New Online Writing Course!

I feel a bit like Steve Martin's character in The Jerk when he was elated that the new phone book came out.

The new UCLA Extension Summer Quarter 2013 catalog is out! 

The new UCLA Extension Summer Quarter 2013 catalog is out!

Why am I so excited? Because on page 124 you will find the listing for my brand new course, Intermediate Picture Book Writing. The idea behind this course is to provide an opportunity for students who have taken either a beginning picture book or easy reader course (through UCLA Extension) and want to learn even more about picture books and have a chance to work on another manuscript. I'm thrilled to have the chance to teach this class!

If you didn't get the summer quarter catalog, you can learn more about the class by clicking here.

I hope to meet you in cyber-space again!

Introduction to Writing Easy Readers...Coming soon to a computer near you!

My, oh my, how times flies! My upcoming UCLA Extension Writers' Program online course, Introduction to Writing Easy Readers, is on the spring schedule. It seems like I just finished my fall course! If you're interested in learning more about the upcoming class, please go to:
https://www.uclaextension.edu/Pages/Course.aspx?reg=Z0939.

And look for the upcoming summer course catalog to discover a brand new course I'll be teaching for experienced writers for young children (how's that for teaser?).

Great news! Registration is now open for my upcoming online writing course, "Introduction to Writing Easy Readers" offered through UCLA Extension Writers' Program. The class will run from Oct. 3- Dec. 5.

For more information, please go to: https://www.uclaextension.edu/pages/Course.aspx?reg=Y6921.

I'm so excited to be able to teach this course again! I love exploring this often overlooked but oh-so-important genre of children's literature. Head on over to the link for details :-).

Cheers,
Terry

School Visit Tip

On Monday, I had a fabulous school visit (there's nothing like being around elementary students to energize a children's author :-). The school I visited was highly experienced with author visits. We had made all the pre-visit arrangements, including having a laptop and projector set up for my PowerPoint slides. Everything was fine. All I had to do was show up with my flashdrive (amongst my other props).


But when I arrived at the school, they told me that they'd had a break-in at the school and their laptops had been stolen. Both the principal and librarian looked at me a bit helplessly and conveyed how terrible they felt that they couldn't provide me with the means to use my PowerPoint slides (which accounts for about half of my presentation!). Could a document projector work? Could I just do without showing the slides?

Luckily, I always carry a set of transparencies with me as a back-up, "just in case."Old school, yes, but when in a pinch... When I asked them if they had an overhead projector, the custodian (standing nearby) chimed in, "Yes! We do! They wanted to get rid of it but I knew someone would need it some day!" He was grinning ear to ear (the hero of the day) and then ran off to set it up for me. I can't tell you how grateful the principal and librarian were that I had come prepared. Multiple times during the day they thanked me for having a back-up plan. This was nice to hear, but more than anything, I was so glad that I didn't have to deal with "winging it" and giving the students less than they deserved. Because really, it's all about the students and what I can give to them.


Experienced visiting authors already know this, I'm sure, but I thought I'd pass the word along for anyone who might be just getting into this realm of being a children's author.


Author visit rule #1: Always be prepared with a back-up plan.
Author visit rule #2: Always be flexible :-)

UCLA Instructor Spotlight

UCLA is doing an instructor feature article on me this month, to promote my upcoming class. Okay, that is SO COOL! I mean, it's U-C-L-A Writers' Program! Go Bruins! Grab those pens and write-write-write!

Interested in Learning about Writing Easy Readers?

Registration is now open for my upcoming online course, Introduction to Writing Easy Readers, offered through UCLA Extension Writers' Program.

I am SO excited to teach this course. As some of you know from my workshops on this subject, I believe the Easy Reader genre is THE most important genre of children's books because it is the one that sets a child onto the path of independent reading. In other words folks, this is where we either hook kids as readers or let them get away.

If you're interested in enrollment and registration, please click here.

Hope to see ya'll in my virtual classroom!

And So Another Chapter Ends...

Wow, it's hard to believe that it's been a month since I graduated from Vermont College of Fine Arts MWCYA program (that's Masters in Writing for Children and Young Adults), but every time I check the calendar it's confirmed. One month, all right. Here I am with my fellow graduates (L.E.C.S.) just last month at the beginning of the summer residency.

What an experience it was--too incredible to even begin to put into a blog post--and it's incredibly bittersweet that it's over. I'm happy to get my life back, but will sorely miss the learning experience and camaraderie of the VCFA community (yes, I can still stay in touch but it's not the same when life doesn't revolve around packet deadlines).

Maybe I can give more attention to my blog now--oh wait, revisions await, near-finished projects loom, there's that issue of finding an agent. And a job... Hmm... Never mind.