Is Mentorship For You?

Jo starts her mentoring early!

The Southern Breeze region is gearing up for the opening of our mentorship program on February 15th and here's Jo S. Kittinger, Mentorship Coordinator, with the latest news:

You've been writing for years, but now feel stalled. A published author's insights can help move you forward.

Last year, one writer found success with selling not one, but two magazine articles in the course of her mentorship! (If you have been struggling to sell a book manuscript, you might consider trying magazine writing. The demand for material is greater and the competition is less.) And while this program does not promise publication, it can help you polish your craft.

The following mentors are available for 2020:

Kara Bietz, Young Adult

Claire Datnow, Nonfiction Middle Grade

Nancy Raines Day, Picture Books

Jamie Dodson, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, NF

Avery Hurt, Nonfiction magazine articles

Jo S. Kittinger, Picture Books, Easy Readers, fiction or nonfiction

Heather L. Montgomery, Nonfiction, books and magazines, grant writing

Johnna Stein, Magazine articles

Tracey M. Cox, Picture Books (non-rhyming)

Learn more on the Southern Breeze website and remember, spaces are limited so not everyone who applies can be matched with a mentor, but every applicant will receive a critique of the work submitted. The application window is short--February 15 to March 20--so don't delay!

If you have any questions about our mentorship program, please contact Jo Kittinger. Remember, you'll find lots of information and the application on the website! Good luck!

Making It Happen With Mentorship!

Southern Breeze is one of a handful of regions that offers mentorship to its members, and this year's mentorship program has just wound down. Breezer Lori Choi qualified for mentorship and chose Jo Kittinger to help her with her book. We asked Lori to share a few words about her experience:


I had been working on a book with my husband for over a year, but was in dire need of a professional review. Then I applied for the SCBWI Mentorship Program and was accepted. My mentor, Jo, provided clear, concise feedback that could be immediately implemented. She also helped me think more critically about my target audience, pointing out things that weren’t even on my radar. With each new round of revisions, I gained practical insights for evaluating my own writing. It was awesome to work with someone so experienced and knowledgeable about the industry! Her warm, encouraging spirit was an added bonus. I still have so much to learn, but because of the SCBWI Mentorship, I definitely feel better equipped as a writer.  ~ Lori Choi


Thanks, Lori! We're keeping our fingers crossed for you and your manuscript!

The mentorship program kicks off in the spring, so if you're interested in this program, start working on your words. Attend Springmingle in March and polish up those words. Then keep an eye out here and on the Southern Breeze website for our slate of mentors and the opening of the mentorship program in 2019. We want our members to soar to success, and thanks to our many mentors like Jo Kittinger, we can give you the tools to make it happen!

Soar with Southern Breeze's Mentors!

Oh, for a Mentor!

If that thought has crossed your mind, this may be your chance! The Southern Breeze mentorship program provides 8 months of back and forth discussion and direction for lucky writers.

Drumroll please \.\.\.\.\.\.\.  Our illustrious mentors for 2018 are:

For Young Adult writers, Janice Hardy, awesome author of a teen fantasy trilogy, The Healing Wars, has come on board. So, if you love dragons, magic, creating worlds, and names like Aeryn or Taureil, this could be a perfect fit! Of course, you don’t have to write fantasy to apply for this YA mentorship. Plot, structure, characterization and voice cross all types of writing.

We have three terrific middle grade mentors – Kami Kinard, Lisa Lewis Tyre and Jamie Dodson.

Kami write humorous novels, which is so hard!  Her books The Boy Problem and The Boy Project are with Scholastic Publishers. She is well published in shorter formats as well. If you need to exercise your funny bone, Kami is the mentor for you!

Lisa writes contemporary stories with strong characters. LAST IN A LONG LINE OF REBELS and Hope in the Holler, with Nancy Paulsen Books, both garnered excellent reviews. Lisa masterfully weaves historical details into her writing.  Learn from a master!

Jamie writes the Nick Grant Adventure series and other histrical fiction. He also published nonfiction magazine articles. If you love to blend fact with fiction, he could be a terrific mentor for you!

Two picture book authors are available as mentors – Tracey M. Cox and Jo S. Kittinger.

Tracey has eleven books with Guardian Angel Publishing, so if you are interested in that company, Tracey can provide the inside scoop. Additionally, she has two books with other publishers. Non-rhyming picture books are her specialty. Tracey is both an author and illustrator, so she can offer you a unique perspective!

Jo is offering to mentor both picture books and easy readers, so if you like to write both, she’s the one for you. Fiction or nonfiction, rhyming or not, she is open to a wide range of picture book styles. Jo has published over 25 books with traditional publishers. Her latest book is ALABAMA, in the MY UNITED STATES series through Scholastic.

This year we have four fabulous nonfiction mentors – Avery Hurt, Heather Montgomery, Jennifer Swanson, and Jodi Wheeler-Toppen. Nonfiction is often overlooked, but offers greater opportunity for publication.

Avery often writes about science, social studies and science fiction, but her interests are broad. She has authored over a dozen books for children and young adults. She is one of the authors of the Weird But True series from National Geographic Kids Books, plus a regular contributor to magazines. This broad experience makes her an appealing mentor for many!

Heather gets kids excited about nature and often incorporates the yuck factor to draw their attention. She has over a dozen books with major publishers. Her latest is SOMETHING ROTTEN: A FRESH LOOK AT ROADKILL. An award-winning educator, Heather knows how to offer constructive direction. Picture book or Middle Grade non-fiction writers would benefit from her expertise.

Jennifer loves science, evidenced by over 30 nonfiction books. She has received excellent reviews and accolades for her work. SUPER GEAR: NANOTECHNOLOGY AND SPORTS TEAM UP was named an NSTA Best STEM book of 2017 and got a starred review in Booklist. So, if you are a science geek, Jennifer would be a perfect mentor for you.

Jodi loves to experiment as her books reveal. Her love of science is contagious! As a former teacher, Jodi knows how to communicate and direct others to improve in their work. Jodi has over 10 books with major publishers, including National Geographic Kids, Capstone and NSTA Press. Jodi can help you make science exciting and understandable.

A magazine article or story is often the first publishing credit an author receives. But magazines are not only a stepping stone on the path to book publishing. Magazines offer rewarding exposure and income for writers. Johnna Stein is offering to mentor an author for magazine writing.

Johnna is a former teacher and loves helping others advance, whether it be as a writer, a reading coach or advocate. She has multiple publishing credits and would love to help you on your path to publication.

Learn more about the mentorship program and access the application form at the Southern Breeze website.

TIME IS SHORT! APPLICATION DEADLINE IS February 25. Mentors will be announced in early March and the relationship will run through October.

Jo Kittinger is the Southern Breeze SCBWI Mentorship Coordinator. When she's not writing picture books, she's busy reading 'em to her grands. If you have questions about anything mentorship-related, she's the one to contact!

Mentorship Opens!

It’s time! Mentorship applications are NOW being accepted.

The Southern Breeze mentorship program is geared toward writers who have been working at their craft for some years – attending workshops and conferences, submitting manuscripts, but so far, not finding success in the genre in which they are currently working. The mentorship program spans 8 months, over which time there are back and forth discussions about the work in progress. Details of what can be expected are on the website.

I especially encourage writers of nonfiction to apply for mentorship. We have several very accomplished nonfiction authors on staff. When I was a young writer with a stack of rejections, Larry Dane Brimner said at a conference -- "If you are having trouble breaking into publishing, try nonfiction. There is greater demand and less competition." I followed his advice and got my first contract within a year.

So, if you have been writing for a while and have hit a plateau, a mentorship may be the perfect jolt to advance your writing to the next level. We can’t promise publication, but do our best to help you advance your career.

Check out the list of available mentors on the website. DON’T DELAY! Application deadline is February 25. Mentors will be announced in early March and the relationship will run through October.

Happy Writing!

Jo S. Kittinger

Jo Kittinger is the Southern Breeze SCBWI Mentorship Coordinator. When she's not writing picture books, she's busy reading 'em to her grands!

Author Meet & Greet for #SBreeze16

Author Meet & Greet for #SBreeze16

~OPEN TO THE PUBLIC~

The fun doesn't stop when the conference does.
A select group of authors will be at the Homewood Public Library Sunday, October 9, 2016 from 2 pm to 4 pm. This is your chance to meet the authors, buy their books, and have them autographed.

PARTICIPATING AUTHORS: 

Bruce Coville

Don Tate 

Heather L. Montgomery 

Jo S. Kittinger 

Jodi Wheeler-Toppen 

Delia Blackstone  

Lucyann Wagner 

Kami Kinard

 

Come out and have a great time. See you there!

"Something for Everyone!" 30 Days of WIK15 - Jo Kittinger

"Something for Everyone!"
30 Days of WIK15 - Jo Kittinger

I remember my early days of writing for children. There was so much to learn!

As a potter, I knew all about making ceramics. I knew the qualities that made for good clay, and knew the multiple steps required to go from raw clay to glazed pot. But when I decided to try writing for kids, I was clueless. I knew which books I enjoyed, but I couldn't really tell you why. And I had no idea how to present my writing to publishers.

Through classes, my critique group, and talking with SCBWI members, I gradually grew in my knowledge. With time, perseverance, and lots of polishing of manuscripts I eventually gained publication in a wide variety of genres.

My workshop at wik'15, The Rules of the Game, offers a crash course in foundational information about the world of publishing in the children's market. We will look at the various divisions within the genre of children's literature and talk about what makes them distinctive. I will share some do's and don't's when you submit your manuscripts. From my personal experiences, I will discuss how to approach agents and editors, both in person and through submission pipelines.  A question and answer segment will allow me to address attendees unique concerns.

Whether an individual wants to write poetry, short stories, picture books, nonfiction, novels, magazine articles or illustrate, my hope is that this workshop will prepare first-time attendees with the basic knowledge they need to make the most of the remainder of the conference.

  

ABOUT JO KITTINGER:

Jo S. Kittinger is an award-winning author of more than 25 books for children, plus numerous items in various books, magazines and newspapers. Her nonfiction picture book, ROSA'S BUS: THE RIDE TO CIVIL RIGHTS received a Crystal Kite award. Her fictional picture book, THE HOUSE ON DIRTY-THIRD STREET, received two prestigious honors: a Christopher Award, which highlights media that "affirms the highest values of the human spirit," and a Social Justice Literature Award from the International Reading Association. Learn more about Jo at: www.jokittinger.com

LINKS:

Website

Twitter

Click here to REGISTER FOR WIK'15 now!