Writing Contests: Be open to surprises. Last December, our SCBWI local chapter had a writing contest where the story had to include kites (which is the logo for SCBWI). There was a deadline and I waited until the last minute because I was so busy with the holidays and family. The word count was only 500 words so I knew that if I sat down and really, really focused, I could do it. Well, I made the deadline. At our annual Christmas chapter’s party, the winners were announced. I won first place! That was one very nice surprise. That’s how I started my writing career, entering writing contests. I am still doing it because it’s FUN! You can do it too. Good luck!  By the way, the title of my entry was, “A Kite is a Story; A Story is a Kite.” Google for writing contests. They’re out there.

Today I attended our SCBWI chapter’s session on Nonfiction Narrative Picture Books. I was very interested in this topic because that is one of the projects I am working on right now. I’ve done the research, written the story, but still had a few questions about how to address some of the historical facts in the story. I received the guidance I needed and will now go forward.

SCBWI-SWTX Book Session

Short-short: A complete short story of 1,500 words or less.—Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner

Showing emotion in characters: I am in the middle of making revisions after meeting with my critique group. They gave me excellent suggestions that will make my story better. Critique groups, if you get into the right one, are invaluable. It’s always good to have someone else see your work with fresh eyes. Several in the group commented that my character needed to have more emotion. Sometimes it’s hard for writers to really show that. I went back to one of my posts in 2015 which covered emotion in characters.  Here it is:

Do you have trouble coming up with words to describe emotion from your character? I know I do. On the blog, Writers Helping Writers, there’s a brief post on Showing Emotion: Moving Beyond The Face. The article by Angela Ackman poses the question: “The face is the first thing we notice in real life, and the focal point during any conversation. We connect to a person’s gaze, paying attention to how their eyes widen, squint, focus inward or dart. We also watch their mouth, noting lip presses, teeth flashes, frowns, smiles and pursed lips. Eyebrow lifts, the forehead crinkling and relaxing…each facial micro movement is a message, a clue to what the person is thinking and feeling. So if we focus on face-reading in real life, should we then center description on it when trying to convey our character’s emotion?”

Read on to find out.

Genre: Refers either to a general classification of writing, such as the novel or the poem, or to the categories within those classifications, such as the romance novel or the sonnet. – Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner

ALA 2016 Book Awards!  I hope you were as excited as I was several days ago when the winners of the 2016 American Library Association Youth Media Awards were announced. Besides the Newbery, Coretta Scott King, Printz, Pura Belpre, and Caldecott awards, there were many, many others. Click above for the ALA list. I’ve already read a couple of those books on the list.

I’ve been revising a picture book manuscript which I started months ago. It’s been gathering dust in my work-in-progress files. Coming back and reading it with fresh eyes helps. I can see where I needed to develop my character more and write in more descriptive details to really make the story. Sometimes I need to go back and reread some of the notes I’ve taken at workshops and conferences or even take out that book on the writing process.

I am always learning. I am a work-in-progress writer. Like I say to the students when I do school visits: Revising means to revisit your work and make it better. Next Saturday, I will attend a Picture Book Salon meeting sponsored by our local SCBWI chapter. It will cover creative nonfiction in picture books. See what I mean? There are always resources and opportunities for writers to perfect their writing skills. Look around your area for such resources. Do you belong to SCBWI? If not, why not?

And here’s another great list on the Latin@s in Kid List blog. This one lists new books being released in 2016. Some of my author friends’ books are on the list. So exciting!

My website was down for a while, but I am back! I hope to continue into the new year with valuable writing tips to help you get started on your writing in 2016. I wish you great writing success and a Happy New Year!

The book is out! I feel honored to have been included with 40 other Latina authors in this anthology, Latina Authors and Their Muses, written by author Mayra Calvani. It is now available in bookstores and on Amazon. It’s gotten excellent reviews on Amazon. One reader writes: “The book also conveys how these women have added to the diversity of a particular genre with their Latin background which has been effective in adding a different and multicultural perspective to literary subjects.”