Sharon Rudnitski
Children's author
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News
2009
February
Had Cook Up a Story reviewed for scientific accuracy and began looking for a publisher.
January
Finished a first draft of part 1 of my novel.
2008
3 November
Went to Toronto for Packaging Your Imagination, a writers' workshop sponsored by the Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers.
Kit Pearson spoke about how she structures a novel. Her comments on striking the right note with emotional honesty were worth the cost of the whole weekend.
Julie Lawson's positive approach to researching an historical novel was inspiring. Must get organized!
Ted Staunton was professional, funny, and full of information. Humor must spring from the character and the situation.
Marie-Louise Gay, writer-illustrator of over 60 books for kids, showed us how words and images conspire to capture our imaginations. The conference this year was informative, entertaining and inspirational.
Loved it!
May
Began roughing out an outline for my novel.
March to May
Finalized Cook Up a Story:
Sent the manuscript around for review.
Cookbook author Pam Collacott, my reliable critique group, and school teachers provided valuable input.
I gave some thought to illustrations, tested recipes, input final revisions, printed copies, put together a proposal, and researched the market.
2007
3 November
Went to CANSCAIP’s 23rd annual Packaging Your Imagination, in Toronto.
Helaine Becker provided an informative talk on writing for the nonfiction market.
Focus: Making your book fit in.
Edo Van Belkom showed us how NOT to write scary stuff for kids.
And Janet McNaughton led a workshop on developing character,
which will be useful when I get down to work on my novel.
O.R. Melling was the keynote speaker.
I fell BIG time for her slim novel Falling out of time—one of the best books on repeating patterns in relationships I’ve read.
Not sure it was for teens, though. Complex!
23 June
Drove to Barrie through beautiful northern Ontario for a one-day writing conference
sponsored by SCBWI, Putting your best book forward.
Stephen Barbara from the Donald Maass Agency gave us pointers on crafting a great first page.
I followed up by revising every one of the openings for my stories!
Stephen also gave us an inside look at finding an agent.
And afterwards, he reviewed my proposal one-on-one for Cook Up a Story.
Again, his input was helpful and encouraging.
In other areas, author Alma Fullerton talked about book promotion
and children’s writer and illustrator Jo Ellen Bogart discussed breathing life into characters.
For me, the trip was well worth the effort.
19 May
Met with my critique group. Received comments on Chapter 4 of Cook Up a Story.
Critiqued new novel and new story of two members,
plus latest work on two on-going novels.
Fun!
14 March
Met with my critique group at the Lieutenant’s Pump.
Got feedback on Introduction and Chapter 1 of Cook Up a Story.
Reviewed a few chapters of a fantasy novel and caught up on latest news.
The first novel of one of our members is currently being published.
16 January
Started up with a new SCBWI writing group.
Reviewed guidelines for meaningful review of colleagues’ work.
On-going monthly meetings scheduled.
Feedback helpful in on-going revisions of Cook Up a Story.
Reviewing short stories and getting to know members’ work.
2006
4 November
Traveled to Toronto to attend Packaging your Imagination, sponsored by CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers).
Simon Rose talked about time travel, a great device to move readers into other eras and historical situations.
Sharon Jennings provided many tips on the special challenges of hooking reluctant readers.
Her ideas were backed by those of Gordon Korman, key speaker.
His page turner principle is based first on foremost on reading as good entertainment.
Finally, Lucy Falconi spoke about writing compelling mysteries based on accessible clues. For her, character is everything and plot is everything else.
I came home with many new ideas for approaches to my first novel.
Summer months
Writing continues in spite of family weddings, a holiday in France, and a quick trip to England
to help our younger daughter get settled into her new digs.
8 May
More good news! Pam White's Food and Fiction contest has awarded my children's story Melting Moments a top prize.
Pam produces Food Writing, a biweekly ezine,
which runs an annual competition for food stories under 500 words, in any genre.
The contest drew 300 entries.
May
Canadian Authors’ Association sponsored a day with Alan Cumyn, author of The Secret World of Owen Skye.
He spoke about budding authors wearing the four hats of success:
artist, creator of original ideas;
editor, shaper of the raw creation;
salesperson, promotor of your talents; and
warrior, fighter to the last, in spite of rejection.