Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Looking Ahead, Blogosphere Buzz, and our Blogiversary Contest Winners!

A HUGE thank you to all those who entered our Second Blogiversary Critique Giveaway Contest, and a special welcome to all our new followers!

Before I share the winners' names, I have a question for you, our readers. As we look ahead to our next year of blogging, we're wondering what topics or questions you might have for us. Do you have a burning (or maybe just "nagging") question related to writing or to teaching writing? Or some writing-related topic you'd like us to address? If so, we encourage you to either post your question in the comments below or use the "Ask the TeachingAuthors link in our sidebar to send it via email. (If you're sending an email, please be sure to include the words "Teaching Authors Question" in the subject.)

By the way: if you're an email subscriber and you haven't visited the blog lately, I encourage you to stop by and check out some of the new links in our sidebar. I've been adding to the sections "Websites of Note," "General Children's/YA Lit Blogs," and "Author/Illustrator Blogs." I've also updated the pages "About Us," "Markets for Young Writers," "Resources for Teachers," and "Workshops/Visits." And if you'd like to see if we've already addressed a topic you're interested in, see the "Subject Index of Most Popular Topics" near the bottom of the sidebar.

And now here are the names of our two critique winners:
  • Susan Kaye Quinn, who requested a novel critique, and
  • Katie Cullinan, who requested a critique of a fiction picture book
Congratulations, Ladies!

If you didn't win, don't despair--see the Blogosphere Buzz below for a link to a contest where you can win a manuscript critique from publisher Elizabeth Law!

Now for some Blogosphere Buzz:
  • If your burning question (see above) has to do with the current market trends in children's literature, instead of asking us, read this post by author/agent Mandy Hubbard. Here's an exerpt: "editors are really short on MG and feel this market is primed to boom in the way YA has."
  • Would you like a chance to win a 30-page manuscript critique from Egmont publisher Elizabeth Law? Then head over to the Cynsations blog! And while you're there, be sure to read Cynthia's great interview with Elizabeth and author Allen Zadoff.
  • I recently stumbled upon the YA Historical Fiction Challenge over at the YA Bliss blog. If you enjoy reading middle-grade and YA historicals, check it out.
  • Speaking of challenges, the annual 48-Hour Book Challenge hosted at the MotherReader blog will be here June 3-5. Sign up is already open.
  • Congratulations to all the SCBWI Crystal Kite Winners! Beginning this week the SCBWI market blog is featuring a series of interviews with all the winners. Today's interview happens to be with my friend and fellow VC grad, Ann Angel, author of Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing. Hurray, Ann!
Happy writing!
Carmela

3 comments:

Sue Ekins said...

I have trouble motivating myself to write. How do you do that especially when you are (or were) working a day job?

Carmela Martino said...

Thanks for the feedback, Sue. This is a great topic idea that I'd like to address in a full post. Meanwhile, check out the Writing Workout where April suggested getting a "Writing Buddy." It's posted here:
http://www.teachingauthors.com/2011/01/my-tribe-s-and-happy-poetry-friday.html .
I started working with a buddy after reading her post, and and it's REALLY helped my productivity. Thanks again, April, and thanks Writing Buddy, Leanne. :-)

Lindsay said...

Anyone want to be my writing buddy? ;)

Lindsay