Spark Lab » Writer’s Toolbox

See Your Name in (High)lights

Kara Parlin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:08:04 +0000

Since one of my goals for the year is to submit an article to Highlights Magazine, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the information I’ve come across.

So far, the most important thing I’ve learned is that research is the best preparation. Having loads of ideas is great, but you should make sure the subject you choose is a good fit before you start writing.

To do that, first go through at least the last year’s worth of issues to make sure your topic hasn’t already been covered in the same way. Highlights is well-respected in the industry, so it’s one of the top publications children’s writers submit to. Taking the time to get to know the magazine and its content will help you write the best piece for their market.

Next, you’ll want to review (and bookmark!) two excellent resources on the Highlight site: The contributor guidelines and current needs pages. These sections really help take the guesswork out of what, when and how to submit your articles. But remember, the kind folks at Highlights provide and update this information for a reason. FOLLOW IT!

Former Highlights senior editor Kim T. Griswell also shared some great tips on the Women On Writing site. The interview is a few years old, but the advice is still relevant.

After you’ve done all that, the main focus is to write the best piece you can. This means writing drafts, getting feedback, revising, reworking and making sure the topic and language are appealing to the magazine’s age group. That, of course, is the hard part.

As I mentioned in my 2010 goals post, I received a rejection to my first submission to Highlights. It was also my first rejection ever. I was disappointed, naturally, but I was also encouraged by the notes and suggestions the editors made about the piece. It wasn’t something I expected, but I appreciated the guidance.

It helps to remember that writing is a journey. If you expect the ups and downs, the days that ideas flow and the days that you get nothing, you’re more likely to be persitent. And it’s the persistent writer, not the one who gives up, who reaches the goal in the end.

Photo by: Litandmore

Picture Book Resources

Kara Parlin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:09:49 +0000

I’m in the process of consolidating my personal blog with this site, so I’m bringing over a few relevant posts. Stay tuned for fresh posts coming soon! In the meantime, here are some great resources for picture book writers.

30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book – Darcy Pattison’s site is filled with helpful information. Her 30 Days information is broken up into smaller posts that she adds to frequently.

Picture Book of the Day – If you’re looking for daily inspiration or suggested reads, Anastasia Suen’s site is the place to go. She shares a little piece of each text as well as suggested mini-lessons for educators.

Getting out of the slush pile – Harold Underdown’s article on how to make your manuscript stand out and get read.

Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators – I have nothing but praise for SCBWI. It’s a great resource if you’re a children’s writer. Their discussion board alone is worth the price of membership.

Photo by: John-Morgan

10 iPhone Apps for Writers

Kara Parlin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:45:50 +0000

As technology advances at the speed of light, writers have more tools available at their fingertips. Here are 10 iPhone applications that are essential for writers to have in their bag of tricks.

1. Dictionary.com – (Free) You’ll always need a dictionary/thesaurus within easy reach. The Dictionary.com app provides both.

2. Nameshake – ($2.99) Coming up with names for your characters can be difficult. But who says it can’t be fun? Nameshake lets you specify gender, origin and letter. You can also save the ones you like to a favorites list.

3. QuickVoice Pro – ($0.99) Inspiration can strike at the grocery store, doctor’s office or as you’re falling asleep. A voice recording app is an important tool to quickly capture your ideas. There’s also a free QuickVoice app that offers fewer features.

4. Creative Whack Pack – ($1.99) This app is like a workshop that will help you discover different solutions to problems and train you to approach challenges from other angles. Check out the Creative Think website’s Whack of the Day to see what it’s all about.

6. Mind Wave – ($1.99) I stumbled onto Mind Wave when I was browsing different relaxation apps. But it’s got a lot of interesting options for different situations. Basically, it sports a list of binaural tones that can boost creativity, focus or relaxation.

7. Naturespace – (Free) Sometimes you just need to tune out and relax. Naturespace provides a set of five holographic audio tracks that bring the outdoors to your headphones. Enjoy the sounds of the beach, a flowery meadow, the rainforest and more!

8. Writer’s Block Buster – ($3.99) If you need a way to plow through writer’s block, the Writer’s Block Buster app might be the ticket. All you have to do is select the part of your story you’re having trouble with (let’s say dialogue, for example), and it will serve up thought-provoking questions and explanations that will get you back on track.

9. Story Tracker – ($9.99) Keep track of who you’re sending your work to, how long they’ve had it or note responses you’ve received. You’ll be able to avoid embarrassing mix-ups and simultaneous submissions made in error. There’s also a free version available with fewer features.

10. Kindle – (Free) For those of you who enjoy e-books but don’t have the actual Kindle device, this is the next best thing.

So that’s my list. What useful apps are on your iPhone?

Photo by: Fr3d.org

Enrich Your Writing with Surprising Details

Kara Parlin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:58:49 +0000

Back in April, I attended the New England Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (NESCBWI) conference. It was an amazing experience and I encourage all writers to attend conferences whenever possible.

Author Cynthia Lord gave a keynote speech discussing her award-winning middle grade novel RULES, which tells the story of how 12-year-old Catherine deals with life and her younger autistic brother.

During her talk, Lord described writing a scene where Catherine pushes her wheelchair-bound friend Jason around a parking lot so he could know what running felt like.

She told us that in order to get the real sensory detail of the scene, she actually went to a parking lot and pushed a stroller all around like a mad woman. The excerpt below is the scene that she wrote for the book.

I jog, more a fast walk than a run. Jason’s head and shoulders shake as I bump him over cracks in the tar. There’s so much to watch out for: holes and rocks and sand near the side of the building.

I stop beside the Dumpster. “Sorry this is such a bouncy ride. Are you sure you want to do this?”

Run. Fast.

I start again, pushing Jason’s chair ahead of me. I run past the fire hydrant and around the parking sign, keeping a lookout for cars pulling into or out of the parking lot. Every few feet I shoot a lightning-quick glance at Jason’s hands.

He doesn’t pick them up, just holds tightly to his communication book. So I make the first turn, running faster. Clouds of seagulls take to the air in front of us, quarreling and shrieking.

Running hard now, my feet pound the tar, the flap of seagulls wings as loud as my breath in my ears. People are looking, but I try not to see them as real, just statues to run past.

At the final turn, I see Mrs. Morehouse standing in the entrance to the parking lot, her palm out like a traffic cop, keeping cars from pulling in.

I dash past the mailbox, the EXIT HERE sign, past Mrs. Morehouse.

Leaning into it, faster, harder, my feet slap the pavement, until it comes — that weightless, near-to-flying fastness.

Lord suggests visiting places and observing people similar to those you’re writing about to notice the surprising details. Although she was speaking specifically about fiction writing, the same advice works for many types of writing.

Let’s say you have to write a fund-raising campaign letter for the local animal shelter. What could you discover by spending time with the animals or observing the volunteers and patrons?

What if you had to write a sell sheet for a $5,000 toilet? It may be odd to think about, but actually using the product once (or even just seeing it in person) could provide a level of detail you wouldn’t have otherwise had.

Photo by ecstaticist

Get Off Your Butt and Write This Month

Kara Parlin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:52:17 +0000

We writers know we’re the worst procrastinators. Sometimes having a deadline (even an artificial one) gives the necessary kick in the pants we need.

Luckily, November is a great month to renew your motivation and sweep out the summer cobwebs. Today marks the start of two great writing events, each tailored to a different group of writers.

Want to write a 50,000-word novel by the end of the November? Then National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is for you. Be sure to register so you can log your word count and track your progress. The site also has a forum, videos and more. But don’t spend too long on the site. You need to get writing!

For younger writers or educators who want to participate, there’s a special section for the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program.

Since the idea of writing an entire novel gives me a panic attack, I’m taking part in Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo), over at Tara Lazar’s blog. The goal of one picture book idea a day is very attainable, so I encourage anyone interested in writing for children to participate.

And while it’s not happening this month, keep your eye out for National Picture Book Writing Week (NaPiBoWriWee) in May.

The key to success with any of these events is to remember that you’re not concerned with quality while participating. It’s all about getting words and ideas down and forcing yourself to let go of rules and self-editing. Just have fun and see what happens!

Photo by gilles chiroleu

Using Beginner’s Mind for Creativity

Guest Contributor — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:43:20 +0000

By Cheryl Jones-Reardon from The Mindful Path

I’m not creative when it comes to painting, drawing or photography. But I am creative when it comes to problem solving. I attribute much of this to my mindfulness practice.

Mindfulness is about living in the present moment. One of the attitudes of mindfulness is “Beginner’s Mind,” which involves seeing everything as though it was for the first time. Our thinking that ‘we know’ something actually keeps us from discovering new things because we’re always comparing what’s happening to something in the past. Our thinking that ‘we know’ how to do something can also inhibit learning. Our beliefs about what we know prevent us from seeing things as they really are.

The truth is that no moment is like another. Every moment is unique and holds unique possibilities. We often miss out on the potential of the present moment because we are comparing it or expecting it to be like another from the past. Beginner’s mind is what helps us to bring the extraordinary into the ordinary. We become able to open to new possibilities and we don’t get stuck in any one particular way of seeing something. This is creativity for me.

Tips for for invoking your beginner’s mind:

Notice when your mind is having thoughts like, “Oh, I know what to do. This is what worked last time…”

Take a breath in and out. Come into the present moment.

Try not to compare this moment to another.

Imagine that you are doing or seeing this thing as though it was for the first time.

Be curious about this moment and open to new possibilities…new ways of ‘being’ and new ways of doing.

Notice what presents itself.

Celebrate the uniqueness of this moment.

About the Author: Cheryl Jones-Reardon, MA and author, has completed extensive training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. To learn more visit http://www.themindfulpath.com.

Photo by: darkpatator