If You Want to Write...

The latest in our weekly blog series on writing... duh!

Lookin' Good

If you want to write and get published you have to... look good!

No, not physically (although a little personal grooming does wonders for one's attitude.) If you interview for a job, you want to look tidy and professional. Your first impression is super important, right? Just so in writing. Your first contact with a publication is like your first impression. Here are two sample first-contact queries.

1.

From: Cr8luver@weirdzite.com
To: NiceEditor@innovative.com
Subject: will u reed my stuf?

Deer Nece Editor,

"Will U Reed my Stuf" iz an artikle about Im and how it effects ritting in schools...

[more mispelled jibberish, with good credentials]


2.

From: JaneDoe@yahoo.com
To: NiceEditor@innovative.com
Subject: Query

Dear Nice Editor,

The world of instant messaging and text language has changed the way our kids communicate to each other; but how has it changed the way kids communicate in schools?

My article, "Will U Reed My Stuf?" will cover...

Ok, Ok, it's blatantly obvious but so is it for editors! And who do you think they want to work with?

So look good on your next query, or fiction submission. Editors love a good first impression.

The Children/YA FlipFlop

In the golden olden days before Innovative and before my own part-time freelance job picked up, I read children's books. I loved kid lit, and loved recommending great new kids books to other people. I read Charlie Bone, Kate DiCamillo (love her!), Pendergasts, knew most of the late Newbery winners and again, had read most of them. Except for Kira-Kira. I couldn't get into it. All of us writers were raised on some form of children's literature or another, be it Star Wars books or Louisa May Alcott.

Now, I read mostly YA because

a) I'm a dorky teen

b) I like to search for new authors to interview here

c)... I like the genre.

Young adult is usually characterized by somewhat deeper themes, no guarantee of a happy ending, characters struggling with moral or cosmic problems, and poignancy. Granted, there are a lot of fluffy young adult books out there and I must admit, I enjoy a lot of them. [Fake Boyfriend by Kate Brian was a hoot (my personal favorite fluffy author.)] But that is normal YA.

So I picked up a children's book the other day, just for kicks-- The Mysterious Case of Allbright Academy by Diane Stanley. It was a lot of fun! But I laughed at myself because I'm reading this and I'm thinking... where's the self-reflective character? where's the backstabbing and painful heartbreak?

WAIT! This is kid lit!

I had also picked up The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World, the latest from the legendary E. L. Konigsburg. Personally, I think her books are misclassified. They should be filed under young Young Adult.

Anyway, I'm hoping to write more about teens writing for younger children, and to also interview some children's authors. Because kid lit is, you know, awesome.

Innovative: A Word for the WriTeen

January 6th, 2008

An E-zine for Teens Who Write and Those who Support Them

www.innovativeteen.blogspot.com

innovativeteen@gmail.com

Edited by Gabrielle Linnell

WORD

Fire In Your Belly:
Getting Published in 2008

by Gabrielle Linnell

If you want to write and get published... what's stopping you?

I hope you are unhappy with your publication record. I'm dissatisfied with mine. I'm grateful for where I've been published before, of course... but satisfied? no way.

I hope for a career of dissatisfaction. It means I will constantly expand my limits. Experiment. Be the longshot. Win as the longshot.

As J.A. Konrath wrote this week,

"Satisfaction and contentment are great for your personal life. In your professional life, once you start accepting the way things are, you stop trying. No one is going to hand you anything in this business. You have to be smart, be good, work hard, and get lucky." (http://www.jakonrath.blogspot.com/)

Ambition unbridled can make you into a disillusioned, unhappy brat. Ambition controlled can push you into the stars. Pick your constellation.

So, how are you going to get published this year?

Innovative will be holding a six-part series, talking about how to make your own publishing plan, complete with goals, tips and *action.*

1: Research and Plan. Starting small, planning out markets, realizing what you want to write.

2: Writing and Publishing "Small." The nonpaying and online-only markets, and how to break into them.

3: Writing and Publishing "Medium." Well-known nonpaying markets, small paying markets, etc.

4: Research and Plan. Reevaluate what you like writing for, figure out where you're going next.

5: Writing and Publishing "Big." The big guns, how to aim for them, and tips on getting in.

6: The Book. Every teenager is writing one, is there any chance of publication?

I'll be talking about goals for each step of your plan, how to deal with rejection, time guidelines to give yourself and how to have a well-balanced publication record. Very few of us are going to be published in $1/word magazines, but if you want to be part of that few, you're going to have to work.

Maybe you just want to publish poems for preschoolers. Maybe you want to raise awareness about a social problem. Maybe you're dying to share your characters with the world. You're all definitely in love with writing.

What's stopping you?*

bookshelf

Interview with Melissa Walker, author of Violet on the Runway

Melissa Walker is a writer who has worked as ELLEgirl Features Editor and Seventeen Prom Editor. All in the name of journalism, she has spent 24 hours with male models and attended an elite finishing school for girls in New Zealand, among other hardships. Melissa grew up in Chapel Hill, NC, and has a BA in English from Vassar College. She really believes in the motto "write what you know." Well, except for the whole supermodel thing. Swear!

INN: Where did you get your inspiration for Violet on the Runway?

MW: As soon as I started peeking behind the scenes of modeling and fashion as a magazine editor, I knew that I wanted to put a "real girl" in the middle of this crazy world, a girl who would see it from the outside and be like, "Holy crap!" It's an insane environment, so there's lots of fodder for adventure, humor and drama, especially from the point of view of a small town girl who's not yet jaded.

INN: What's your favorite part (so far) of the Violet adventure?

MW: My favorite part is getting emails or myspace/facebook messages from girls who've read the book. I'm really into the interaction, their questions, etc. It is a blast, and I'm so glad for the back-and-forth. I feel like it'll make me a better writer.

INN: Who do you identify most with in the books?

MW: Honestly, many of Violet's likes and dislikes are my own, so I'd say it's Violet (though I was never a supermodel, of course!). But there's probably a little of me in each and every character.

INN: Who's your favorite contemporary author (or authors)?

MW: In the YA dept, I really like Sarah Dessen, Carolyn Mackler, E.Lockhart, Adrienne Vrettos, Elizabeth Scott... they are all amazing writers.

INN: What project are you working on now?

MW: I am finishing up book 3 in the Violet series, Violet in Private. Book two, Violet by Design, is almost ready--it comes out in March.

INN: Any advice for teen writers?

MW: Yes! I actually wrote a post for seventeen.com with some advice, and you can find it here: http://www.seventeen.com/fun-stuff/17-buzz/violet-buzz-092407/

Thanks, Melissa!

You can buy Violet on the Runway through Amazon by clicking http://www.amazon.com/Violet-Runway-Melissa-Walker/dp/0425217043/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199645162&sr=1-1 and don't forget to visit Melissa's blog at http://www.melissacwalker.com/.*

SPOTLIGHT!

Notes from the Teenage Underground by VOYA

VOYA is a respected journal that, among other things, reviews young adult books. They have an occasional column that publishes essays by teenagers. They pay $50 per essay along with a copy of the. This is great if you like writing about problems or situations from a teen's point of view. Read their guidelines by clicking on http://www.voya.com/submissions/#howtosubmit.

innovative housekeeping

We are open to submissions from writers and WriTeens alike. Please email Gabrielle at innovativeteen@gmail.com for guidelines.

If you have been published, let us know and we can post the details on the blog! Your success deserves to be celebrated.

Innovative is looking for a guy reviewer and interviewer, aged 15-19. If you're interested, email Gabrielle at the address above.

Thanks to Melissa Walker for interviewing!

Logo designed by Katie Beth Groover.

If You Want to Write...

Our weekly series on the small steps you can take for a bigger writing career...

Writer's Weekly

In 2008, or at least during the remainder of the 07-08 school year, we will be talking about freelancing and how teen writers can get into this rewarding form of writing (for money!). To start now, check out Writer's Weekly (www.writersweekly.com). It's a weekly e-zine, like Innovative, that caters to the general writing world. Angela Hoy, the editor-in-chief, publishes many articles every week about lots of different kinds of writing. Definitely make WW part of your writing lit habits; you can learn a lot.

KidMagWriters.com Update

KidMagWriters.com has a new issue on their website, which includes many interesting articles and news bites. One article is "Mechanics Are Not for Your Car: Writing Basics" by Hana Calvez, an Innovative member. Check out "Inside Markets" for updates on Stories for Children and other magazines.

The Innovative People of 2007

I would like to thank all these people for their support and encouragement of Innovative, through our contests and spreading the WORD even without contests and making the past five or so months fabulous.

And so, in no specific order:

Katie Beth Groover for designing a wonderful logo and calling attention to Innovative
Madeline Sargent for another wonderful logo design, and all-around emotional support
Ella Regan She pulled a big total of Points in our Spread the WORD! contest, got an Honorable Mention in the logo design contest, and has been enthusiastic about this for a long time
Maria Schneider for picking us to be part of her blogroll!
Hana Calvez for her writing *and* publicity support
Geary Smith for contributing to our WORD section
Lauren Stevens for being our first guest writer
Julie Bogart my favorite writing teacher who has gone the extra mile in supporting Innovative
Virginia S. Grenier for supporting us
Mark Peter Hughes, Robin Wasserman, Laura Preble, Melissa Walker and Judy Gregerson for being awesome bookshelf interviewees! [Melissa and Judy will be featured in January.]
Jan Fields for including all the Innovative notices in KidMagWriters.com
Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry for writing "Putting Your Passion into Print," which started this whole shebang.

and thank you, readers, for joining in on this wild ride. Happy New Year!

On a Personal Note

I have just started a personal blog about my upcoming experiences with public education. I know many of you have experience with all sorts of schools, and thought you might be interested. I will not be talking about freelancing or writing, however, I'm sure my English classes will spark some discussion.

Check it out at www.yougotschooled.blogspot.com .