http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ Discussion and chat board for members en-US Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:46:23 +0000 bbpress 1.0-alpha-2 q http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/search.php http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=58#post-369 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:37:35 +0000 edkowalski 369@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi gang, hi Patti. Great story, gotta hand it to you for less than 500 words. Can you tell me if you saw the original folktale in print, if so where? Your story reads well and is a charming moral of perseverance. Its a fun read for kids. I was a little concerned about passive language, but I felt like it contributed to the warm tone. You could connect the dog to the old man with the man explaining he used to have a dog he fed apple pieces to, but the dog's gone missing. Then the woman has his dog. Unless that warps the folk story too much. I didn't feel such a disconnect anyway. Kids would feel badly for a lonely old man who wants a dog, and they'll be happy when he gets it. </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=58#post-368 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:06:20 +0000 Marvin in Tyler 368@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Patti,<br /> What a fun story! I don't recall hearing it before, so I can't compare it to the original version, but I love stories that teach a subtle lesson.</p> <p>Here are a few comments/observations that may be helpful. </p> <p>Since you are limited to 500 words, you can trim some words from your manuscript without affecting the story. For example, on the first page, first paragraph, you could eliminate the last sentence entirely. In the next paragraph, if you change "...said to herself. She decided to try..." to "...thought, and off she marched...", you could save another couple of words. You might also think about eliminating the beginning of the next paragraph since you already implied that she was moving on. Start the paragraph "She came to a garden." Then on page 2 you say, "You are very kind," said the young man. "These will make her very happy. Will ..." You could shorten that to read, "You are very kind. These will make her very happy," he said. (I know, I know. These save only a few words, but when words count, that can be important.) Another couple of words could be saved by eliminating "Sure enough" from "she had not gone far ..." about 2 paragraphs later.</p> <p>We are reminded to try to use more action than passive verbs. On page 2, 4th paragraph, would you consider this language to be more "active" and more "show, don't tell?" "The couple happily took her plums. Sniffing her bouquet of yellow, blue, and white flowers, she continued walking."</p> <p>Structurally, I only noticed the absence of one set of quotation marks, that being before the last sentence of the second paragraph on page 2.</p> <p>Finally, and this is probably just me, I didn't see the connection between the apples being no good to the old man and his desire for a dog. I understand the loneliness and his desire to share, but the apples doing him no good just because he doesn't have a dog seems somewhat disconnected.</p> <p>Same for the last paragraph. I understand that the whole story is about wanting an apple dumpling for supper, but for me, the relationship between trying long and hard enough and always having an apple dumpling for supper just doesn't "click." I know you are trying to say you can have what you want if you are willing to commit to and work for it, and maybe it can't be said any better than you say it in that last paragraph. I'm just suggesting you take another look at it and see if there is a better way to make the point.</p> <p>Again, I love the story and I think a young reader audience easily will relate to it. Let us know how you make out with the submission.</p> <p>PS. I'm sorry, too, that I didn't think to check out the locations of my "pen pals." It would have been fun to visit with you and I would have loved to have you meet my wife, but alas, I didn't do that. Part of my excuse is that the course of travel (Asheville to Charleston) was kind of a last minute decision resulting from a change of plans that WOULD have taken us to Williamsburg, VA, then to Asheville, then back home instead of Charleston, SC. </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=58#post-367 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:20:20 +0000 Sheila 367@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Apple dumplings! What a great way to kick off fall!!! </p> <p>Looking forward to reading your story! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=58#post-366 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:29:59 +0000 phutchison 366@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Here goes, everyone. I will look forward to seeing what y'all have to say about my little story.</p> <p>Marvin, I got your comments via email. If you wouldn't mind posting so others can see them, it would be great. I wish I would have known about your trip... I am about in the middle between Ashville and Charleston. We could have met for coffee! Glad you had a great trip.</p> <p>Welcome back, everyone! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=57#post-365 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 02:08:36 +0000 Sheila 365@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>That sounds great, Patti! I think that the students will love you.</p> <p>Welcome home, Marvin! It sounds like you had a wonderful summer. </p> <p>Hi, Nando, Ed and Bruno!!! What's up?</p> <p>I'll look for your new thread over the next couple of days, Patti, and I will do my best to get a critique back to you soon.</p> <p>Happy soon to be fall everybody!!! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=57#post-364 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:54:00 +0000 Fernando 364@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Patti,</p> <p>So glad to hear of your success! Congraulations. I have your work downloaded and I'll get it back to you as soon as possible.</p> <p>Perhaps it makes sense for you to start a thread with your story title as the thread title.</p> <p>Have a great day!</p> <p>Fernando </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=57#post-363 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 02:52:54 +0000 Marvin in Tyler 363@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Patti,<br /> I got your manuscript and am ready to comment on it. Are you going to start a new string or should I make my comments here?</p> <p>Marvin</p> <p>PS Just so everyone knows, I also have had a busy summer. I attended the Highlights Foundation's week long workshop at Chautauqua during the week of July 17-24. After a brief time back in Tyler, we had out of town visitors, including 4 children ten and under. Almost as soon as they left, my wife and I took off on a 3,000 mile road trip that brought us to the Raleigh, NC area, then to Asheville, NC, then to Charleston, SC, and finally to visit friends in northeast Alabama before returning to Tyler. I'm back home and have no plans for additional travel for the rest of the year, so I'm anxious for the critique group to get "cranked up" again. </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=57#post-362 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:28:01 +0000 phutchison 362@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>I am teaching reading (if you can believe it) at the college level. I have two developmental classes. Students who fall below a certain score on the entrance exam are required to take the courses. They are really good courses, full of study skills and tips for reading different kinds of texts. I am also teaching a course called College 103. It is an introduction to college and adult life. I wish I had taken it 100 years ago when I was entering the "real world." It's a lot of fun to teach, and I am also learning some things that even this 52 year old brain can use!</p> <p>I will send out my manuscript next week. If anyone can weigh in on it, I'd really appreciate it! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=57#post-361 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:53:09 +0000 Sheila 361@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>What will you be teaching, Patti?</p> <p>Since no one else seems to be claiming September's critique spot, I second your folk tale being next up! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=57#post-360 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:12:59 +0000 Lois 360@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi All!</p> <p>Just wanted to erach out to everyone to say that I'm going to be offline for a while. Things have become very busy for me, and I haven't been able to devote enough time to my writing at the moment. </p> <p>I'll check in every so often, but I probably won't be prepared to dive in full force again until after the fall! Of course, if there are interesting articles/contests/etc. I will post to the site.</p> <p>Thanks Everyone!</p> <p>Lois 8-) </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=57#post-359 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:37:26 +0000 phutchison 359@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi Ed,</p> <p>I don't know about the rest of you, but I've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger! (That was one of my dad's favorite expressions.) We've been to NY for 2 family weddings, and I am about to start teaching college classes tomorrow. I have written a piece, it's a rewrite of an old folk tale. If no one minds, and if I can find it among the summer cobwebs, I'll post it. </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=57#post-358 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:03:53 +0000 edkowalski 358@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi gang. Hope everyone's summer's going well. Thought I'd ask if anyone has material they'd like to submit for this month? I'm dying to see your creative minds. Taking a break til Sept/fall isn't bad either. Be well. Enjoy the rest of summer. Keep writing. :) </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=55#post-357 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:11:55 +0000 edkowalski 357@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Thanks for the grammatical help, critique and encouragement! You're really helping me to fix and polish the story. Notes on shortening the chapters are exactly what I need, lacking childrens book experience. I'm still mulling over how to fix the gecko/wall issue, rewrite their trap, or switch to chameleons vs geckos, but gecko is a fun word. Khan has poor eyesight. He thought Greg was a silver fish until he saw him up close on his beak. I'll clarify that. Glad you enjoyed it, thanks again! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=55#post-356 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:46:15 +0000 Sheila 356@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi, Ed!</p> <p>There have been some great observations so far, so I'm going to sound a little like an echo with this post. That said, the good thing about "echoes" is that they are a strong indicator that multiple readers are feeling the same way about particular points. I agree with Patti that Chapter 1 is too long. I would break it into at least three separate chapters (e.g. the dream, breakfast, the encounter with bullies). Young readers (and older readers as well) like the feeling of completing a chapter, and at over 5000 words, Chapter 1 is asking a lot from young readers. Depending on the age and skill level, it's not that kids are necessarily incapable of sitting still long enough to read 5,000 words (I'm sure that many kids have sat and read Harry Potter until their eyes turned red!), but it is the psychological aspect of reaching a goal. </p> <p>I LOVE your concept here: a gecko community inside a retirement community. It is filled with possibilities and and humorous potential. Also, there is something especially endearing about a gecko. Even the name is funny. </p> <p>Fernando is correct, however, that a gecko has tiny pads on its feet. You might want to reach out to Greg from our Bridgewater Group to get answers to obscure questions about animals. He is a biologist and he knows a lot about animals. He is also very generous with sharing his knowledge with others.</p> <p>Even though overall your writing is clear and structured, be careful as Patti pointed out that you clearly identify who is saying or doing what. Strictly speaking, an action is associated with the noun that immediately precedes it.</p> <p>Here are a few grammatical and stylistic points to bear in mind:</p> <p>1) When using quotation marks, place commas inside them.<br /> 2) I agree with Marvin that when Greg's thoughts are being shared that they should be italicized. This makes it easier for the reader to distinguish.<br /> 3) Please consult the recommended resources guide for proper formatting details such as placement of page numbers, author's name and title of work on each page.<br /> 4) Although this is one of the most common mistakes in English, the phrase is not "I could care less," it is "I couldn't care less."<br /> 5) When referring to Greg's mother and father, mom and dad are capitalized when being used as names and not capitalized when using these words to describe their relationship to Greg. (e.g. "Mom and Dad told me to be home before midnight. If I don't listen to my mom and dad, I will end up grounded."<br /> 6) Be careful with your (s). You have made "alligator" plural in some instances.<br /> 7) To the extent possible show rather than tell.</p> <p>I also agree with Patti that more should be said about his mother. After all, his dad gets a lot of attention. Give the reader more information about his mother. Make her real.</p> <p>I was rather confused about why Khan seemed surprised to see Greg, since he had previously seen him. I guess that he's just surprised to see him on his beak! The action between Khan and Greg, didn't feel believable to me, however. This section, I would work on. I would recommend making Greg more instrumental in utilizing Khan in the rescue rather than making the action seem so coincidental. Also, I didn't relate to how anyone or any gecko could laugh at their rescuer while being threatened by death. Although, I realize that it is a dream.</p> <p>Like Fernando, I really LOVE the name of your characters and their distinct personalities. The alligator brings some great tension.</p> <p>I would just work on separating this piece into multiple chapters. I enjoyed it and I think that young readers will as well. </p> <p>Keep up the good work! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=55#post-355 Sun, 04 Jul 2010 03:01:20 +0000 Marvin in Tyler 355@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi, Ed! I sent my editorial remarks concerning punctuation, sentence structure, etc. to you via e-mail as a marked up copy of the manuscript. For this board, I'll give you my views of the story from an entertaining 'read' perspective.</p> <p>I write stories that have animals talking as if they were humans, so I have no problem with your talking geckos. In fact, I rather like the way you created this tiny "world" of geckos who go about their day-to-day happenings much as any group of humans would do. And I write my stories for the same ages as you indicated above. I think kids up to twelve would enjoy any well written story that has lots of action. I agree with Patty, though, about the length of this first chapter. For that age group, it is way too long. I checked word count and found it was more than 5K just in chapter 1. Some of that can be pared down with editing out unnecessary words, but you should either take Patty's advice and slice it into several chapters, or slice out whole sections of the story.</p> <p>As the others have said, I like your characters. I can visualize them as they do their "thing," and can relate them to a human situations involving school kids. Greg is somewhat rebellious (normal for kids, perhaps at a slightly older age.) His pals are typical in that they support him and are not mirror images of him, physically or intellectually. Same for his adversaries. The conflict between Greg and Duane is well documented, going back to pre-K days.</p> <p>I particularly liked the imagery of the simile where Greg's mother bemoans her son, the prince, looking like an unmade bed! I also liked the mystic where Leopold stated it wasn't the intelligent geckos that worried him. Makes the reader wonder exactly what worried him, and who worried him.</p> <p>I think it is a matter of personal style, but I have been taught that a character's thoughts should be shown in italics. I have done that - changed your words to italics - on the marked copy I returned to you. Use it or not, as you see fit.</p> <p>I didn't like the reference to "Greg the gecko" or "Khan the pelican." I think you could have shown who these characters were rather than put "tags" on them. The same can be said when talking about "a girl gecko about his same age." I liked the "arrival" of Kirk, and the fact that he was old enough to be married, but still felt somewhat junior to the geckos, most likely due to his diminutive size.</p> <p>It is an enjoyable beginning and I can't help but wonder where it is going to take us. I'll be watching for the next segment.</p> <p>Marvin </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=55#post-354 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:48:40 +0000 edkowalski 354@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Thx, guys. Marvin, I resent to u now, read when u can. Patti, thx for ur comments and encouragement! I'll go thru ur comments presently. I wrote it thinking 7yo up to 11 or 12 (had my 9 and 12 yo children in mind) I'm in desperate need of guidance re which age group to gear it toward. A romance drives the plot, which may be inapprop for younger readers. It does have a positive lesson about don't be ashamed of who you are, embrace it. I'd love to send you more chapters (12 in all. heh), but what's the group's policy? I should defer to someone else for July. Thx! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=55#post-353 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:34:13 +0000 phutchison 353@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi Ed!</p> <p>I very much enjoyed the characters in your story; their descriptions and dialogue really reveal a lot about their personalities. I would, however, add more of a description of mom, than "a chubby, short, old gecko." I love the way the story begins, and it pulled me right in. I also love how the dream is somewhat "reenacted" toward the middle of the chapter. </p> <p>I was very drawn in by the mystery surrounding Greg's problem. However, toward the middle and end, I began to think it had been drawn out too much, and I began to lose interest. The story also seemed, for young readers, to jump too much, from the dream, to the present, to the past, etc. </p> <p>Which brings me to my next question-- what is your expected audience? I can see the premise as one that would amuse emergent readers, in other words perhaps a controlled reader chapter book. I have a hard time thinking that children older than 7 or 8 are going to be interested in reading about talking geckos. However, if your intended audience is that young, you will probably need to control your vocabulary a little more, and shorten the chapters. I feel there was too much included in this first chapter for this age group; I could see it even divided into 3 or more shorter chapters. Again, this is just my observation, taken from years of teaching and seeing what kids like and are able to read and comprehend. Also, it is difficult to tell from reading only one chapter.</p> <p>I loved the imagery you created through your use of similes. I also loved the humor in your story, although it might be somewhat lost on a younger audience.</p> <p>As for grammar, etc. please see the changes I suggested in green italics on the copy I sent back to you. In general, please watch your use of pronouns and whom they are referring to. For example, "His cold, reptilian eyes staring at Greg were the only clue that he was there." is a little confusing. I would rather see, "The cold, reptilian eyes staring up at Greg were his only clue that the alligator was there." It's a little less confusing as to whom the "he's and his's" refer to. Also, please be aware of the overuse of the word "like" in the manuscript.</p> <p>All in all, I think it's the beginning of a good tale, that I suspect has a wonderful theme and life lesson to be learned. I'd be interested in reading the rest of it!</p> <p>Good luck! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=56#post-352 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:22:26 +0000 Joshua 352@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi Patty,</p> <p>1) As stated, their request is ambiguous. A "URL" is a type of internet address. URLs can refer to files or web sites (among other things). <a href="http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board" rel="nofollow">http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board</a> is the URL address of this message board, for instance. These web sites may expect that you will have your *own* web site showcasing your portfolio, or they may just be asking for a link from which they can download a file containing your portfolio (e.g., a link to an MS Word document). You should seek clarification on this point.</p> <p>2) The US is a signatory to the Berne Convention on copyrights. Accordingly, your works have copyright from the moment of their creation. Explicit copyright registration is mostly important for securing statutory damages and recovering attorneys fees in litigation. Registering your work before publication can also introduce complications, as different publishers will demand transfer of different privileges when they purchase your work. Look up the terms "first serial rights," "all rights," "one-time rights," "electronic rights," and "work for hire" on Google. </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=55#post-351 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:49:08 +0000 Marvin in Tyler 351@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Ed,<br /> I never received the True Colors manuscript, but would love to read it. However, due to a very active (and hectic) schedule, I may not be able to offer a critique on it for several weeks. I leave on Friday, July 16 for the week long Highlights Foundation workshop in Chautauqua, NY. I'll be back home about 2 weeks before my wife and I embark on a 10-12 day motor trip to visit friends in N.C. and VA. In the time before and between these trips, I have a lot of "catching up" to do following several months of Home Improvement, Mayer Edition!</p> <p>Marvin </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=56#post-350 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:18:47 +0000 edkowalski 350@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>on 3. easiest way is to open ur site. copy the address, paste it into an email to them. I'd think if u don't have an online portfolio u could ask them if u can just send samples? But I don't know much about 1 and 2. good luck! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=56#post-349 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:22:03 +0000 phutchison 349@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi everyone. I am going to sound so low-tech with this appeal, but if I can get some insight on this topic, I'll put up with the red face.<br /> I am looking into freelance writing jobs on the internet and many sites want me to send the url to my portfolio. I have so many questions about this I barely know where to start. But here goes:<br /> 1. What should go in this portfolio?<br /> 2. If I put writing samples in there, should they be copyrighted? If so, how do I go about doing this?<br /> 3. Once I figure all this out, and actually have a portfolio, how do I send these sites the url for it? (See, I told you... low-tech :)) </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=55#post-348 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:27:08 +0000 edkowalski 348@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Thx, Fernando, very glad u like it! Your comments r very helpful. I don't fear the red marks. I originally wrote it as an animated script, so the bush/rooms issue would have been handled by animators. I have to work on resolving that, but I did edit the dining hall scene to fix it a bit. Hinting at Greg's color problem is a chapter-long tease that is revealed in Chapter 2 in a terribly embarrassing way for Greg. I don't know if a chapter long tease is too much. I wanted to make them chameleons originally (I've visited FL and the Bahamas and love them). Maybe it's a goof on my part. I thought gecko and chameleon are interchangable terms. I will research that. Will def fix the slippery slope issue if I'm wrong! Various lizards camouflage. I own a dragon lizard who's very cool to watch change. I also could use comments on which age group the book seems to be or should be geared to. I'm hazy on the specific levels in childrens books. I was targeting ages maybe 7 to 11 or 12, but there's a romance in Chap 2 that drives the story, and I'd guess that's not right for younger ages. Thx for the good words, Fernando! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=55#post-347 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:50:12 +0000 Fernando 347@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Ed,</p> <p>What a great beginning. I really got involved in the rescue – past occupation I guess. Anyway, having that as only a dream, and a dream that doesn’t seem to recur after that … well I got disappointed. Your character names are fantastic. I can visualize each before you describe them. Fear not the red marks, my friend! These are only suggestions, and are meant in the least critical way.</p> <p>I guess the parts that rankle are those that don’t hold my disbelief suspended. It’s probably the engineer in me, but a bush doesn’t give the same visual of enclosed rooms with butlers and long twenty-gecko tables. Perhaps if the room descriptions included intertwined leaves, but I visualized standard architecture.</p> <p>I found the development of the MC’s conflict stretched a bit. The dream aside, I might have liked to hear Leopold mention or hint a bit better about Greg’s problem – how it impacted Leopold more than just gossip from people he doesn’t care about. If the problem were hereditary, could that compound the embarrassment? On page two, the problem with his color change is shown as a strength. This is later (on page 12) defined as the conflict/problem. Greg’s uncontrolled color changes under stress do not comply with his controlled color changes on page two, which seem to be some super power.</p> <p>Also, the description on page 12 is stated calmly – telling not showing from the MC POV in the MC’s brain. On down at page 18, during the flashback, you repeat the problem. This time with more passion, but I don’t get the feeling that the teacher is as heartless as you might be going for here. She seems unconcerned, given the fact, that Greg is the king’s son. Does she not fear retribution?</p> <p>Geckos are great fun. I wonder, though do they change colors? I think of chameleons and cephalopods when I think of animals that change color in the manner you describe, especially when in stress. Odd, though, I have no problem with a gecko changing to plaid.</p> <p>Which pubescent male problem would be more socially scary: turning colors when stressed, or having a bulge appear beneath a garment? After all, you do have Greg dressed in a T-shirt.</p> <p>I may be going too deep - your story made me a gecko for a while - but the character traits you define in your story do not seem to apply to a gecko. For instance, according to our local zoo guru, geckos have cells on their feet that are specialized to grip to slick surfaces. A moist surface enhances this capability. So, the danger in the dream sequence shouldn’t have been there. Can a switch to a chameleon be made? It gets rid of a lot of questions.</p> <p>Your characters, in themselves, are great. They are not ‘cookie cutter types’. They have their own personalities and different physical attributes. Mercurio, is what his name describes: quick and slick. Mongo is – well – Mongo. I liked the sinister alligator and would only change the way he moved, e.g. page 13 when he ‘… gliding through the water with almost no effort.” Might be more sinister if, “… gliding through the water without a wake.” I think the pelican’s issues might be made clearer. I get the feeling he’s the comic relief here, but I didn’t get the sense that he had any back-story.</p> <p>After all that, I still think you have a great first chapter. This seems to be a hoot. If this were a ‘teaser’, I would really like to read more of it. Thanks for sharing.</p> <p>Fernando </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=47#post-346 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:19:55 +0000 edkowalski 346@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Seems like it's up to you (maybe your editor hoping you get that far). If you feel chapters need it, or it helps you organize like Fernando and me, then add a title. I have fun with it, think up odd or silly titles. The chapter title can be a great attention grabber. Marvin, did you have good luck with PublishAmerica? I googled them and found a bad review, but it is from 2005. <a href="http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2005/01/the_publishamer.html" rel="nofollow">http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2005/01/the_publishamer.html</a> </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=48#post-345 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:12:31 +0000 edkowalski 345@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Thx, Lois, good to be here! Short stories r difficult, but that was good for any shot, let alone your first shot. It ended abruptly, but that actually enhanced the tone, so let's assume you did that on purpose. </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=48#post-344 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:34:50 +0000 Lois 344@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Thanks Ed! Welcome to the group! It was my first shot at quick fiction :) </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=54#post-343 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:07:19 +0000 edkowalski 343@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>You're very welcome, thank you for reading/critiquing it. I hope it's not awful. heh </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=55#post-342 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:41:56 +0000 Sheila 342@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Sounds like fun. I'm looking forward to reading it! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=48#post-341 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:40:35 +0000 edkowalski 341@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi, Lois. I read 9_Byte (dying to see people's style here). It's good, twisted stuff! A good cautionary tale about abuse of power. You've got to write a sequel where Alex uses his hacker skills to find his daughter. Ok, you don't HAVE to... </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=54#post-340 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:47:39 +0000 Sheila 340@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Thanks, Ed! I'm looking forward to reading it. </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=54#post-339 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:46:41 +0000 edkowalski 339@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi, I actually finished it today, emailed it to you, created a new thread, True Colors, on the board. Be gentle :) but not too gentle, I don't think I have to worry about that. </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=55#post-338 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:38:58 +0000 edkowalski 338@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi, guys. I emailed you chapter 1 of my book, True Colors: A Young Gecko's First Tail of Adventure. Looking forward to comments, thanks! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=54#post-337 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:51:21 +0000 edkowalski 337@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi all, thanks for the welcome! Glad to be here. I should be sending you a chapter in the next day or two. I'll create a new thread for it. Looking forward to some good critiques. Looking forward to reading your work too! </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=54#post-336 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:29:43 +0000 Fernando 336@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Hi Ed!<br /> Welcome to the group. I think you will like it here. Sorry for the delay in responding to your arrival. I am between internet providers. I have a conection now through the local library.</p> <p>Send your story when you fell it's right. Hope it's soon.</p> <p>Fernando </p> http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/topic.php?id=54#post-335 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 12:26:21 +0000 phutchison 335@http://www.childrenswritersguild.org/board/ <p>Welcome, Ed! I look forward to reading your work. This is a great group to work with. </p>