Join me in this fall!

On October 18, from 7-8:30pm, I will teach Writing for Teens. This class is for adults who are interested in writing for middle grade and young adults. Not only will I talk about the market but we'll also brainstorm for ideas. Come ready to learn and write! On October 25, from 4-5:30pm, I will teach a fiction writing class for middle schoolers. No experience is necessary for either class. Both of these will be taught through the Lexington Continuing Education Department in Lexington, MA. Here is the link if you want to check it out: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/98220957/LCE%202012%20Autumn%20Catalog.pdf

Also, on Saturday, October 20, I will be one of five workshop presenters at New England SCBWI's ENCORE! 2012. This is a huge honor as I'll be presenting with Mitali Perkins, Jo Knowles, Mark Peter Hughes and Cindy Faughnan. Can you believe this line up? Each of us originally presented our workshops at last spring's NE SCBWI conference in Springfield. I'm so happy that they asked me to return this year!

For this event, NE-SCBWI teams with the Alliance for the Study and Teaching of Adolescent Literature (ASTAL) at Rhode Island College in Providence. The registration fee of $50 includes a continental breakfast and hot buffet lunch.

For information: http://www.nescbwi.org/2012/08/encore-2012.php

Teachers Write!

Fellow writer and prolific helper-of-other-authors Kate Messner started a wonderful writing resource for teachers this summer. It's a site called Teachers Write and it offers advice, writing prompts and encouragement for new writers. Today I offer advice and a writing assignment on what to do when you're stuck. This is a favorite topic of mine as I'm frequently stuck! Here's the link:  http://www.katemessner.com/teachers-write-723-mini-lesson-monday

Queen of the Track

One of the joys of being a children's book writer is helping fellow writer friends celebrate. Last Saturday night we toasted Heather Lang's first-ever published book, QUEEN OF THE TRACK. This is the story of Alice Coachman, who became the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal. You can read more about Heather and her book on her website: http://heatherlangbooks.com The next day I headed over to Wellesley Books where Ammi-Joan Paquette was launching her new picture book, THE TIPTOE GUIDE TO TRACKING MERMAIDS. Joan, who's in my critique group, is a prolific writer as well as agent. You can read about her at: http://ajpaquette.com

Congratulations both of you!

Join me on the Cape!

In August I will be on the Cape, teaching the write-for-kids segment at the Cape Cod Writers Center Conference in Hyannis. This is the 50th anniversary of the conference, and I feel honored to be part of it.

Writing fiction is hard enough, full of rules and guidelines, possibilities and disappointments. Writing for kids is even more specialized. But the longer I'm in this business, the more interested I am in the process. How do we find our child voice? How do we write stories that appeal to people 35 years younger than ourselves? Knowing what we know as adults, how do we "unknow" -- or do we have to "unknow?" Wait, what do I even mean by "unknow"???

Sign up. Join me and find out!

Here's some information from the website (http://capecodwriterscenter.org/conference/)

Announcing the 50th Cape Cod Writers Center Conference, August 5-10, 2012

In honor of our 50th anniversary, the  Cape Cod Writers Center Conference will take place from August 5-10, 2010 at the Resort & Conference Center of Hyannis.

While we had many happy and productive years at Craigville, our increasing attendance, need for additional classrooms, state-of-the-art technology, and more convenient parking mandated our decision. The Resort & Conference Center of Hyannis has 233 air-conditioned rooms, extensive modern amenities, ample networking opportunities and unlimited free parking.

To celebrate our Golden Anniversary the Cape Cod Writers Center is hosting an outstanding staff of teachers — authors and poets, editors, media experts and agents listed below.

Keynote Speaker, Monday, August 6,   7:00 p.m.   
 Joseph Finder, Thriller Author and NY Times Best-Selling Author.

Keynote Speaker, Tuesday, August 7,  7:00 p.m.
 Amy Caldwell, Executive Editor, Beacon Press

Keynote Speaker, Wednesday, August 8,  7:00 p.m.
 Andre Dubus, New York Times, Best-Selling Novelist

OUR DISTINGUISHED FACULTY INCLUDE : 

Matthew Pearl, New York Times Best-Selling Author, The Dante Club, The Poe Shadow, The Last Dickens and The Technologists.

Jule Selbo, Hollywood screenwriter and head of the MFA in Screenwriting Program at California State University, Fullerton

Lee Harrington, best-selling memoirist of Rex and the City

Michelle Hoover, novelist and recipient for 2010 Massachusetts Book Award “Must Read Pick, Forward magazine’s Best Literary book of 2010.

Pitchpalooza, the nationally acclaimed program by Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry

Brian Schwartz, president KindleExpert.com and president-elect, Colorado Independent

Vivian  Shipley, Award-Winning Poet, Distinguished Professor and Editor of Connecticut Review, nominated for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize

Benjamin Leroy, award-wining publisher of Tyrus Books, F&W Media

Karen Day, award-winning novelist for middle-school students

Sam Cornish, Boston Poet Laureate

Jamie Cat Callan, best-selling author and Massachusetts Cultural Council Awardee

Randall Peffer, acclaimed author of six crime novels, nonfiction books and national magazines

Gina Barreca, best selling author and syndicated humorist, professor of English at University of Connecticut

C.E. Lawrence, award-winning playwright and thriller writer

Reade Scott Whinnem, popular young adult novelist

Peter Drummey, Stephen T. Riley Librarian (director) Massachusetts Historical Society