Condensed Soup for the Creative Soul

By Kathleen E. Clark

If there was one gift I could share with you all, it would be just a bit more time. Which—of course—I can’t, as my magic wand is in for repairs from stirring up spooky, spicy gumbo. So—I’ll do the best I can with these few tips compiled from the participants at our Query Letter Workshop hosted by the Lansing Area Shop Talk on Zoom. We hope you glean at least one magic ingredient to add to your “Creative Cauldron.”

1. Make the time to connect with other creatives. One quick and easy step is to sign up for the MichKids listserv, where you can post questions, observations, and look for announcements of upcoming events.  

2. Those with more time-tested experience will tell you that Parts of a Query Letter are important, but not necessarily in a particular order- if you are querying a manuscript you won an award for, mention it early on.

   
   
   

3. Also consider matching the tone of the letter with the tone of the manuscript.

4. Follow the guidelines. which shows you did your homework. And if they say to nudge after a certain time period, add one week and nudge.

5. Do your research on agents, editors, comps, and the market.

6. We discussed comp titles and their use when highlighting specific elements of your story. Always use current titles (non-bestsellers) when stating where your book fits into the market. But, there is room to choose a more familiar story for shorthand descriptive purposes—such as mash-ups of X meets Y—to get the idea across quickly. Just remember that BALANCE is key. Like in the "Karate Kid," proving you can picture a whole concept using very few words.

7. Search out good comp title sources:  Imagination Soup; librarymom.com; susannahill.com; childrenslibrarylady.com; https://www.edelweissplus.com/.

8. Double-check ANYTHING you get from AI searches, Co-pilot, etc. Those can give helpful leads, but stick with actual source info.

9. Adjust your bio to various submissions. What makes YOU the perfect person to share this with the world?

10. Don’t be shy in seeking help improving your query letter among peers, through your critique group, or professionals offering critique services.  Watch for reasonably priced webinars and workshops with bonus offerings, which members have found well worth the investment.

11. You can keep track in a variety of ways: Card File; MSWL (Manuscript Wish List); QueryTracker (which you can filter); handwritten; assigning File Names that are significant to you; spreadsheets. One member uses a lovely shade of blue to denote a “no” on his spreadsheet (much more cheerful than red!). 

12. This member also shared that he chooses a day for the task of querying—going to a local establishment, and treating himself. Thus, combining a not-so-fun task with a reward. We all appreciated THAT tip!

13. We also discussed the choice of mentioning- Back Matter; Questions for Reader engagement; and Teacher/Librarian Materials in our query letters, and/ or just including those in the manuscript itself.

14. At the close of our meeting, this wonderful tip and bit of encouragement was shared. As we all, at times, struggle with the business side of this creative life, remember to “Keep Writing What You Love.” Yes, query letters can be a time-consuming and draining necessity, but keep creating with your heart and mind focused on your goals and dreams. Time doing what you love is never wasted.  

    
    
    

In these crisp October days of simmering soups, as we bundle up and buckle down, back in the querying trenches, we encourage you to move that pot from the back burner and dish out those query letters—seasoned with just the right spice to whet the appetites of agents and editors alike. We would love to hear YOUR tip, bit of advice, or word of encouragement. Just add it to the “Comment Crucible” below. 

Bon appétit,

Kathleen E. Clark

Kathleen Clark enjoys country life on a sesquicentennial farm with her family, where the adventures never cease and where there is always a story just waiting to be written. Never outgrowing her love for children's books, she now finds herself helping the next generation of young readers check out their favorites at the local library. You can follow her on 

on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest @kathleeneclarkauthor.

The Evolution of the Shop Talk

Networks Day, Monthly Meet-Ups, Shop Talks: At Last, the Origins of LAST

By Charlie Barshaw

Shop Talks, for most of us, are a comforting perk of membership in the Michigan chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. But did you know that they weren’t always ‘Shop Talks’ and at one time happened only one day a year?

It all started with some busywork. How to let the new guy (me) on the Ad(ministrative) Com(mittee) do something without jeopardizing the whole SCBWI-MI organization? Well, let him loose on Networks Day.

It's Leslie's fault

Way back in 2012, Networks Day was a one-day event that had been going on for years. In 2011, it was a “critique meet,” but in years past had been a “schmooze-type event with a theme,” according to then-R(egional)A(dvisor) Leslie Helakoski.

I ended up calling it “My Area’s Got Talent,” based on a popular TV contest. The emails I sent to the Michkids list serv got increasingly creative.

For example:

My Muse and I were arguing, as we were wont to do in the middle of winter.

"Nothing," I said. "You've given me nothing since the Christmas gift thank you notes, and even those were written by some hack."

"Oh, I should give, give, give and get nothing in return?" said my Muse. " Why don't you take me out? I've got Seasonal Affective Disorder. I'm SAD!"

"Yeah, well it'd be easier to go somewhere if I didn't have to drag all these extra clothes on, shovel the walk and scrape off the car windows. Winter in Michigan sucks as soon as the holidays are over."

"Waah, waah, waah," said my Muse, a little unsympathetically.

"Okay, look. How about we go to a bookstore. You like bookstores."

"Lame," said my Muse. "All you'll do is read and drink coffee. Invite your writer and illustrator friends. I know for a fact that their Muses are fed up, too. We Muses need some loving."

"Done," I said, relieved it was so simple. "February 16, 17, 23 or 24. Maybe all the above. I'm sure lots of creative people will show up: my area's got talent!"

Don't antagonize your Muse. Volunteer to hold a meeting in your area.

In the end there were ten regional meetings, held in Lansing, Marquette, Pinckney, Royal Oak, Three Rivers, Troy, Ann Arbor, Muskegon, Traverse City, and South Haven.

It happened here

In January 2013, Michelle Bradford dragged a reluctant me along to start the Mid-Michigan Meet-Up. She envisioned a regular monthly two-hour regional event

She scheduled the first meeting of MMMU at the Michigan History Museum on Saturday, January 26 where Ruth McNally Barshaw and Elizabeth McBride presented to about 30 area writers.

By September of that year, Michelle, who had powered all the meetings through July, suddenly dropped off the radar. Ann Finkelstein stepped in, and for the next 7 years or so, kept the meet-up meeting-up. They officially became Shop Talks in November of 2015 , because by then, the phrase "meet-up" had some less savory connotations.

Soon, it was decided there was no need for a Networks Day, as the regional meet-ups had filled that space. By 2014, the SE Mitten-Meet up was meeting in Farmington Hills. In  2015, Betsy McKee-Williams had started the Ann Arbor chapter, and Dave Stricklen had set up in West Coast territory.

A recent Shop Talk presentation

Today there are Shop Talks in Ann Arbor, SE Michigan, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Traverse City. They are organized by dedicated volunteers, provided at no cost to members and not-yet members.

Each month, coordinators create a whole range of experiences for creatives around the state. They offer social interaction meet-and-greets, full-blown presentations by knowledgeable speakers, topic discussions, writing exercises, critique meets, even nature walks. We’ve even been able to fold in a bookstore meet with a book talk given by a much-published picture book author.

Shop Talks meet in museums and coffee shops, libraries and private residences, in parks and gardens and classrooms,

Brianne Farley and the Up North Shop Talk

at an illustrator's studio, on Zoom, and in-person. They meet on weekday evenings, weekend mornings or afternoons. They can be small and intimate gatherings, or large, raucous events.

From my own experience, I’ve had a member check in from Qatar and from California on Zoom, or drive in from Detroit, Grand Blanc, Lake Orion, and Jackson for our face-to-face gatherings.

And the people you meet! I’ve met an active judge and a retired one, professors and scientists, farmers and police chiefs, editors, authors and illustrators. From teens to parents to grandparents.

Isabel and KAST

In fact, I’ve created a series of Writer Spotlights featuring people I met at LAST :Robin Pizzo, Michelle Traven, Amanda Esch-Cormier, Kathleen E. Clark, Laura Luptowski Seeley, Vicky Lorecen, and even Isabel Estrada O’Hagin, now the coordinator of the Kalamazoo Shop Talks. Check out their interviews and find out who hung with Big Red Clifford, who traveled to Ireland, who sang on stage in Nashville, who read Gone With the Wind in one day, and who owns a sesquicentennial farm.

Why should you participate in a Shop Talk? With the variety of meeting formats, topics and places, there’s surely something that interests you. So, growing out of a one-day-a-year Networks Day, the SCBWI-MI Meet-Up/Shop Talk groups were some of the earliest of their kind in the United States.

For more information on Shop Talks in your area, check the monthly calendar of events, or contact Shop Talk Liaison Tom Keller at heytomkeller@gmail.com.

           

Charlie and Ruth

Charlie Barshaw interviews interesting SCBWI-Michiganders for The Mitten. He and his wife, author/illustrator Ruth McNally Barshaw travel throughout the state and beyond for school and library visits. He has two YAs and two MGs in various forms of completion . He likes referring to himself in third person.          

In Praise of Shop Talks by Betsy McKee Williams

Every month, across Michigan, Shop Talks are happening.

SCBWI members are meeting to learn aspects of craft and to connect with other writers and illustrators. Shop Talks are organized by volunteers and are free to SCBWI members. Here’s an overview of some recent Shop Talks in Ann Arbor.

Humor

Last fall, author/illustrator Deb Pilutti and middle grade novelist Vicky Lorencen gave a presentation titled: 12 1/2% Funnier: Punching Up the Humor with Words & Pictures

Deb walked us through her recent picture book project and revealed how she made subtle changes to both words and illustrations to ramp up the humor, generously sharing examples from her revision process.

Vicky shared how we can use humor to create a portal to our reader’s hearts (but not literally because, ew, that would be gross). The tips she shared are so great she listed them on her blog and then added 12 1/2 more.

We laughed a lot that morning. We learned a lot, too.

Picture Books

In January, Brianne Farley presented on Writing and Illustrating Picture Books.

Brianne shared stories from her own life and career, along with many useful tips for writers and illustrators.

Voice

In February, Michigan SCBWI Mentorship Coordinator, science writer, and novelist Ann Finkelstein presented on Making Voice Rock.

Ann led us in a discussion of what Voice is, then shared great examples and useful techniques. She also guided us through writing exercises to deepen Voice in our own works in progress.   

Publicity

In April, Michigan SCBWI Webmistress and writer Debbie Gonzales presented on
Book Trailer Basics: A Step-by-Step Process to Construction.

We viewed and discussed several book trailers, and Debbie shared her excellent resource on how to build a book trailer. She described the technical tools she uses, and shared sources of images, music, and sound effects. She also led a discussion of how the steps of creating and storyboarding a book trailer can help us identify structural and other issues in our books.

Where does a book trailer live? Debbie exhorted us all to create our own websites, and to post content on whatever consistent schedule will work for us (twice a week, maybe, or once a month.) For pre-published authors, a book trailer might be a teaser for a topic or a current project, rather than for a finished book with a title. And yes, she says pre-published authors really should create websites now, for interested agents to find.

Heart, Hurt, Hope & Humor

In June, author Shutta Crum gave us a great talk on these 4-H’s. She taught us that every book that matters must have these qualities, and shared vivid examples from picture books, and middle grade and YA novels. Shutta also walked us through specific techniques that authors and illustrators used to enhance these qualities in their books.

This presentation was an expanded version of the talk Shutta gave at the recent SCBWI Marvelous Midwest Conference.

On Shop Talks

All of these presenters are Michigan members of SCBWI, generously giving their time and sharing their knowledge. Ann Arbor also has sessions where we share our work with one another, giving and receiving helpful and kind feedback. We have had debut authors share their stories of their own Road to Publication, and enjoyed a presentation from a local youth librarian. And sometimes we share resources, maybe focused on a topic, maybe not.

Shop Talks let us learn through presentations worthy of a major writing conference. (Some presentations, like Shutta’s, were also given at major conferences.) Shop Talks help us connect. Some of us have found critique partners, beta readers, or critique groups through our local Shop Talk. Carpools also can arise from Shop Talks.

Did I mention that all of these Shop Talks are free of charge?

Ann Arbor area members are very fortunate – and we are not alone. SCBWI Michigan currently offers Shop Talks in Ann Arbor, Farmington Hills, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Up North in Traverse City. Learn more here, contact a local Shop Talk Coordinator to ask any questions you may have, and come to talk shop at a Shop Talk.

Betsy McKee Williams lives in Ann Arbor, supports college student writing by day, and writes middle grade fiction after hours. A member of SCBWI since 2012, she is currently pursuing an MFA in Writing for Young Readers through the Solstice MFA Program at Pine Manor College. Betsy is delighted to help make Shop Talks happen.

Coming up on the Mitten Blog: 

Vacation! Enjoy the 4th of July weekend, and we'll be back mid-July with a new Featured Illustrator, Hugs and Hurrahs, and more.

SCBWI-MI Shop Talks and Much, Much More!

Shop Talk – a gathering of writers and illustrators for the purpose of resourcing, sharing and encouraging each other.

Thanks to the dedication of many members in SCBWI-Michigan, we have four very active Shop Talk groups throughout the state:

•             Lansing Area – LAST – led by Charlie Barshaw and Ann Finklestein
•             SE-Mitten - Farmington Hills – led by Patti Richards and Jennifer Rumberger
•             Grand Rapids West – led by David Stricklen
•             Ann Arbor Area – led by Betsy McKee Williams

Each group has their own schedule and meets regularly every four to six weeks. Everyone is welcome attend. A variety of topics are covered by the groups from speakers on craft, social media, critique sessions, sharing resources, hearing author behind-the-scenes stories, etc. Each group is tailored to fit the needs of their attendees.

If you are interested in attending a Shop Talk near you, please check our Calendar of Events on the SCBWI webpage or contact the coordinators. Contact information can be found here. Also be sure to follow our chapter Facebook page and join the MichKids listserv. Future dates are always posted on both locations.

If your area of the state doesn’t have a Shop Talk, please consider starting a group of your own. All you need is a space to meet (library, park center, coffee shop, book store) and the desire to meet with fellow authors/illustrators. It’s easy! The Shop Talk coordinators share ideas and are a great resource for meeting topics. We can also help you advertise and share you group with your area of Michigan. Please contact Jennifer Rumberger if you would like to discuss leading a new group.

We hope to see you at a Shop Talk this winter!

Jennifer Rumberger is a wife and mom of two very active boys. She is an administrative assistant during the day and a children's writer in her free time. She has been published in a handful of children's magazines and her picture book, DUCKLINGS ON THE MOVE, is available from MeeGenius/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Our SCBWI-MI authors will be busy this weekend with a number of events. Take your pick or hop around to several. If only they weren't all happening at the same time!

*  SCBWI-MI Shop Talk, Ann Arbor: Sat, Nov 12 – same place, but different time: 1-4pm
AADL Downtown library, 3rd floor freespace meeting room

This will be an informal meeting. We will start, as always, with introductions. Next we will have a sort of Wisdom Circle. Everyone will be invited to write down questions or problems which they are currently struggling with. We will pull questions from a hat and discuss one at a time, sharing our collective expertise. People can choose whether to claim their question, or to have it remain anonymous.

Questions? Contact Betsy McKee. For Shop Talks later this month in other cities, go here.

*  Picture book author trio at the Book Beat in Oak Park, Sat. Nov. 12, 1-3pm

Lisa Wheeler will be reading from The Christmas Boot, her classic holiday tale newly illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. She will also be giving a “story behind the story” talk. Lisa Rose will be reading from her book, Shmulik Paints the Town. Deborah Aronson will be reading from her book Where’s My Tushy? and her new book, Dragons from Mars.

*  4th Annual Children's Author Meet & Greet. Sat. Nov. 12, 1-3pm. Frenchtown Dixie Branch Library, Monroe. 

Enjoy an Autumn afternoon with 11 amazing authors of books for children of all ages.

Coming up on the Mitten blog: Learn more about Capital City Writers Association, an SCBWI Magazine Merit Award Winner, and the SCBWI PAL program.

*  Our amazing SCBWI-MI PAL leader, Dawne Webber, has been hard at work on the upcoming Merry Mitten Holiday event. More details to come, but for now, here's a peek at the website and Facebook page. They just went live and are ready to "like" and follow and share, but the official logo and artwork is still to come.

Have a wonderful book-ful weekend!
Kristin Lenz