PERSONALISING YOUR STORY – an additional outlet

Personalising your story by J.R.Poulter

Are you seeking an additional paying outlet for you work?

A personalized version might be the answer!

Various companies take the illustrated text for children’ stories and modify them to create a ‘personalised’ version. The company will do the personalizing for you but, in my case, I chose to submit my own ‘personalised’ version’.  Some of my ‘personalised’ books are coming out with Frecklebox, who have also published personalised versions of books by friends.

Having a ‘personalized’ edition does not prevent you from still seeking out publication of your original text.  Contracts are non-exclusive.

If you are publishing with a small company, they might be interested in adding the option of a personalized version of your story for sale digitally.

How do you do it?

“The little boy clapped his hands gleefully! The thing in the grass glittered up at him in rainbow colours. He tried to grab it!  “Oh!” he exclaimed, the beautiful thing had moved, just out of reach…” [JRP]

Becomes: “Edward clapped his hands gleefully! The thing in the grass glittered up at him in rainbow colours. He tried to grab it!  “Oh!” Edward exclaimed, the beautiful thing had moved, just out of reach…” [JRP]

For rhyming stories, a refrain can be added in to provide the ‘personalised’ element. An example from an upcoming ‘personalised’ version “Ten Little Heroes”, a picture book with a counting element, illustrated by UK illustrator/animator, Alex Slack:

FOUR Little Heroes flying to the moon,

One said, “I’m Space-man!

See you SOOOooon! ”

Oops a doops, a whoopsie there!

             Mike to the rescue! Mike is here!

Once you have the hang of the text conversion process, you might choose to offer personalized versions of your digital books [e.g. on the App Store, Utales.com, Kindle, Nook, Adobe Digital editions, etc], or self-published children’s books from your own website/store.

Luvverly LISTS for Writers and Illustrators!

Hi Everyone! 🙂

Lists can be extremely useful, especially when they are constantly being updated!

Here are SIX such.

The first, compiled by the enterprising and enthusiastic Brain Grove, is a list of US publishers who are currently accepting submissions for children’s books – http://j.mp/SVbnCk  – he also, very helpfully, adds links to each entry to take you straight to the site.  I also recommend his ebook on  query /submission letter writing.

A second list, an international one, that is  regularly updated is on Lou Treleaven’s Blog:

http://loutreleaven.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/childrens-publishers-accepting-unsolicited-manuscripts/

The third,  a veritable database of bloggers who interview and/or review, is continuously being updated by the very proactive authors, Delin Colon and Lisa Kalner Williams – http://bit.ly/writerinterviewopps …

Fourth – a database of legends and folktales – if you are looking for inspiration for twists on fairytales or legends, fables etc – here is a whole swag!

Fifth – oh this one is an essential! The inimitable Katie Davis’s Tool Kit is  linked out under 5 ‘HEADLINE’ headings!!

• Writing Tools
• Video Making Tools
• Productivity Tools
• Email List Tools
• Site Tools

If you haven’t joined www.jacketflap.com, I highly recommend it – an excellent networking site for all things related to children’s literature and books.

Latest addition, number six, Rachelle Burk has a wonderful resource site –  http://www.resourcesforchildrenswriters.com/ –  her awarded list of wonderfully helpful links is truly encyclopaedic!

Get busy and good luck!

Links for Writers – a growing resource

This series of links were included as part of an article I wrote for WQ Magazine,”Markets – from woe to go and getting a foot in overseas! ” [March issue 2011] . Sadly, the actual links had to be removed due to space restrictions so I have placed most of them here.

This list of resources, sources and publishing opportunities on the internet and elsewhere is far from exhaustive. Please do contact me if you have or know of a resource that can be included!

Review Blogs and sites

Book Review blogs

• Terry Doherty – Reading Tub and Jen Robinson – Reading Tub Blog
• Dr. Virginia Lowe – Create a Kid’s Book
• Debra Sloan – The Picnic Basket http://www.thepicnic-basket.com/
• Carol Denbow – A Book Inside http://abookinside.blogspot.com/
• Magdalena Ball – Compulsive Reader http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/
• Susan Whitfield http://susanwhitfield.blogspot.com/
• Jo Linsdell – Writers and Authors http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com
• Betty Dravis & co-bloggers  – Dames of Dialogue http://damesofdialogue.wordpress.com/
• New Zealand Writer – http://new-zealand-writer.blogspot.com
• Sarah Chavez-Detka        http://minorreads.blogspot.com/
• Kerry Neary  http://kerryneary.blogspot.com/
• Catherine Johnson www.kangaroobee.wordpress.com
• Sandie Lee Muncaster http://imaginationcafeblog.blogspot.com/

Review Sites

All genres:

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/

Children’s Literature:

The Reading Tub

Terry Doherty Reading Tub http://www.thereadingtub.com/

Reading Tub Blog http://readingtub.wordpress.com/

Marketing & Promotional Aids

• BookBuzzr  www.BookBuzzr.com World’s No. 1, Free Online Book-Marketing Technology for Authors
• Freado  www.fReado.com World’s Biggest Book-Winning Site
• Free Press Relese DIY site – http://www.prlog.org/submit-free-press-release.html

Magazines that publish short stories and poetry

[I have submitted a list of online journals most on Facebook, some with links – http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150093435850908 and growing.] New additions

Leaf Garden Press http://leafgardenpress.blogspot.com/

http://leafgardenpress.blogspot.com/2009/01/submissions-open.html

Dash Literary Journal

Rose and Thorn http://www.roseandthornjournal.com/Home_Page.html

Cross genre:

Good Reading – http://www.goodreadingmagazine.com.au/

Children’s Writers & Illustrators:

Dream Chaser promotes children’s writers and illustrators globally. http://www.dreamchasersmagazine.webs.com/

Poetry Sites and Blogs:

• QPF – http://www.queenslandpoetryfestival.info/?page_id=11
• Graham Nunn – Another Lost Shark http://anotherlostshark.com/
• Graham gives an excellent list of inks to other poet’s blogs.
• Jessica Bell http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/2011
• Poetry UK http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/
• My own, under J.R.McRae : http://jrmcrae.blogspot.com/ – note review of John Knight’s “Letters from the Asylum”

Children’s Poetry

Publishers

• Salt Publishing http://saltpublishing.com/kids/
• List UK http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/publishers/children/
• USA Children’s Poetry Publisher http://www.boydsmillspress.com/reviews/wordsong
• http://www.boydsmillspress.com/writers-and-illustrators-guidelines
• http://www.cupcakepoetry.com/?tag=wordsong-boyds-mills-press-childrens-poetry-kids-publisher-publishing

Magazines

Interview with RebeccaNewman of “Alphabet Soup” and with Meredith Costain of  “Comet”, “Explore”, “Challenge “(Pearson education)

http://monthofpoetry.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/poetic-aside-publishing-poetry/

CHILDREN’S POETRY Blogs

Julie Larios – The Drift record http://julielarios.blogspot.com/

Children’s Writers’ Blogs :

• Jackie Hoskings http://www.writing4successclub.com/public/department63.cfm
• Kat Apel: http://katswhiskers.wordpress.com/
• Tara Lazar http://taralazar.wordpress.com/
• Susanne Gervay http://www.sgervay.com/blog/ [YA]
• I am endeavouring to add regular tips, tricks and resource links to my own blog, so keep posted…

Publisher’s blogs:

• Sharon Creech – http://sharonkaycreech.blogspot.com/2011/01/book-design.html#comment-form
• Tate Publishing – Curtis Winkle, Senior Editor
tatepublishingeditors.blogspot.com
• Tate Publishing – Melanie Hughes, Director of Production 
melanieharrhughes.blogspot.com

Writers blogs – tips n tricks

Jayme Ian Woode http://jaymesianwoode.wordpress.com/

Writers’ Organisations:

Writing cross genre:

• Fellowship of Australia Writers [FAW] http://www.writers.asn.au/
• Australian Society of Authors [ASA] http://www.asauthors.org/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=ASP0016/ccms.r
• State of Writing [free] – http://astateofwriting.org.au/

Children’s/YA writing Organisations:

• CBCA http://cbca.org.au/
• SCBWI Australia and New Zealand also provides updates for members via an emailed newsletter: http://www.scbwiaustralia.org/
• QWC http://www.qwc.asn.au/
• Book Links http://www.booklinks.org.au/

Useful resources for teachers, writers & Illustrators: Even More Free Resources from Children’s Publishers

Useful resources:

This blog by Keith Schoch is a must for teachers and a useful one for writers and illustrators. Note: It is no.3 in the series. Check back! 🙂

Teach with Picture Books: Even More Free Resources from Children’s Publishers.

QUERY TRACKER TURNS 2 – Contests to celebrate!!!!!!!!!!

Hi all

The amazing folk at Query Tracker are celebrating their 2nd anniversary –  celebrating and giving US the presents!!!!!!!! Details below……

Help us celebrate QueryTracker’s second anniversary, and you could win a website  custom designed for you and your writing.  Yes, your own website designed specifically for you.

We are calling it the QueryTracker Carnival, and you can learn more about it here http://QueryTracker.net/carnival or on the QT blog at http://querytracker.blogspot.com/

We will be holding four different contests, each with their own prizes. Prizes range from free QT Premium Memberships to query critiques by agents and authors.

The Grand Prize (The Custom Website) will be awarded in a random drawing to take place on the last day of the festivities. To get your name in that drawing, all you have to do is enter any or all of the four contests being held.

To increase you odds, you can receive additional entries into the drawing just by helping us spread the word about the contest. Simply announce the contest on your blog or forum, let us know about it via email, and you’ll be given another entry into the drawing. You can read more about this option at
http://querytracker.blogspot.com/2009/05/querytracker-turns-two.html.

Grand Prize
———–
A custom designed writer’s website to showcase your craft.
That’s a $600 value provided by Purple Squirrel Web Design (http://PurpleSquirrelWebDesign.com).
Purple Squirrel is a web design company that focuses on writers and the writing industry.
You already know their work because they are QT Blogger Carolyn Kaufman, and Patrick McDonald, the creator of QueryTracker.

Good luck. And thank you all for two great years.

For details about the contests go to http://QueryTracker.net/carnival