PASS IT ON ISSUE 52
PASS IT ON - ISSUE 52: DATE
***HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY PIO!***
(In the html version there is a picture of a cake here!!)
Hi everyone! I hope you have all had a fantastic week. Thanks to all who
have contributed and a special hello to all new members. Thank you also to
everyone who has offered support and encouragement, I really do appreciate
it. Please enjoy this week's issue of PASS IT ON.
A Disclaimer of Liability
Please ensure that your submissions are ACCURATE and clear. I will accept no
responsibility for any errors or omissions contained in the information
submitted. PLEASE be careful.
To unsubscribe send an email to jacket@smartchat.net.au with "unsubscribe"
in the subject heading.
WHAT IS PASS IT ON?
PASS IT ON is a weekly, on-line, interactive, networking newsletter for
those involved with or interested in the children's writing industry. It is
emailed to subscribers every Monday.
PASS IT ON will survive for as long as YOU the CONTRIBUTOR determine. I am
the collection point for YOUR submissions. I am one cog in a tool that has
the potential to be very powerful. (submission guidelines can be found at
the end of the newsletter)
If you wish to receive PASS IT ON - email me, Jackie Hosking at
jacket@smartchat.net.au and I will send you the most recent issue of the
newsletter and an invoice. If you like what you see, please return the
invoice along with your payment and I will add you to the subscriber's list.
If you join in July it will cost you $24.00 If you join in August, it will
cost you $22.00 If you join in September, it will cost you $20.00 etc...
Please contribute as often as you can and be assured that I will treat your
contact details with the utmost confidentiality. I look forward to making
many more new friends.
Past issues may be viewed at my website www.jackiehosking.com
CHILDREN'S & YA WRITERS CONFERENCE SURVEY
A group of PIO subscribers from around Australia are working together to
develop a conference for children's and YA writers. We are busy developing
a business and operational plan as part of this and would like to survey the
PIO subscriber base about this project. Your responses will prove very
valuable in the development phase of this project, so if you could spare a
few minutes and complete the following survey, that would be great.
Participation in the survey is voluntary.
If you would like to participate (and we hope to get a good mix of responses
from writers, editors and publishers etc) please COPY AND PASTE the survey
questions below into a blank email and send it to Jackie Hosking at <<
jacket@smartchat.net.au >> (Jackie is one of the conference team members).
If you know CYA writers who do not receive PIO, feel free to on-forward this
survey to them to complete and return.
Kind regards
Sharon Norris and Tina
CYA Conference Team
******************************
PROPOSED CYA CONFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE
1. What is your gender? ______________________
2. What is your age?
-18 ________________ 18-35 _________________
36 - 50 ________________ 51 - 65 ________________
65+ __________________
3. What State and local region do you live in?
_________________________________________
4. How would you identify yourself in the following list of categories
(indicate as appropriate):
a) writer (published) _____
b) writer (aspiring) ____
c) writer/illustrator (published) _____
d) writer/illustrator (aspiring) ____
e) illustrator (published) ____
f) illustrator (aspiring) _____
g) editor (in publishing) ____
h) editor (freelance) ____
i) publisher ____ What market/s? __________________
j) appraiser/assessor ______
k) literary agent _____
l) other (please describe) __________________________
5. If you are a WRITER (published or aspiring), what type of CYA stuff do
you write? (List sub-genres as appropriate - i.e. the categories of CYA
writing that you write, e.g. YA novels)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
6. If you are an ILLUSTRATOR or WRITER-ILLUSTRATOR (published or aspiring),
what kinds of CYA stuff do you illustrate or write/illustrate? (List
sub-genres as appropriate)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
7. If you are an EDITOR, PUBLISHER, APPRAISER/ASSESSOR, LIT AGENT etc,
would such an event be of interest to you or or the organisation you work
for (if applicable)? _____________
Comments?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
8. If you are a PUBLISHED WRITER/EDITOR/PUBLISHER (ETC) and an experienced
presenter/speaker, would this conference be of interest to you as a
professional (appropriately paid) engagement? ________________
Comments?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
9. A conference is proposed for
the conference is to help writers of all CYA denominations with their skills
development, networking and other activities proposed to help the CYA
profession develop. Would you be interested in attending this event if:
(Y/N)
a) the conference attendance costs were reasonable? ___________
b) significant speakers (CYA writers, editors, publishers etc) presented or
conducted workshops/seminars? _________
c) you had the opportunity to attend workshops, seminars, panel discussions,
author talks? __________
d) discounts on travel and accommodation could be negotiated for delegates?
_____________
e) you had the opportunity to have your manuscript appraised/assessed?
________________
f) you had the opportunity to pitch your manuscript to CYA editors?
______________
10. Is the fact that the conference is to be held in
not so attractive? Please tell us what you think (honesty encouraged and
appreciated).
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
11. Sessions and speakers have not yet been determined, but will be guided
by participant interest and professional development opportunities.
Discussions to date have identified the following possible Conference
modules:
a) keynote speech/es
b) panel discussions
c) debates
d) topic-specific seminars (i.e. mechanics of CYA writing, illustrating
picture books, how to get an agent etc)
e) workshops/masterclasses
f) author talks
g) editorial assessments/consultations
What kinds of in-Conference activities would you like to attend at a
conference for CYA writing and writers? Please list:
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
(add extra space in your reply if needed - this is the most important
question in our survey!)
12. A number of extra-curricular events are proposed to coincide with this
event. These haven't been decided upon yet but may include some from the
following list.
a) a formal Conference Dinner
b) a CYA industry Cocktail Party
c) a writing competition
d) a national CYA awards event recognising all CYA sub-genres
e) a book fair
f) a book auction to raise funds for charity
g) book launch/es
What kinds of affiliated out-of-Conference activities would you like to
attend? Please list:
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
(add extra space in your reply if needed - this is the second most important
question in our survey!)
13. It's highly possible that this event could be a "badged" event held as
part of an existing cultural festival. Would this not
bother/persuade/dissuade/ you from attending?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
14. What is your opinion of the proposal to develop a national conference
for CYA writers?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
(add extra space in your reply if needed)
15. Bearing in mind that the conference is being developed, administered and
run by volunteers who will never be paid for what they are doing, what
suggestions can you provide to help us ensure that the event is of a high
standard, professional and well-run?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
(add extra space in your reply if needed)
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR CONFERENCE SURVEY TO JACKIE HOSKING
jacket@smartchat.net.au
with "CONFERENCE SURVEY" in the subject line.
Many thanks
CYA Conference Team
GENERAL INFORMATION
PRESS RELEASE
"Books Alive" an affront to Australian authors
"Why is the Australia Council spending money promoting foreign authors?"
asks Dr Jeremy Fisher, Executive Director of the Australian Society of
Authors (ASA). "And why does the Books Alive list mainly include books which
are already selling well?" Books Alive is a Federal Government initiative
promoting 50 "remarkable" books across a range of genres. Interestingly, the
books were selected by an industry panel that lacked any author
representative. The ASA has two major reservations about the Books Alive
Great Read Guide, released today.
First is the fact that money auspiced by the Australia Council is being
spent to promote authors from the
Australia Council is spending $2 million per year for the next four years on
the Books Alive program, of which $1 million is presumably going towards
promoting foreign authors.
"The Australia Council should spend Australian taxpayers' money promoting
Australian writers," says Fisher. "If it is to promote writers from
overseas, why not
lack exposure in the Australian market, just as our own writers do. British
and American writers already benefit from the marketing campaigns of their
own publishers".
Half of the 50 recommended books on the list are from overseas, whereas,
currently, 60% of books sold in
if you accept that the Australia Council should promote foreign titles,"
Fisher says, "why would you promote a proportion greater than the market
share? It doesn't make sense and it makes the list an insult to Australian
authors".
The second issue with the list is the fact that most of the books, including
those by Australian authors, have already sold quite well. "Why would the
Australia Council need to include books that have already proven to be great
reads?" Fisher asks. "There's no guidance to other books that the
marketplace may have overlooked."
Fisher suggests the Books Alive selection panel should have an Amazon
approach. "A campaign something along the lines of 'If you liked Maeve
Binchy (or Jodi Picoult or Ian McEwan) try this book by an Australian writer'
would support Australian writers, and encourage book buying and reading,"
Fisher says.
If you share the ASA's concerns and believe the Books Alive campaign is an
affront to Australian writers, we urge you to contact:
Senator Rod Kemp, Minister for the Arts, Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
(email: senator.rod.kemp@aph.gov.au )Jennifer Bott, CEO, Australia Council,
PO Box 788, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 (email: j.bott@ozco.gov.au )
Senator Kim Carr, Shadow Minister for the Arts, Parliament House, Canberra
ACT 2600 (email: senator.carr@aph.gov.au )
Heard on the grapevine that Koala will no longer be publishing novels, so
emailed Cathie Tasker and it's true! There goes another market. I can't
believe it. Cathie said that she has two more books contracted then after
that no more. What a sad state of affairs. Before long we'll have nowhere to
send our stories. (As far as I know Koala will still publish picture books.)
Jenny:)
Victorian Illustrators unite!
The last Friday of every month,
Books Illustrated Gallery, Albert Park will be the venue for an informal
get-together of illustrators. Those who attended the inaugural meeting
(instigated by Elise Hurst) were: Rae Dale, Marjory Gardner, Elise Hurst,
Ann James, Ben Redlich, Sally Rippin, Judith Rossell, Anne Ryan, Peter Shaw
and Mark Wilson. A great opportunity to meet other illustrators, swap
stories, tips and contacts; all illustrators welcome!
YABBA SHORTLIST http://home.vicnet.net.au/~yabba/shortlist.pdf
The August issue of Kid Magazine Writers eMagazine is online.
Check out...
2 editor interviews this month featuring two new paying markets: Dragonfly
Spirit and KidTime. A Special Report on Fun For Kidz and the heads up on two
writing contests.
Plus articles on
* Making Historical Figures Interesting for Today's Kids
* Magazine Mysteries
* Experts -- Where to Find Them and What to do with Them.
Plus, don't forget to download our free ebook of writing articles. You'll
find something for every children's magazine writer.
What We Talk About When We Talk About Editing
By DAVID SHIPLEY, editor, Op-Ed page
When you're working with other people's words, there are clear rules of
engagement. A guide to the Op-Ed page's editing process.
To Blog or not to Blog?
If you are thinking about starting a Blog you might like to read my article
on The Writing 4 Success Club website that explores the pros and cons. It
can be found at http://www.writing4successclub.com/jackiehosking6.htm
SEEKING
A question: when you finish writing a manuscript and start submitting it,
you write your name with the copyright symbol and the year. If you are
still submitting it in a year or so's time (highly likely!!), do you update
the copyright year? Or if you have a piece published and wish to submit it
elsewhere (providing you have the ability, of course), do you keep the
original copyright year or update it to the current year? I would very much
appreciate some advice on this.
Val N.
If anyone can put me in touch with author Pamela Freeman, I would be
grateful. Di Bates dibates@enterprisingwords.com Thank you, too, to Virginia
Lowe, who helped me last week with the names of children's books featuring
various animals.
BOOK REVIEWS
The Sound Telegraph newspaper in
children's page and would welcome the chance to review children's books
and/or run promotions offering book prizes. Contact news editor John Brown,
email editor.sound@swpp.com.au, phone 08 9592 0200. The paper is distributed
free every Wednesday to more than 42,500 homes and businesses in Rockingham
and Kwinana.
The Mandurah Mail newspaper in
children's page and is happy to review children's books and/or run
promotions offering book prizes. The Mail is delivered free every Thursday
to households in the Peel region. Contact book reviewer Teena
Raffa-Mulligan,
Phone 08 9581 5501 (Mon, Thurs, Fri) or email traffa-@bigpond.net.au
Is it usual for Australian publishers to send personal rejections if they
think your work has merit? I notice on the American boards that a great deal
of emphasis is placed on receiving a 'personal'.
I've just consolidated some of the info from my home page to a site called
"The Writers' School". You can visit it at
http://www.wordgarland.com/writers'school.htm
If anyone knows anyone who offers REASONABLY PRICED writing-related
services, could you let them know they're welcome to either a page or a link
at the school? All I ask is that the service is a legitimate one that (a)
doesn't cost an arm and a leg and (b) states its costs up-front.
Thanks! Sally Odgers
Paul Collins writes:
An old acquaintance of mine is seeking an editor for a 66,000 word crime
novel. Anyone interested in the job can contact me
(earthborn@smartchat.net.au). If I don't know you, please give me a brief CV
of editing experience, plus a rough quote.
CRITIQUE GROUPS? If you would like to find or create a critique group then
send me ( jacket@smartchat.net.au ) an email with CRITQUE GROUP as the
subject heading along with your request and I will post it on the
noticeboard (see the end of the newsletter). You might like to include
details such as:
1. How long you've been writing
2. What genre you prefer (so long as it's children's/YA)
3. Whether or not you are published
4. What you are looking for in a critique group and what you can offer.
5. Your contact details or you can go via me if you'd prefer.
6. Anything else you can think of.
I think this is a more efficient way of doing it as it ensures that like
minded writers are in the one group. I would suggest no more than six
members per group. This seems to have worked in the past.
REPLIES TO SEEKING
To B.A. who wanted to know the title of the book to which Bernadette Welch
referred in her talk at the NSW Writers' Centre: it is Where I Am Now by Meg
Rosoff. The book, which is simply marvellous, recently won the UK Guardian
Book award. Di Bates
In response to B.A.'s question regarding which children's author Bernadette
Welsh mentioned during the Writing for Children and Young Adults day, run by
the NSW Writers' Centre, I did copy down a name: Meg Rosoff (I'm not sure of
the spelling) who Bernadette described as an appealing author for teens. She
also mentioned the title Mortal Engines which is a fantasy, but I don't know
what else she mentioned about that book. I hope this helps.
In answer to the person asking about how to store PIO for ready reference
later on: I use a separate folder in my email program to store all copies of
PIO in the one place. This has been explained previously, I think, so I won't
go into it here.
Then I use the 'search' function within the email program to find items I am
looking for. It's very similar to the 'find' function in Word.
For example, if I'm looking for an article submitted by someone at the ASA,
I call up the PIO issue I think it was in, and then go to 'Edit' on the
menu bar. A drop down list appears, I then select 'Find', then 'Find in
this Message' and type in the word I'm looking for, in this case 'ASA'. If
the search word is in this issue, I'll get the first, then each subsequent
reference to it. If not, I'll try the next (or previous) issue of PIO.
This saves heaps of time and I rarely spend more than a few minutes looking
for something I know I've received. For me, it's much simpler than dumping
it all into a word doc and cutting a pasting into other files.
I've used Mozilla Thunderbird in this example, but I'm sure Netscape and
Outlook will have similar functions.
· Momentums
No matter how much you dig and delve, you aren't likely to discover what
happened to your beloved Momentums (published by Barrie and sold to
Macmillan and Harcourt before they had a chance to sell in large numbers);
now out of print with less than $1000 in your bank account. Unless you can
afford legal assistance, forget it. Request Reversion of Rights, re-write -
changing names and some of the details - give it a new title and send it out
again. No doubt you will improve it and, if you are lucky, it will have a
new life. C.
NEW PUBLICATIONS
Raven and the Daylight (and Other Myths from the Inuit Peoples)
by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Pat Reynolds
Chatterbox series Pearson Education
SPECIAL EVENTS
Cancellation
Kerry Neary's visit on Tuesday 23 August at Wynnum Library, Brisbane QLD,
has been cancelled at this point in time.
Kerry is the Queensland Judge for Children's Book Council Book of the Year
and we hope to hear her present somewhere in
Sincerest apologies,
Nomiki Georgiadis
Email: nomikig@iprimus.com.au
ANTARCTIC AUTHORS' WEBCHATTING
Hazel Edwards will be chatting live via the lab.3000 website about her
Antarctic experience at 2pm on Thursday 18 August as part of the lab.3000
Antarctic Virtual Conference. The conference also features author and
palaeontologist Dr John Long from
story of the Western Australian State Fossil Emblem has been shortlisted for
the Children's Book Council of Australia's 2005 Book of the Year Awards, to
be announced on 19 August. John will be chatting at
For full conference details and to view Hazel and John's online
presentations visit www.lab.3000.com.au/antarctica
2pm Monday 15 August - Dr John Long live chat
2pm Thursday 18 August - Hazel Edwards live chat
www.lab.3000.com.au/antarctica
Coming Events
The northern NSW town of Uralla held its inaugural Book Festival in
2004.
This year, a Book Fair and Literary Dinner have been planned for
17-18th September. The organisers hope that at least 15 book dealers will
be there.
http://www.urallabookfestival.com.au/main.htm
The president, Ross Burnet offers a very fast, efficient book search
service for new and second hand books. His website is
http://www.ozbook.com,
and email burnet@ozbook.com
MARKET OPPORTUNITIES
COMPETITIONS/AWARDS
ABC Fiction Award - Recognising Emerging Writers
(This would ideally suit a Young Adult novel, as manuscripts must be a
minimum of 60,000 words, or do you have an adult novel sitting on a shelf
somewhere?
Visit http://www.abc.net.au/corp/abcfictionaward for more details).
The ABC is proud to announce the ABC Fiction Award. 2006 will be the first
year the ABC Fiction Award will be presented.
The ABC Fiction Award will be presented annually to the winner of a
nationwide competition held by ABC Books, with the support of ABC Local
Radio.
The competition seeks the best, original, unpublished, quality fiction
manuscript, written by an Australian resident over the age of 18. The
submitted manuscript cannot be under consideration by any other publisher or
award.
The ABC Fiction Award aims to encourage emerging writers, contribute to
Australian literary culture, and fulfil the ABC's charter by reflecting the
diversity of the Australian community and adding to a sense of national
identity.
The winner of the ABC Fiction Award 2006 will receive a $10,000 advance and
have their book published through ABC Books. The winning entry will be
broadcast on ABC Local Radio and will be available as an audio book.
ABC Books publish more than 150 children's and adult titles per year in a
wide range of subjects including ABC program-related books, biography,
science, politics, history, sport, Australiana, lifestyle such as cooking
and gardening, and children's such as Play School and Bananas in Pyjamas.
The 2005 competition commenced on
competition you must lodge your entry to the ABC Fiction Award by
September, 2005
The ABC Fiction Award will be judged by four judges. The judges shall have
the discretion to divide the prize equally between authors of entries they
consider of equal merit. If, in their opinion, no entry is worthy of the
prize, no winner shall be chosen. See the Entry Form for more information.
The winner of the ABC Fiction Award 2006 will be announced at the Adelaide
Writers' Festival in February 2006, and details published on this site
following the announcement.
The ABC Fiction Award is supported by ABC Local Radio. ABC Local Radio forms
regional stations throughout the country. Its strong commitment to local
programming enables it to provide communities with the information they need
to keep abreast of the events of the day. In addition to regular news
bulletins it offers music, sport and entertainment.
ABC Fiction Award
Level 8, Ultimo B
GPO Box 9994
Sydney NSW 2001
Australia
Telephone 1800 009 994 or (61 2) 8333 1500
· Elyne Mitchell Silver Brumby Award
For the best story for children 2005
This Award is to honour Elyne Mitchell whose writings for children and
adults have brought pleasure to many.
MINIMUM AGE ENTRY REQUIREMENT - 18 YEARS
PRIZE $1500
Only one entry will be awarded the prize money
ENTRY FORMS can be downloaded here:
pdf format
doc format
or available from:
Upper Murray Regional Library
PO Box 314
WODONGA VIC 3689
Phone (02) 6022 9100
Fax(02) 6024 1716
email: admin@umrl.com.au
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
The entries will be judged to select, in the opinion of the judges, the best
entry for a story for children with Australian content.
Entries will not be returned
Copyright remains with the author of the entry but entries are to be
available for reproduction or publication.
The entry submitted must be a fully corrected, ready for publication
original that HAS NOT BEEN previously published or awarded a literary prize.
The entry must not exceed 4,000 words and should preferably be in electronic
format to assist with publication
The content of the entry must be Australian.
An ENTRY FEE of$10 AND AN ENTRY FORM must accompany each entry. Entry forms
can be photocopied.
Entries including entry form and fee must be received by
August 2005
The Elyne Mitchell Silver Brumby Award
PO Box 314
WODONGA VIC 3689
LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
A panel of judges will decide the winning entry and judges' decisions will
be final.
Winners will be notified by telephone and the results will be published in
the public notices section of The Australian on
Staff of Upper Murray Regional Library and its branch libraries and their
families, and judges and their families, are not eligible to enter.
Inquiries to Upper Murray Regional Library (02) 6022 910
WRITING COURSES/WORKSHOPS
Vic Writers Centre Information Update
______________________________________
VWC seminar: 'So, you want to work in publishing'
Wednesday 10 August, 6.30-8pm
With Beth Aitken (Avenue Bookstore), Emily Booth (Text Publishing), Sarina
Gale (MUP), Sharon Mullins (Lothian Books) and Praveen Naidoo (Pan
Macmillan)
In this seminar, our speakers will discuss their area of publishing so you
can get a better idea of the jobs on offer. This array of publishing
professionals includes a bookseller, publicist, marketing assistant, editor
and sales manager. This seminar will give you a wonderful opportunity to ask
questions of the professionals, hear what they do, and find out how to get
their job!
When: Wednesday 10 August,
Where: Victorian Writers' Centre, 1st
Street
Cost: $25, Members $15/$10
To book for this seminar, phone the Centre on (03) 9654 9068.
· Calling all Writers and Poets
The Fifth Annual Writers Camp
Combined Greensborough NMIT / Sunraysia TAFE
Spaces are still available so we are extending our invitation to non-nmit
people.
When? Friday 9th September - Sunday 11th September
Where?
Who is running
workshops?
Marion Lennox (Romance writer)
Bernie Monagle (Young Adult writer)
alicia sometimes (poet and short story)
Myron Lysenko (performance poet)
Barry Carozzi (Meditation and Writing)
Accommodation: Single rooms.
COST? $160. Please make cheque payable to NMIT.
A deposit of $80 MUST be paid asap as places are limited.
For details, ring Linda or Barry on 9269 1880 or 9269 1881 or
fee on prohort@primus.com.au
Hope to see you there
Fee Sievers
HAVE YOUR SAY
HAVE YOUR SAY
I was SO pleased to see so many 'thank yous' for the generous summary of the
writers' event in
around to it. Now, belatedly - many thanks!
LIL
AND
Softly! Softly!
When it came time to subscribe to PASS IT ON I wondered if I would give it a
miss. Of course I didn't. So much excellent information and
comment. How could I?
The only negative that made me wonder was the tone of some articles. As
writers one would hope we are masters of this writing skill. So when it gets
a tad nasty I wonder what's going on. Is it that the writers' lot is such a
fraught one that a bit of Writer Rage is inevitable? Call me squeamish, but
I'd enjoy the points being made even more if the tone was more professional.
Maybe I'm wrong. Perhaps we should have a place to sound off. However,
several people have coped heaps already in PIO and I don't feel right about
that. Fine line, I know. Things have to get said, agreed. Maybe it's the
speed at which others bad intentions are assumed that concerns me most.
LIL
FROM A TEACHER/LIBRARIAN
I read with interest how successful The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been. We
even studied it as apart of our children's literature course at Teacher's
College (in the days before they became universities). Are you aware that it
is inaccurate? Moths spin cocoons not butterflies as implied in the story.
Butterflies have a different pupa stage. How many generations of children
now believe that butterflies spin cocoons because of this story. Oh well? Is
it fiction or non-fiction?
Regards
Cheryl Keane
THANK YOU
Thank you...
To Megan who answered my question about submitting a previously published
poem to a publisher. I appreciate your help. Thanks.
HAVE YOUR SAY
>From another PIO fan
I'd like to reply to the PIO fan, who mentioned that a subscriber was
dispersing free copies. I wouldn't do this with music or movies; likewise, I
wouldn't commit piracy with PIO. Having said that, however; I have verbally
passed on information or thoughts about what I have read in PIO. At the same
time I also pass on written subscription details so that my fellow children's
writers can also enjoy and benefit from this wonderful publication. In this
way what I am passing on is, in effect, a promotion of the newsletter.
Jackie, au contraire, I do not find it difficult to pay for something that
was free; I see the free issues as a bonus, a generous gift from you. Thank
you very much. Jenni L. Ivins
jenni_ivins@iprimus.com.au
HAVE YOUR SAY
New writers may not know too much about the wonderful Magpies Magazine.
This magazine is all about children's books and focuses on Australian
publications. Although there are some overseas books reviewed, all the
Australian ones are marked with a little magpie icon so they can't be
missed. There are about thirty or forty reviews in each issue as well as
interviews with authors and advertisements from publishers. There are five
issues each year and it is published in
comprehensive and easy-to-read website at www.magpies.net.au If you want
to read a few issues before subscribing, see if your local library has it.
If not, ask them to get it in....Mappy.
AND
I've been interested to see the list of Independent Children's Bookshops in
PIO. There are no
least I can't. All the bookshops I enter have a small corner for children's
books and this is crammed with reprints of fairytales from a hundred years
ago. These are usually in hard-cover with 'pretty' illustrations and to me
seem aimed at grandparents looking for Christmas presents. I'd love to see
more Australian authors represented as I have always believed that we
produce the best books for children and I was so pleased to see that Leonie
Tyle from UQP confirmed this. A big Thank You to the PIO (Issue No.50)
subscriber who sent in all that info from the workshop she attended. I'd
love to read any comments by managers of bookshops, especially if they can
tell me of an independent children's store in
To all PIO Contributors
This is just a random thank you to Jackie Hosking and all the PIO
contributors, especially the regular ones who are so generous with sharing
their knowledge week after week. I don't want to name anyone in fear of
missing someone out, but you know who you are. I read a quote during the
week, and it reminded me of all you giving people.
"Share your Wisdom. It's a way to achieve immortality."
Dalai Lama
So forget the cryogenic freezing, just contribute to PIO!
FROM AN AUTHOR
I agree with Ruth Starke regarding the illustration briefs for UC's Young
Heroes and Highlights series. When I first saw their guidelines I thought
it was great to have so much input into bringing my text to life,
particularly with the target readership. I have written a story for this
series but have not done the briefs - yet. For the orange series I have
aimed my story at (Young Heroes) I would have had to prepare 20 briefs. I
am happy to do so - provided they like my story. I emailed my story and
requested that should they think the 'miniseries' I have proposed has merit,
contact me and I will complete the briefs accordingly.
have a problem with this.
In fact in my other dealings with Gary and Shelly they have been flexible
and prompt to reply to issues. I guess at PIO we have a responsibility to
support writers and publishers. UC Publishing are a business trying to
carve out a niche like everyone else. They have a place and a purpose in
the market -
date. DS
FROM AN AUTHOR
Extract from Jennifer Bott's reply to an author's protests about too many
well known author and OS authors being promoted by Books Alive :
"The Australian Society of Authors was a formal member of the Books Alive
Reference Group and in that role was one of the significant developers of
Books Alive."
Can this be true?
**For your answer see the Press Release at the beginning of the newsletter
in the "General" section.**
FROM AUTHOR Janeen Brian
While living in NZ for a year I am reading interesting snippets from and
about NZ writers and illustrators. This one from Pamela Allen, one of the
most esteemed picture book writer/illustrators, was of interest;
particularly with a view to our PLR and ELR. In 2004 she said:
"Unfortunately because picture books have fewer than 48 pages they receive
from the 'Authors Fund' (sic) only 30% of the allocation of money given to
books with 48 pages or more. I see this as discrimination. This fund has
been created by the government to reimburse authors for royalties they do
not receive because their books are held in public libraries. There is good
evidence that that children's picture books in this public situation have a
greater turnover than other books.
We who care about children and children's books should be working to change
this. In
(from 'My Picture Books' -The Margaret Mahy Lecture, by Pamela Allen,
March, 2004
Thanks ASA! It puts another rosy glow on our PLR and ELR system.
FROM AN AUTHOR
'Publishers love to lunch' (PIO 51)
Of course they do! Don't we all? They love to lunch and they love to stay in
the best accommodation. Being invited to speak at an interstate conference,
was an experience that opened my eyes and toughened my heart. The conference
attendees had been offered a variety of accommodation. Every day, buses
picked us up and took us to the university where the conference was held.
Publishers were picked up at the four and five star hotels, and writers
hopped on at the lowly accommodation houses. One night I was taken to dinner
by a Commissioning Editor and he paid by means of his publishing house card.
I had always known that, without the work of writers and other creative
people, publishing business would die, and the conference experience
cemented the fact vividly in my mind. Good to recall when it's time to
negotiate improvements to clauses in a contract - especially the financial
ones. C.
FROM AN AUTHOR
I must put a word in for Gary Underwood. People have criticised him, often
inaccurately as well as unfairly. I feel his replies to PIO have been very
restrained, considering much of this criticism. I, for one, was happy to
see the requirement for illustration briefs in the recent guidelines.
Although illustrators usually do a terrific job, over the years I've often
been disappointed in some portrayals of my stories because they were nothing
like the pictures I had in my head. It's nice to have some input. Also,
remember that any eventuating contracts are with Macmillan, not Underwood
Publishing, and authors are free to withdraw their work if they don't want
to accept the conditions, as is the case in any business transaction. If
writers wish to make a good income from their writing they should turn to
the trade market, not educational publishing. PLR and ELR certainly help,
and Gary Underwood's packaging includes royalty agreements. ...Mappy
ARTICLES
Writing for Kids
By Jackie French
Printed with permission from Jackie's website
http://www.jackiefrench.com/kidstips.html
Okay, step one: why on earth do you want to do it?
if the answer is that you've dreamt of seeing a book with your name
on the title page, and books for kids are such nice SHORT things, then
consider writing a joke book instead, or maybe a guide to footie players of
Canberra- football is always a best selling subject and you can pad it
nicely with pics of mud hunks and muscles. But forget about writing for
kids. .
The shorter a book is the more finely crafted it has to be.
Consider the many fine writers for adults who have written a book for kids
that has dropped out of sight. No, writing for kids is not an easy option.
Be extraordinarily wary too if you've told your kids the story of
the pixies who live in the washing machine who yell rumble rumble rumble
whenever it's turned on. I'm sure you kids have just ADORED it- but to be
honest, most kids would adore listening to the telephone book if you read it
with love and cuddles.
Almost any story is wonderful if it's TOLD to kids, or read by it's
creator with the expressions and gestures it needs to make it come alive.
But most of these stories simply don't translate well into anonymous print.
Never assume your stories are publishable just because kids like listening
to them,. Humans love stories- and every adult has some story telling
ability- storytelling is the way humans communicate history, morality and
how to build an atom bomb. But very few storytelling adults can produce a
professional story.
Do you really want to be a professional writer? I love playing the
violin, but no audience will ever want to listen to me (except a possibly
demented wombat, but that's another story.) I don't love playing the violin
enough to practice. I get an enormous amount of pleasure though from being
an amateur violin player- and an amateur kid's writer will get an enormous
amount of pleasure too, plus give pleasure to all the kids they try their
stories out on.
But unless you really love working at your story: planning it,
plotting it for months or years, writing and rewriting, having the honesty
to say 'this is crap' and throwing the whole lot away and doing it again-
you don't want to be a professional kid's writer.
Excuse me rabbiting on like this. But in all honesty no story for
kids I have been sent in the past few years has been of a professional
standard; when I've suggested that they need radical revision nearly every
would be kid's author has been angry that I might even suggest that their
work needed changes (one even claimed I wanted to steal his extremely
pedestrian idea).
There is a very strong belief that any nice little tale will do for
kids- and that's true- but only as long as you are doing the telling in
person.
There are two scenarios though when 'just okay' stuff will be
published. The first is if you are the Duchess of Windsor, or have a similar
public profile. The second is when a publisher decides that your story-
mediocre as it is- can be married successfully with the work of a brilliant
illustrator. This does happen- just don't count on it.
Step 2.
Who do you want to write for? The under 3's? Kindergarteners? Will
your book be read by adults to kids, or be designed so that early readers
can read it themselves? Is it for adolescents or teenagers? If you haven't
worked this out, and don't know what each group needs, find out. (Says she
who just wrote her first book- Rainstones- without thinking or even knowing
about ANY of these criteria. But I was lucky- and my second and third books
would have been immeasurably better if I had done a bit of homework before
writing them.
Step 3:
No matter how brilliant your writing is, if the story is boring
your book will be boring too.
While this is true for adult books, an adult may be seduced by your
glorious prose. A kid won't be- and kids are the most honest audience you
can get. (I love letters that begin: Der Jackie French, our teachar said we
had to writte to our faverate orthor and that had to be you the rest of the
class likked your book but I fell aslip love Joel. Or even better: Our
teacher said we had to write to our favourite author. my favourite author is
Roal Dahl but he's dead so I'm writing to you)
And after that? Well, there's no way I can cover the plotting,
background gathering character pondering and sheer amount of THINKING needed
to write a book in a few hundred more words (Well, that's my excuse for not
attempting it) Just three pleas though:
Don't- please- choose simple language when you write for kids. As
long as your story is fascinating, and nine out of ten words are
intelligible, kids will work out what the tenth word is by its context, or
just skip over it- but after a few such skippings over they'll know that
word.
Kids gain vocabulary by using it- and reading it. (They learn very
few words from TV, and part from interesting epithets and technical terms
probably even fewer from normal speech with their peers). If you write a
book with simple vocab you are robbing a child of words- and the mental
stretch needed to use them. Don't talk down to kids. Kids understand adult
speech- they can understand adult writing too, if- and admittedly this is a
big proviso- the story is so fascinating it pulls them along.
Don't underestimate kids. Kids have a greater interest in moral
issues than adults- kids are trying to make sense of the world, adults are
mostly trying to pay the mortgage and survive the next traffic jam. Hitler's
Daughter, for example, is a hit with kids because they need to think about
it. The only physical action happens in the last three pages- but there is a
heck of a lot of moral action.
A final plea: leave out the depression. Kids- happy kids- sometimes
enjoy books that make them cry, like Black Beauty. But there is a real
difference between a book with sad things in it, and a depressing book.
Depression means hopelessness- and one of the greatest assaults you can make
on a child is to teach them that life is depressing. Sad- and even
horrendous- things happen - but life is never hopeless. (If it is, why let
the poor kids suffer? Let them slit their wrists right now. )
It is very easy to affect the reader emotionally with depressing
things. But to move them to tears because something is joyous, transcendent
or just wonderfully silly- that is much more difficult.
I began writing for kids almost accidentally. But they are the most
rewarding audience possible to write for, and the most honest. You can't
make a kid read a book they find boring- they'll read the first page and the
last and ask their mates what happens in between.
But if they do like something they'll tell you- a mail box stuffed
full of envelopes with stickers of horses fairies and wombats on the back,
glitter that gets dislodged in transit and gets ground into your carpet,
poems written in seven colours of crayon, requests for signed pics of you,
your wombats and your great aunt Mary, demands to know what your favourite
colour is, what sort of car you drive, and how can they stop their best
friend pinching their story ideas. If you ever need an ego boost then write
for kids, and for each book in a school library you'll probably get 500
letters....
..and then you then have to answer them all.
I've got numb fingers from mail, not novel writing, silver purple
stars irrevocably ground into the carpet and chocolate stains on the sofa
from the chocolate caramel wombat I was sent last summer that melted before
I opened it. (The sender included two carrots for the wombats too). I
wouldn't swap it all for quids.
Manuscript Submission Guidelines
UQP only accepts fiction manuscripts represented by an agent.
We accept unsolicited manuscripts in the following genres:
Scholarly (Non-Fiction):
Australian history
Military history / memoir
Political
Social and cultural issues
Indigenous issues
Children's and Young Adult Fiction:
Novels for young readers, 9-13 years, for our Storybridge series
(20,000-30,000 words)
Novels for young adults, 12-17 years, for our Young Adult Fiction list
(40,000-60,000 words)
All submissions must include the following:
Covering letter
Author biography/CV
Brief synopsis or chapter summary
3-4 sample chapters as hard copy, double spaced and single sided
Numbered pages
Include stamped, self addressed envelope for the return of your submission.
(All unsuccessful manuscripts not accompanied by self addressed, stamped
envelope are destroyed and recycled.)
Please ensure that you keep a copy of your manuscript and do not send
original artwork or photographs. We do not bear responsibility for loss or
damage of unsolicited manuscripts received..
We do not accept submissions by e-mail or on CD-ROM.
We receive a large amount of unsolicited manuscripts but we endeavour to
acknowledge receipt of manuscripts via e-mail or mail.
We are a small press and are unable to answer all submission enquiries. We
would appreciate it if authors would refrain from calling about the status
of their submissions. We take care in reading through all submissions and
will respond to them as soon as we are able.
Please also understand that in-depth comments cannot be provided with
rejection letters as we do not have the capacity for that kind of service.
An average reading takes between 4-6 months.
All submissions are to be sent to:
The Editorial Coordinator
University of
St Lucia QLD 4067
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR PROFILE
This section has been empty for a while - any takers?
USEFUL BOOKS/WEBSITES
Robert Krampf's Experiment of the Week
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
This Week's Experiment - #437 Chladni Patterns
Greetings from my home at the beach. The Florida Power and Light schedule
is up on the website. If you are in the FPL service area, you may qualify
for a free show for your school or homeschool group. You can find all the
details at www.krampf.com
This week's experiment came from playing, as many of my experiments do. I
was building a small prototype of a smoke ring generator for my new storm
show. Along the way, I got side tracked and spent quite a bit of time
playing with patterns created by vibrations. To make your own, you will
need:
an empty coffee can or similar container
tape
a large balloon (I used a 16 inch balloon.)
scissors
salt
a piece of rope at least 6 feet long
Cut the top of the balloon to give you a large circle of rubber that you can
stretch over the top of the coffee can. You will probably need someone to
help you hold the rubber in place while you use the tape to secure it.
Now you have what is a toy drum. Tapping on the stretched rubber will give
you a nice sound, but instead of using it to make sound, we want to use it
to look at sound. Well, we are really going to look at the patterns
produced by sounds.
To do that, place the can on a flat surface, with the stretched balloon on
top. Sprinkle salt evenly over the balloon. You don't want a solid layer
of salt, just an even sprinkling. Now comes the fun part. Find a spot near
the edge and gently brush the salt away. Use your finger to rub the
balloon, as if you were gently scratching an inch. Rubbing your fingers
across the rubber will cause it to vibrate, which will cause the salt to
dance around. Watch as the salt jumps around, and you should start to see a
pattern.
Pick another spot and try the same thing again. You will get a pattern
again, but it should be different from the first. Why?
Lets begin with why the patterns are there at all. Have a friend hold one
end of a long piece of rope. You hold the other end and take up the slack.
You don't want the rope to be tight, but it should not be touching the
ground. Start moving your hand from side to side. Move your hand faster
and faster, watching the rope. You should see a pattern form. The rope
will form waves, moving back and forth, but there will be points on the rope
where it is not moving much. These points are called nodes.
When the balloon vibrates, it also has points that vibrate a lot and points
that don't. The salt grains on the part that vibrates a lot move to the
points where there is not much vibration, forming the patterns that you saw.
These patterns are called Chladni patterns, named after Ernest Florens
Friedrich Chladni of
He sprinkled sand onto metal plates and studied the way that they vibrated.
Besides being fun to play with, these patterns are useful. These patterns
are used in designing musical instruments. If a part is attached to a place
where the instrument vibrates, the sound will be dampened. By attaching
parts at nodes, the instrument makes a full, rich sound. These patterns
make the difference between an average instrument and a quality one.
If you play a musical instrument, you can use it to see more patterns. I
placed my Native American flute near the can. As I played different notes,
the patterns and their intensity changed. The balloon vibrates easily at
some frequencies, but not at others. When the vibration of a note matched
the vibration of the balloon, the salt would dance wildly. A note that
vibrated at a rate that did not match would hardly move the salt. You can
see something similar by placing the can in front of the speakers of your TV
or stereo. I tried it with the movie Jurassic Park, and the T. rex
footsteps worked wonderfully.
Have a wonder filled week.
****************************************
This weekly e-mail list is free from charge. You are welcome to forward it
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Please forward this e-mail to anyone that you think might enjoy it.
To join the list, send a blank e-mail to: krampf-subscribe@topica.com
on-line archives are located at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/krampf/messages
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http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art7845.asp
Publishers Links - Extensive - International
For writers wanting to expand (and check) their vocab. click onto
Merriam-WebsterOnline
http://www.startsampling.com/sm/wod/changeofaddress.iphetml
You can register (free) to receive 'the word of the day' or just onto the
site and click on 'word of the day', while 'archive' (both lh side) of
screen) will give the words listed over the past month.
Pauline Luke
http://write4kids.com/bestof.html
It's just one of the many free articles about writing children's books
available at Write4Kids.com!
BOOK REVIEWS
Laurine Croasdale will be reviewing the following books on the ABC Afternoon
Show in Canberra with David Kilby on
8th August 2005
The Gift Boat
By Peter Dickinson
Pan Macmillan
Dickens His Work and His World
By Michael Rosen Illustrated by Robert Ingpen
Walker Books
Swim, Little Wombat, SWIM!
By Charles Fuge
Gullane Children's Books
Lord of the Flies
By William Golding
Faber and Faber
INDEPENDENT CHILDREN'S BOOKSHOPS
**Note this is a new section - please feel free to add to it**
Narnia Bookshop
Peel Street
Tamworth
NSW
offers a wonderful service for schools and children of north west NSW with a
huge selection of trade books and education supplies.
http://www.seekbooks.com.au/default.asp?storeurl=narnia
The Book Bug
Gunnedah
NSW
is a tiny independent bookshop that offers helpful, friendly advice and will
order anything you want.
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES
Gustav Holst:
"Never compose anything unless the not composing of it becomes a
positive nuisance to you."
Jim Ryun:
"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.".
CRITIQUE GROUPS BULLETINBOARD
**Looking to create or join a critique group - here's the place!**
(see "SEEKING" section of the newsletter for how it works)
MILESTONES
**A new section for members to share their achievements**
>From Author, Janeen Brian
Sandy (PIO 51) suggests the title MILESTONES as a heading for authors' new
works or any competition won. I'd like to offer my 3rd Aussie Nibbles as a
starter. It's called Rock-and-Roll Ducks! My others are Party Time! and
Pop-up Fox!
The latest Nibble marks a milestone for me as it's my 60th children's book.
**WOOHOO Janeen!! We're all doing the HAPPY DANCE for you!!!!!!!**
ADVERTISEMENTS
PASS IT ON SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Submit contributions to jacket@smartchat.net.au
Comic Sans MS, 12pt, single-line spacing (not essential but helpful)
Mark PASS IT ON SUBMISSION in the subject line
Submit within the body of the email
Give your piece a title heading: eg New Publications; Seeking; General
Information; etc.
Email addresses and contributor contact details will be withheld unless
otherwise stated
Jackie Hosking
Editor/Compiler "PASS IT ON"
www.jackiehosking.com
posted by Jackie at 11:06 PM
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