Ten-Minute Blog Break - 9th December

After resisting Christmas for exactly one week, reality has descended on the Blog Break in a shower of tinsel. So enjoy some festively-themed posts dotted amongst the usual weekly round-up of our SCBWI bloggers.

What could be a better Christmas present than a contract for your debut novel? If you went anywhere near Facebook over the weekend, you were probably unable to avoid the wave of joy (and dare I say it, relief) because Kathy Evans has finally, finally got a book deal. It seemed for a long time that there was indeed no justice in the universe, but Kathy and her agent soldiered on and placed her YA novel More of Me with Usborne. Here's Kathy telling us all about it.

Sarah McIntyre has gone all out on the book-themed free merchandise this Christmas. If you feel like knitting your own Jampire, or sending a special Jampires card, then this post has all the details. If, on the other hand, you prefer a Cakes in Space theme to your mailings, then listen up, because Hark the Herald Poglites Sing.

Layn Marlow is hosting a very special conversation on her blog, as she chats with an imaginary squirrel. While this might normally be grounds for prescribing stronger medication, Layn's illustrated blog post turns out to be a rather sweet treat!

At Catherine Friess's house, the advent calendar is a major undertaking. Read Catherine's blog to see how the first week of Snowy and Christmas’s book advent calendar turned out (and it's nice to see SCBWI-BI author Alice Hemming's picture book making an appearance on December 5th).

Writing a book often requires a large number of drafts, and it seems that artwork is no different. David Thorpe's blog post showcases a fascinating time lapse video that demonstrates how many passes his cover artist needed to render the atmospheric artwork for his latest novel Stormteller.

Finally, a worthwhile cause that's also very local to me is highlighted in Robin Stevens's post for Space on the Bookshelf. The Oxford Blackwell's Giving Tree is a fantastic way to donate a book to a disadvantaged child who otherwise would not receive one, and this year you can donate online as well!

Nick.

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A SCBWI member since 2009, Nick Cross is an Undiscovered Voices winner who writes children's short fiction for Stew Magazine.

Badges Badges Badges 2014!

Kathy Evans

Once again I'm hijacking Celebrations to give you all a chance to win something! The Amazing SCBWI British Isles Annual Conference has already been announced, which means it's time for me to announce the highly popular badge design competition!

Last year's gorgeous illustrations and witty writing-and-illustrating-related slogans were truly fabulous and I know this year's will be just as good. Everyone can have a go as long as you're a SCBWI member. So what are we looking for?

Fun  illustrations, designs, or short witty slogans that would make great pin-badges for this year's conference. 

This is a great chance to see your work on the chests (or jackets, bags, hats or conference name tags) of everyone who matters… can you afford not to take part?! Who knows where it might lead and there are prizes - oh yes!
 Apart from fame, glory and a bit of free publicity:

• First Prize is a complete set of  ALL the other badges selected as winners.
• Second Prize is a half set of badges (including the winning badge and your designs) 
• Runner up prizes for all chosen badge designs are two badges of your design.

Winners from Kathryn Evans

RULES 
 1. Any SCBWI member can submit their best ideas/designs before noon Sunday 7th September 2014, by e-mail to Kathy Evans at kathy.evans@tiscali.co.uk – head your email: "SCBWI Badge Competition". 
 2. The final badges must include either a reference to SCBWI British Isles or the logo. 
3. The badges are round and 38mm in diameter.  
4. Illustrators - please don't e-mail hi resolution images unless we ask you for them.
5. Writers – due to the high number of orphan slogans last year, you are limited to one slogan-only entry. HOWEVER why not team up with an illustrator and work together and then you can submit as many as you like. See Rule 6.
 6. If you are a writer struggling to find an illustrator or an illustrator seeking a writer to work with please e-mail, kathy.evans@tiscali.co.uk and I'll do my best to team you up with someone.
7. The best designs or slogans will be selected by our judges and will then be made into pin badges in time to sell at the conference – the badge committee's decision will be final. 
 8. Deadline for entries is 7th September 2014 

Badges will be sold in aid of British SCBWI. Badges will be on sale for £1.50 a badge – but you can buy 3 for £3! Snap yours up early during the conference – the most popular designs sell out quickly - show everyone you're a proud member of SCBWI!

As usual, we're also on the lookout for a few volunteers to help sell the badges at the conference during breaks. It's a great way to mix, meet people at the conference and support SCBWI in a really simple way. Please let me know at kathy.evans@tiscali.co.uk if you'd like to be a badge seller.

I can't wait to see your designs!  Good luck! 

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Kathy Evans is an all round star volunteer for SCBWI. She created the W&P celebrations editor role, for the last year has been managing the British Isles' chapter's finance and is again organising this year's conference badge competition. She is also South East Network Coordinator with Mariam Vossough and is represented by Sophie Hicks.

Ten-Minute Blog Break - 15th April

Your erstwhile Blog-Breaker, Nick Cross, has decided to skive off for the week, and I’m here in his stead. It’s only a small change really, we’re just adding a “Y”– Nick for Nicky… I was a little concerned that it might be a quiet week on the blogs, with little to give you in your ten minute blog break, but I’m delighted to see that our stalwart SCBWI bloggers are blogging diligently.

Who doesn’t love a competition and the possibilities that come with it? Ewa Jozefkowicz has kindly done all us children’s writers a good turn by creating a record of all the competitions  coming up over the next 12 months in the children’s book genre. So far there are nine competitions listed – if you know of more, do let Ewa know in the comments section of her blog.

Anna Violet posted to Words & Pictures last week  about the sketchcrawl in Manchester led by Lynne Chapman. In her own blog, Lynne reveals her experience of leading the sketchcrawl . And gives you the lowdown on what she keeps in her kit bag to illustrating the post with stunning sketches done during the course of the day.

Old books and particularly old picture books hold many evocative memories. Paeony Lewis, faced with a house move, blogs about which books she decided to throw out and which to keep and why. Have you held onto old picture books from your childhood – and if so, which ones?

Some of you may have noticed that there’s been a thing called a Writing Process Blog tour doing the rounds of the blogosphere. The tour has been a fascinating insight into the writing process of so many writers. The striking thing that comes through is that there is no right or wrong way to write, only “your” way. Take a look and see how Kathy Evans, Sue Hyams and Larissa Villar Hauser  set about their writing.

And finally, I couldn’t possibly do Nick Cross’ column for him, without taking a look at his own blog post for the week. This week Nick, in inimitable style, considers how important it is for writers to get a firm grip on their ambition so that they’re able to creatively realign themselves to a realistic vision. As he so wisely says, madness is the way for those too focused on the market.

Nicky.

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SCBWI-BI “member abroad”, Nicky Schmidt  is an ex scriptwriter, copywriter, and marketing, brand and communications director who "retired" early to follow a dream. Although she still occasionally consults on marketing, communications and brand strategies, mostly she writes YA fiction (some of which leans towards New Adult) in the magical realism and supernatural genres. When not off in some other world, Nicky also writes freelance articles - mostly lifestyle and travel - for which she does her own photography. Her work has been published in several South African magazines and newspapers. As well as being a regular feature writer for Words & Pictures, Nicky also runs the SCBWI-BI YA e-critique group. Nicky lives in Cape Town with her husband and two rescue Golden Retrievers.

Ten-Minute Blog Break - 11th February

It's nice to emerge from my hermit hut for a quick blog-reading break, as I've had my head down writing this last week. It's kind of weird not blogging myself at the moment, but also great to be spending so much more time in the world of my story.


Despite my current productivity, reading Julie Day's review of her 2014 writing goals made me feel positively slothful! It's great to see Julie following through with this and using the monthly SCBWI goal-setting brunches to stay on track.

There seems to be a motivational theme in the air, because Kathy Evans is sharing Eight Ways to Trick Yourself into Writing (BTW Kathy, I agree on gateway techniques - mine is taking a fifteen-minute walk every day before I start writing). Bryony Pearce, meanwhile, has the opposite problem, because she's stuck at the Procrastination Station and finding a myriad ways to prevent herself from writing! Perhaps these two should compare notes?

Another pair of posts turned up at Big Little Tales. In the first, Trish Phillips tells us about her trip to the Houses of Parliament as part of the "Born to Read" campaign. In a very different blog post, Anne-Marie Perks shares some colour roughs from her wordless picture book on domestic violence, showing how she creates drama through careful composition. The pictures certainly made me wince, which I guess is rather the point!

As creative people, we sow seeds all the time, without knowing if they'll bear fruit. A case in point is Nick Cook, who was one of the most enthusiastic attendees of the Transmedia session I ran at the 2012 SCBWI conference. Nick has really taken the idea of Transmedia and run with it, and the very tip of the iceberg is the amazing first teaser trailer for his forthcoming Cloud Riders opus. Strap in, people - I think we're in for a thrilling ride.

Nick.

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Nick Cross is a children's writer, blogger and all-round techno-ninja. In 2010 he was a winner of Undiscovered Voices with his zombie comedy Back from the Dead and currently writes short fiction for Stew Magazine, an event that was recently celebrated on this site.

Ten-Minute Blog Break - 7th January

Welcome back to all you word-wranglers and picture-makers, for a whole new year of blogging. Christmas and New Year is a time for both gazing back and looking forward, so we've got a mix of both on the Blog Break today.


Kathy Evans starts her festive blog with an apology - for not having had enough time to write during 2013. But in the midst of all her other responsibilities, "slowly something stirred in the space between words" and she has begun to furiously write a new book. Hooray!

Jane Heinrichs looks back on a super-successful 2013, and instead of making resolutions, picks a single word that encompasses her approach for 2014. I really like this idea and decided to plump for "do", meaning that I will get on and do stuff this year with minimal faffing around. I can't control what other people think of my work, but I can increase my opportunities by getting that work finished and out there!

A simple year-end round-up is clearly not enough for Notes from the Slushpile. Instead, we have 4 authors for the price of 1 as Teri Terry, Maureen Lynas, Candy Gourlay and Addy Farmer each give their highlights for the writing year that was.

Nicola Morgan greets the new year with a rather startling question: What does your existence do to the world? Nicola thinks that authors can make the world a better place and sets out an inspiring list of things she's doing in 2014 to make a difference.

One problem with New Year's resolutions is that outside events sometimes get in the way. Juliet Clare Bell blogs about how her plans to become more organised in 2013 were knocked off track by the sudden death of her mum, SCBWI member Margaret Storr. But 2014 (Clare assures us) will be a happier year, and her advice to herself to JUST DO IT! fits in very well with my new word for the year.

Sue Hyams had a pretty rubbish 2013 as well, but she transmutes that into a joyful list of intentions for 2014. Intensive reading, Tom Hiddleston fandom and experimental cookery? Sounds like it's going to be a memorable year!

Nick.

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Nick Cross is a children's writer, blogger and all-round techno-ninja. In 2010 he was a winner of Undiscovered Voices with his zombie comedy Back from the Dead and currently writes short fiction for Stew Magazine.

This week on his blog, Nick wonders if writers have forgotten the Girl Power legacy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And, in case you missed it, he also posted another awesome archive ramble through The Museum of Me - Special Collector's Edition.

Crack open the bubbly for Kathryn & winners Teri Terry and Dave Cousins

Three cheers for Kathryn! Hip Hip...

 It’s been an exciting week for SCBWI writers but first, I’d like you to join me in saying a massive thank you and hip hip hooray to Kathryn Evans, our lovely Celebrations Editor here at Words & Pictures. She’s been unflagging in cheering on the brilliant SCBWI successes since Words & Pictures started in March. Kathryn says: “I'm really sorry to be stepping down as I've had so much fun sharing everyone's news but I'm taking on a new SCBWI role and there just won't be time to do this one justice as well. So drum roll please.....here's Tania Tay!!!!!” 

Yes, that's me... I’m taking over the Celebrations column for a bit so please send me all your successes and let’s carry on toasting everybody’s amazing news!

Teri Terry's a winner in Leeds

For my first piece of fabulous news, you may remember a few weeks ago we told you that Teri Terry was nominated for the Leeds Book Awards among a host of awards listed here. Well, I’m delighted to announce that last week her brilliant book, Slated was the winner for the 14-16 category. Teri says: “I was very excited when Slated won the Leeds Book Award in the 14 - 16 category in Leeds on 23rd of May!” And we were all extremely excited too… 

 Photo: Nicky Busby@Yorkshire Images

In Teri's own words... pretty awesome! The Leeds Book Awards winners are voted for by young readers through schools and libraries in Leeds – and as we all know, it’s ultimately the readers who count. Teri tells us that the Leeds Book Awards ceremony was held at the Leeds Civic Hall. The event was MC'd by writer Dave Cryer and there were 10 short listed authors present, five from the 11 - 14 and five from the 14 - 16 categories. Each author spoke for a few minutes about themselves or their books, then answered questions from a packed audience of readers from schools across Leeds. Finally, a golden envelope was opened by a volunteer student to announce each winner. The winner for the 14-16 category was Teri for Slated, and the 11-14 category was won by Mark Lowery, for Socks are not Enough. 

Megan Larkin, Teri’s editor said: "Slated is a remarkable debut; it completely gets under your skin, and lingers in your mind long after you've finished reading it. It's haunting, tense and thought-provoking. We're thrilled to be launching such an exciting new author on the Orchard Books teen list." And at Words & Pictures we’re thrilled to bits that it’s got under the skin of all the teenage readers in Leeds who voted for Teri to win… 

Teri’s busy promoting Fractured the sequel to Slated, and doing final edits for the third in the trilogy... the title of which was just revealed on Teri's website as... drum roll!!.... Shattered.

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Congratulazioni Dave Cousins!

Photo by Jennie Younger

The amazing Dave Cousins is back... This time, the Italian edition of 15 Days Without a Head…. Quindici Giorni Senza Testa – published by San Paolo in Jan 2013 - won the Andersen Prize for Best Book for readers over 15 years. The Andersen Award is the most prestigious Italian award given to children's books, their authors, illustrators and publishers. Each year they select the best works, with particular attention to the most innovative and original. Fresh off the plane, Dave tells us: “I had a great couple of days in Italy. The people from Andersen and San Paolo were wonderful hosts, and the audience at the award were very gracious in their applause after my attempt to give an acceptance speech in Italian!” 

The Italian edition!

Just in case you missed it, Jan our Editor chatted to Dave last week  about winning Undiscovered Voices and his journey to the 2013 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for the UK and Europe, which many of us will have voted for. But his remarkable book keeps scooping up the nominations and awards. 15 Days Without a Head has been long-listed for both the Carnegie and Branford Boase this year. It was also shortlisted for the North East Teenage Book Award, The James Reckitt Hull Children's Book Award, The Grampian Children's Book Award and the Lancashire Book of the Year Award. Dave tells us: “It is also on a number of other shortlists, but the winner hasn't been announced for those yet, so I'm still keeping my fingers crossed!” 

Woooohooooo!!!!! Applause please!!!!

I hope you’ll join me in giving Teri Terry and Dave Cousins a ton of applause and hip hip hoorays for their inspiring wins. Ciao from me until next week! 

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Tania Tay is an ex-advertising copywriter and has been published in Sable LitMag. She is writing MG and YA fiction, and is on the editorial team at Words & Pictures.

Ten-Minute Blog Break - 2nd April

Welcome back to the Ten-Minute Blog Break. I hope you had a good Easter, and the time off has filled you with new ideas, or chocolate, or both!



Talking of ideas, Sara Grant blogged this week at the edge about the value of exploring your "bad" ideas. As she tells it: "I found success as a writer when I stopped worrying about looking stupid." I've taken this advice to heart and am writing this article in a clown suit while painting my head blue. Fame and fortune here I come!

I wanted to throw a spotlight on Amanda Lillywhite this week. As you may know, Amanda will be launching her webcomic Duck and Bear this coming Friday 5th April, exclusively on Words & Pictures. If you can't wait until then, you can find a sneak preview on her Tumblr blog, or follow the misadventures of Duck and Bear on Twitter. But there really is no end to Amanda's talents, because she's also started a new blog called Sequential Art, exploring "graphic novels, comics and online sequential art." The world of comics (especially indie comics) can be a bewildering place for the uninitiated, and Amanda is doing a great job of introducing it. Her posts on Sequential Art are honest, informative and rooted in her own emotional response to the work in question.

There's been a bit of a self-reflective theme this week (which Jan picked up in yesterday's editorial), as writers ponder the nature of the creative urge and what success might look like for them. Candy Gourlay has started a new book (hooray!), Kathy Evans can't stop writing and blames Stephen King (!), Lorraine Gregory wonders whether it's possible to satisfy herself and the market. To these, I'd like to add a story I spotted in The Guardian - what happens if you spend your whole life seeking artistic recognition, but it never comes? Felicia Bromfield tells the bitter-sweet story of My Dad, The Next Big Thing.

Nick.

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Nick Cross is a children's writer, blogger and all-round digital guru. In 2010 he was a winner of Undiscovered Voices with his zombie comedy Back from the Dead.
Read Nick's latest blog post - The Price is Write - on the subject of investing in your writing.