 Drama: April 14, 2010 Issue [#3665] |
  Drama
This week: Do You Write nonfiction? Edited by: esprit  
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"There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly: sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges."
(Ernest Hemingway)
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| ASIN: 1542722411 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 12.99
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Do You Write nonfiction?
Are we ignoring this less-competitive market? A while back I read a wish list from the editors of Highlights Magazine, all of whom wished for more nonfiction. I've left a link to their *** Contributor Guidelines page below. They accept fiction, but need nonfiction.
Most of the publisher sites I visited who provided author guidelines at all, noted a special need for nonfiction for boys. Especially U.S. and world history in the chapter book format--- with lots of action, humor, and illustrations. Girls must be getting all the attention, huh?
 Childrens author, Laura Backes, wrote in her article, 'Your Odds of Getting Published';
* "General fiction is the most competitive genre in any age group of children's books. It's also the most subjective, meaning your manuscript has to appeal to exactly the right editor. If you have any interest in nonfiction and can approach a topic in a unique, entertaining way, you'll be a bigger fish in a much smaller pond. Or, try narrowing your niche so your work stands out from the ocean of fiction: write historical fiction for beginning readers, funny mysteries for middle grades, science fiction for young adults. Stretching your writing beyond general fiction will give you a "hook" and also help you zero in on publishers who want exactly what you've got."
This publisher buys only quality nonfiction.
** "Morgan Reynolds publishes serious-minded nonfiction books for juvenile and young adult readers. Our titles complement elementary and secondary school curriculums for young readers ages 10 to 18. We prefer lively, well-written biographies of interesting figures for our biography series and insightful, exciting looks at critical periods for our events series. Subjects may be contemporary or historical but we generally avoid obscure figures and "pop culture" icons (rock stars, movie stars, and sports figures). Past series have included: Makers of the Media, Feminist Voices, Notable Americans, World Writers, Champions of Freedom, Masters of Music, American Business Leaders, and Great Events. We do not publish fiction, memoirs, picture books, poetry, etc."
Non-fiction, perhaps even more than fiction, needs to grab the reader by the throat with the first lines. Kids read enough boring facts at school, and like older members of the society, they want to relax and be carried away when reading for pleasure. Non-fiction has a reputation of being dull, of reading like a text-book. Children that haven't read non-fiction outside of school tend to resist it. The successful writer will insert excitement into their non-fiction. Put yourselves into the child's mind and write exactly what they want to read about.
How to Decipher -- and Create -- "Text Slang"
Kids have always had their own unique language, but now it's more baffling than ever, thanks to online and phone text messaging.
If you're writing for teens and your story is set in modern times, there's a good chance text messaging may be part of the mix. If j00 wanna knw h2 speak txt slang correctly, here's a website 4U:
http://www.netlingo.com/acronyms.php
* http://children.fictionfactor.com/articles/chances.html
** http://www.morganreynolds.com/about-us.html
*** http://www.highlights.com/custserv/customerservicecontent2main.jsp?iContentID=25...
Thanks for reading,
** Image ID #1528029 Unavailable **
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Comments on "Invalid Entry"
By: Adriana Noir
Comment: Great advice, Esprit! I really enjoyed this edition. 
Thanks, Adriana!
By: StephBee 
Comment: Esprit, another great newsletter about scene setting. Thanks for sharing tips about feeling, reaction and action & speech. They're very helpful.
Thank you, Steph!
We always appreciate feedback, thanks!
Editors:
Joy 
Adriana Noir
esprit |
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