19 Wednesday Oct 2022
Posted in Author's Perspective, PAL, Tips and Tools
Tags
authors, Danielle Davis, Mags DeRoma, picture book author, picture books, SCBWI members, school visits, theme, To Make, writing tips
by Danielle Davis
The North Star has always been a beacon for travelers, all over the Northern Hemisphere. A barely drifting constant. A guide.
I believe theme functions as that same kind of beacon for every story—and storyteller.
I’m not a mariner by any stretch, and sea sickness prevents me from even wanting to be one, but here goes:
Continue reading12 Wednesday Oct 2022
Posted in Central Coast, Critique Day, Tri-Regional News
Tags
authors, CenCal, Critique Day, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, small press, webinar
by Ann Rousseau Smith, SCBWI CenCal News Liaison
Join us for a couple of fun programs this coming November and December. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to write for a small press, be with us in November for our Small Press Webinar. Also, we will be holding a Critique-a Thon, online, in December. Please see the details below for both events.
Continue reading28 Wednesday Sep 2022
Posted in Author's Perspective, Writers Days
Tags
authors, editing tips, Hope In The Valley, intercultural, middle grade, Mitali Perkins, nonfiction, picture books, plotting, SCBWI events, Writers Day 2022, writing tips, young adult
Joining us as keynote speaker for Writers Day 2022 is Mitali Perkins! An explorer of boundaries both physical and literary, she has written books for all ages of young readers, including You Bring the Distant Near (nominated for a National Book Award) and Rickshaw Girl (adapted into a film by Sleeperwave Productions) and the upcoming picture book, The Story of Us (Beaming Books, 2022). She seeks to make readers laugh and cry, all while opening their hearts to understanding the mysteries of the wider world.
Jessica Chrysler: Welcome Mitali, and thank you for taking the time to interview with Kite Tales! As an author of picture books, YA and nonfiction for adults, your work crosses categories as fluidly as you explore the theme of crossing borders. What inspires you in your work? And what gives you that spark to take on the next project?
Continue reading17 Wednesday Aug 2022
Posted in Author's Perspective, PAL, Tips and Tools
Tags
authors, editing, middle grade, publishing, reality TV, TV writing, Twist My Charm, writing tips
by Toni Gallagher
Welcome back to our third and final “episode”! In my earlier articles, I shared how the wild and wonderful world of reality TV can help authors improve their stories, but now it’s time to face two of the toughest challenges of all: editing, and accepting notes.
Continue reading06 Wednesday Jul 2022
Posted in Author's Perspective, PAL, Tips and Tools
Tags
authors, character development, comedy, humor, improv, plot, SCBWI members, stakes, writing tips
by Jorjeana Marie
I sat next to a somewhat distracted woman on an airplane recently. As she was settling, she asked me why I too was headed into the desert.
For comedy.
“In the desert?”
Yeah. Everyone needs to laugh right now.
Continue reading29 Wednesday Jun 2022
Posted in Community Corner, Great News!, Toot Your Horn!
Have a topic you’d like to share with your fellow kidlit community? Want to share your process and inspire other writers or illustrators? Or maybe you have a list of incredible authors you’d like to interview but no idea where you can publish it? Let Kite Tales be your outlet for creative community and discussion!
Continue reading22 Wednesday Jun 2022
Posted in Author's Perspective, PAL, Tips and Tools
Tags
authors, indie-publishing, marketing, publicity, publishing, reviews, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, self-publishing
by R.S. Mellette
So was it worth it? Hiring a publicist. Spending $20,000 to promote Kiya And The Morian Treasure, from a traditional publisher that’s no bigger than a self-published author? Let’s look at the numbers.
Continue reading25 Wednesday May 2022
You may have heard about writer’s block, or have gotten stuck mid-way through a story or a sketch. Maybe you’ve redrawn the same scene multiple times only to have to throw away the paper after you’ve erased right through it. These times can be tough, and it’s hard to pick up that pencil and keep going. But that’s what you’ve got to do.
Continue reading18 Wednesday May 2022
Posted in Author's Perspective, Community Corner, PAL
Tags
authors, Conventions, CoyCast, LA Comic Con, marketing, publicity, publishing, SCBWI members, SciFi.radio, WonderCon, writing tips
by R.S. Mellette
This blog-umentary started out as an analysis of hiring a PR firm for a small-press book, and I promise we’ll get back to that, but to assess that value for the month of April I have to fill you in on some personal backstory.
You might want to get a tissue.
Continue reading04 Wednesday May 2022
Posted in #KTChat, Author's Perspective, PAL
Tags
Amy Duchene, authors, collaboration, Elisa Parhad, publishing, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, writing tips
by Amy Duchene and Elisa Parhad
Editor’s Note: On Twitter this Friday (5/6/22) from 12-1PM PST, Amy and Elisa will take your questions and discuss why our stories matter, even when we think they don’t. Log into your Twitter account during our chat hour and use the hashtag #KTChat or @mention @amydishes and @SCBWISOCALLA to join the discussion! If you aren’t on Twitter, leave questions in the blog comments before the chat!
We (Amy and Elisa) are long-time friends and co-authors of Pool Party. Luckily, we had a stellar experience working together on this project, but we know that not every collaboration ends with hugs and a publication. Collaborating together for nearly nine months on this project, we learned a lot about what works and what to watch out for so that you can find success too. Here are seven tips.
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