Mary Kole is one of the first people who donated her time to WriteOnCon. When the conference was just a thought, we went to her with questions and ideas–she answered each and every one of them, and then made suggestions of her own.

On September 23rd, she’s teaching a webinar about writing for children with the folks at Writer’s Digest.

Here’s what she has to say about it:

You can enroll by clicking here. It’s the next best thing for all of you who have been waiting to see me live…and you don’t have to leave your pajamas! If you have to miss the live event itself and can’t call in, you can always register for the webinar and have access to the recording of it for one full year.

I pledge to answer all questions posed to me, either during the seminar or later, in writing, and, as a registered student, you will get a critique of the first 500 words of MG or YA novel or the first 300 words of your picture book manuscript, depending on what you’re writing. If I get a good turnout for this webinar, Writer’s Digest will host me again, and  you know how much I love getting teaching opportunities, so tell your friends!

That’s right–if you register for her webinar, you get a 500 word critique (300 if it’s a picture book) done by Mary herself!

I spend a lot of time looking at Mary’s critique notes, (Full disclosure: She’s my agent) and let me tell you–they are amazing. When she finds a problem with your work, she doesn’t just tell you it’s bad. She tells you why, and then gives you the tools to figure out how to fix it. I’m a better writer because of Mary, and if she gives you notes on your manuscript, you will be, too.

So what the heck are you waiting for? Go sign up!

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If you haven’t already heard about the epic awesomeness that is WriteOnCon (An online writer’s conference for kidlit writers) – you better get on over there and check it out. There are posts from agents, vlogs for crazy editors and an entire forum for you to critique and post your work. Live workshops and agent discussion panels will be happening all throughout the conference.

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There’s no post coming from me today, instead–I invite you to find a book that’s been challenged or banned and read it!

Ellen Hopkins says it best:

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When I was a little infant of a writer with no idea how to submit to anyone or anything, a friend of mine suggested I head on over to the querytracker website. There I met Elana Johnson. She ripped my query into about seventenn different pieces and really made me work to turn it into something I would be proud to send to a literary agent.

The best part of what she did was this: She gave me the tools to make it awesome. She TAUGHT me how to do it on my own. She’s awesome.

Now, she’s written a book that you need to own: From the Query to The Call

This book is like a one stop shop to getting an agent, and let’s be honest–that’s exactly what most of us need.

It kind of reminds me of those “What to Expect when you’re Expecting books.” There’s a lot of stuff that you don’t really want to know in there, but you REALLY need to know it in order to make it through the next 8-10 months of your life while you’re having a baby landing an agent.

Elana is the kind of person who understands that a query has to have a real hook, and this book breaks it down in a step-by-step format to really make your query stand out in the slush pile.

The part about the call was really interesting for someone who hasn’t yet received her call. She interviewed several authors who’d been through the agent call, and basically helps you get prepared for twenty minute phone conversation that could be the launch to your entire literary career. That’s kind of a big deal, people.

I want to make it clear that I’m not suggesting you read this book because I think the author is fabulous. I want you to read this book because I think it will help you take that big next step in your writing journey.

She’s giving away books here this weekend so get to it!

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Let’s first off congratulate Natalie Whipple. She got an agent, and it couldn’t have happened to a harder working gal. Awesome Sauce Natalie, but what I really want to know is–what totems did you throw to make that happen?

If you haven’t been reading Pimp My Novel (and not just because it has that awesome throw-back font logo) then add it to your reader. Now. You need to know this stuff someday for when you’re a big published author, and their post about blogging is a must-read.

If you’re into the math of query acceptance, then you should really be reading the gatekeeper agent’s blog. Seriously, it was way helpful.

If you haven’t read the Seven Stages of Query grief over at Fire Drill–go now and laugh your ass off. (And not just because I wrote number 2, k?)

Stage 1–Disbelief

Stage 2–Denial

Stage 3–Bargaining

Stage 4–Guilt

Stage 5–Anger

Stage 6–Depression

Stage 7–Acceptance and Hope

Happy Reading!

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It’s no secret I spend hours and hours in front of my computer. There are a few blogs I don’t miss every day, and I wanted to share them with you here.

Kiersten Writes all sorts of hilarious things, but she’s first on this list for me because she got a three book deal with Harper Teen this week. So let’s all raise our mead in a manly huzzah for her! (What? You guys don’t drink mead for breakfast? It’s got protein people…)

Rhonda Stapleton is too cute for words, and her website. It’s so pleasing to my eye. It’s like the fashionista of author blogs.

And then there’s Scott Westerfeld. He’s given up electricity for good, and now uses steam to power his website. That’s enough for me to be in <3 with him, but he wrote Uglies too. Tally Youngblood–I sort of want to be her.

If you love Zombies, then you’re in good company over at the snarfalicious home of Carrie Harris. She’s also the founder of the (semi) secret order of the blog ninja. Someday I will be a member of the order. It’s only a matter of time.

I am newly enamored with Lara Zielin. She’s just a fun girl, and I can’t wait for her next novel, Promgate.

Natalie writes over at Between Fact and Fiction, and that makes her automatically cool, but she does something else–she draws! Her drawings are absolutely adorable, and I am in love with them all.

I absolutely adore Beth Revis. It’s a little evil of me, but I kind of can’t wait for school to start so she can share her hilarious stories with us again!

If there’s one girl’s story I can’t wait to see published, it’s Rebecca Sutton. She has a story so cool and fabulous that if I could convince her to write the sequel right now… I totally would.

Different people have different gifts, and Sara Tribble has the gift story telling. This girl has the COOLEST ideas for books… she is always coming up with the best stories and I had to let you guys meet her!

I’ve read Stacia Kane’s next book already. Let me just tell you that it’s beyond fabulous… and this girl is a genius.

And, of course, we can’t forget the slush princess herself–Jodi Meadows. Seriously, this girl’s story makes me freak out every time I get in the bathtub!

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