CABBAGES AND FINGS - with apologies to Lewis Carroll

I've been writing stories and poems for as long as I can remember. I have a four-drawer chest full of them, there are more stacked in the shelves of a wardrobe once intended to store skivvies, pullovers and underwear; my writing desk hasn’t seen the light of day in three years.

Along the way I’ve had a few nibbles from publishers and magazine editors (but somehow though several have acknowledged the stories make enjoyable reading - and they wished me luck, it seems the particular story was not what the publisher was looking for at this time or it happened they just accepted something similar only yesterday). I have several stories printed in anthologies; an article or two in professional journals, a self-published a children’s picture book - and this last week my story in verse: Red Riding Hood Rap has actually made it into the summer 2009 edition of Alphabet Soup. But none of this reduces my ‘personal’ slush pile.

In a year or ten I’m going to fall off the perch - and all those words that flowed year after year from my heart and my head will end up in some trash pile …


UNLESS


...   ....   I act now!




So ...

between cleaning my teeth and preparing to  entertain a seniors' group with story, song and riddles a week or two ago I came upon a FREE web programme on the internet http://www.wix.com/

It provides the capacity to upload a story (or anything else for that matter) and allow the reader to turn the pages as in a real book. The programme not only includes clip-art and other quirky elements that can be added to the text, it allows users to upload their own illustrations, photos or tables from their computer. (I even managed to create treble clef  melody line for the song I wanted in one of my stories).


Now I’m just a beginner in all this techno world stuff  but I bravely offer the following  URLS of  my first efforts - done for the entertainment of my great nieces and nephews. I invite you to take a peek and tell me what you think (I think you need ‘Flash’ to make it work!)

So for the moment I'll save my stamps, forget my query letters - and just enjoy playing.

http://www.wix.com/mabelka/Jeb_out_Shoo

http://www.wix.com/mabelka/Naughty_Good_Girl

http://www.wix.com/mabelka/Song_of_Little_B

BLOG TOUR (9) HAS BEGUN. SEE BELOW TO JOIN THE FUN!

SNOWY'S CHRISTMAS

Snowy's Christmas
Written by Sally Murphy
Illustrated by David Murphy
Published by Random House (October, 2009)


Yes! Sally Murphy’s latest book, children’s picture book, ‘Snowy’s Christmas’ rolled into cyber space on Sunday at http://aussiechristmas.wordpress.com/
to introduce Snowy and friends.

Starting 4 October and each Sunday following until 13 December, 2009 they will bounce from blog to blog to brighten the road to Christmas.

Here’s the schedule
Week One: 4 October
Deescribe Writing Blog http://www.deescribewriting.wordpress.com/

Week Two: 11 October

Write and Read With Dale http://livejournal.com/users/orangedale/

Week three: 18 October

Alphabet Soup Blog http://www.soupblog.wordpress.com/

Week Four: 25 October

Let's Have Words http://www.letshavewords.blogspot.com/

Week Five: 1 November

Sally Murphy's Writing for children Blog

http://sallymurphy.blogspot.com/

Week Six: 8 November

Aussiereviews Blog http://aussiereviews.blogspot.com/

Week Seven: 15 November

Samantha Hughes' Blog http://samantha-hughes.blogspot.com/

Week Eight: 22 November

Robyn Opie's Writing Children's Books Blog

http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com/

Week Nine: 29 November

Stories are Light http://sandyfussell.blogspot.com/

Week Ten: 6 December

The Aussie Christmas Blog http://aussiechristmas.wordpress.com/

Week Eleven: 13 December

Tales I Tell http://belka37.blogspot.com/ [Right here]

*   *   *   *   *

BLOG Tour(8) Alphabet Soup

The spring 2009 issue of Alphabet Soup marks the first birthday of this
Australian magazine for children aged 6 to 12 who love reading and creative writing. The magazine is published four times a year. A free sample of the magazine (issue 1) can be downloaded from the website (www.alphabetsoup.net.au).

Today, I am delighted to introduce you to the magazine’s editor, Rebecca Newman
...Good morning Rebecca! I can feel how excited you are about this first birthday celebration of your magazine. Congratulations! It’s quite an achievement.

Thank you, Mabel! My team and I are thrilled that the spring 2009 issue marking our first birthday is here. The year has certainly gone very quickly.

Rebecca! Our readers are waiting so I’ll get straight into our interview. I would like to focus on what the submission process might mean for both the magazine editor or production team and the contributors.


...For example, do you aim for a similar mix of content – stories, puzzles, book reviews, poetry, author interviews and children’s contributions – in each issue?
Yes, we include the same elements in each issue of the magazine: one traditional tale (folktale/fairytale/myth), one other story, a page of poems, book recommendations, a page of writing tips, a Q&A with an Australian author or illustrator, a crossword/word puzzle, and the ‘Write On’ section (stories, poems, reviews and artwork by children).

How do you determine what you’re looking for and select contributors?
Alphabet Soup is for children aged 6 to 12, and currently the majority of our readers are children aged 9 to 10. I do keep this in mind when I’m reading submissions. It’s very important that submissions keep within the word limits. If a manuscript is too long we can’t use it, even if it’s brilliant – we just don’t have the space!
...We choose stories with strong characters, an original story idea and good use of language. Due to the age range, we don’t use stories that have violence and swearing.
We have received queries from a few writers about serialising longer stories (printing half in one issue and the other half in the next), but we are not going down this path at the moment.
...Although the Curiosity Corner article suggests a theme for each issue, we don’t require stories and poems to adhere to the theme. (It’s a bonus if it does match the theme but we’re looking for good quality stories – and we’re not too worried about whether or not it fits in with a theme.)
...Poems can be free verse or rhyming – if the latter, rhyme should not sound forced.
...We can only use 2 adult-written stories and 1 to 2 poems in each issue – this means we can only accept 8 stories and 4 to 8 poems per year. It’s important to remember this if we don’t accept your submission. While we do need a supply of fresh material, we can’t accept as many manuscripts as we’d like to!

What guidelines do you offer potential contributors in terms of content, style, length and format? Should they have researched the publication? In the first instance do you prefer a query letter or a copy of the manuscript?
Writers can find the guidelines on the magazine’s website (www.alphabetsoup.net.au). It is strongly recommended that you read an issue of Alphabet Soup before you submit work! (You’ll find a free sample of the magazine – issue 1 – on the home page of the website.)

Stories need to be under 500 words, and poems under 250 words. We accept submissions from emerging and established writers.
...We prefer submissions to be made via mail or email, with a copy of the manuscript attached. And it is important to remember that our audience is Australian children of primary school age!

Should contributors include with their manuscript, a cover letter, something about themselves and what makes them an expert in their area or what piqued their interest in the topic they have chosen to write about?
Contact details in a cover letter or email are essential. We also need to know if the piece has been published previously (and where) for copyright purposes, but we don’t need to know if you’ve had other work published. We will consider your submitted manuscript on its own merits.
...If you’re submitting a story that includes scientific or historical facts (even in a piece of fiction), we need to know that the information can be verified, so it would be useful to know if you are an expert in your area.
...We’ll generally contact you within two weeks of a submission.

Do you accept photographs or illustrations from contributors?
As the magazine has two illustrators, we don’t accept photographs or artwork submissions from adults. Children may submit artwork for the Write On section of the magazine.

To what extent do you rely on submissions by invitation and unsolicited manuscripts?
About 40% of the manuscripts we accept are unsolicited. So we do read all stories and poems coming in!

How important is the ‘Write On’ section for contributions from under 12s?
Children will tell you this is the best part of the magazine! We love reading through children’s submissions of stories, poems, reviews, letters, and artwork. (Write On is not a competition – there is a writing competition in another section of the magazine.) We try to include as many pieces as possible in Write On, without it feeling too cluttered. It’s a great opportunity for children to see their work in print alongside adult writing.
...Submissions need to include a permission form signed by a parent and the child. You’ll find the permission form (and the guidelines for submissions) on the website at www.alphabetsoup.net.au or email or ring us, and we’ll post one out to you!
...If you are on our email list, we usually email our subscribers a competition cover sheet, and a Write On permission form after each issue is posted. Children do not have to be subscribers to enter the competitions, or to submit work for Write On.

Well, that’s where we finish for today. Thank you, Rebecca for your insights into the thought and planning that goes into the publication of Alphabet Soup. I wish you all the best as you continue to develop and grow your publication. Enjoy the rest of your blog tour.
I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to share my passion. Thank you, Mabel, for having me here.

Blog tour dates:
1 September Dale Harcombe (Write and Read With Dale) http://www.livejournal.com/users/orangedale

2 September Sally Murphy (Sally Murphy's Writing for Children Blog) http://sallymurphy.blogspot.com
3 September Claire Saxby (Let's Have Words) http://www.letshavewords.blogspot.com/
4 September Mabel Kaplan (Tales I Tell) http://belka37.blogspot.com
5 September Dee White (Teachers Writing Helper) www.teacherswritinghelper.wordpress.com
6 September Robyn Opie (Writing Children's Books) http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com
7 September Sandy Fussell (Stories Are Light) www.sandyfussell.blogspot.com