Wow.
Rarely does a book reel me in the way Unwind did, from the first page to the very end. When I got home from work today, the book was half read. I sat down on the couch--still in my coat--and dug in. Three hours later, I closed the book with a satisfied, thoughtful sigh. Dinner was a little late, but I consider those three hours time well-spent.
So...Unwind. Imagine a world where abortion is illegal, but parents have the right, when their child is between the ages of 13 and 18, to "retroactively abort" that child, as long as that child is still "technically alive" through a process called "unwinding." I can only describe "unwinding" as a psycho organ harvesting system in a world where people have deluded themselves into thinking that if every part of a body is "living" as a transplant, then the person isn't dead, even if that person's body is divided among a thousand transplant recipients.
Unwind tells the story of a group of teenagers who have run away to avoid being "unwound." It's a gripping story of survival, friendship, betrayal, forgiveness--it's got it all!
The book is wonderfully written. It is fascinating, disturbing, sometimes horrifying (though not in a horror way), and heartbreaking. I put it right up there with The Giver--one of my all-time favorites.
Thank you to The Buried Editor for her review of this book on her blog. You can read the review (and learn a bit more about the book) by going to The Buried Editor's blog and reading the post from January 19, 2008. I've been wanting to read Unwind every since I read about it there! I even paid full price for it--and I wasn't sorry. :-)
Okay, enough. I'm going to bed.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Submitting to magazines, part three (and feeling blah)
I was having a perfectly fine day, aside from my craving for some real quiet time in which to write. But then I started feeling a sore throat coming on. Ugh! What is it about a sore throat that makes just about everything else rotten? And I can't even have a piece of chocolate to cheer me up because it will just make my throat worse. How rotten is that?
At least I did finally get that quiet time I wanted, so it's not all bad.
Okay, so more about magazine submissions...
I was just thinking that I should start taking my own advice and get some stuff out to a few magazines. Especially those with theme lists that will fill up in no time. Here are a few that I like to submit to regularly:
Pockets, a Christian devotional magazine for kids. Uses theme lists and has a fiction writing contest every year.
Highlights, of course. I recommend trying to break in with puzzles, activities or maybe even a good craft. But don't be afraid to try other stuff too--everything has a shot. Highlights also has a fiction writing contest every year. Oh, and they buy ALL RIGHTS, which may seem like a bummer to some people, but I think the credit is worth it.
The Fun for Kidz magazines. They work far in advance and they have theme lists. Pay is on publication. You'll have your best chance breaking in with nonfiction.
Wee Ones is a nice online mag for kids. They have theme lists and are published every other month.
The Cricket Magazine Group. I haven't broken in here yet, though I have gotten a couple of personal rejections.
Of course, there are a lot of other magazines and other publications to consider. A great online resource for magazine writing is Kid Magazine Writers. Lots of helpful articles and info on different publications. Check it out!
At least I did finally get that quiet time I wanted, so it's not all bad.
Okay, so more about magazine submissions...
I was just thinking that I should start taking my own advice and get some stuff out to a few magazines. Especially those with theme lists that will fill up in no time. Here are a few that I like to submit to regularly:
Pockets, a Christian devotional magazine for kids. Uses theme lists and has a fiction writing contest every year.
Highlights, of course. I recommend trying to break in with puzzles, activities or maybe even a good craft. But don't be afraid to try other stuff too--everything has a shot. Highlights also has a fiction writing contest every year. Oh, and they buy ALL RIGHTS, which may seem like a bummer to some people, but I think the credit is worth it.
The Fun for Kidz magazines. They work far in advance and they have theme lists. Pay is on publication. You'll have your best chance breaking in with nonfiction.
Wee Ones is a nice online mag for kids. They have theme lists and are published every other month.
The Cricket Magazine Group. I haven't broken in here yet, though I have gotten a couple of personal rejections.
Of course, there are a lot of other magazines and other publications to consider. A great online resource for magazine writing is Kid Magazine Writers. Lots of helpful articles and info on different publications. Check it out!
Friday, February 08, 2008
Submitting to magazines: part two
What to write?
The answer to that question is simple: anything! No matter what you like to write, there is a children's magazine market for you. Children's magazines publish everything from word puzzles to novel excerpts. From tots to teens, secular and religious, online and print.
Not that breaking in to the children's magazine market is easy. It's not. I have the rejection slips to prove it. But there are some ways, I think, to make it a little easier on yourself.
I believe the number one way to break into publication in a children's magazine is to write fillers. You know, those little tid-bits like jokes and puzzles. My first sale to Highlights was a puzzle, and that's what I've sold the most of--to them anyway.
Don't think of puzzles as only word-searches and mazes. There are limitless possibilities when creating puzzles. You can try picture puzzles, word puzzles, logic puzzles, trick questions, "brain bender" activities. The more creative you are, the better your chances. And when submitting these, you can usually send several at once. I like to send three at a time.
Some magazine editors love to receive puzzles that accompany another submission, such as a story or non-fiction article. The Fun for Kidz magazines are one example.
But don't stop there. Another great way to get some attention is to write really great non-fiction. A lot of magazines (most?) use more non-fiction that fiction. Of course, when writing non-fiction it is important that you 1) choose a unique topic 2) write with flare (not like an encyclopedia) and 3) include good photos whenever possible.
Some examples of non-fiction that I have sold are critter articles, how-to pieces, and crafts.
Remember that not all non-fiction has to be in the form of an "article." Non-fiction can rhyme, be in the form of a quiz, interesting lists--be creative.
Speaking of being creative, what is more creative than poetry? True, poetry is often a hard sell. But magazines DO use it, and they will buy it if they love it. So if you love writing it, then submit it!
And of course, there's always fiction. All you picture book writers out there, try digging up some old stories that have been rejected too many times and try reworking them into magazine stories. The main difference between picture books and magazine stories is that picture books need pictures to make the stories complete, and magazine stories don't.
Study magazines, know what they publish, before you submit to them. Read as many children's magazines as possible. Study their websites. And of course, read their submission guidelines. Some magazines have theme lists, some only accept submissions at certain times, etc.
Oh, and here's another thing to remember. Don't scoff at the little guy. Lesser known magazines, e-zines and small publications that publish things like Sunday School take-home papers would probably be happy to consider your writing!
In my next post, more on the magazines I like to submit to.
The answer to that question is simple: anything! No matter what you like to write, there is a children's magazine market for you. Children's magazines publish everything from word puzzles to novel excerpts. From tots to teens, secular and religious, online and print.
Not that breaking in to the children's magazine market is easy. It's not. I have the rejection slips to prove it. But there are some ways, I think, to make it a little easier on yourself.
I believe the number one way to break into publication in a children's magazine is to write fillers. You know, those little tid-bits like jokes and puzzles. My first sale to Highlights was a puzzle, and that's what I've sold the most of--to them anyway.
Don't think of puzzles as only word-searches and mazes. There are limitless possibilities when creating puzzles. You can try picture puzzles, word puzzles, logic puzzles, trick questions, "brain bender" activities. The more creative you are, the better your chances. And when submitting these, you can usually send several at once. I like to send three at a time.
Some magazine editors love to receive puzzles that accompany another submission, such as a story or non-fiction article. The Fun for Kidz magazines are one example.
But don't stop there. Another great way to get some attention is to write really great non-fiction. A lot of magazines (most?) use more non-fiction that fiction. Of course, when writing non-fiction it is important that you 1) choose a unique topic 2) write with flare (not like an encyclopedia) and 3) include good photos whenever possible.
Some examples of non-fiction that I have sold are critter articles, how-to pieces, and crafts.
Remember that not all non-fiction has to be in the form of an "article." Non-fiction can rhyme, be in the form of a quiz, interesting lists--be creative.
Speaking of being creative, what is more creative than poetry? True, poetry is often a hard sell. But magazines DO use it, and they will buy it if they love it. So if you love writing it, then submit it!
And of course, there's always fiction. All you picture book writers out there, try digging up some old stories that have been rejected too many times and try reworking them into magazine stories. The main difference between picture books and magazine stories is that picture books need pictures to make the stories complete, and magazine stories don't.
Study magazines, know what they publish, before you submit to them. Read as many children's magazines as possible. Study their websites. And of course, read their submission guidelines. Some magazines have theme lists, some only accept submissions at certain times, etc.
Oh, and here's another thing to remember. Don't scoff at the little guy. Lesser known magazines, e-zines and small publications that publish things like Sunday School take-home papers would probably be happy to consider your writing!
In my next post, more on the magazines I like to submit to.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Submitting to magazines: part one
I started submitting to magazines because of something I read in a publisher's guidelines: you have to be published to get published. I had a picture book I wanted to sell and I wanted to do everything I could to work toward that goal.
All the writing, submitting and those countless rejections did wonders for me as a writer. My writing improved and went in directions I had never thought of. I learned (sort of) to be patient, and developed that "thick skin" that everybody always talks about.
In the beginning, it was exhausting and I had only a few small successes. But I kept going because of something else I read, this time in an article in a market guide: if you have talent and you are persistent, you will eventually succeed.
Well, there ya go! My sales to a few little publications confirmed (to me) that I could actually write. It wasn't just some crazy dream. Besides, I was having a great time doing it.
Now that I've been writing for a few years, submitting to magazines is much more than a means to an end. It's helped me to sharpen my skills, discover what type of writing I really love, and, of course, it gives me an occassional pay check and the sense of accomplishment that goes with it.
I believe everyone who wants to write for children should submit to children's magazines. Face it--not every children's story is meant to be a picture book! Here's some of what submitting to magazines will do for you as a writer:
*Rejections will force you to look at your work more objectively.
*Word count limits will force you to keep your writing tight.
*Acceptances will build your confidence AND your resume.
*It gives you opportunities to write fun stuff, like word puzzles, that you might not otherwise try.
*Plus, writing for magazines is just good practice. You can't help but improve!
In my next post, look for some practical advice on submitting to magazines, including what I consider to be the best way to "break in."
All the writing, submitting and those countless rejections did wonders for me as a writer. My writing improved and went in directions I had never thought of. I learned (sort of) to be patient, and developed that "thick skin" that everybody always talks about.
In the beginning, it was exhausting and I had only a few small successes. But I kept going because of something else I read, this time in an article in a market guide: if you have talent and you are persistent, you will eventually succeed.
Well, there ya go! My sales to a few little publications confirmed (to me) that I could actually write. It wasn't just some crazy dream. Besides, I was having a great time doing it.
Now that I've been writing for a few years, submitting to magazines is much more than a means to an end. It's helped me to sharpen my skills, discover what type of writing I really love, and, of course, it gives me an occassional pay check and the sense of accomplishment that goes with it.
I believe everyone who wants to write for children should submit to children's magazines. Face it--not every children's story is meant to be a picture book! Here's some of what submitting to magazines will do for you as a writer:
*Rejections will force you to look at your work more objectively.
*Word count limits will force you to keep your writing tight.
*Acceptances will build your confidence AND your resume.
*It gives you opportunities to write fun stuff, like word puzzles, that you might not otherwise try.
*Plus, writing for magazines is just good practice. You can't help but improve!
In my next post, look for some practical advice on submitting to magazines, including what I consider to be the best way to "break in."
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