Author Websites with Advice for Young Writers

I came across this wonderful list of author advice for young writers in the latest newsletter from the California Learning Strategies Center, a terrific resource for gifted students and their parents. Visit their website at www.LearningStrategiesCenter.com, where you can sign up for their free newsletter too! Many thanks for Susan Goodkin for reprint permission.

T.A. Barron
http://www.tabarron.com/for-aspiring-writers

Judy Blume
www.judyblume.com/kids.php

Bruce Coville
http://www.brucecoville.com/tips.asp

Jean Craighead George
www.jeancraigheadgeorge.com/writing.html

Ursula LaGuin
http://www.ursulakleguin.com/MenuContentsList.html#writing

R.L. Lafevers
http://www.rllafevers.com/for_writers.html

Amelia Atwater Rhodes
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/atwaterrhodes/advice.htm

Rick Riordan
http://www.rickriordan.com/index.php/about-the-author/tips-for-aspiring-writers/

Emily Rodda
http://www.emilyrodda.com/writingtips.html

Writing Contest for Young Writers!

Thanks to my writing buddy D.B. Pacini (http://www.astarrynightproductions.com) for sending notice of this contest along to me!

The rules for the Will Albrecht Young Adult Writing Contest are as follows: Writers between 15 and 20 years of age may submit a short story or up to three poems on any subject at a max. of 10 pages double spaced and typed.

First prize is $100; Second Prize is $50; Third Prize is $25.

Submissions are due by August 1st for the Fall-Winter issue, but later entries will be considered for the next round.

Send your work via email to evans327@comcast.net or via regular mail to Scott Evans, Editor, Blue Moon Literary & Art Review, 327 Twelfth St., Davis, CA 95616. www.geocities.com/bluemoonreview

Be The Star You Are! Books & Bands Bash

Here's an exciting upcoming event from a longtime Write On! supporter, Cynthia Brian. Her literacy charity, Be the Star You Are!®, is celebrating its 10th anniversary of service on September 13 with a Books and Bands Bash Benefit. Cynthia's new book, Be the Star You Are! for TEENS will be launched at the event with thirteen contributors on hand to autograph copies.

There will be dancing under the stars, food, vendors, raffles, and even a bone marrow registry. For information and tickets go to www.bethestaryouare.org.

All proceeds benefit charity and are tax deductible. Even if you can't make it to the Bash, check out Cynthia's website for wonderful resources, information and inspiration!

Guest Post by Rajiv Khanna

Here are some a great tips sent in from my dear friend Rajiv, who has always been a huge supporter of Write On! Thanks, Rajiv!

One cannot overstate the importance of spending some quality alone time with yourself each day. Here are some things you may want to include in your routine:

1. Deep breathing: Take at least ten deep breaths. With each breath, fill in your lungs as completely as possible; then hold the breath as long as comfortably possible. Deep breathing helps to boost your energy level.

2. Affirmation of goals: Remind yourself of your writing, career, health, and life goals.

3. Visualization: Visualize yourself confidently working through your tasks/goals for the day.

4. Self affirmation: Remind yourself that:
* you have already achieved a lot in your life: you are, in fact, far ahead of the curve;
* you have the energy, the talent, and the drive to go after your goals;
* you are truly special and unique at the core of your being; and that core self is what truly defines you, not the specific outcomes of your life. Thus, a specific outcome may be failure at a given task; but that does not make you a failure: all that happened was that an action of yours failed. Never confuse you (your core self) with your specific thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

More information and insights can be found in the many books of Paul Hauck, specifically Overcoming the Rating Game: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Paul+Hauck&x=14&y=12

Great Website for Young Writers!

I just came across this wonderful website: http://www.thebluepencil.net/

I often receive e-mails and letters from young writers asking where they can publish their work. The Blue Pencil is a great resource! They are actively looking for submissions from young people. Plus, the website is a treasure trove of inspiration -- you can read fiction, poetry, even plays written by kids and teens. They also hold a writing contest called The Bishop Prizes.

Good luck and have fun submitting!

Want Some Great Summer Reading? Check Out This Book!

What is your favorite place on Earth? This is the question that award-winning travel writer Jerry Camarillo Dunn, Jr. asked the most celebrated people of our time, ranging from the Dalai Lama to Robin Williams.

The result: A completely original portrait of our astonishing world, as seen through their eyes. The worldwide “who’s who” includes actors Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, and Natalie Portman • U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor • singer James Taylor • astronaut Buzz Aldrin • filmmaker George Lucas • humorist Dave Barry • ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau • sitar master Ravi Shankar • basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar • fashion designer Calvin Klein • mind/body medicine pioneer Deepak Chopra • musicians Loretta Lynn and Josh Groban • The Simpsons creator Matt Groening • chefs Wolfgang Puck and Alice Waters • Jeopardy host Alex Trebek • authors Ray Bradbury and T.C. Boyle • comics Jerry Seinfeld and Jeff Foxworthy • entrepreneurs Donald Trump and Richard Branson • film critic Leonard Maltin • Craig “craigslist” Newmark • skateboarder Tony Hawk • and many others.

Their travel discoveries are fascinating and quirky: A lost city in Sri Lanka. The Pasadena Rose Parade. A private island in the Caribbean. A wild dog research camp in Botswana. The Moscow Country Club. A surfing paradise in Fiji. The Left Bank in Paris. A softball field in New York’s Central Park. A winding road on Maui. Some places are beautiful, others surprising – but all hold special appeal and reveal famous personalities as never before.

The book includes intriguing information about each place and even tells how to visit them. But the real allure is the entertaining narrative, inviting readers to experience the excitement of traveling with these celebrated personalities to their favorite places on Earth.

For more information, visit Jerry's website: http://www.myfavoriteplacenatgeo.com

Vote for Write On! to get a $1,000 grant for literacy!

Write On! For Literacy is one of thirty teams in the running for fifteen $1,000 prizes offered by Ralph Lauren through the Ashoka Youth Venture Program.

We need your help!

All you have to do is click on the link below, scroll down the list, and vote for Write On!

http://www.rugby.com/newsroom/blog_post.aspx?id=ace1f4b2-2cc6-44e3-b109-03cc94ea993e&cat=6d3287ed-c1e1-4d01-8717-544c4efbb8b9

If we are selected, the prize money will be used to purchase brand-new books to give to underprivileged kids through our annual Holiday Book Drive.

Thanks for your help! Tell all your friends! Voting ends JUNE 30th.

http://www.rugby.com/newsroom/blog_post.aspx?id=ace1f4b2-2cc6-44e3-b109-03cc94ea993e&cat=6d3287ed-c1e1-4d01-8717-544c4efbb8b9