March 2010 Author Tour Schedule

It was another snowy week here in New York City. I think this last snowfall was around 20 inches. February 2010 has officially been declared as the snowiest February on record (here in NYC). I’m sure glad March is just around the corner.  And, that bring us to a new month of touring with our talented writers.

What makes VBT' Writers on the Move's tour so special is that we offer writing and marketing advice, tips, and information. And, we cover genres from children's, to poetry, to romance, suspense and nonfiction. We even cover marketing!

Our members include new and FAMOUS award winning authors and editors, and even a children's book publisher. Each day through March 26th, we'll have a great post available.

So, here's the jammed packed schedule for our March TOUR:

1st Dianne Sagan is hosting Janet Ann Collins
2nd Karen Cioffi is hosting Gary Eby
3rd Kathy Stemke is hosting Debra Eckerling
4th Lea Schizas is hosting Dana Donovan
5th Vivian Zabel is hosting Margaret Fieland
6th Nancy Famolari is hosting Heidi Thomas
7th Margaret Fieland is hosting Helena Harper
8th Elysabeth Eldering is hosting Heather Paye
9th Helena Harper is hosting Kathy Stemke
10th Carolyn Howard-Johnson is hosting Vivian Zabel
11th Gayle Trent is hosting Maggie Ball
12th Mayra Calvani is hosting Darcia Helle
13th Marvin Wilson is hosting Dianne Sagan
14th Stephen Tremp is hosting Elysabeth Eldering
15th Darcia Helle is hosting Gayle Trent
16th Martha Swirzinski is hosting Mayra Calvani
17th Heidi Thomas is hosting Dallas Woodburn
18th Dana Donovan is hosting Katie Hines
19th Dallas Woodburn is hosting Kevin McNamee
20th Debra Eckerling is hosting Martha Swirzinski
21st Heather Paye is hosting Lea Schizas
22nd Maggie Ball is hosting Marvin Wilson
23rd Kevin McNamee is hosting Nancy Famolari
24th Janet Ann Collins is hosting Stephen Tremp
25th Gary Eby is hosting Karen Cioffi
26th Katie Hines is hosting Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Please be sure to join us, you never know what you'll learn!

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi
http://karencioffi.com

Blogger and Its New Static Pages Addition

It's exciting and so convenient; Blogger now has the ability for the blogger to create up to TEN static pages. Is this cool or what?

A static page is a page that is not a blog. You do not post to it as you would a blog. It is for content that usually remains constant.

This doesn't mean that you can't edit the content and re-publish the page, but it does not have the characteristics of a blog page. For example, social networks such as Linkedin, Jacketflap and Facebook allow you to connect your blog to their sites if you are a member. As you publish a new post, these sites pick it up and it's visible to your connections/friends.

You cannot connect your static pages like the blog page. The visitor either needs to be given the url to the page, or needs to be at your home page and click on the page link.

But, this is the same with most websites. You have a page specifically for your blog and your other pages are static.

And, it's really simple to add these static pages to your Blogger site:


1. Go to Posting
2. Click on Edit Pages (not edit posts!)
3. It will say to add new pages - just click on it
4. Add a title to your page and then add the content just as if you were creating a blog post.
5. Click Publish Page.
6. Go to Layout and click on Add Gadget (you want to add the "Pages" gadget).
7. You can go in and create a title for the Link in the Gadget - if I remember correctly, it labels it initially as Pages.
8. Move the gadget to where ever you want it: sidebar or below your header.

That's it...at least I'm pretty sure.

When I create another page, I'll pay more attention and edit the steps above accordingly.

Thank you Blogger for adding website functionality to your service!

Until next time,
Karen Cioffi, Author, Freelance Writer, Reviewer
http://karencioffi.com

Check out my new pages!

Your Article's Been Hijacked - What Do You Do?

Ah, another dilemma. We writers spend a great deal of time writing. We put thought and care and research into articles, books, e-books...you get the idea. Well, what do you do if you find a site is using an article you've written--and published on your own sites and in the article directories--without providing your name as author? Do you trust any information on that site? Do you wonder if all or most of the articles posted there are from other writers who are also victims of article swiping?

It's funny, I usually don't put a google search on the titles of my articles, but this one, for whatever reason, I did. So, when google picked it up and notified me, I checked it out. I searched the site to see if my name was pushed off to the side, stuck in a corner, written with invisible ink, or something, but NOPE - it was nowhere in sight.

Now, ordinarily, I, and I'm sure most of us writers, love when someone finds our article of value and wants to reprint it. I do this with other writers occasionally and it works out great. I provide useful content for my readers and the author of the article gets increased visibility--a win-win situation.

But, there is a rule to follow: Always give the rightful author due credit. I'm pretty sure if you don't it's plagiarism.

So, I'm asking the question: What should you do if your article is hijacked? I'd really appreciate your opinions!

Karen Cioffi
http;//karencioffi.com
http://dkvwriting4u.com

The World's Easiest Astromony Book - A Review

Title: The World’s Easiest Astronomy Book
Author: Hitoshi Nakagawa
Publisher: One Peace Books, Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-9785084-4-9
Reviewer: Karen Cioffi for BookPleasures.com

Many children and adults are interested in space. We may think of outer space as the Heavens, or a source of exploration with infinite possibilities, or a place where discoveries are waiting to be made. According to Space.com: “Astronomy is defined as the scientific study of matter in outer space; particularly the positions, dimensions, distribution, motion, composition, energy, and evolution of celestial bodies (planets, stars) and other phenomena.”

The World’s Easiest Astronomy Book is a must have for anyone whose imagination is peaked by the universe. It is especially a must for those with children or grandchildren. Nakagawa covers a number of topics including: do aliens really exist; living at light speed; temperature in space; is there wind in space; the centrifugal force of the earth; and so much more. And, he explains the topics with easy to understand content.

This 111 page book is jammed packed with tidbits of information about space. Information that I find fascinating and I know my very young grandsons, when they’re a bit older, will enjoy learning about also. One of the most interesting topics, to me, was, Everything We See is in the Past. The author explains that: “The speed of light is 300,000 km (186,000 miles) per second, meaning that light could circle the Earth seven and a half times in a single second. Even at this incredible speed it still takes light from the Sun 8 minutes to reach the Earth.”

So, how does this relate to the title of the topic? Well, according to Nakagawa: “Light is reflected by objects, and shortly afterwards arrives at your eyes allowing you to see it. The same is true even for this book. Hold this book 12 inches from your eyes and you’re looking at an image of this book 0.000 000001 seconds in the past.”

Nakagawa also touches on man-made space debris and space station garbage. It appears we are not only polluting the Earth, but we’ve managed to bring pollution above and beyond. The debris from satellites and launching rockets is not only littering the heavens, it can also be problematic for spacecrafts and satellites. Debris between 1 cm and 10 cm can do damage to a spacecraft if it hits. Fragments larger than 10 cm are even more dangerous and are tracked by The Space Control Center, part of United Stares Strategic Command.

The World’s Easiest Astronomy Book sheds light on some very complex subjects with easy to understand explanations. While one or two topics, at the most, could have used a bit more clarity, and the book does not have an index, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it.

About the author: Hiroshi Nakagawa is a former JAXA space exploration officer. After studying in America he returned to Japan and taught in an American university before assisting the Japanese space development program. He now lives in Osaka and teaches at a High School.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and when my grandsons are old enough I'll introduce them to it. If you're a science buff check it out for you or your children.

You might also enjoy a review of Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster.

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi

Freelance Editors - Should You Hire One?

Will hiring a freelance editor ensure you pitch the perfect game? In writing terms, will it ensure you get published? Do you need an editor? Read on...

I recently read a great post at Kidlit.com. The article discussed the pros and cons of hiring a freelance editor, and even went into which writers would benefit from hiring one and which writers wouldn’t.

Here is the partial gist of the post plus my own input:

1. One of the most important aspects of hiring someone to critique or edit your work is to be open to criticism. If you do not have the personality to handle constructive criticism, suggestions, and/or edits, then you shouldn’t hire a freelance editor.

2. Before you contemplate hiring a freelance editor, get your manuscript in the best shape possible. What this means is you should know your craft or engaged in learning it. You should obviously belong to a critique group that focuses on the genre you write. This group should have new and experienced/published authors in it. This will help you to hone your craft through the critiques you receive and the critiques you give.

There are also a number of fantastic free online writers conferences such as the Muse Online Writers Conference (join up soon before registration closes). There are workshops offered covering just about every writing genre, plus freelance writing and marketing. AND, you will have the opportunity to pitch to publishers. Between the networking and learning, it’s not something you should lightly pass on.

Next up on the road to learning your craft is to join a couple of writing groups – again be sure they have new and experienced writers. If you’re writing for children, the best and most bang for your buck coaching group is the Children’s Writers Coaching Club with Suzanne Lieurance. Check out the article, How do You Learn to Write For Children.

3. Hiring a freelance editor to go over your manuscript will not guarantee it will get published, even the best in the field can’t promise this. What they will do is help you to get it in the best shape possible. But, whether or not you take their advice is another story. And, again, even if you do, there are no guarantees.

This holds true everywhere in the writing world. You may send your manuscript out, after it’s polished, to 20 publishers and agents and get rejections. The, you send it to one more and it happens this publisher has been looking for what your have. Time and Chance, my friends, time and chance. But, be sure, if you’re manuscript isn’t polished, you won’t ever get that far.

4. If you did your best to get your manuscript into what you think is publishable shape and you want an editor to give it a final once over, be sure to ask for recommendations from other writers.

Check out the VBT Writers tour schedule at: VBT Writers on the Move

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi
http://karencioffi.com
http://dkvwriting4u.com

A Powerful Marketing Secret

In the world of marketing and writing, probably the most important word is KNOWLEDGE. To be a successful marketer, you need to learn the ropes first. How to market, where to market, where to market for free or with as little cost as possible, who to market to, the list goes on and on. To be a successful writer, you also need to learn and hone your craft. And, how do we do this? Yup, with knowledge.

I read a lot of books to further my marketing and writing skills as well as belong to a number of groups and clubs. All this helps me increase my knowledge in these areas. And, I'm not the only one who does this.

Here's a great article from another woman who does the same thing:

My Most Powerful Marketing Secret
By Beth Ann Erickson

My most powerful marketing secret is knowledge.

No.  I’m not the most knowledgeable writer in the world.  I’m not even the best.  However, I’m a voracious reader.

I read everything I can get my hands on. My library houses books by Bly, Hatch, Lewis, Throckmorton, Ogilvy, Kennedy, Carlton – just to name a few.

I also subscribe to a ton of writing e-mags and magazines.  This helps me keep my e-mag, Writing Etc., up to snuff plus it provides me “inside information” on how to write articles that will be accepted by them.  When another publication runs one of my articles, they’re, in effect, paying me while giving me prime advertising space.  (I do believe I learned this incredible technique from Mr. Bob Bly....)

I work on projects and market my writing services during the day, then I curl up with a good book every evening.  We rarely turn on the television at night, instead opt to keep the radio tuned to our favorite station.

Every evening, I study effective direct mail packages.  I read about writing techniques and innovative ways market products and services.

As I read each book, I stick a post-it note on the page that has a technique I want to try.  The next day I crack open that same book and actually DO what it suggested.

I repeat what works for me and chuck the ideas that didn’t do what I thought it would do.

When I’m working for a client I read all the background materials they provide.  Then I research on my own, trying to know their industry inside out.  I also study their past promotion efforts and try to get my hands on their competition’s marketing materials.

I draw ideas from everything I’ve read to make my and my client’s marketing materials as powerful as possible.

Just like educators and healthcare workers continually attend classes to earn their “Continuing Education Units,” I invest time and money in purchasing the best books I can find to make my writing efforts more effective than my competition.  But I don’t just read and reread them, I study them and apply what I’ve learned in everything I write.
~~~
Beth Ann Erickson is Queen Bee of Filbert Publishing and the only writing ezine that'll make your writing sparkle, help you write killer queries, and get you on the road to publication fast. Better yet, you'll receive the e-booklet "Power Queries" when you sign up for your free subscription. Subscribe today at http://FilbertPublishing.com

You might also find Article Reprint Strategy of interest.

And, don't forget the VBT Writers tour is still under way, check out the schedule at:

http://tinyurl.com/yj6d6w4
Until next time,
Karen

What is Blogging Commenting Etiquette?

Within the last week, I've realize marketers who use blogging sites or blogs on websites to leave self-promotion comments are creating an air of suspicion. On another of my sites, as with probably most of you who have websites, I have to go over hundreds of spams to see if I have a valid comment; it's annoying and time consuming. And, some of those who actually comment on the post have links back to product sites, affiliate sites...is this crossing a line?

While I use Akismet, I still have to skim over all the spams to find the valid ones.

I know this is a marketing strategy, but when it is too much? Is it ever too much if the commenter is leaving a valid comment pertinent to the post?

So, now I'm wondering, what is the etiquette to blogging commenting. How do you know when a comment is slightly above spam? How many urls and promotional sentences in a signature are okay, and when is it crossing some overt self-promotion line?

I actually had this discussion a couple of months ago in a group I belong to and it was evident that most in the group thought that leaving more than one url was too much. There were also a few who thought leaving any url in the signature was inappropriate.

I don't see the harm in leaving a url with your name as long as your comment is pertinent to the post. We're all promoting something (at least most of us are).

I do think that in some cases it might be rude or inappropriate though, say if your product or site is in competition with the blogger's site you're commenting on.

I'll admit, I don't have the answers; I go with the one url with your name, although I don't usually include a url in my signature when commenting on someone else's blog. And, if my name is in the tag line above my comment, I don't leave a signature. Now, is that in itself rude? Would we have written letters years ago and not signed our names?

So, I pose the question: What is blogging commenting etiquette?

Until next time,
Karen

Self-Publishing Posts

Well, there seems to be some confusion and controversy over my last two posts about self-publishing, so let me explain:

In the posts, when I refer to self-publishing, I am talking about any author who spends their own money to create a book  to sell.

I'm not talking about a company's particular printing method, or creating your own publishing company.

It is to advise inexperienced authors to be sure their books are print ready before spending money to publish.

Boy, I hope this clears things up...

Karen

Before You Self-Publish - Part 2

Part 2: Steps 3 through 6

If you read my previous post, you realize there are certain steps that need to be taken before you think about signing up with a self-publishing company. And, you know it will cost you money that you may not recoup. This is not to say, you will not, but you need to work diligently and know in which direction your headed to ensure a return on your investment.

So, now we’ll look at steps 3 through 6 of Before You Publish:
 
3. Learn the craft of writing
Along with a critique group, it’s important to join one or two writing groups. This will be a tool to begin your networking and it will also be a learning experience. Just in the messages alone, you’ll pick up valuable tidbits of information. And, you can always ask questions.

Read and read and read. Read in the genre you are writing and read books on writing. This is where asking questions in your writing group will come in handy. Ask members for recommendations on books you should read to hone your craft.

If possible, take some writing classes or ecourses. There are some authors who occasionally offer free instruction.

Attend writing conferences. If you can’t afford one, there are a couple of great online ones. Check out the free Muse Online Writers Conference. It’s held each October and is a week long.

4. Research self-publishing companies

Whether you’re looking at print-on-demand, subsidy, or co-publishing companies, research a number of them before signing a contract. Along with finding out what services they offer and the cost, check into their reputation.

5. Learn about marketing

If you have a polished product to offer, and you should if you’ve taken your time, joined a critique and writing group, and worked toward learning the craft of writing, you will need to focus on the marketing element of writing.

You can join a couple of marketing groups, study blogs specializing in marketing, read marketing books, and so on. This is the ONGOING element of writing to sell. Unless you have the money to hire a publicist or marketer, you will need to roll up your sleeves and sell your book.

6. Don’t be in a rush

Take your time and the steps necessary to ensure your book has every opportunity for success. Don’t just jump in…it can be a very expensive splash!

You may find these articles of interest also:

Yourname.com Marketing Strategy

Writing Motivation and Guidance

Check out VBT Writers on the Move's February Tour Schedule.

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi
http://karencioffi.com/media-page/
http://dkvwriting4u.com

Before You Self-Publish - Part 1

Part 1: Steps 1 and 2

With today’s oversaturated and tight publishing market, it’s difficult to find even a small publisher for the manuscript you’ve slaved over. Many authors have taken the matter into their own hands and are going the self-publishing route. But, remember, have vision! This can be a worthwhile venture…if you first know a couple of things:

1. Self-publishing and co-publishing will cost you money

This is an absolute when venturing into the self-publishing world. How much money will depend on the company you choose and which of the various services they offer that you buy into. And, there will be many aside from printing your book: editing, cover design, copyright, distribution, press releases, promotion, and so on. Each of these additional services will cost you more money, although most of these companies do offer package deals. I know writers who have spent under a thousand dollars and others who have spent over five thousand dollars to publish their book.

In addition to this, selling books is a TOUGH business. Just because your book is in print or digitally available, it does not mean you will recoup your money, or make a profit.

It may sound a bit harsh, but I’ve seen writers spend money on self-publishing hoping it will bring a return on their investment - this is not always the case.

2. Join a critique group before actually publishing
You’ve decided you want your book published no matter what. Well, that’ fine, but before you start think about which company to use to self-publish, JOIN A CRITIQUE GROUP; it is essential. I do reviews, editing, and critiques, so I read a number of self-published books and manuscripts, and what is evident, is many authors are unaware that they need to have an edited, polished manuscript before they think of going the self-publishing path.

When choosing a critique group, be sure there are new and experienced (preferably published) writers as members, and it needs to focus on the genre you write in. In a critique group, you’ll quickly begin to see, through critiques of your work and that of the other members, how writing should be done. You’ll begin to spot grammatical and punctuation and storyline errors – you will begin to hone your craft. The group will help you polish your manuscript – you’ll be amazed at the difference.

At this point, it is advisable to have it edited as a final insurance. Often, the company you go with to self-publish will offer editing services. Just price it compared to hiring your own editor.

Part 2 will be here Wednesday, February 10th, with steps 3 through 6 of Before You Publish

Follow a great February Writer Tour with great writing and marketing information and reviews:


And you might also find this article of interest: Writing Books - is There Money in it?

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi
http://karencioffi.com/media/page
http://dkvwriting4u.com

What's Your Writing Forte?

Writing is such a unique journey for each and every writer. Some find it easy to meld their chapters one into another; others find it easy to get just the right ending, with some kind of twist or surprise that gives it a great edge; others still, find it easy to jump right into a story and write a grab-the-reader beginning; and there are other aspects of writing a story that some writers just breeze though effortlessly.

I find it relatively easy to start a story. I can create a beginning that jumps into the action, which is what most stories, especially children’s stories need. But…ah, that BUT…But, I find it difficult to end my stories. I have no idea why. I can start it, bring it along toward an ending, but, then I fizzle out. My endings are initially weak and definitely lacking.

This happened to me with a manuscript I submitted to a children’s publisher, 4RV Publishing. I pitched the story to the publisher during the Muse Online Writers Conference in October 2009. The publisher allowed me to submit a synopsis and the first three chapters, which was also a bit lacking, but that’s another story.

The editor who read the chapters and synopsis liked the storyline, but was confused about my ending in the synopsis. As I mentioned above I have trouble with my endings. Aside from that, the editor recommended the publisher request the manuscript so they could look it over. They did advise I edit it first and work on the ending. I created an entirely new ending and sent it to Lea Schizas to have edited (thank you, Lea).

It’s funny, but I think there are at times some form of inspiration that can take us where we don’t usually tread...that helps us overcome our obstacles or mountains. In the case of my story, Walking Through Walls, I came up with a pretty good ending that tied everything together and afforded a surprise. I worked on this story for around two years and finally when it counted, I found the right path for this story to take.

So, the tips of the day: Pay attention to where your writing weak spots are and work on them. If you have to, write a few different scenarios to help you open up. And, if you’re still having trouble with your story, put it away for at least a week and then go back to it; you’ll see it differently, with a newness and awareness. And, listen when inspiration comes a knockin!

One more important tip: Register for the Muse Online Writers Conference. I would need to write another article to explain all the benefits of this conference…OH, wait a minute, I did write an article about it. Check it out:

http://www.dkvwriting4u.com/2009/11/the-muse-online-writers-conference-2010-registration-is-open/

So, back to the title of the post: What's your writing forte?

Oh, and by the way, I AM NOW A 4RV PUBLISHING AUTHOR!!! They accepted my manuscript!

YAH HOO


Until next time,

Karen Cioffi
http://dkvwriting4u.com
http://karencioffi.com

Celebrate Black History Month with Author Nancy Sanders

To celebrate Black History Month, Nancy Sanders is touring from February 1st, through February 12th, to promote her brand new book for children, America’s Black Founders: Revolutionary Heroes and Early Leaders. And, it is my pleasure to host Nancy today!

Teachers, writers, students, publishers, editors, and everyone who loves books are invited to join Nancy each day at her site:

http://nancyisanders.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/virtual-book-tour-day-5-americas-black-founders/

Nancy has a great line-up of exciting stops. And, there will be prizes given away. Each day, she will offer a brand new free downloadable pdf file for teachers to use with their classroom in conjunction with the book.

Well, let’s not waste any time; here’s a description of this wonderful book portraying unsung heroes of the Revolutionary War:

History books are replete with heroic stories of Washington, Jefferson, and Adams, but what of Allen, Russwurm, and Hawley? America’s Black Founders celebrates the lesser known but significant lives and contributions of our nation’s early African American leaders. Many know that the Revolutionary War’s first martyr, Crispus Attucks, a dockworker of African descent, was killed at the Boston Massacre. But far fewer know that the final conflict of the war, the Battle of Yorktown, was hastened to a conclusion by James Armistead Lafayette, a slave and spy who reported the battle plans of General Cornwallis to George Washington.

Author Nancy Sanders weaves the histories of dozens of men and women—soldiers, sailors, ministers, poets, merchants, doctors, and other community leaders—who have earned proper recognition among the founders of the United States of America. To get a better sense of what these individuals accomplished and the times in which they lived, readers will celebrate Constitution Day, cook colonial foods, publish a newspaper, petition their government, and more. This valuable resource also includes a time line of significant events, a list of historic sites to visit or explore online, and Web resources for further study.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? Here are the details to get your copy of America’s Black Founders:

•    Reading level: Ages 9-12
•    Paperback: 144 pages
•    Publisher: Chicago Review Press (January 1, 2010)
•    Language: English
•    ISBN-10: 1556528116
•    ISBN-13: 978-1556528118

And, here’s the direct link to Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Black-Founders-Revolutionary-Activities/dp/1556528116/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263486355&sr=8-1

Nancy is a multi-published talented author and having her as a guest, I’d be amiss if I didn’t ask her some questions. So, here’s an interview with Nancy I. Sanders:

Interview of Nancy I. Sanders
Author of America’s Black Founders
www.AmericasBlackFounders.wordpress.com
Q: In your new book, America’s Black Founders: Revolutionary Heroes and Early Leaders, how did you go about choosing those particular unsung heroes?
A: I’ve been doing research about the early years of our nation, and the names of these founding fathers and mothers were everywhere I turned! Today, in the city of Philadelphia, there are historic markers with their names on them. In various city and state archives, there are historic documents with their names and their signatures on them. In newspapers from that era, there are articles written by them. In the records of the Revolutionary War, there are documentaries about their heroic deeds. The African Americans I included in my book from the founding years of our nation were community leaders and influential men and women of their day. I simply brought their amazing stories out of the dusty pages of history and into the light of our generation.

Q: I love the quote from Ghandi: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Is this why you wrote about these heroes, because they took life into their own hands and helped create the change they wanted to see in the world?

A: Yes, definitely! America’s Black Founders were pace setters. They forged the way for others to follow in their footsteps. When they saw a need, they stepped forward to fill it. When they met opposition, they strengthened their stand. When they were pushed back, they gathered together and forged ahead in unity.
    For example, at one point a new organization was formed called the American Colonization Society. Its agenda was to force free blacks to move to Africa so that there would only be slaves in America. When black leaders throughout the north, many of whom had purchased their own freedom, heard about this movement, they met in mass meetings by the thousands and united to take a stand. 3,000 met at Richard Allen’s church, Bethel, in Philadelphia, alone! They refused to be forced to abandon their brothers and sisters in chains because they knew they were the slave’s main advocate.
America’s Black Founders worked tirelessly to influence the government in the fight for freedom. In a large way, it is due to their efforts that slavery was ended in northern states and the trans-Atlantic slave trade came to end. Many of their children became the freedom fighters of the next generation and led anti-slavery societies that helped bring about the Civil War and the end to slavery itself.

Q: How are you hoping to change our world through America’s Black Founders?
A: The information I share in America’s Black Founders is well-known among some circles of academia. My goal in this book is to bring this information to a child’s level. I want our children of every ethnic background in America to have black heroes and to be proud of our black leaders during the early years of our nation. I want school children to learn about George Washington and Richard Allen and Thomas Jefferson and James Forten and Benjamin Franklin and Prince Hall—all at the same time—when they are learning about the Founding Fathers of America. And I want them to understand WHY these founders were so important and WHAT they did to help build our nation. That’s why I included so many actual documents in my book that show their signatures and the words that they said. But not only do I hope that children all across our nation will learn about what these leaders accomplished, I want them to see the faces of these men and women. That’s why I included as many portraits as I could find. And most of all, I want children of all races in America to be inspired to follow in the footsteps of these giants and make a stand for freedom and equal rights in their generation as the new leaders of our nation.

Q: How do you choose a topic for a book, whether for children or adults?
A: Sometimes I choose a topic and sometimes a topic chooses me. This book is a result of one of those rare times when a topic chooses me. As I mentioned earlier, I had been doing research about the early years of our nation and discovered the names of these men and women everywhere I looked among the dusty bookshelves of the research libraries I visited. Since I’m a children’s writer, I knew I could not stay silent and just allow all this amazing information to circulate among university scholars. I knew I had to share my discoveries with young readers. I knew I had to use my skills as a children’s author to bring all this university-level information down to a child’s level and present it as a book for kids. So I pitched the idea to my publisher at Chicago Review Press. They caught the vision and brought this book to life as part of the series they have called the “For Kids” series. It’s sold in museums and bookstores across the nation.

Well, that’s it folks. Nancy, it’s been a pleasure and honor having you here today. I wish you much success with your new book.

And, for my readers, here’s the link again to America’s Black Founders: Revolutionary Heroes and Early Leaders, get your copy today:

http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Black-Founders-Revolutionary-Activities/dp/1556528116/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263486355&sr=8-1

Don’t forget to stop back at Nancy site to follow the rest of the tour: http://nancyisanders.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/virtual-book-tour-day-5-americas-black-founders/

Last, but not least, the Chain Blog is still in full swing, don’t forget to stop by tomorrow, February 6th, and visit: Nancy I. Sanders at:  http://www.nancyisanders.wordpress.com

For more details and the complete list of participants go to: The National Writing for Children Center (NWCC): http://writingforchildrencenter.com

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi
http://karencioffi.com
http://dkvwriting4u.com

Links to my books:
Day’s End Lullaby
Writing, Publishing, and Marketing – You Can Do It!
The Self-Publisher’s Guide

Writing for Young Children - Ten Basic Rules

I write for children, including young children, and I also write marketing and health articles. Writing in both genres, I can tell you that writing for children can be much more challenging. When writing for children, there are guidelines, including age appropriate vocabulary and age appropriate story lines, that need to be adhered to in order to help ensure your story avoids the editor’s trash pile.

So, what are some of these guidelines that are specific to writing for children?

Let's look at 10 rules to refer to when writing for young children:

1.    This is probably the most important item: be sure that your story does not suggest dangerous or inappropriate behavior.

Example: The protagonist (main character) sneaks out of the house while his parents are still sleeping.

This is a no-no!

2.    Make sure your story has age appropriate words, dialogue and action.

3.    The protagonist should have an age appropriate problem or dilemma to solve at the beginning of the story, in the first paragraph if possible. Let the action/conflict rise. Then have the protagonist, through thought process and problem solving skills, solve it on his/her own. If an adult is involved, keep the input and help at a bare minimum.

Kid’s love action and problem solving!

4.    The story should have a single point of view (POV). To write with a single point of view means that if your protagonist can’t see, hear, touch or feel it, it doesn’t exist.

Example: “Mary crossed her eyes behind Joe’s back.” If Joe is the protagonist this can’t happen because Joe wouldn’t be able to see it.

5.    Sentence structure: Keep sentences short and as with all writing, keep adjectives and adverbs to a minimum. And, watch your punctuation and grammar.

6.    Write your story by showing through action and dialogue rather than telling.

If you can’t seem to get the right words to show a scene, try using dialogue instead; it’s an easy alternative.

7.    You also need to keep your writing tight. This means don’t say something with 10 words if you can do it with 5. Get rid of unnecessary words.

8.    Watch the timeframe for the story. Try to keep it within several hours or one day.

9.    Along with the protagonist’s solution to the conflict, he/she should grow in some way as a result.

10.    Use a thesaurus and book of similes. Finding just the right word or simile can make the difference between a good story and a great story.

Using these techniques will help you create effective children’s stories. Another important tool to use in your writing tool belt is joining a children’s writing critique group. No matter how long you’ve been writing, you can always use another set of eyes.
If you’re a beginning writer and unpublished, you should join a group that has published and unpublished members. Having published and experienced writers in the group will help you hone your craft.
  
Okay, to follow through with the Chain Blog, please visit this site tomorrow, Friday, February 5th: http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com

Hey, that’s me! And, it will be a great day to visit; I’m hosting the MULTI PUBLISHED author, Nancy Sanders.


To check out the list of all the participating bloggers in the Chain Blog go to:
The National Writing for Children Center (NWCC): http://writingforchildrencenter.com



You might find “Create a Believable Protagonist” of interest also:
http://www.dkvwriting4u.com/2009/11/create-a-believable-protagonist/

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi
http://karencioffi.com
http://dkvwriting4u.com

Links to my books:
Day’s End Lullaby
Writing, Publishing, and Marketing – You Can Do It!
The Self-Publisher’s Guide

Writing Perspective

An article in the September 2009 issue of the Writer magazine, “What’s your Persepctive?” had quite a bit of valuable information. The fourth tip subheading, out of five in the article, was: “Experiment by writing the same scene from different points of view.’

This hit home with me as I reread the article today.

Yesterday, I had an unusual and embarrassing incident happen to me…well, it didn’t exactly happen to me…I caused it.

I went to my local drug store with my husband. He doubled parked right outside the store, since there were no parking spots. I went in and a few minutes later came out. It was in the teens here yesterday so I had my coat hood on and my scarf over my face. I forgot my husband double parked right in front of the store and walked to the corner where we usually park when going to the drug store.

I saw our car through my scarf and hood, opened the passenger door, got in and immediately started talking to my husband. Then, I heard, “Excuse me…EXCUSE ME!” I turned toward the driver’s seat and there was a strange man sitting there.

What are the chances of this being the same car, in the same color as mine.

I quickly apologized and got out of the car.  I walked back to the drug store and saw my husband still doubled parked. I got in the car and he asked where I went – he had watched me walk toward the corner, but couldn’t see anything else. I told him what happened and, of course, he couldn’t stop laughing.

This is a perfect example for practicing writing from different perspectives. Throughout the day, I wondered what that poor man must have been thinking. Aside from having a great story to tell his wife and making sure he keeps his car doors locked, how did he perceive the situation?

Here’s an example of what he may have perceived - another character's perspective:

I sat in the car waiting for my wife to run her errands on the avenue. She always takes so long, but watching the people walk past the car usually keeps me occupied. I see this one particular woman, all bundled up, walking toward the car…she actually comes up to the passenger side…and OPENS THE DOOR! WITHOUT LOSING A BEAT, SHE GETS IN THE CAR! She’s so bundled up she can’t see me and she’s going on and on about what a good idea it was to go to the drug store now. I said, “Excuse me,” thinking I’d get her attention, but she just rants on and lowers her hood and scarf. I hate to admit it, but I was a little scared for a moment; I didn’t know if she was a nut, or had a weapon. “EXCUSE ME!” She finally looks at me and an expression of sheer surprise, and probably a bit of confusion floods her face. The dingbat apologized and rushed out of the car. Boy, they let anyone walk the streets. Wait until I tell my wife.

Tip of the day: Always keep your car doors locked!

Okay, to follow through with the Chain Blog, please visit this site tomorrow, Thursday, February 4th: 
http://www.mayrassecretbookcase.blogspot.com 

And, for the Chain Blog participant list and updates, stop by:

The National Writing for Children Center (NWCC): http://writingforchildrencenter.com

Another article you might find of interest is “The Process of Creating a Children’s Story”:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2074735/the_process_of_creating_a_childrens.html

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi
http://karencioffi.com
http://dkvwriting4.com

Links to my books:
Day’s End Lullaby
Writing, Publishing, and Marketing – You Can Do It!
The Self-Publisher’s Guide

A Poetic Form with Margaret Fieland

A new month and I have the wonderful pleasure of hosting author, poet, and musician, Margaret Fieland.

Margaret is a former New York City dweller, but now resides in the suburbs west of Boston, MA. It makes sense that Margaret would be adapt at poetry, she has been around art and music all her life. She is the daughter of a painter and is an accomplished flute and piccolo player.

But, let’s move on because Margaret has a great article about the cento. And, if you’re not sure what this form of poetry is about, fear not, Margaret explains it thoroughly and even gives us examples.

Poetic forms: the cento

A cento is like a rag rug, it's composed of bits and pieces from other things. In the case of the rug, it's pieces of old fabric. For the cento, it's made of verses or passages from other poems, songs, articles, stories, or whatever by other authors.

The first cento I ever wrote was a haiku sequence, and perhaps because I'm a musician, I composed it using verses from old songs: Clementine, Go Tell Aunt Rhody, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Jingle Bells, Good King Wencheslas, and the old Tennessee Ernie Ford song, "Sixteen Tons," one of my favorites. The haiku sequence was the traditional 5-7-5 syllable count of the Japanese haiku, rather than the freer form (seventeen syllables or less) used in so many modern American haiku. Choosing the 5-7-5 syllable count made it easy to select the songs.

Go tell Aunt Rhody, A Haiku Sequence

Twelve drummers drumming
When the snow was round about
Now the ground is white

Nine ladies dancing
Excavating for a mine
Dashing through the snow

Ten lords a leaping
When the snow lay round about
making spirits bright

Dashing through the snow
A partridge in a pear tree
Make the Yule-tide gay

If the Fates allow
When a poor man came in sight
Let your heart be light

And the store boss said
When a poor man came in sight
jingle all the way!

Here's one I wrote recently using lines from songs about the sea.

Sailor's Song

A hundred years ago, three thousand miles away
A Yankee ship came down the river
With the tinkers and tailors and soldiers and all
 
Bound to the westward where the stormy winds blow
When this bold pirate
Fought them up and down  
Fire in the cabin, fire in the hold
For to fight the foreign foe
Captain Hull broke his heart and died
 
He fought like a hero till he died
And fifty-five more lay bleeding in gore
Then the signal was sent for the grand ship to anchor.

They dug his grave with a silver spade.

Here's where they came from:

lines from songs on website
http://www.contemplator.com/sea/index.html

A Hundred Years Ago, "A Hundred years ago"
Three Thousand Miles, "Three Thousand Miles Away"
Blow, Boys, Blow, "A Yankee Ship Came Down the River"
Blow the Man Down, "With the tinkers and tailors and soldiers and all"

The Dreadnought, "..bound to the westward where the stormy winds blow"
The Bold Princess Royal, " .. when this bold pirate"
Admiral Benbow, " ..fought them up and down"

Fire Down Below, " Fire in the cabin, fire in the hold,"
Johnny Todd, "For to fight the foreign foe"
Captain Hull, "Captain Hull"
Boney Was A Warrior "broke his heart and died"

Bold Nelson's Praise, "He fought like a hero till he died"
John Paul Jones, "and fifty-five more lay bleeding in gore"
Spanish Ladies, "Then the signal was sent for the grand ship to anchor"

Storm Along, "They Dug His Grave with a silver spade"

And how, you might ask, did I pick these lines? After I decided I wanted to write a cento using lines from songs about the sea, I searched for a website, and found the one above. I started down the list of songs, picking lines that looked like they might fit. Then I rearranged them. Then I rearranged them again. Then I passed the result past my poetry critique group, removed two lines that didn't fit, and rearranged the poem into three line stanzas instead of quatrains. And there it was.

Here's a link to a cento by poet John Asbury:


Try it -- it's loads of fun.

Wow, Margaret, this is such an interesting form of poetry. Thanks for sharing it with us.

But, there’s more about Margaret!

Margaret has a book, The Angry Little Boy, in the hands of 4RV Publishing. It will be out sometime in early 2012.

Just to whet your appetite, here’s an excerpt of:

The Angry Little Boy

Chapter 1: At Grandma's House

Alvin’s eyes burned and his chest felt tight. The last time he'd visited Grandma he'd driven there with Mom and Dad. Now Mom was dead and Dad still in the hospital. Alvin peered out the window of Grandma's car as they passed through Millbank and down the tree-lined road leading to Pine Crest Point. As Grandma drove past the lake with the community beach, down the street, and into her driveway, Sam, Alvin's collie mix, put his front paws on Alvin's lap and barked.

"Yes, Sam, we're here," Alvin said, ruffling Sam's soft ears as they all climbed out of the car. He turned and noticed how thin and frail his grandma looked from the last visit. Her once vibrant gray curls were now faded and wispy looking.

Sam bounded down the hill ahead of Alvin and Grandma. They followed him down the flagstone path, down the hill, past the rock garden. The marigolds, petunias, and geraniums lifted their faces to the sun. Alvin's nose tickled as he breathed in the spicy scent of the flowers, and remembered how Mom loved to work in the garden whenever they'd visit.

The stained brown ranch came into view once they'd cleared the large trees. Sam waited by the porch.
Grandma unlocked the door, and Alvin followed her into the big living room. Paneled in pine, it had windows on both ends, a dining table to the left, couches and chairs on the other side, and a large fireplace in the middle.

Sam trotted up and dropped a ball at Alvin's feet.

"Grandma, Sam found a ball."

"Sam always manages to find a ball." Grandma stared at Sam, who opened his jaws and grinned a doggy grin. 

"You two go outside if you want to play catch. No playing ball in the house."

"That's what Mom always said." Alvin's throat felt tight. He frowned and rubbed his eyes.

Alvin pushed open the door and went outside. Standing on a flat spot in front of the house, Alvin threw the ball up the hill and Sam chased after it.

An hour later, Grandma called, "Alvin, time for dinner. Come in and wash your hands." By that time the now deep red sun hung just over the horizon.

"Grandma, when will me and Dad have our own house again?" Alvin said, when seated at the dining table.

"I don't know, Alvin. I don't know whether your father will try to rebuild your old house when he gets the insurance money." Grandma handed Alvin a hamburger and put one on her own plate. Alvin took a big bite. 

His throat felt almost too tight to swallow.

"I miss our house. I miss Mom and Dad. I wish everything would go back the way it was." Alvin's lips trembled. He swallowed hard to get rid of the big lump in the middle of his throat.

Grandma looked at him. "Alvin, you're nine years old. That's old enough to know your mother isn't coming back."

Alvin ate a few more bites. Grandma put down her half eaten hamburger and stood up. "I guess we aren't very hungry tonight. Let's clear the table and wash the dishes. Then you can brush your teeth and get ready for bed."

Alvin picked up his plate and glass. He followed Grandma into the kitchen, Sam at his heels.

Grandma put the dishes on the kitchen counter. "Scrape the hamburger into the trash and then put the dishes into the dishpan. I'll wash and you can dry."

"We could give the hamburger to Sam. I'll bet he's still hungry." Sam sat by Grandma's feet and panted hopefully.

"Hmmph," said Grandma. She broke the hamburger into pieces, put them into a bowl and placed it on the floor. Sam grinned, then started to eat.

"At home Dad always did the dishes. All I did was clear the table." Alvin looked out the kitchen window at the front yard. He could feel the soft breeze through the open window. The sky was a dark blue with a few fluffy white clouds. Grandma's flowers swayed back and forth. It looked very peaceful. "I wonder if Mom can see the flowers from Heaven?"

Grandma didn't say anything for a long time. Finally, she said in a brisk voice, "I'm sure she can.”
Then Grandma continued, “Here we both clear the table, I wash and you dry." She handed Alvin a blue and white striped dishtowel. "Stack the dishes on the counter and you can put them away when we're finished. You're as tall as I am now so you won't have any trouble reaching the cabinets.”

"At home Mom always left the dishes in the dish drain and put them away in the morning."

"I like my dishes in the cabinet," Grandma said as she pressed her lips together. Alvin remembered when Grandma came to their old house she always dried and put away the dishes and Mom would get annoyed. It made him smile to remember. Dad always used to stay out of the kitchen when Grandma visited.

"All I have is one pair of pajamas, Grandma," Alvin said later when they walked out of the kitchen.

"We'll go shopping tomorrow," Grandma said. It made Alvin feel funny to think that his beloved quilt and all his clothes and books were gone forever.

"Mom used to read to me every night. We'd just started The Fellowship of the Ring." Alvin glanced at the full bookshelves as they passed through the living room.

"We can buy you another copy. Or I might have an old one of your father's around somewhere."

"No thanks, Grandma. It wouldn't be the same. When we stopped, Mom said we'd read more tomorrow. That was the last thing she said to me. Except goodnight and stuff." The image of his Mom sitting beside him in bed reading to him made his chest tighten again. 

Margaret, this book sounds wonderful and certainly poignant; I'm sure it's going to do very well.

If you'd like to learn more about Margaret you can visit her at: 

http://www.margaretfieland.com

Margaret, it's been such a pleasure having you as a guest today. Thank you!

And, you readers, please check out our February Virtual Author Tour Schedule - DAILY TOURS throughout February!

Last, but not least, PLEASE visit tomorrow's blogger in the Blog Chain: Terri Forehand at:
http://terri-forehand.blogspot.com

For the entire blogger list for the Blog Chain and updates, go to: 

The National Writing for Children Center (NWCC): http://writingforchildrencenter.com

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi
http://karencioffi
http://dkvwriting4u.com

Writing Advice - One Thing Leads to Another

As you may have read, in my post yesterday, Sunday, January 31st, I did a search for the term, Chain Blog. I clicked on a few links and one I can upon was a blogger who posed the question for a chain blog – he wanted his visitors to leave comments with their advice or opinions. The question was (not word for word as my memory has been on vacation with my energy for quite some time now):

If you had one sentence, say 20 seconds is you were speaking, what would you advise new writers. Her advice was to read many books in the genre you write and join a critique group.

This is great advice!

I’m sorry to say, in my haste, I didn’t note the url of the site, but I did leave a comment.

My one sentence, 20 second or under advice to new writers is:

Read books in your genre, learn your craft, join a critique group with new and experienced writers, make time to actually write, and persevere.

While there is a great deal of additional advice one could pass along, if just one of the elements I listed above is missing, you would be hindering your chances of reaching your goal of publication.

Okay, I can hear those whispers: But is a critique group that important? The answer is simple…YUP! Not only does a critique group help you with your manuscripts, you actually learn from the critiques you receive and give. So, aside from the many other advantages of a critique group, it is a useful tool to be used to help hone your craft.

I took this a step further and actually timed myself. Within 15 seconds I could not only state the above, I could add: and remember writing is a business like any other and needs to viewed as such.

Hee, hee…this is why everything takes me longer than it should…FOCUS!

This brings me back to the title of the post, One Thing Often leads to Another With Writing. I started out seeking information about Chain Blogs, and wound up writing a post about one sentence advice to writers.

Isn’t the writing world amazing?

If you’d like more information about the advantages of critique groups, check out:

Critiques are Essential

Okay, to follow through with the Chain Blog, please visit this site tomorrow, Tuesday, February 2nd:
http://www.griercooper.com/category/blog/

You can check out the list of participating Chain Blog bloggers and updates at:
The National Writing for Children Center (NWCC): http://writingforchildrencenter.com
Oh, and be sure to stop back here tomorrow, Tuesday, February 5th, because I have a great article from Margaret Fieland, Poetic Forms: The Cento.

Until next time,

Karen Cioffi

Links to my books:
Day’s End Lullaby
Writing, Publishing, and Marketing – You Can Do It!
The Self-Publisher’s Guide