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Your Path to Publication is Research! www.HeatherLMontgomery.com

Your Path to Publication is Research!

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Page 1: Your Path to Publication is Research!

Your Path to Publicationis

Research!

www.HeatherLMontgomery.com

Page 3: Your Path to Publication is Research!
Page 4: Your Path to Publication is Research!

TEST QUESTIONS, 20111. Weathering and erosion both act on the surface of the earth. In what way are weathering and erosion similar?

A. Both are usually caused by freezing water.

B. Neither changes the earth's surface quickly.

Highlights, 2007

How big is it?Use your body to measure things. How many fingers wide is a glass? How many hands tall is this page? Find other things around your house to measure.

KidMagWriters.com, 2009

Research Takes You Places

Page 5: Your Path to Publication is Research!

1. Spread Out the Map (Understanding the Market)

Research is the key

PB, graphic novels, easy readers, chapter books, MG, YA, crossover Trade vs. Educational Commercial vs. Literary

Series Magazines – Spider, Ask, Highlights, Muse, Boy’s Life, … Nonfiction

Text books, reference, test questions, … Internet and software Teacher’s guides, curriculum, Activity books, …

At first –Read Everything!!!So you can see the whole map!

Page 6: Your Path to Publication is Research!

2. Get Oriented!(Self-Assessment)

Research is the key

What do you love?

What do you hate?

What are you really good at?

What skills do you already possess?

Ask your friends. Ask your spouse. Ask your employers. Ask your kids. Ask yourself.

What is your goal?

Page 7: Your Path to Publication is Research!

3. Select a Route(Consider all the options)

Research is the key

Page 8: Your Path to Publication is Research!

• Magazines

• Find a niche! Christian, science, gifted education, writing for writers, . . .

• Write book reviews, write for blogs, write for free!

• Plan to start small and work up.

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Writing isn’t EVERYTHING!

Diversify your revenue streams

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4. Train Hard(Study a Magazine or Publisher)

Research is the key

Love your librarian!

Read 100 Things. . .

Page 11: Your Path to Publication is Research!

Do close readings

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Study the intended audience. . .

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What’s Inside a Rattlesnake’s Rattle?

Garter Snakes

Both

Page 14: Your Path to Publication is Research!

Summertime

When the weather is warm and food

is plentiful, a garter snake grows and

needs to shed. It rubs its chin against a

rock. The old skin splits near the mouth.

Then things get tough. Imagine pulling

off a tight sweater without using your

hands. If a snake can find a stick to hook

the old skin on, that helps. After an hour

of struggling, the snake slithers away in

a clean, new skin.

How often do snakes shed their skin? Corbin age 8A snake’s skin protects it while it slides across rough rocks and bark. Whenever the snake gets too big for its skin, it sheds. The more a snake eats, the more often it will shed. How do snakes shed their skin? 1st and 2nd gradersTo shed, a snake rubs its chin against a stone until the skin splits. The snake slides out of the skin, turning the skin inside out. A new skin has grown underneath.

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What’s Inside?

• Includes questions• Only simple sentences• One idea per paragraph• 8 sentences per page• 4 sentences per paragraph• 10 words per sentence• 4 characters per word• 2.0 Grade level

Garter Snakes

• Complex sentences• Includes step by step explanations• 17 sentences per page• 4.2 sentences per paragraph• 12.8 words per sentence• 4.5 characters per word• 6.6 Grade level

Both

No compound sentencesUse simple sentences

Summertime

When the weather is warm and food is plentiful, a

garter snake grows and needs to shed. It rubs its chin

against a rock. The old skin splits near the mouth. Then

things get tough. Imagine pulling off a tight sweater

without using your hands. If a snake can find a stick to

hook the old skin on, that helps. After an hour of

struggling, the snake slithers away in a clean, new skin.

How often do snakes shed their skin? Corbin age 8A snake’s skin protects it while it slides across rough rocks and bark. Whenever the snake gets too big for its skin, it sheds. The more a snake eats, the more often it will shed. How do snakes shed their skin? 1st and 2nd gradersTo shed, a snake rubs its chin against a stone until the skin splits. The snake slides out of the skin, turning the skin inside out. A new skin has grown underneath.

Page 16: Your Path to Publication is Research!

 

ORIENTEERING

(A writing sample)

 

Throughout history, people have had to find their way through the wilderness. People

developed maps and magnetic compasses to help them. Today, most people don’t use these tools

in their everyday life. But some people use maps and compasses in an exciting sport –

orienteering.

 

The Sport

In orienteering, a person races to find points that are marked on a map. These points are

called controls. The racer can use only a map, a compass and their mind.

To win, a person must complete the course accurately in the shortest amount of time. To

be the fastest, they must choose the best route to each control. They need to decide whether to

go on or off the trail. A racer has to read the map to determine whether to go over a hill or

around it. They may even decide to run through a river.

There are many types of orienteering. People can orienteer by mountain bike, car or

even canoe. But, orienteering cross-country by foot is the most common.

 The Course

An orienteering course can be over any type of terrain. Some courses are deep in the

forest. Some are on hilly open fields.

The difficulty of a course is determined by the terrain and where the controls are placed.

Beginning courses are easy enough for a young child to complete in a few minutes. An

advanced course might take several hours to run.

 

 

Practice,Practice,Practice

And use your critique group!

Page 17: Your Path to Publication is Research!

5. Preparing your Pack(et)

Research is the key

1. Cover Letter2. Resume3. Writing Sample and/or clips

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Heather MontgomeryP.O. Box 601

Ardmore, TN 38449   September 24, 2007 tone Press151 Good Counsel Dr.P.O. Box 669Mankato MN 56002 Dear Ms. Olson, I would like to be considered for freelance opportunities with Capstone Press. Enclosed you will find several samples of my writing. My BS in biology grounds me in science and my MS in environmental education ensures my understanding of the learning process. Over twelve years of teaching science and developing curriculum has taught me how to correlate projects with the state and national education standards.  My writing credits include both children’s and professional magazines. I’ve sold science informational articles to Science World and Highlights for Children. In my writing, I strive to excite inquisitive minds and set readers off on their own scientific adventure. Professionally, I am reliable, punctual and thorough in my research. My area of interest encompasses both life science and earth science as well as outdoor activities and sports. My passions are entomology and freshwater ecology, but I’ve found that I become excited about any subject on which I conduct in-depth research.  Enclosed you will find my resume. I am available for assignments and can be reached at [email protected] or 256-426-5871. Sincerely, Heather L. Montgomery

Business Letter

Professional Intro

Brief bio/skills

Writing Credits/Exp.

Characteristics & Interests

Contact Info

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6. Enjoy the Journey(Don’t sit around and

wait)Research is the key

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Some research resources Yahoo Groups and Facebook, NFForKids, Google books, www.books.google.com

Amazon Preview www.amazon.comAdvanced Search ww.worldcat.org

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Some how-to resourcesLaura Purdie Salas, Writing for the Educational

Market, print or Kindle book: https://mentorsforrent.wordpress.com/ebooks/ed/

Children’s Writer’s Wordbook

Margery Facklam and Peggy Thomas, Anatomy of Nonfiction: Writing True Stories for Children and blog http://anatomyofnonfiction.blogspot.com/

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Market Resources

SCBWI conferences, The Book, available to members at

www.SCBWI.org

Writing for the Educational Market – job leads: http://educationwriting.blogspot.com/

Children’s Writers and Illustrators Market

Evelyn B. Christensen’s Educational Markets for Children’s

Writers plus Children’s Magazines http://www.evelynchristensen.com/markets.html plus http://www.evelynchristensen.com/mags.html

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www.HeatherLMontgomery.com

See You on the trail!