Colleen Kessler will present "Writing Children's Books for the Educational Market: A Primer Learn to...
Research educational publishers
Create an introductory packet
Approach editors and give them what they want
Schedule projects & build a career as an educational freelance writer
During the workshop, participants will learn to analyze publishers' catalogs to assess what they are looking for, identify ways to approach them, and to see how their talents could fit into a publishers' existing niche. Participants will create a basic introductory packet and compile a list of publishers to contact with their packet. Finally, they will learn what to do when that first project assignment is made: how to schedule their time, understand publishers' specifications, and work in a way that gets them repeat assignments.
This workshop will have two platforms (lecture and hands-on) - first Colleen will present an overview, then we'll analyze catalogs and build an intro packet together.
Colleen's goal is for those individuals who ARE ready to jump into the educational writing to be able to leave this program with an introductory packet READY to send out. Please bring a current resume, cover letter, list of publishing credits if they are ready - or for revision and/or to get critiqued.
For those who are just BEGINNING, bring any documents you have ready but note that it's not necessary. This event will help you get started.
Bring paper and pencil and laptop (laptop battery fully charged) for hands-on work as needed.
Biography: Colleen Kessler is passionate about kids, hands-on learning, science and nature, gifted education, teaching, and books, and she indulges those passions every day as a science and education writer, and home school mom. Whether she is in her office overlooking her backyard, a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat; taking a hike through nearby meadows or woods; or trying out new experiments, activities, and projects for her books with her three kids, Colleen is learning all of the time.
She is always on the lookout for meaningful, engaging, and hands-on ideas to inspire a love of learning and the desire to "find out more" in kids of all ages. These ideas spark new ones, and the excitement goes on and on. She considers herself a lifelong learner and hopes to inspire others to see themselves that way too, beginning with her kids as she home schools her twice-exceptional son, highly gifted preschooler, and trouble-making toddler.
Colleen has written textbook chapters, teacher resources, lessons, experiments, games, leveled readers, and more for numerous educational publishers. She has a B.S. in elementary education, an M.Ed. in gifted education, and is the author of many books for teachers and kids including "Real-Life Science Mysterious", "Hands-On Ecology", and "Super Smart Science" from Prufrock Press, and seven books in the "A Project Guide" series from Mitchell Lane. Her upcoming book from Prufrock Press, "Free Resources for Elementary Teachers" will be released on April 1, 2012.
When Colleen is not writing, she can often be found speaking to kids and teachers or presenting at workshops, conferences, or schools about education, science, and writing. Or, you might find her out tagging migrating monarchs, setting off soda-pop geysers, swinging in the park with the kids, or blogging at
www.raisinglifelonglearners.com You can view more at www.colleen-kessler.com
Space is limited for this event.
Registrations will be processed on a first come basis. Registration opens on September 28, 2012 and ends on November 4, 2012. No refunds after October 26, 2012.
More questions? Direct them to Vicki Selvaggio, Regional Advisor at vselvaggio@windstream.net
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