Red Rover Writers

Life in the Spotlight

2010-05-07T19:45:00.001-07:00

I returned to The Founders Home in Boyds Mills in March to take a class in author and book promotion from Peter Jacobi. There were only 4 of us, all published authors, and Peter taught us how to create and present any kind of speech or presentation, including a school visit.

Here I am presenting at an elementary in Hawley, PA, about how Substitute Groundhog was made. It's fitting that the story of a Pennsylvania groundhog should first be presented in the state that makes the most of its groundhogs! Our presentations were videotaped and later critiqued by everyone in the group. The four of us, Vicky from New York, Vicki from Atlanta, and Ann from Michigan all shared the "cringe factor" and all bonded because we worked so hard and experienced so much together.

Peter also taught us how to respond to interviews, and Harold Underdown showed us ways to use social media to selectively promote ourselves and our books. He gave us each autographed copies of his Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, which has been extremely helpful.

Lindsay George gave us a lot of tips on how to grab and hold the attention of children and give them a terrific presentation. The food was amazing, with a special green meal served on St. Patrick's Day. Each evening, writers and editors from Boyds Mills or Highlights would join us for dinner and grown-up conversation. The week flew but we returned with much to help us in our future lives as authors in the spotlight. I highly recommend any workshop given by Peter Jacobi!

Good News from Natalie

2010-05-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for being so supportive of my story Madeleine's Light last summer at the Writing from the Heart Workshop. [Natalie is shown reading this story to our group.]

I just got a call from Larry Rosler yesterday accepting my book at Boyds Mills. I am so excited and I still feel like I'm in a dream. It was a long wait, but Lori was an incredibly supportive mentor during the months of waiting. Sally, I will keep those letters from your students forever since they also kept me going. Please let them know that the book will be published and that they helped keep my spirits up!

I hope everyone's writing is going well. Is anyone going to Chautauqua this summer?

Hugs to you all, Natalie

Guest Author: From Harry

2009-08-14T16:18:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends,

I have a bit of news and a question for you Red Rover Writers. First, my juvenile biography of Richard Feynman, a quirky physicist, is (finally) coming out this fall from Morgan-Reynolds, an educational publisher in Greensboro, NC. Its for middle school/early high school. I’ve seen the layout and they’ve done a good job with pictures and color. More when I am actually holding a copy in my hands. Its going to the printers next week.

Question: I want to submit a manuscript I had worked on at the retreat with Kim Griswell, and I wanted to send it to her. However, I seem to remember that she was retiring or moving away from PA and therefore wouldn’t be appropriate to submit to.

What is your recollection – or maybe its stronger than that?

Hope you are getting plenty of time to write, Harry

Kent Brown Receives Check

2009-07-21T05:47:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already seen it, here is a short video showing Kent Brown accepting a check from his many, many friends and supporters for more than $62,000 at the closing luncheon of the 2009 Highlights Institute. Although it doesn't answer the question, "Did the secret remain so?", it definitely shows that Kent was amazed and grateful. Contributions will continue to be accepted and maybe one day we will be reunited in the new center!

Guest Author: From Joyce

2009-07-16T00:21:00.000-07:00

It's back to reality for all of us, so I thought I would share with you what I shared with Lori before I left the retreat. It was my Morning Pages entry on 6/27.

"It is the last day of my writer's retreat. I came to get back to my writing. But I really didn't do too much writing. Instead I simply discovered my inner child. I played. Laughed with my friends, ate meals prepared for me. The only rule I gave myself was "make your bed."

I watched a fat groundhog lumber across the grass. Scared away two deer outside my cabin door. Was followed by orange butterflies. Went for a walk by a stream. Had bedtime stories read to me by Suzanne Bloom. Visited a friend. Ate dessert every night. I saw unusual birds. Braved a storm. Learned from two kind and insightful teachers. "Uncle" Kent even came to visit.

Today I want to capture the playfulness in a bottle. It will be my playfulness genie. And when I can't jump off my cliff with childlike abandon, I will take that little bottle, decorated with polka dots and stripes -- and of course -- sparkles, uncap it and let the joy begin!

I have to go. My friend Kathleen is going down to the main house for breakfast, walking through the woods, beating her drum."

On the following Monday, I created my genie bottle. It sits on the windowsill by my kitchen table where I write.

Joyce

Wow! What a Resource!

2009-07-08T15:48:00.001-07:00

The Children's Book Insider is just what it says. Get your free issue online by clicking the link above.

A subscription to this monthly newsletter gives you access to the most jam-packed writing resource I've come across. Articles, live chats, e-books, a free e-zine with more advice and help, and much more. Check it out.

There's even a writing challenge for each month. No funds for specific writing help? View all their generous free videos on many topics of concern to writers. Here's one, "Five Ways to Improve Your Children's Manuscript". More are listed on the right.

Today's Post: From Lori Ries

2009-07-08T07:38:00.001-07:00

Okay, I am so laughing! I love this group of friends! Sally, you are priceless.

For my blog at my website, I shared a bit about Writing From the Heart and what we do there. Highlights workshops are not well known in the west, in fact at every conference I go to, I get tons of questions.

If you want to, please comment on the blog or at my website about how the foundation workshops have helped you. I want to help bring visibility to Writing from the Heart and other Highlights opportunities. Thanks everyone, and lots of love!

Keep Writing, you’re all so fabulous!
Lori

From Marcia's Kitchen

2009-07-03T18:08:00.000-07:00

Marcia has graciously shared her recipes for my two favorite dishes from our retreat week. They are Zucchini Pancakes and Mexican Tofu Chocolate Pudding. Seeing the recipes reveals how much trouble she and Mary and Debbie went to for each part of the meal.

Mexican Chocolate Tofu Pudding
By MARK BITTMAN
3/4 cup sugar
1 pound silken tofu
8 ounces high-quality bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon chili powder, or more to taste
Chocolate shavings (optional).
1. In a small pot, combine sugar with 3/4 cup water; bring to a boil and cook until sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly.
2. Put all ingredients except for chocolate shavings in a blender and purée until completely smooth, stopping machine to scrape down its sides if necessary. Divide among 4 to 6 ramekins and chill for at least 30 minutes. If you like, garnish with chocolate shavings before serving.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

Turkish Zucchini Pancakes
Bon Appétit January 1996

Servings: Makes about 20.

Ingredients
1 pound zucchini, trimmed, coarsely grated
2 cups chopped green onions-FINE CHOP

4 eggs, beaten to blend

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/3 cup chopped fresh dill or 1 1/2 tablespoons dried dillweed OR MINT

1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon or 2 teaspoons dried

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (about 3 ounces)

2/3 cup chopped walnuts (about 3 ounces)-OPTIONAL
Olive oil

Preparation
Place zucchini in colander. Sprinkle zucchini with salt and let stand 30 minutes to drain. Squeeze zucchini between hands to remove liquid, then squeeze dry in several layers of paper towels.

Combine zucchini, chopped green onions, 4 eggs, flour, chopped dill, parsley, tarragon, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper in medium bowl. Mix well. Fold in crumbled feta cheese. (Zucchini mixture can be prepared 3 hours ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Stir to blend before continuing.) Fold chopped walnuts into zucchini mixture.

Preheat oven to 300°F. Place baking sheet in oven. Cover bottom of large nonstick skillet with olive oil. Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, drop zucchini mixture into skillet by heaping tablespoonfuls. Fry until pancakes are golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer each batch of pancakes to baking sheet in oven to keep warm. Serve pancakes hot

Photos from Our Writing Retreat

2009-07-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

The photos I took are at this Walgreen's site. They can be ordered from the site and picked up at your local Walgreen's in an hour. Use coupon "July4" to get them for 10 cents each through July 11.

I discovered that our retreat has sensitized my subconscious into seeing story ideas around me. I discovered one in the title of a bulk e-mail and another at the post office.

Now that you've been back a few days, what has stuck with you?

Play with Your Characters

2009-06-27T10:11:00.001-07:00

As Lori Ries reminded us often, don't forget to play--with your inner child, with your characters, with your word choices. Be serious about your writing, but not serious about yourself.

Remember our top three priorities this week:

1. Write

2. Eat

3. Laugh

When you get stuck in your writing, click over to the Highlights play pages. After you feel successful (and even smug) about finding all the hidden pictures, you can click back to your work and see what your subconscious has for you.

What have you done in the last two days that was playful? Do you feel a little out of your comfort zone when you do something silly? How does becoming a kid again, for just a few minutes, inform your writing?

Me? I'm going to invest in sidewalk chalk and draw a setting for my characters on my driveway. I know there will be a tree house--I'll see what else my inner kid wants to add.

What Highlights Magazine Needs

2009-06-26T21:31:00.000-07:00

Here are some topics that Kim Griswell suggested in a conversation today:

Nonfiction for young kids (500 words or less)

World cultures
Sports, fiction and nonfiction
Humor
Holidays, especially minor ones like 4th of July (HL doesn’t do Santa or Easter Bunny)
Christmas (avoid commercial aspect)
Wants true meaning of holidays, how families celebrate, religious overtones okay
Halloween without candy or witches
Poetry for holidays
Crafts for holidays
Boy appeal stories and nonfiction
History about lesser known figures
Local history outside of NE that would have general interest
Anniversaries—look ahead 3 years and write your article to relate to an anniversary or special celebration

TIPS:
Submit stories with multiple “hooks”, like a humorous sports story that takes place in another culture on a lesser holiday *wink*, for best results.

Younger readers—up to 500 words (this is for Highlights, not for High Five) Older readers—up to 750 words (used to be 800, new trim size allows for fewer words)

Highlights pays upon acceptance. Allow at least 2 years for publication (though it could be sooner—or later). The issues are already planned a year in advance, and if your story is for December, that would be at the end of the second year.

They are swamped with the standard friendship and school stories.

Read some recent back issues to get the tone and breadth of the magazine.

Avoid pop culture, current sports figures (though biographies of past sports figures are okay), and a story that is so current that it will be dated in 2 or 3 years (“NASA wants to put another astronaut on the moon.”)

Action Plan

2009-06-26T20:29:00.000-07:00

While Writing from the Heart, we had the luxury of uninterrupted time to write, and to consider ourselves seriously as writers.

In the freedom of the moment, you may have promised yourself to do a dozen writerly things when you returned home. Realistically, what are 1 - 3 things, your Red Rover Action Plan, that you plan to do when you return to life as you've known it?

Here is my Red Rover Action Plan:

1. Write cover letters and send out two of the projects Lori and Kim helped me finish (before July 1)

2. Write at least 5 times a week, probably in the early morning. (starting June 29)

3. Stay in touch with the friends I made at Boyds Mills. (Already started!)

Because we are linked together hand to hand as Red Rover Writers, we can help each other be accountable for our Action Plans. You may even want to buddy up to be Nudge Partners.

Resonance

2009-06-26T20:02:00.001-07:00

What was one of the truths you discovered, affirmed, or remembered during this week ?

I found this quote to begin the blank journal I brought to record the week. It is from a recently published letter by author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who recently learned he is dying of cancer.

"Nobody will know you for your secret thoughts. Ask the Lord for wisdom and strength to express them."

Preparing for Re-Entry

2009-06-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

As we prepare to leave our sheltered writing environment, many of us wonder how we can extend this "bubble" existence to our real life. One way is to keep holding literary hands with those we met here.

As Lori Ries, our Red Rover Captain, reminded us--if we hold hands together and fear (rejection, negativity, blocks, aloneness, and other bad things) comes against us--we can hold strong if we hold together.

So, join in the discussion. Share with us your joys, your progress, your setbacks, and your publication dates! We can keep this up until our reunion workshop when we will each read from our latest published work.