WRITING COMMUNITY INFORMATION

The Inkwell is packed with information and discussion groups for writers and illustrators. As of 7 p.m. CST we have 113 members. I thought I would share with you some of the great things you can do and learn from at the Inkwell.

Upcoming Events Page:

• Three HarperCollins editors answer your questions!

March 31, 2010 from 5pm to 6pm – The Inkpop website

• Agent's Day Newport Beach, CA May 15, 2010

May 15, 2010 from 9am to 5pm – Newport Beach ca

• UCLA Extension Online

April 2, 2012 from 6pm to 7pm – Your laptop


A Blog Page: It’s filled with great topics and wonderful links! You can post a link to your blog here. (Very cool posts you can link to…)

Becoming a Slush Pile Hero- Part Four: "Full" Disclosure

GRAFFITI WALL OPENING!! Our Own, Marcy Hatch!

Getting to know your characters

Great post from Suzette Saxton on getting to know your characters. http://tinyurl.com/ybgj3kl

Lots of forums: (Here are a few examples…)

Sourcebooks TeenFIRE, a publishing company you need to know!
I'm a member of Sourcebooks TeenFIRE and if you don't know about this YA publisher you should! Last month TeenFIRE and the fabulous Georgia…
Started by Jessica Milar

What's appropriate in middle grade novels?
I'm guessing that kids in elementary schools are reading middle grades that might have 14-year-old MCs. What's off limits?
Started by Buffy Andrews

Ask anything you like about publishing on this thread
If you're new to the site and just want some questions answered, then post them here. Hopefully you'll return and become a member!
Started by Jessica Milar

37 Discussion Groups: (Here’s a sampling…)

Introductions Please :)

Manuscript Critiques

YA Queries

Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Celebrate (Stop in and share your successes and other inkwell member’s successes.)

MG Queries (I’m the moderator of this group.)

Artists and Illustrators

YA Queries

YA First Five

Picture Book
There is even a place to CHAT with other members and to display your artwork or photographs. The Inkwell has something for everyone! I hope you will hop over and give it a shot.


FYI: Moonrat is celebrating her 500,000th hit by having a contest.  The deadline is tomorrow, so hurry over and check it out!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR YOUR PLATFORM?

(This has nothing to do with my post, it's just a great picture from my trip to the Bahamas...)

So, what are you doing to build a platform?  In my interview with literary agent Mark McVeigh we learned that a platform is any media based entity you have that puts you out there for people to read or experience in some way. It could be a blog, a local radio chat, contacts you have with the media, even Twitter.

Do you have a blog?  Do you Twitter?  Do you facebook?  Do you belong to YALITCHAT?  Have you joined The Inkwell?  Have you done any school/library presentations?  Have you been on the radio?  WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO BUILD A PLATFORM? 

WRITING COMMUNITY ALERT...and other informational links

NEW WRITING COMMUNITY ALERT: The Inkwell is a great new writer’s community! If you haven’t joined, now is the time… Read Buffy’s review on Literary Rambles, check out the site, join, participate, increase your knowledge, get a manuscript critique and get another step closer to publication.

From The Inkwell… “All new writers and artists (including illustrators, web comic creators and graphic artists) have to start somewhere, and we hope you'll begin your journey here. We want to give you the resources and support you need to be successful. This is also a community for established writers and artists, a place for them to promote their work and help others. We hope that they, too, will continue to learn and grow their skills.

Inkwell belongs to you and every other member. Its success depends on each of us participating, spreading the word and growing the site through engaging groups and interactive features. We hope that you find not only the resources you need but a caring community of writers and artists who are dedicated and passionate about their craft.”

AGENT INFORMATION: If you noticed my sidebar has grown. I spent some time looking for agent blogs for you (and me). Chuck Sambuchino’s blog is loaded with agent and publishing information. You can get his blog posts via email. Do you follow links from other people’s sidebars?

EXPERT ADVICE: What are you supposed to do after you send out your queries? "Live your life as though it were normal," says The Authoress. Check out her great post on how to handle the stress of waiting.

So, go forth, increase your knowledge, and be stress free...