Comments on: he or she? http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/11/he-or-she/ a place where nature, photography and writing meet Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:42:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: burning silo http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/11/he-or-she/#comment-30805 Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:10:52 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/11/he-or-she/#comment-30805 Dave - You're welcome. I was thinking the same about the butterfly's prospects in life, although he seems to be keeping amused. Thanks for posting the link to Marcia's review of the Sy Montgomery books. I've just put in a request for a couple of them through out library system. They sound very good. So far, almost everything I've requested has been a little disappointing - perhaps geared to younger readers. From the emails I receive from young people asking questions about spiders, butterflies, etc... I know that there are some (perhaps many) 8 or 10 year olds who are looking for some solid information. Based on my own book research, it seems like there's a bit too much focus on large, or more exotic creatures that the average kid doesn't see except on television (sharks, tigers, etc..). I'm amazed that there isn't more written on the smaller creatures that children can actually study in their own backyards or neighbourhoods. I suppose that, spending as much time as I do just wandering around studying insects and spiders here at my own place, I have a very different view of the meaning of "wildlife". (-: Anyhow, thanks for the encouragement, ideas and book suggestions. It's all much appreciated! Dave - You’re welcome. I was thinking the same about the butterfly’s prospects in life, although he seems to be keeping amused.
Thanks for posting the link to Marcia’s review of the Sy Montgomery books. I’ve just put in a request for a couple of them through out library system. They sound very good. So far, almost everything I’ve requested has been a little disappointing - perhaps geared to younger readers. From the emails I receive from young people asking questions about spiders, butterflies, etc… I know that there are some (perhaps many) 8 or 10 year olds who are looking for some solid information. Based on my own book research, it seems like there’s a bit too much focus on large, or more exotic creatures that the average kid doesn’t see except on television (sharks, tigers, etc..). I’m amazed that there isn’t more written on the smaller creatures that children can actually study in their own backyards or neighbourhoods. I suppose that, spending as much time as I do just wandering around studying insects and spiders here at my own place, I have a very different view of the meaning of “wildlife”. (-:
Anyhow, thanks for the encouragement, ideas and book suggestions. It’s all much appreciated!

]]> by: Dave http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/11/he-or-she/#comment-30798 Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:34:26 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/11/he-or-she/#comment-30798 Thanks for answering my questions! Bev, I really think you should give children's book authorship a go! Did you see my mother's brief <a href="http://marciabonta.wordpress.com/2007/02/08/sy-montgomery-books-for-kids/" rel="nofollow">review </a> of Sy Montgomery's books for kids? They are so *not* dumbed-down, it's possible for an adult who already knows quite a bit about nature to enjoy them and learn a lot of new stuff from them. You definitely have that kind of knowledge, not to mention language skills and photographs. I have to say, though, that this butterfly's situation seems better fit for a blues song than a children's book. He will never mate or even see a flower, the poor s.o.b. Thanks for answering my questions!

Bev, I really think you should give children’s book authorship a go! Did you see my mother’s brief review of Sy Montgomery’s books for kids? They are so *not* dumbed-down, it’s possible for an adult who already knows quite a bit about nature to enjoy them and learn a lot of new stuff from them. You definitely have that kind of knowledge, not to mention language skills and photographs.

I have to say, though, that this butterfly’s situation seems better fit for a blues song than a children’s book. He will never mate or even see a flower, the poor s.o.b.

]]> by: burning silo http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/11/he-or-she/#comment-30708 Mon, 12 Feb 2007 02:21:22 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/11/he-or-she/#comment-30708 pablo - I agree that writing children's books isn't as easy as it probably looks. I believe you're right about "the editor" part. I mentioned up above in my earlier comment that I used to write 4-H project materials. It was very formulaic -- sentences had to be so many words long. Words had to be no more than so many syllables. Everything went to a committee of adults, as well as a test group of 4-H members to get feedback. It was quite difficult writing something that everyone would agree with as a lot of the opinions were conflicting. Anyhow, I'm not sure if I can write narrative type books. Most of my writing has been technical "how-to" and "activity" stuff, and that's a very different style than the "story-telling" style. - Ruth - Thanks! Also thanks for the name and URL of that publisher. I do know that there is quite a bit of government grant money available to Canadian book publishers (or at least there was), so there seem to be quite a few small presses doing all kinds of books these days. That's one of the things I've been researching. I've been going to the library and looking through the juvenile books section trying to get some idea of who is publishing what, etc... I guess the thing I have to figure out is what kind of writing I think I can do, and whether there's a market for what I think I can write (if that makes any sense!). Anyhow, thanks for the feedback -- believe me when I say it's all very helpful! (-: pablo - I agree that writing children’s books isn’t as easy as it probably looks. I believe you’re right about “the editor” part. I mentioned up above in my earlier comment that I used to write 4-H project materials. It was very formulaic — sentences had to be so many words long. Words had to be no more than so many syllables. Everything went to a committee of adults, as well as a test group of 4-H members to get feedback. It was quite difficult writing something that everyone would agree with as a lot of the opinions were conflicting. Anyhow, I’m not sure if I can write narrative type books. Most of my writing has been technical “how-to” and “activity” stuff, and that’s a very different style than the “story-telling” style.
-
Ruth - Thanks! Also thanks for the name and URL of that publisher. I do know that there is quite a bit of government grant money available to Canadian book publishers (or at least there was), so there seem to be quite a few small presses doing all kinds of books these days. That’s one of the things I’ve been researching. I’ve been going to the library and looking through the juvenile books section trying to get some idea of who is publishing what, etc… I guess the thing I have to figure out is what kind of writing I think I can do, and whether there’s a market for what I think I can write (if that makes any sense!). Anyhow, thanks for the feedback — believe me when I say it’s all very helpful! (-:

]]> by: Ruth http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/11/he-or-she/#comment-30705 Mon, 12 Feb 2007 01:32:40 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/11/he-or-she/#comment-30705 Bev, you write so well and your photos would facinate anyone, especially children. I like to shop in local bookstores and I have bought books recently from these Canadian publishers. You likely know about them. Big publishers likely have more control over your work, but they do a lot of marketing for you. My daughter is working on illustrations for a set of children's books written by a local school teacher. The author plans to self publish and market 4 books in time for Christmas. DESPUB, 2340B Clifton St., Allanburg ON Canada L0S 1A0 Scrivener Press http://www.yourscrivenerpress.com/ Bev, you write so well and your photos would facinate anyone, especially children. I like to shop in local bookstores and I have bought books recently from these Canadian publishers. You likely know about them. Big publishers likely have more control over your work, but they do a lot of marketing for you. My daughter is working on illustrations for a set of children’s books written by a local school teacher. The author plans to self publish and market 4 books in time for Christmas.

DESPUB, 2340B Clifton St., Allanburg ON Canada L0S 1A0

Scrivener Press http://www.yourscrivenerpress.com/

]]> by: pablo http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/11/he-or-she/#comment-30688 Sun, 11 Feb 2007 23:44:43 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/02/11/he-or-she/#comment-30688 I've never done it, but I've <i>heard</i> that writing a children's book is very hard. At least, a good editor will not settle for anything that isn't exactly right. Still, I've seen some dreadful stuff, so . . . what do I know. I’ve never done it, but I’ve heard that writing a children’s book is very hard. At least, a good editor will not settle for anything that isn’t exactly right. Still, I’ve seen some dreadful stuff, so . . . what do I know.

]]>