The Weekly 411 (1/26/18)

© Larissa Marantz

Jan. 26, 2018, vol. 4

The Weekly 411 gathers all the links added to Kidlit411 each week. To receive this post by email, sign up for our email updates. Are you on Facebook? Join our Kidlit411 group for conversations & camaraderie.

KIDLIT NEWS

Saturday Jan. 27 is Multicultural Children's Book Day's Twitter Party. Use #Readyourworld at 9 p.m. EDT. Join conversations and discussions about multicultural children's books and win prizes!

Illustrators: Enter our Kidlit411 Illustration Contest. Design a website banner and win cash, an Illustrator Spotlight, and display of your design.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHTS

Today we have the pleasure of featuring librarian extraordinaire  Matthew Winner!  Enter to win his 30-minute Skype session on the topic of your choice. Brainstorm story ideas. Critique a manuscript. Build a strategy for expanding your social media presence. Develop a personalized recommended reading list to support your writing and story developing. You name it.  

Also, this year, we will feature many debut MG and YA authors from #electric18s. Today we feature debut YA authors:

• Kim Chance, author of KEEPER (North Star Editions, Jan. 30)
• Olivia A. Cole, author of A CONSPIRACY OF STARS (Katherine Tegan Books Jan. 2); and 
• Emily Andelson & Emily Meyer, co-authors of LAYOVER (Crown Books for Young Readers, Feb. 6) 

Be sure to enter to win all three books! 

For Writers

How to Use Acting Techniques When Writing a Character's Emotional Journey

9 Rules for Writing Dialogue

Marketing & Creating a Platform

Reaching Readers: Engaging Kids at Book Events

For Illustrators

Building a Contact List

Contests & Awards

Jan. 29 In house Critique: First Kisses

• What: have your character's first kiss scene be critiqued
• Who: 15 randomly picked entrants from those who apply
• Prize: critique of your scene by authors Piper Drake and Holly Badger

Mar 8  #PitMad

• What: Twitter pitch party from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT
• Prize: Snag requests from agents

May 15 Little Brown Emerging Artist Award

• What: submit a mockup of a PB manuscript that resonates with readers of diverse backgrounds or experiences; may not be agented or under submission elsewhere
• Who: legal residents of US or Puerto Rico over 18, unaccented and unpublished 
• Prize: $1500, trip to NY offices of LBYR; mentorship by Artist mentor, possible consideration for publication 

July 16-18  Pitch Wars 

• What: pitch your YA, MG, or adult ms in an effort to get a mentor to help polish your ms for an agent round
• Prize: mentorship on your novel and the chance to grab the attention of agents

Sept. 30 Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award

• What: submit a work of fiction in English with universal appeal of Jewish content for readers between 8-13
• Who: anyone who is previously unpublished (including self-published)
• Prize: $1000 

Dec. 6 #Pitmad

• What: Twitter pitch party from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT
• Prize: Snag requests from agents

Social Media

How to Get Kicked out of a Facebook Group

Writing Courses

Feb 5 Joyce Sweeney Advanced Fiction Writing  Joyce Sweeney has coached 60 authors from book concept to traditional publication. Her ten week online class begins on Feb. 5 One lesson "drops" each week. Watch the video on your own schedule and share your homework and interact with Joyce and other students in a Forum  Cost is $299 but also check out the All Access option for $49 a month.

Critique Groups 

Why Critiques Matter And What I Learned from the "Slush"

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