classroom every year. Through these lessons and projects, I’ve connected with so many amazing and selfless individuals who were directly impacted by the tragedy and will forever feel a connection to them and a responsibility to continue to teach about the events so we never forget. I hope the story of the flag reminds people about hope and healing, about the power of our shared stories, and our ability to rise from the shadows if we unite and come together. That is my why for writing 30,000 STITCHES.
 
  • Gather reliable sources: If you’ve answered the above questions and decide that you would like to forge ahead with your story idea, I can’t stress enough the importance of finding reliable sources. I feel fortunate that through my research, I connected with many amazing people like the Ground Zero superintendent, and the Flag Tour Staff. Their stories, courage, and selflessness inspired me and they were integral in helping me get the details of the story correct.  To start, I suggest compiling a list of people who were close to the story. Gather their contact information (some detective skills might be needed here) and reach out. Cold calling can be awkward but it’s well worth it in the long run. Many times, people are happy to share their stories and information with you.  You may even get some wonderfully useful information that will spark a whole different seed or trajectory for your story. And the worst that may happen--you won’t hear back. Try not to take this personally and feel good knowing that you tried!
 
  • Well-Researched and Complete Back Matter: If you are new to writing nonfiction, I suggest learning all about back matter. Find as many different examples of back matter as you can. When I was navigating how to put together the back matter for my book, I referenced piles of other picture books. From creative timelines to actual photos*, there are many fun ways you can craft your back matter.  I also suggest fully fleshing out the back matter before submitting it to editors and agents. This could give you a leg up when they’re reading your story. I’m a geek for nonfiction, and love me some interesting back matter but I like to believe that agents and editors do, too! When querying, I made sure to mention that I had well-researched back matter and interviewed primary sources who helped verify the details of my story. This element could help your query shine! Because my story is a lyrical creative nonfiction narrative, I left many of the straight facts for the back matter. This put an added weight on the validity of what I chose to incorporate in the back matter and also became a delicate balance of how much of the facts do I include in the story versus in the back matter, which leads me to the next point--
* Side note: If you plan on using photos in your back matter or including photos when you submit to an agent or editor, either 1) make sure you are the owner of those photos or 2) if you are not the owner, make sure you can get signed permissions to use the photos in the book. The publisher will need this from you and in most cases, it will be your job to get it. 
 
2. The second ‘R’ is for REVISION:
After the bulk of my research was complete (or so I thought), I began to revise my story…and revise…and revise again. Looking back, I’m afraid to officially count the number of versions I have so I’ll just leave it at countless. We all know that revision is part of every writer’s process but I noticed I felt an added weight when it came to writing nonfiction because there was no room for error when it came to relaying the facts of the story and the subject matter.
 
My boiled down nuggets for revision are:

  • Balance is key: Before the story got acquired, the hardest part about my revisions was balancing how much of the hard facts to include in the story and how much to leave in the back matter. I wanted readers to understand the story without having to read the back matter but also didn’t want to disrupt the lyrical nature of the text by inserting too much of an expository type narrative.  To confuse matters further, when I was submitting to agents and editors, some praised my lyrical writing while others felt it was too sparse and wanted more of the back matter inserted into the main text. This contradicting feedback became a point of struggle for me as I revised and continues to be an area of growth as I write other nonfiction stories. In the end, you only have to find one person who is going to believe in the story and align with your vision. Thankfully, my agent for the story, Melissa Richeson, was that person and later, my editor Peggy Schaefer at WorthyKids connected with my vision as well.
 
  • Keep all your notes and versions!! The version of the story that I originally sent WorthyKids was around 780 words and the version that my agent followed up with was around 220 words. Before signing me, the editors asked if we had a version that was somewhere in between. Thankfully, I did! My agent quickly sent along a version that was around 500 words, and we later signed a deal. If I hadn’t saved all my versions or had those three different versions to offer, I hate to think this would have been a deal breaker, but who knows! I’m thankful I held onto all my revisions and kept them (somewhat) organized so that when I needed them, they could easily be referenced. Sometimes when we revise, it can feel like an endless venture but I like to think that with 30,000 STITCHES, each of those drafts ultimately led me to the one that landed me an agent and later a book deal!
 
3. The third and final ‘R’ in writing for nonfiction is REPEAT:
Once you land a deal for your nonfiction story, your research and revision will most likely be on repeat. There will be questions to answer, details to check, and countless times you will dive back into your sources for information.

  • Don’t forget the art: Just like the text, the art will need fact-checking and revising, too-especially with nonfiction. If you are fortunate enough to get the opportunity to be involved in this process, don’t be afraid to speak up and share your thoughts.
 
  • Just Ask: You should be the subject matter expert of your story and therefore can be utilized as a resource when questions arise. If you find that you aren’t being tapped into for insights during this part of the process, it can’t hurt to ask to be involved. Let your editor know you would love to see the sketches or that you have resources available to them if they need references to help check for accuracy. It will be easier to correct any inaccuracies at the development stage, and everyone will be thankful for that in the end.
 
If you are taking on the challenge of writing nonfiction, hooray! I hope you found these nuggets of information helpful in your process. For me, there is an undeniable pleasure in knowing that I’m sharing an important, true story with the world and making it accessible and fun for children to read and learn about. What could possibly be cooler than that?
 
I’d like to leave you with one final BONUS ‘R’ for the road, which is ROCKS, because simply put, when you truly boil it all down, nonfiction ROCKS!

I hope you will join me in celebrating my cover reveal by following along with the tour. I’ll be stopping by the places below, and using the #30000StitchesTour. There will be fun giveaways and prizes along the way!
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Today’s giveaway is a chance to win one of 10 (ten) signed copies of 30,000 STITCHES!
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Enter the giveaway below. Be sure to check out tomorrow’s stop on the tour over at author, Brian Gehrlein’s 
PB Spotlight blog. I’ll be in conversation with my agent for 30,000 STITCHES, Melissa Richeson, and she’ll be offering a generous giveaway. Stay tuned! 
Happy Creating!
​~Amanda
Enter for a chance to win one of 10 (ten) signed copies of 30,000 STITCHES here:
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Amanda Davis is a teacher, artist, writer, and innovator who uses her words and pictures to light up the world with kindness. After losing her father at the age of twelve, Amanda turned to art and writing as an outlet. It became her voice. A way to cope. A way to escape. And a way to tell her story. She was thus inspired to teach art and pursue her passion for writing and illustrating children’s books. Through her work, Amanda empowers younger generations to tell their own stories and offers children and adults an entryway into a world of discovery. A world that can help them make sense of themselves, others, and the community around them. A world where they can navigate, imagine, and feel inspired—over and over again. When she’s not busy creating, you can find her sipping tea, petting dogs, and exploring the natural wonders of The Bay State with her partner and rescue pup, Cora.
 
Amanda is represented by Jennifer Unter of The Unter Agency.
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Her debut picture book, 
30,000 STITCHES, hits stores May 4, 2021 with WorthyKids/Hachette Book Group. 
 
 To connect with Amanda and learn more about her work:
Visit her online at amandadavisart.com (http://amandadavisart.com/)
Twitter @amandadavisart (https://twitter.com/amandadavisart)
Instagram @amandadavis_art  (https://www.instagram.com/amandadavis_art/)
and Facebook. (http://facebook.com/amandadavisart)
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Reinventing Your Writing Life

1/12/2021

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Guest post by Francine Puckly

A little over a year ago I made the very difficult but necessary decision to retire from 24 Carrot Writing after five wonderful years. I have missed the camaraderie with my friends and co-founders, and I’m excited to be invited back this week to talk about what I hold near and dear — reimagining creative visions, establishing long-term plans, and setting tangible, immediate goals.

Each new year I take several hours (or sometimes a luxurious whole day!) to celebrate the concluding year’s accomplishments and reassess my goals for the year ahead. In the summer of 2019, I saw a large gap in my September calendar approaching — my kids would both be departing for college while at the same time my husband was heading out of town on business. Rather than pack the days and evenings with hikes and dinners with friends (oh, so tempting!), I trusted my gut to take that time for some extensive reflection. I spent four solid days at home — all to myself — to reexamine my writing vision. What I realized during that block of time was that I had become a little too comfortable with my routine and wasn’t exactly thrilled with how I was spending my writing time.

I gathered the nerve to make several pronounced changes to my commitments. While it was scary to be unmoored from what was comfortable and familiar, I created an avenue for new opportunities to seep in. And seep they did! I had additional novel-writing time and took on a freelance editing gig in June that led to a full-time writer/editor position in December, but the biggest shift was that I found myself hired by a publisher to write and submit an entire manuscript in seventeen days!

The work-for-hire pursuit would not have come about if I hadn’t cleared ample space for it. I was e-introduced to the editor in May, and after an initial video interview, she asked me to submit several writing samples for a couple of different book ideas. We went back and forth several times, during which time I submitted additional samples, incorporated editorial feedback and provided revisions. The editor pitched the project to the editorial team, they authorized it, and we set off on our own version of Operation Warp Speed. (For more details of that process and my  takeaways, see Lessons from a Seventeen-Day Book Sprint.) Because I redirected my efforts and reset my long-term goals, The Word-a-Day Vocabulary Workbook, not even a thought seven months ago, hits bookstores today!

The poet, Wendell Berry, said it best. “The life we want is not merely the one we have chosen and made. It is the one we must be choosing and making.” What life will you be choosing and making in 2021?

Here’s what I wish for all creatives this year (beyond health and well-being): Before you set your goals, may you have plenty of time for self-reflection. May you have the courage to make the necessary changes in your life that will bring joy, surprise, and authenticity to your creative endeavors. And may you trust yourself — always — because, deep down, you know what’s best for you.
Warmest best wishes for a joyful writing year!

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Francine Puckly’s debut book, The Word-a-Day Vocabulary Workbook (Adams Media), is an entertaining nonfiction blend of 365 obscure words, amusing word trivia, and thought-provoking daily writing prompts, perfect for writers who need to get their creative juices flowing each day. It hits stores near you Tuesday, January 12, 2021.
 
You can find Francine online at francinepuckly.com, on Facebook at Francine Puckly, Author, and on Twitter and Instagram @francinepuckly.


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New Year, New Goals

1/4/2021

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By Annie Cronin Romano

So, 2020 was a doozy, wasn’t it? Sure was. But it’s over, people. It’s 2021. A brand new year! And you know what they say:

New Year. New Goals.

Okay, maybe most people don’t say that. But at 24 Carrot Writing, we say it. And we mean it. Don’t believe us? Check out our 2021 goals, which we post every year in January, because: proof! There they are!

If you’re worried about setting goals for the New Year because last year tossed such a curveball into your writing plans, don’t be. Yes, it’s tricky when you plan to write an hour a day while your kids are at school, only to have them suddenly doing remote learning from home. For month after month. We know. But goals should be flexible. That’s the beauty of the “Attainable, “Relevant” and “Timely” part of SMART goals (see The SMART Key to Your Carrots, September 2014). If something drastic happens to alter the attainability, relevance, or timely aspect of your goal—such as, say, a pandemic?—you can adjust your sails to make your goal achievable. Does this count for not meeting a writing goal simply because you didn’t feel like writing? No. But does it count because the time you thought you’d have was altered by circumstances beyond your control? Yes, absolutely.

So don’t let the stress and upheaval that was 2020 keep you from setting writing goals for 2021. Think about what you’d like to accomplish and write it down. Then get started. Perhaps your goal is to brainstorm a list of ideas for new a chapter book series. Perhaps you hope to write three new picture book manuscripts. Or completely revise a novel manuscript based on feedback you’ve received from a critique. Perhaps you work full time and have a busy family life, and your goal is to write a chapter a week. Or even a chapter a month. Write down that goal. Then do your best to meet it.

Do. Your. Best. That’s what a goal is set for: as a finish line to run toward. And every step is progress. So think about what you’d like to accomplish in your writing life this year. Then commit to it.
 
You can do this.
New Year. New Goals.
A fresh start. Bring on 2021!

​And happy writing! All of us at 24 Carrot Writing are cheering for you! 

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Give Your Goals The Santa Treatment

12/15/2020

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by Kelly Carey

Ho, ho, ho! Where did the year go?

24 Carrot Writing wishes our wonderful community a joyous holiday!

We hope you use the last few weeks of the year to look back at your writing goals, and get ready for a fabulous 24 Carrot Writing 2021. The best way to do that is to give your goals ​The Santa Treatment. 

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Grab a cup of cocoa, a plate of cookies, throw on the holiday music, and let’s get started.  

The Santa Treatment:
  1. Make a List: Look back at your 2020 goals and make a list of the hits and misses on your plan. 
  2. Check it Twice: It can be easy to forget all the wonderful things you achieved. Scroll back through your planner, your word documents, your folders, and cull through all those yellow stickies pinned to your cork board. Make sure you catch every accomplishment.    
  3. Find Out Who’s Naughty: Okay, you missed some goals. Take a moment to consider what happened. Did your writing target’s change? Was it a whoops – missed that one incident? No pouting! Instead use an honest assessment of your missed 2020 goals to inform your 2021 targets. What can you do differently to move a writing task from the naughty list to the nice list in 2021?  
  4. Find Out Who’s Nice: Celebrate all the goals you hit. If you earned those carrots, make sure you pay up! Don’t cheat yourself when it comes to popping a bottle of bubbly and really giving yourself a party for the work you did this year. And you did it amid a global pandemic! That must be worth more than a few holiday cookies and a mug of cocoa!?! What did you do that made those goals happen? How can you repeat that in 2021? 
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Once you have your list of what worked and what didn’t work, start drafting your 2021 goals.

Better watch out! Better not cry! There is a whole new year of writing possibilities mere weeks away!  And 24 Carrot Writing is excited to share 2021 with you!
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Enjoy the holidays and we will see you 2021! 

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21 For the Books Talks Debut Year Goals.

11/30/2020

5 Comments

 
 ~Amanda Smith
Launching a debut book is a celebration of years of hard work, tons of rejection letters, lots of waiting, more revisions, and some well-aligned yesses along the way. But launching a book into the world successfully is also time consuming, energy taxing, and marketing activities might eat into writing time. 24 Carrot Writing spoke with members of the debut picture book group 21 For The Books about their marketing strategies and debut-year goals amidst a pandemic.
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 Deb Adamson:
​Compared to previous years, my goals, both creative and personal are different for 2021.  I’m enthusiastically planning two book launches—one in February and one in July. As I created my publicity plans, I reminded myself that despite the world being upside-down, it’s mostly up to me to build excitement about bringing these book babies into it!  My role as an author feels full circle when I work with my publisher and target promotional opportunities with the direct goal of getting books into the hands of parents, teachers, librarians and little readers.
To learn more about Deb, visit debadamson.com.        

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Tina Athaide:
MEENA'S MINDFUL MOMENT will be published in October 2021 by Page Street Books. It is my debut picture book, but I published a MG book, ORANGE FOR THE SUNSETS.
​What the past few months have taught me is to be kind to myself and have realistic expectations about my writing. I allow days for imagining and creating and other days for writing. 
What this year has taught me is to be FLEXIBLE I have to think outside the box on how to reach young readers. 
Visit Tina's website to learn more. 


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Phaea Crede:
Like all new babies, JET THE CAT (IS NOT A CAT) is going to get ALL of my attention around the spring launch, not only because I am so proud of the story, but because the illustrations by Terry Runyan are marvelous and the world needs to know.
My scrappy strategy for marketing so far is to write goofy but heartfelt (my brand!) emails to bloggers and bookstores, hoping that some magic will happen. And that’s been successful! Barefoot Books and my editor Lisa Rosinski have been incredible, so I have no doubt Jet and I will find ways to connect with kids and their readers.
​My creative goal for next year is to use limited writing time more wisely. But the secondary goal is to really hone in on my brand and voice. Like every picture book writer, I have about 1,000 ideas an hour, but I’d love to create stories that scream “me” 
Learn more at www.phaeacrede.com.


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Amanda Davis:
​I have an awesome marketing manager at WorthyKids to help spread the word about 30,000 STITCHES: THE INSPIRING STORY OF THE NATIONAL 9/11 FLAG, which launches May 4, 2021.  She’s creative and enthusiastic, which has made the process much easier and enjoyable. I'm planning an online blog tour around the release date, along with organizing pre-order campaigns with my local indie bookstores. We also have a giveaway and scavenger hunt in store! For the 20-year remembrance of 9/11, I hope to reconnect with some of the special people and places the flag touched to see if they would be interested in sharing their stories. I hope to facilitate virtual school visits so students can be inspired by the story of the flag as well.  I don’t have a cover to share yet, but I did include one of the amazing spreads, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. The image shows the moment when the flag was taken out of storage and emerged after seven long years. Torn and tattered, this was the beginning of its journey to being healed. I decided to share this spread, because the goal with all of my marketing efforts is to share this message of hope and healing. The flag is a reminder that if we come together, share our stories, and listen, we can become whole again.
Visit Amanda's website to learn about book giveaways and more. 

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From 30,000 STITCHES: THE INSPIRING STORY OF THE NATIONAL 9/11 FLAG, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. (WorthyKids/Hachette Book Group)

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Tracy Gold:
I try to remember that no one marketing tactic is going to make a huge impact on book sales; it’s a cumulative effort. I’m focusing on the marketing tactics I most enjoy (such as interviews like this). The pandemic is actually helping me stay focused. I was originally planning on setting up tables at community fairs and doing a lot of in-person events. Now I will use that time for digital marketing and new writing. In terms of creative goals, I have a second book contracted with Sourcebooks. I’m also endlessly working on a YA historical novel. If I can keep up with those two goals, anything else will be gravy.
Learn more about Tracy and some cool preorder benefits at tracycgold.com.

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Moni Ritchie Hadley:
I plan to launch my debut picture book, THE STAR FESTIVAL, twice. The first will be a virtual gathering, partnering with a local bookstore to kick off the release in spring 2021.

For the second launch, I hope to have an in-person gathering at Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, in the summer of 2021, guidelines permitting. The setting of my book is the Tanabata Festival, which takes place every summer in Japan. Many cities in the United States hold celebrations similar to the Japanese Star Festival. It is a colorful, multi-sensory celebration that shouts for a lively get-together. And if the world opens up, that will be worth celebrating!
Contact at moniritchie.com to receive an invitation.

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Amy B Mucha:
​A GIRL'S BILL OF RIGHTS launces February 2, 2021. Finding balance between marketing and writing can be difficult in a debut year. For a few months I focused almost exclusively on marketing: website creation, social media, cover reveal, debut group, endorsements, book promotion, swag. In short, I wasn’t balanced at all. The only time I even thought about being creative was each Tuesday morning when I’d meet my writing group in a local café. Then the pandemic hit and I lost even that.
What finally saved me was taking my writing group online. We decided to get together every morning on Slack. We start by posting our goals at 10am, then spend a couple of hours chatting, writing, and celebrating our accomplishments. I’m lucky to have such a wonderful group. It’s made all the difference in the world! Visit Amy's at amybmucha.com to learn more.

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Rebecca Kraft Rector: 
In my debut picture book Squish Squash Squished, Max and Molly end up crowded in the backseat with their animal neighbors. I fear life is imitating art as I’m feeling rather squish squash squished, overwhelmed by life right now. My 2020 goals had been too wide.
My 2021 focus is to create small, specific goals. For instance, instead of saying I’ll create new content-filled pages on my website for parents, teachers, and children, I’ll find ONE book-related craft for the kids. Instead of saying I’ll write a new chapter, I’ll write a page.
I can’t control all of life’s chaos. But hopefully I can keep my 2021 writing life under control with specific, achievable goals and lots of dark chocolate rewards. To learn more about Rebecca, click here.

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Jocelyn Rish:
I’m fanny-tastically excited about BATTLE OF THE BUTTS: The Science Behind Animal Behinds, illustrated by David Creighton-Pester, launching September 28, 2021. I’m always brainstorming silly marketing ideas for it, and I anticipate getting distracted from writing by the sheer fun of animal posterior promo. I’m thinking swag like whoopee cushions custom printed with my cover, asking friends to share videos of themselves doing ridiculous booty dances, and flooding social media with cute animal behinds. But since I’d like to make a life-long career of this whole writing thing, I’m determined to carve out time for putting words on paper. And then I’ll get right back to derrière dances! 
To learn more, visit Jocelyn's website.


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 Taylor Rouanzion:​
Having a book-baby is a lot like having a real baby: so much preparation before the big day! Being part of a debut group has been great for helping me balance my time and keep my creative reserve supplied. We have small critique groups to help us with new material along with all of the support for our books that already have deals. Quarantine and social distancing have meant that I don't see as much of the world, and inspiration for writing is harder to come by. Reaching out and making connections online has been a great way for me to explore virtually and ignite new ideas. RAINBOW BOY launches January 19, 2021.
​ To learn more visit www.taylorrouanzion.com.

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Ana Siqueira:
On July 13th of 2021 my debut book, 
BELLA’S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS, (illustrated by Geraldine Rodriguez) will be born. How am I going to find a balance between working, writing, and marketing? 
Hmmm… It won’t be easy. 
For now, I’ll keep promoting my book and building my brand through social media. When my book comes, I’ll cry, hug, and bug family and friends to buy it  Then schedule blog tours, contact libraries, and schools, do virtual launches, and if possible, do in-person school visits. 
When will I find time to write? I wake up one hour earlier to write before work, so I’ll need to wake up two hours earlier. (NOOOOO!). 
My plans for 2021 are to keep writing Picture Books and work on writing Chapter Books. And planning for my other upcoming picture book launches.
To learn more, visit Ana's website here.

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Theresa Trinder:
For me, 2020 has been a year of extremes. Moments of extreme stress, yet profound gratitude.

I’ve recently transitioned from a full-time career to full-time motherhood, and I struggled with what I hear from so many other moms: that when you give one thing your attention if feels as though you’re neglecting the rest.
So I gave myself permission to write—but also not to write. I decided that dictating some notes to my phone was just as good as putting actual words to actual paper. Even watching the world a little bit closer. Noticing a detail I might have missed before. Singing. Playing. Being present. I let that be a kind of research. We are supposed to write what we know, after all. So I’m giving myself some grace to learn. THERE IS A RAINBOW hits shelves January 26, 2021. Learn more at theresatrinder.com.

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Christine Van Zandt:​
My launch plan for A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNDERPANTS includes:
  • Participating in blogs and blog tours such as this one!
  • Giving away monthly critiques on Twitter. As a literary editor, I’m in an ideal place to do this. Follow me @ChristineVZ for more info or to enter.
  • Revealing cut content. My book covers history from around the world, back to the beginning of time! Not all my research could fit in the book.
  • Scheduling in-person events. I’m a huge supporter of local bookstores and library branches and plan to be there once they reopen.
  •  Joining an online supportive group for debut authors. Yay, 21 for the Books! 
  • Being on social media, interacting and building my online community.  
A book launch (like life) is all about giving and being part of the larger world—things we really need right now.  A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNDERPANTS will be available April 13, 2021. Visit christinevanzandt.com to learn more.

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S.K. Wenger:
Keeping a positive outlook on things I can control, will definitely help maintain balance so that I don’t get distracted by things that don’t go as planned. For launch parties and readings, I can present an engaging and entertaining event for those who can attend. For libraries, classrooms, or homes that add CHICKEN FRANK, DINOSAUR! to their collections, I can be sure to provide fun activities to go along with it. For every new reader I meet, I can take time to hear their opinion on what they like most about the book.
 As far as finding time to create new work, I keep the advice given from the late Rick Walton close to my heart. On writing he said, the goal shouldn’t be to write a book that will get published; the goal should be to write a publishable book. I’ve found this subtle shift in approach to the craft of writing incredibly empowering. It frees me to create the best book I can and provides me room to fall in love with it, because it keeps me from focusing on the end goal of finding a publisher, which can be stifling once you start thinking about it.
Learn more at skwenger.com.


Thank you to the members of 21 for the Books who shared goals and launch year strategies with us. 24 Carrot Writing wishes you all the best for your debut year. And congratulations on all these beautiful new books!
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Favorite Things: Annual Holiday Wish List

11/16/2020

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Oh, yes! It's that time of year again. Each year as the holiday season approaches, the 24 Carrot Writing crew asks featured guest bloggers to share their favorite writing and/or illustrating gadgets, tools, or items that help them in the creation of their work. Sometimes they share a favorite tool they use in their daily creating; other times it's an item that brings them comfort, joy, or motivation as they work. It is our hope that this writers' gift list provides you with unique holiday gifting ideas, be it for yourself or for the writers in your life. This year, we're posting our list earlier than we have in the past to allow more time for perusing and, of course, shipping! So take a look, and if you have any favorite items that you use in your writing/illustrating, please share them with us in the comments section. We always love to hear from you!


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Lindsay Ward:
A friend of mine gave me this mug for my birthday this year, and it's just so happy! I get up to work really early in the morning before my boys get up, when it is still dark-- this mug is a bright spot of sunshine that makes me smile in the morning. Sometimes it's the little things that can brighten your day!

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Lindsay Ward is an author illustrator from Ohio. Her most recent book Scooper and Dumper launched from Two Lions in November of 2020. Her work has been reviewed in Kirkus Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly, and The New York Times and she is the founder of Critter Lit, a free online picture book manuscript and illustration critique service for up-and-coming authors and illustrators.


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Kirsten Larson:
​

Here’s one thing I can’t live without.

A composition notebook. 

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​Each year, I use a simple composition notebook as a modified bullet journal, and I typically buy them at the beginning of the school year when they are on sale. I use my glue gun to add an elastic loop for my pen and a ribbon bookmark to track my place. I am not a diehard bullet journaler, but I always include a table of contents in the front so I can track story ideas, work on different drafts, notes from webinars, and from meetings with my agent, etc. In the back, I include an ongoing list of every single annual accomplishment/celebration, as small as finishing a draft or a school Skype visit, and as big as a book sale or a major review. Author Michelle Cusolito has wonderful blog post about bullet journaling for writers: https://www.12x12challenge.com/bullet-journaling-for-writers/. At the end of each year, I look forward to reviewing my accomplishments and making a plan for the new year.
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Kirsten Larson is the author of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE (Calkins Creek, 2020) and the upcoming A TRUE WONDER: The Superhero Who Changed Everything, illus. Katy Wu (Clarion, 2021) and THE FIRE OF STARS: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars are Made Of, illus. Katherine Roy (Chronicle, 2022). Learn more about Kirsten at kirsten-w-larson.com.


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Carrie Finison:
One thing I noticed in 2020 is that my butt hurt. A lot. I finally figured out that the reason was a combination of advancing age, and the hard dining room and kitchen chairs I was sitting in all day. Gone are the times when I can flit about to coffee shops and the library, snuggling into comfy chairs and sipping lattes while working. So, a few months ago, I decide that BIC (butt-in-chair) time does NOT have to equal BIP (butt in pain) time, and gifted myself a lovely office chair. It is supple, sleek, and supportive, and as Goldilocks said, JUST RIGHT. Trust me - the writer in your life will thank you! There are plenty to be had for under $200 at both Staples.com and Wayfair.com.

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Carrie Finison is the author of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS (illustrated by Brianne Farley), released in 2020 from G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and the upcoming picture book DON’T HUG DOUG which will arrive on shelves in January, 2021. Find out more at https://www.carriefinison.com.


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Terri Libenson :
It’s not very glam, but the one thing I love as a writer and doodler is my Pentel e-sharp mechanical pencil. I get seriously angry whenever someone takes it. I love that it always stays sharp and fine and lets me add the tiniest details or scribblings. The barrel also comes in different colors, which satisfies the kid in me. ​​

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Terri Libenson is a New York Times bestselling children’s book author and award-winning cartoonist of the syndicated daily comic strip, The Pajama Diaries, which ran from 2006-2020. BECOMING BRIANNA, the fourth book in her Emmie & Friends series released in 2020. Find out more at http://terrilibenson.com.


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​Kayla Miller:
One of my many organization/motivation tricks to keep myself on track while working on my graphic novels is marking my daily accomplishments on my fun and colorful Poppin Task Pad. 

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It's intended use is to keep track of weekly appointments and such, but I use it to create a visual representation of how much work I've done by marking each completed task with a stamp at the end of the day. When doing the art for a book that's 200-plus pages, the ritual of marking my achievements and watching them stack up over the course of the month feels rewarding... and always having the pad on the corner of my drafting table lets me know when I need to get my butt into gear to meet a deadline.
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Kayla Miller is the author and illustrator of the best-selling Click series of graphic novels. The fourth book in the series, CLASH releases in 2021. Learn more about Kayla at https://www.kayla-miller.com.


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Ashley Yazdani:
I'm happy to be able to share two small, women-owned businesses that I love. 
​
As an author/illustrator I'd like to recommend one useful tool from both sides of my craft. This past year I've become a tiny-notebook enthusiast, and over the summer I filled up two books with writing down ideas, observations, and notes from appointments and meetings. I also keep one on my nightstand for when inspiration strikes after dark. 

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They're small enough to carry everywhere, so as long as you've got a pocket and a pen or pencil, you're good to go. Sometimes I make my own notebooks, but these are very nice ones from the CW Pencil Enterprise, one of my favorite small businesses - they used to be dedicated to selling only pencils (plus erasers and sharpeners), but are about to expand to carrying a variety of other writing tools as well, "prioritizing brands that are local, small and have great sustainability and ethics practices". Excellent! For a really special treat I'm eyeing this bright book.
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I use watercolors for my illustration work, and am always excited to find a new paint to try out. A few years ago in San Francisco I stumbled across a tiny shop dedicated to handmade watercolors called Case For Making, and I've finally treated myself to a palette and some paints from them. Each color is blended and made by hand in their San Francisco shop, and the business is very small, woman-run, and speaks out about important causes, so I feel  good supporting them. Many of their colors are unique, filling gaps I didn't even realize existed in my well loved watercolor palette. 

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Ashley Yazdani is a picture book author/illustrator, reader, and nature lover.  Her Golden Kite Award winning debut book, A Green Place to Be, is currently available from Candlewick Press and can be found at your local bookstore. To learn more, visit http://www.ashleyyazdani.com.


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Qing Zhuang:
As a writer-illustrator and teacher, the Time Timer is my #1 trusty tool in school and at home. If you are like me, your concept of time is that of a lounging cat. This timer helps me keep track of time during my Zoom classes, in the kitchen while cooking, and it works well with my attempts at the pomodoro technique while writing and drawing. It is originally meant for school children but it actually works well for anyone who is more visual.

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Qing Zhuang is the illustrator of “How Long is Forever?” (written by Kelly Carey and published by Charlesbridge 2020). She is currently writing and illustrating a new book tentatively titled “Rainbow Shopping” due to be released by Holiday House Summer 2022. Visit www.Qingthings.com and follow her on Instagram @Qingthings for more news and information! ​


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Jordan Standridge:
As a marketer, there’s a lot to plan, keep track of, and check off on a daily basis. I recommend Moleskine’s 12-Month Daily Planner.

​I know what you’re thinking – yes, this is a chunky brick – but it’s necessary when you have a lot to get done! With a page per day, I find this is ideal for all the virtual meetings and author events being scheduled, as well as the to-do reminders to handle. You can also zoom out, and utilize the month-by-month feature, noting tasks for further out consideration. So, if you need an assistant, look no further! This planner lives permanently on my desk beside me.

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Jordan Standridge is a Marketing Associate at Charlesbridge Publishing. He makes sure authors, illustrators and books gets out into the world!  To learn more about Charlesbridge and the books Jordan works with visit the Charlesbridge website by clicking here. 


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Kelly Carey:
​Sometimes curling up on the couch with a good book seems more doable then sitting down to write a good book. This is where my Verilux light swings into action!

This light is just the pick me up I need for those early morning – egad – it’s still dark out writing sessions and those mid-afternoon I could really go for a nap pushes. The Verilux light wards off winter blues by giving you a dose of sunshine. I’m grateful to the writing colleague who suggested it. As a bonus, it works great to shine an extra light on my Zoom meetings so even if I don’t always feel bright and cheery, at least I have a shot at looking it! 

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Kelly Carey is a co-founder of 24 Carrot Writing and the author of How Long Is Forever? (Charlesbridge, April 2020). Learn more about Kelly by visiting her website. 


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Annie Cronin Romano:
My favorite items this year were small, spiral bound blank journals dedicated to specific writing projects. I have discovered when I'm working on a novel, it's incredibly convenient to jot down all my notes in one place, hence these journals. Any research questions, chapter outlines, character charts--they each get a section in my "novel notebook," to keep all the information together. These particular journals were homemade by me. For one, I repurposed the cover of a damaged book (and one of my favorite titles) from a thrift store; the other was made using chipboard and scrapbook paper for the cover. Of course, any spiral bound notebook will do! 

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Annie Cronin Romano is a co-founder of 24 Carrot Writing and the author of two children's books: Before You Sleep: A Bedtime Book of Gratitude (Page Street Kids, 2018) and Night Train: A Journey from Dusk to Dawn (Page Street Kids, 2019). To learn more about Annie, visit her website at www.anniecroninromano.com.


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Amanda Smith:
My favorite and most useful writing tool this year is my Zen Art bullet journal. I love the just-right B5 size, the two ribbon book marks, the handy-dandy paper pocket inside the back cover, and that it comes in a variety of colors with contrasting Japanese edging. For me it is the perfect combination of pretty and practical. Check out this blog ​to learn more about how I used it to stay on track this year. 

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I am also absolutely in love with my DesignSter Resin Bird Coat Hooks. They are awesome for office organization, and a whimsical place to hang library totes.

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 Amanda Smith is a co-founder of 24 Carrot Writing. Her poems "Stingray" and "Cuttlefish" can be found in the Writers' Loft's newest illustrated anthology FRIENDS AND ANEMONES: Ocean Poems for Children. Learn more about Amanda at AmandaSmithWrites.


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Cover Reveal: FRIENDS AND ANEMONES: Ocean Poems for Children

11/2/2020

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~by Amanda Smith
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About the Cover Art:
~ by artist Jodie Apeseche

When Kristen Wixted and Heather Kelly surprised me with the cover assignment, I felt both excitement and fear. I loved the theme. (My background is in biology, including a stint on a research vessel.) But I’d never done a cover and it would be the face of our anthology. Could I make my fellow contributors proud? 
 
Picking the design elements - the friends and anemones - was easy. I had to have an octopus because everyone should be curious about these highly intelligent creatures. They also morph dramatically, giving me  free range in depicting them. The sharks’ striking lines made them visually appealing. And the crabs are my make-believe pets, Bernie and Marlow. 

The cover art started as a watercolor and was collaged with parts of my shell collection, sand, and silk-screened papers. The image was then enhanced digitally. For example, the fabric on the octopus was inserted as an image through a clipping mask. This way the fabric didn't fray, as it originally did when I tried to apply it manually.

I hope every reader finds a favorite poem (or many) that they feel attached to and want to learn more about. Hey, maybe our anthology will inspire some future scientists!
What's Inside?
~by Audrey Day Williams
​

First, there was FIRSTS, then came AN ASSORTMENT OF ANIMALS—an illustrated anthology of poems for children. And now, with editors Heather Kelly and Kristen Wixted at the helm of the ship, the Writers’ Loft authors and illustrators are back with FRIENDS AND ANEMONES a fresh bounty of ocean poems for children.
 
This November, set sail on an epic, page-by-page ocean voyage with Peter Reynolds, Jane Yolen, Kip Wilson, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Josh Funk, Matt Forrest Esenwine, and 61 other well-loved and emerging New England authors and illustrators. 

Dive under the enchanting cover—illustrated by esteemed local artist Jodie Apeseche—into a whimsical, watery world where you’ll rendezvous with petty penguins, little fish with big dreams, party-planning turtles, as well as anemones and crabs in the intertidal zone, and elusive sharks and jellies that call the deep sea home.
 
With a smorgasbord of poetic types, dozens of captivating sea creatures, and fascinating facts, FRIENDS AND ANEMONES will feel as at home clinging to your bookshelf as it will floating in a school library.  
Rozalia Project:
​Every story has a villain; in this case, it’s plastic and trash which you’ll see skulking in and around the poems. But, every story has a hero too, and that’s you! The Writers’ Loft has teamed up with the Rozalia Project—a non-profit dedicated to protecting our oceans—to empower readers of all ages to become ocean heroes with a simple message: A lot of little actions can make a big impact on the oceans. All profits from the first month's sales will be donated to Rozalia. To learn more, visit ​http://rozaliaproject.org.

"We want to highlight the beauty of the ocean and show children that they can be ocean protectors through their actions and sustainable consumer choices."
-Editor Kristen Wixted

 Contributors:
Editors: Heather Kelly and Kristen Wixted
Book designer: Robert Thibeault
Art director: Sally Hinkly
Cover Design: Jodie Apeseche

Plus 70 poets and illustrators, including pre-published writers/artists alongside established children's authors and illustrators.

New books coming out by contributors to FRIENDS AND ANEMONES:
Amanda Davis - 30,000 STICTHES:THE INSPIRING STORY OF THE NATIONAL 9/11 FLAG (May 2021)
Matt Forrest Esenwine - "Pillow" in NIGHT WISHES (2020)
Josh Funk - SHORT&SWEET (September 2020),  WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY (October 2020), IT'S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD (October 2020)
Marlo Garnsworthy - THE TRUTLE DOVE'S JOURNEY, (Illustrator),  PIKA COUNTRY (Co-author)
Susan Novich - GUESS WHO IS BEHIND THE DOOR (October 2020)
Warren Ross - PODGE
Heidi Stemple and Jane Yolen - I AM THE STORM (October 2020)

FRIENDS AND ANEMONES may be ordered from Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/shop/thewritersloft​), and  will be available at your local indie bookstores and Barnes & Noble, November 20, 2020.

A virtual launch will be hosted by THE BLUE BUNNY BOOKSTORE on November 15 at 4 pm! Details and links will be posted on http://www.bluebunnybooks.com.

"If we take care of the ocean, the ocean takes care of us"
- Editor Heather Kelly

​

PictureThe Writers' Loft in Sherborn, MA
The Writers' Loft is a community organization in Massachusetts, which provides education programs, quiet work and meeting space, and general book making support. See some of the illustrators' work in our Illustrator Bonanza feature Illustrating for a Collaborative Project.
To learn more, visit https://www.thewritersloft.org.

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THE LITTLE BOOK THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING.

10/16/2020

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~By Amanda Smith
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You know those days where you spend an entire day revising a picture book manuscript, making dummies and cutting your manuscript into little strips and studying the dialogue to make sure your characters’ voices are distinct yet consistent?
But at the end of the day nothing looks much different.
Or those days you research agents to query, and after many hours, have nothing more than a list to show?
Do you sometimes feel that drawing up maps or house plans for your novel, or filling out character sheets are wasting writing time, because no actual words are added to your WIP?

A lot of the work we do as writers, cannot be measured in tangible, concrete ways. It is easy to discount these aspects of our work. Yet, all these things are part of the writing journey and we need to acknowledge them as valuable. That is why, at the beginning of this year, I knew I wanted to track my writing progress in a way that included all these aspects of writing.
 Enter: The bullet journal.
Wait, hear me out. I’ve also looked at bullet journal blogs and thought What is this chaos? or This seems like a giant time suck. But that is the beauty of a bullet journal: You can make it exactly what you need it to be.

To have a journal that functions for you, there are a few questions to answer:

1. What is the purpose of your bullet journal for you? What do you want it to do?
Some authors, like Kate Messner, use one journal to manage all aspects of their life. If that sounds ideal to you, I encourage you to read Kate’s blog regarding bullet journaling here.
However, I needed something dedicated to writing and writing-related business ONLY. The rest of my life, my children’s schedules and dentist appointments still went in a daily planner. What I needed was a home for all things writing.

2. How decorative do you want it to be?
I like pretty. I buy planners, folders and notebooks based entirely on looks. I want beautiful covers AND decorative pages inside. Very early on in my research I realized that, if left unchecked, the bullet journal, instead of the writing, would become the project. I could easily spend all my time making it pretty, with swirly calligraphy and coloring pages. But that was not the purpose. The journal was to be my tool. I settled on a simple, functional format, with a little pretty on each page. I do not spend more than an afternoon a month to prep the next month’s tracking pages. (I would not recommend setting up your entire journal at the beginning of the year. As you and your journal grow together and get used to one another, you are going to want the freedom to tweak the format.)
Also consider size here. I wanted room to spread out and use sticky notes and notecards, so my journal is 7X10 inches.

3. What do you need in your journal to move you towards reaching your goals?
I took some time over my Christmas break last year to research other writers’ bullet journals and noted which components would be helpful to me. Inspired by M.M Chouinard, I jotted down what I wanted to track in my journal.

Here is where I landed:

A Writing Dashboard with all my projects and in which stage of the writing journey they are - an overall view of all my current projects. I love using sticky notes on my dashboard, because I can easily move projects from the “Drafting” heading to the “Revision” heading as the project moves along. 
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A place to track yearly and monthly goals. The image shows my monthly goals for September, but I also have a page in the front of the journal where my yearly goals are listed. I check in on those quarterly to see if I am on track.
​I like to tally reading with my monthly goals. Some writers have separate book logs in their bullet journals, while others like to use a coloring sheet glued into the journal.
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Towards the front of the journal I have a page to track overall progress in my individual projects. For novels I mark progress by scenes. For picture books, I check a box every time I do a revision.
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For every month I have a writing log to jot down daily word count. For revisions I write the section/ scene I revised and its changed word count. Notice the celebratory sticker at the end of the month? Don't forget to reward met goals with happy carrots!
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On the page next to my writing log, I use Five Things a Day to track other writing related work such as agent research and days spent on querying, critiques, blogs, research, and so forth. Even though I hardly ever fill all five boxes for the day, I do learn a lot from looking back at these pages. I have learned, for instance, that I prefer not to write and revise on the same day.
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I have a section designated for monthly blog meeting notes and blog related business. If you do not have a blog, you might want a designated space for website planning and maintenance, or social media strategies. 
A grid with sticky notes keeps track of queries for each project. I still keep detailed records in a spreadsheet, but with this tool I know at the drop of a hat exactly where which manuscript is.
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Having everything writing related in one place made this a super productive writing and querying year for me. What do you need to track your progress and other writing related notes? I would like to encourage you to take some time over the next few months to come up with a custom-made system that will empower you in your writing journey.
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    The 24 Carrot writers are   

    Francine ~ YA
    Kelly ~ Picture books, MG,               Short stories 
    Annie ~ Picture books, MG

    Amanda ~ Picture books,                      MG, YA       

Photos used under Creative Commons from byzantiumbooks, JKehoe_Photos, GotCredit, Chicago's North Shore Conventions & Visitors Burea, Roman Pfeiffer, ymu rocks, Au Kirk, Sweet Dreamz Design