Saturday, August 9, 2014

Making Progress in Your Publishing Career


In the Write What Inspires You! August Newsletter I prompted the subscribers to hop on over to my blog and share what they do on a daily or weekly basis to make steady progress in their writing, illustrating and/or publishing careers. 

I'll start off

I begin each day with the edits to my current W-I-P, which I'm determined to hire an editor for by the end of August. 

I have been reaching out to children's book festivals in the tri-state area (NY, NJ and CT) to participate in. So far I'm lined up for Collingswood Book Festival with potential prospects in 2015 for Hudson Children's Book Festival and Children's Book Festival Hillsborough Public Library. Also, a few others for possibly this fall, but not at the liberty to reveal at this time. 

Research magazine markets to submit short stories and articles to. 

Research and register for children's book conferences and writing conferences. I'm attending the Muse Online Writer's Conference in October and will be attending SCBWI Metro NY Tuesday Professional Seminars in NYC.  

Read, read, and read some more in the genre I write for.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, I don't want to bore you with my writing life! 

Looking forward to your responses. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine

Multi Award-winning Children's Author


Connect with
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Farvorite Five Star Review

The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist












16 comments:

  1. On a daily basis, I say the following…
    “Write a story that you will care about. Create characters that you will love and a few that you will love to hate. You should care about them, feel their pain when things do not go their way, but most of all tell your story in such a way that it does not stay on the page. Your story is alive, but you must provide the oxygen.”

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mila,

      Terrific advice. Without caring about our characters and loving them through and through would make it difficult to continue to write about them.

      Thanks for visiting!

      Best,
      Donna

      Delete
  2. Thanks Donna for sharing. Working on WIPs is a constant . I like the book festival itinerary. You can bore me with your writing life any time. The last editor I used, was Nancy Carti Lepri, and I loved working with her. Well that's my two cents. Write on, and hugs to you Donna.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Susan,

      Thanks for stopping by and joining in on the conversation. I will have to research Nancy Carti Lepri for a possibility of hiring her as my editor for my W-I-P. Thanks!

      Best,
      Donna

      Delete
  3. Donna
    Being an illustrator my day is not at all like a writer .( I am now working on a new book ). The first thing I illustrate is the book cover . I don't know about the other artist but for me I work most every day . starting about Noon and working to about 5:00pm I take brakes . I may go back to work later in the evening . The min. I read the story I form what I think the characters look like after I read the story . Be it a child,a rabbit , a teddy bear , a horse they all have there own character. This is the fun of being an illustrator . KC:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi KC,

      Having the honor of you illustrating two of my children's books, I'm tickled pink you joined in on the chat. I adore how you make each character have their own unique traits!

      Best,
      Donna

      Delete
  4. I'll be curious to find out how it goes at Children's Book Festivals. I've backed off the magazine market, but that might be a good thing to pursue in between books. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Donna,

      I'm participating in my first children's book festival in October. Will keep you posted on how it goes. If you wish I can provide you with the link I use for researching festivals by state.

      Best,
      Donna

      Delete
  5. Hi Donna,
    Always good to hear of other writers' lives and process. Thanks for sharing. You gave me the idea to look into Children's Book Festivals, too. Keep us updated! Wishing you lots of success.
    http://penelopeannecole.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Penny,

      I'm glad my post got your creative marketing juices flowing. Will keep you posted how I make out at the children's book festival in October. I received your email for your latest release and I'm looking forward to reviewing the e-Book. Just got back from our vacation celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and I'll be back in the writing saddle tomorrow.

      Best,
      Donna

      Delete
  6. Ladies and Gentleman, Margot Finke the Aussie from down under is having technology problems posting her comments (those darn gremlins… Carolyn Howard Johnson's famous statement from her The Frugal Editor book) is preventing her from doing so… Please find Margot's emailed comment into the conversation…

    Could you add this for me:
    Donna, you are a powerhouse of great writing and terrific ideas. Thanks for the great info. With 13 books already published, my day often begins with how and what to promote today. Like fun and intriguing ways to interest new readers in my books. I love making book logos that POP! If you are young and energetic, fairs and book festivals could be a winner. I have found that going to my reader base all around the country, and even overseas if the time zones mesh well, works nicely for me. Skype Makes it Happen! http://virtualschoolvisits.blogspot.com/ So I am always tracking down teachers and librarian lists, and groups that might be interested in me Flying in on my Magic Carpet of Books to HOOK their classes on reading and writing. OH. . . I almost forgot, I am also working with an illustrator to illustrate 3 new picture books - "Dreamtime Man," a tale about the Aussie aboriginals being the first.

    Books for Kids - Manuscript Critiques
    http://www.margotfinke.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Margot,

      Aww shucks, you make me blush. I absolutely love your idea of Skype visits and Julie Hammond, illustrator of two of my children's book will be "Skyping" our book A Sandy Grave in September. I can hardly wait! Julie will be in-person and I will be Skyped in. This will be my first time with this forum! Margot, you inspire me continually!

      Best,
      Donna

      Delete
  7. Donna, as I am focusing on YA these days, I read the genre, attend my critique groups, both in person and on-line, attend and speak at conferences on a regular basis, write at least four hours a day when home always with the intent of honing and increasing my skill in the craft. Lots of work and lots of fun in the doing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Nancy,

      I had an in-person critique group, but it folded. I'm still active in an online critique group. You are certainly building a terrific platform with your conference speaking engagements. Terrific!

      Best,
      Donna

      Delete
  8. I wish there were more festivals and conferences in my area. I'm not sure why NC is so devoid of them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diane,

      A terrific resource for researching book fairs is…

      http://www.read.gov/resources/statefairs.php

      Best,
      Donna

      Delete

Thank for you taking the time out to visit with me and to learn about my writing career.

Please be sure to leave your blog address so I can reciprocate.

I look forward to visiting you too.