I’ve been missing from Poetry Friday since late June because I’ve been having my website redone and doing a 12-week course on starting and growing a newsletter, which has been well worth the time and investment. So, everyone… say welcome to The Kidlitter Letter!
The aim of my newsletter is to provide writing resources, creative inspiration and actionable opportunities for children’s writers to get published. The fact is that there are more ways to becoming a published children’s author and/or to earning money writing for children than you might think. Traditional book publishing contracts or self-publishing aren’t the only way to go, and by writing consistently, submitting regularly to contests, magazines, webzines and anthologies, you can build an impressive literary CV, hone diverse writing skills and say proudly, “I am a published writer for children!” without imposter syndrome snapping greedily at your heels.
I’ve divided The Kidlitter Letter* up into three sections:
- Yay You: to celebrate any win a client or subscriber has had. Finished a draft? Got an agent! Self-published a book. Yay you!
- On My Mind: resources for writing on kidlit and YA from how to tell if you’ve written a picture book or short story to marketing for authors.
- Challenge: each issue has a challenge, either paid or free, to write, submit and get your work out there.
The newsletter is young, but we already have a warm and supportive vibe going on of cheerleading and productive writers. If that’s not enough to inspire you to join us tri-monthly, here are two samples of The Kidlitter Letter for you to enjoy:
I’ve had quite a few writers send in their poems and ideas since we started and it makes my heart sing to see that people are enjoying their writing and trying new things. I’m hoping the newsletter will fertilize some careers in children’s poetry, in particular. Why? Because so many people love reading and listening to poetry, but aren’t sure where to start and how to write it. Some of the challenges have been to submit work to children’s literary magazines like The Toy Press and Little Thoughts Press, and yes, I have put my metaphors where my mouth is and have submitted right alongside them.
All of this means that I haven’t had time to write poetry just for the fun of it as my latest poetry is out on submission waiting eagerly for the chance to be picked, and I don’t have anything to offer you for this week’s Poetry Friday. So, I’m going to add a poem I submitted to Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell’s latest anthology at Pomelo Books called What is Hope? which wasn’t picked as they went with a different poem I sent in.
More on What is Hope? anthology after the first week of September as the collection will be published at the beginning of the month, but I just want to say that it was fabulous working with Janet and Sylvia who made me laugh and laugh in their dynamic and inspiring videos, and who made me work very hard at writing poetry… which was a nice change from my undisciplined approach of late.
(A small word to say that I use Flodesk to send out my newsletters which I chose because it’s so easy to create beautiful e-mails with them as compared to many other providers. I wanted a newsletter that was lovely to look at without it being like a sales-ad in a fashion magazine, or a text-only page. If you’re looking for a newsletter service, using my affiliate link will get you 50% off the first year. And yes, I’ll earn $19 too, for which I thank you!)
Linda is hosting Poetry Friday this week at TeacherDance.
It’s so good to be back, and I’m excited to read all your lovely poetry!
Lou, congratulations on your new tongue-twister newsletter. I love the fun-to-say name, and I signed up already. Glad you are back here on Fridays. Oh, those “cookie-warm paws.” Precious!
I’m so happy to have you, Denise! I hope you enjoy it.
The cookie-warm paws are inspired by Themba, my Golden Retriever whose paws I would eat, they smell so delicious.
How sweet! Sweet tips on poetry submission…and the puppy just squeezes my heart strings. LOVE it. Great poem.
Thank you, Linda!
What an adorable puppy and how sad that he’s gone missing!
Luckily it’s just a poem… But it did make me hug my pup a little harder after writing it!
Welcome back, Lou. You have been a busy writer. I love how supportive this new creation of yours will be and love the chosen word “litter” with its numerous iterations! “Hope” is a word full of goodness for clinging, right? No matter the issue, each of us need the possibilities given. Thanks!
Hi Linda! It’s great to be back. I’ve missed everyone’s beautiful work. You know what? I think ‘hope’ is tricky. It can be both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes, we need to know when to let go, and other times, hope can be for the future and something new, which is good.
I love your website full of dandelions and wishes! What an exciting newsletter, I like to wrap my cookie-warm paws around it. : )
Nice to meet you, Tracey! I’m thrilled you like the new website. And warp those cookie-warm paws around the newsletter as much as you like!
Oh, this poem is lovely. Worrying about those we care about makes us feel so lost ourselves. Congrats on your new newsletter. I’m (with help) redesigning my website. Such a task!
You too? I don’t dabble in web design, so I just leave it all up to the experts! There was a time I was gung-ho about learning all the things and doing them myself, but now I stick to what I know and read a good book instead. Good luck with yours!
We haven’t had a good children’s lit newsletter in many years. Good luck on your new venture!
Thank you, and I hope it lives up to the title of a “good children’s lit newsletter”!
I look forward to receiving your news letter. The format is upbeat and welcoming and yes, hopeful. Such a cute dog and I missed him as I read the poem, and hoped he’d come home. I appreciate hearing about submission opportunities.
Thank you for that feedback, Janice. It’s always precious information to hear what people like and need. The point of the newsletter is to help, inspire creativity and provide opportunities, so I’m happy to hear that it could help you.
The poem actually makes me uncomfortable because it makes me think too much about how I’d actually feel if my dog got lost. But then, isn’t that what writing is about – to make people feel something?
So glad to be part of the What Is Hope? family with you, Lou! And congrats on the new website and newsletter.
An honour to be sharing it with you, Patricia! I’ve just received my digital postcard and am ridiculously happy about it. I can’t wait for the anthology to arrive in the post. Thank you for the newsletter and website!
What a fun poem, Lou!
Thank you, Anastasia.
Oh, I hope those cookie-warm paws were home for bedtime!
I signed up for your lovely newsletter, Lou. Thanks for letting us know!
So happy to have you on the newsletter, Karen. I hope you enjoy it.
And yes, in my world, the cookie-warm paws and fuzzy muzzle were home just in time!
Cookie-warm paws and fuzzy muzzle! What an adorable poem! Congratulations!
Inspired by Themba, my Golden Retriever who, thankfully, has never been lost but the paws and muzzle are all hers.