C. COCO DE YOUNG

SMILIN' AT YOU FROM MY WRITING DESK

OTHER WRITING AWARDS RECEIVED:

For Newspaper Series, "Heart of the Future"

1997 First Place Connecticut Press Club Award

1998 First Place Connecticut Press Club Award

GETTING YOUR WORK PUBLISHED

Writers often think that they must find an illustrator for their picture book manuscript prior to sending it off to an editor. This is not the case. Publishing houses will assign an illustrator once a manuscript has been accepted. It is not unusual that the writer and illustrator never meet.

If you are interested in writing for children, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is quite helpful, sponsoring local, regional and national events. The conferences are well known for quality breakout sessions which include editors, agents, published writers, and more as the presenters. To find a chapter near you click on the link at the right side of this page.

One’s mind, once stretched by a new idea,
never regains its original dimensions.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes


You have a great idea for a story. Is it fiction or nonfiction? Is it a story idea for adults or one that will intrigue children? What genre will it fall into – mystery, science fiction, historical fiction, or one of the many others? The truth is you may experience difficulty in writing if you try to peg hole or categorize your story too soon.

TIP # 1: Reread the advice of Mr. Holmes quoted above. Let that new idea tickle your brain. It is very important to keep a pad and pen handy to jot down your thoughts. Like any good tickle, it lasts for a moment then is gone!

TIP # 2: EXTRAPOLATE, Extrapolate, extrapolate and set your mind
free-ee-ee! This is especially important to those who want to write fiction. Take your idea and keep asking, “What if?” This simple technique can turn an ordinary idea into something extraordinary, yet remain believable to the reader.

TIP # 3: Still feeling a bit befuddled? Try the writer’s web. Some may call it clustering. Start with a single word or idea and write it in the middle of the paper. As more words come to mind build the web by adding and connecting those words or thoughts - make them things you know about the subject. Look at the example below. The word “trains” is at the center. Look at the many possibilities for a story as the web branches out. This exercise took two minutes and thirty seconds.

A-ha...caught you! Did you think you were done? Now go back and create a new web. This time use the same word in the center. However, expand the web by writing in those things about the subject that are unfamiliar to you; things that you wonder about. Now do the research. It was while researching a topic for A Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt that I discovered the idea for my next middle-grade novel.

The Writing Web or Clustering

Check in from time to time for more helpful hints.

Young writers, remember that an editor is the person who will help you build and improve your story until it is the best it can be. Your teacher is your editor. Check out the free contests for young writers in the top left side of this page.

Adult writers, if you are uncertain about your writing ability, then find a way to test the waters. Join a class through adult education. For six to eight weeks you will benefit from the knowledge shared there, have an opportunity to share your writing, and receive a critique without the worry of an academic commitment...or grade!