Blog Archives
What is Happening at BDN with Karen Tyrrell, Helen Ross, Julie Muphy and Vicki Griffin.
Welcome again readers,
Some great updates have arrived in the Blue Dingo blog yet again, well worth checking out. A big thank you to Karen Tyrrell, Helen Ross, Julie Murphy and Vicki Griffin who are regular contributors.
Did you know that you only need to post a blog on the blue dingo network to get this promotion?
The Blue Dingo Network eMag:
We are growing!! So please don’t miss out on your chance to contribute to BDN news. The following is our launch dates for the year:
- 1st Feb (contributions by the 15th of January)
- 1st April (contributions by the 15th of March)
- 1st July (contributions by the 15th of June)
- 1st October (contributions by the 15th of September)
WOOHOO! My *Story* Published on Queensland Health Website
Queensland Health invited me to be part of a cutting edge Mental Health media campaign!
READ about the Change our Minds website and my FULL STORYhttp://karentyrrell.com/?p=2995
This week I chat with Peter Carnavas, award winning children’s book illustrator and author
Meet the delightful, Peter Carnavas, author/illustrator of Jessica’s Box, Sarah’s Heavy Heart, The Important Things, The Great Expedition and Last Tree in the City.Published by New Frontier Publishing.
Direct link: http://misshelenwrites.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/chatting-with-peter…
Thanks Helen
Here in Australia, 2012 is the National Year of Reading. So I have been thinking about ways to encourage children to read. A thought sprang to mind recently as I was leaving home for a routine doctor’s appointment. On the spur of the moment, I signed a couple of my older hardcover books (some particularly robust ones) before walking out the door. I thought I would donate them to the doctor’s waiting room.
At reception, I offered my books to the grateful receptionist, who told me to put them in the reading basket straight away. I did that, and sat down to wait for my appointment.
As I read my own book, I kept half an eye on the reading basket. I reckon every author dreams of seeing their books being read by complete strangers! Imagine my disappointment when the first “customer” pushed aside my shiny new books to pick up a battered old “Thomas the Tank Engine”. I told myself not to worry about it, as the boy was only about two years old and my books were written for an older audience. The next child – another toddler – also passed on my books. But YAY! the third one – a boy aged about 8 or 9 – picked them up and took them back to his seat.
(At this point, a few writers may be saying to themselves, “Yeah right, this isn’t a true story – she’s using the rule of three”, but this is really true!)
As I continued my own reading, I heard the boy’s mother reading “Arachnids” from cover to cover. Sure, a child in a doctor’s waiting room is kind of a captive audience. How much choice does he have if he gets bored and wants to go out and play? However, I was delighted to see how engaged the mother was as she read to her son, and how the boy was also getting involved in the words and pictures. Mother and son were pointing out to each other various aspects of both.
When they finished the book, the boy passed over my other book for his mother to read. But just then they were called in see their doctor, and they walked into the surgery with “Seabirds” still in the mother’s hand. (I hope she returned it to the basket later!)
That experience made my day. The expense of the books (I had bought them myself – in my experience, authors don’t get many free copies) was more than compensated by seeing a child reading them and learning a bit about spiders, which are really fascinating creatures.
And the writer in me got to hear the mother ask her son, “Did you like that book?”, and his impartial reply. “Yes”
The experience also showed me that one small action has the potential to go a long way. It has prompted me to ask YOU something… do you have any lonely books at home that could be donated to children during Australia’s National Year of Reading?
How to PER-FECT your Short Story… NOW published in a Print MAG
Check out my #6 Secrets on How to improve your Story right NOW!
Tips on submitting to writing competitions.
Writing contests good or bad.
There are a lot of writing contests here in Australia and overseas. When entering writing contests ask, is this contest reputable. Always check them out for longevity and their reputation.
1. Check sponsors organizations and judges. If you can’t find out what you’re looking for on the site don’t bother submitting.
2. Would winning any particular contest augment your current writing skills? Is it something you wish to have on your CV? Check with what is worthwhile and what is a flash in the pan before entering your labour of love.
3. What are your chances of winning? Competitions like the ‘New Yorker’ are high quality writing competitions and to get an idea of what type of calibre their after look at past winners. Also take into account the number of entries. It may be just as easier to enter smaller competitions that have a good reputation. As with any competition always check the rules and guidelines. If your entry that you have worked on and it is complete it may be rejected if it is not in the correct format that the Competition guidelines state. It will be deleted without even being looked at. What a waste of a good story.
4. Look at the prizes on offer are they worth what you believe your writing is worth? Does it offer a mentor or writing scholarship, or publication?
5. Above all have fun writing and entering competitions however bear in mind some competitions will not let you submit your work to anyone else for a certain time frame depending on terms and conditions.
The SECRET of Submitting your Manuscript to Publishers
How do you develop a kick-ass submission package that will eXcite and ignite a Publisher?
**I wrote this blog to unblock my paralyzing FEAR of submitting to Publishers. For too long I’ve allowed my completed Manuscripts to loiter in my computer files …
Here’s my Self- Motivational Tips for ACTION …
#10 Secrets in Submitting your Manuscript to Publishers …READ MOREhttp://karentyrrell.com/?p=2939
