Maskew Miller Longman has announced its annual competition. They are inviting writers to submit unpublished and original children's stories and illustrations.
R7500 will be awarded to the story winner in each language and to the illustration winner. There will also be a runners-up prize of R3500.
Click on the title above to get more details.
Closing date: 30 April 2009.
Writers and illustrators required
MasterSkill, an American publisher, is looking for writers and illustrators to develop its new set of readers. The readers will be submitted to the Education Department for inclusion in the National Foundation Phase Catalogue but will also be marketed to the book trade.
Writers are invited to submit stories as follows:
· Gr R readers (8 pages each, including a title page)
· Gr 1 readers (16 pages each, including a title page)
· Gr 2 readers (24 pages each, including a title page)
· Gr 3 readers (32 pages each, including a title page)
All stories must include artwork briefs.
Due date: 30 November 2008.
Email to: bernita@yebo.co.za
Fees:
Writing:
· R2000 per reader, payable on invoice after the manuscript and a/w brief has been handed over, and
· 5% royalty per reader
OR
· 10% royalty – no fees
Illustrators are invited to send portfolios / examples of their work to bernita@yebo.co.za as soon as possible. (Illustrators who can work under pressure during November and December can also apply to work on the Foundation Phase Learner’s Book.)
For the Readers, Illustrators will be paid R150 per page plus 2% royalty.
This is not a reading scheme. Each reader will stand on its own. The story should make learners want to read.
Writers are invited to submit stories as follows:
· Gr R readers (8 pages each, including a title page)
· Gr 1 readers (16 pages each, including a title page)
· Gr 2 readers (24 pages each, including a title page)
· Gr 3 readers (32 pages each, including a title page)
All stories must include artwork briefs.
Due date: 30 November 2008.
Email to: bernita@yebo.co.za
Fees:
Writing:
· R2000 per reader, payable on invoice after the manuscript and a/w brief has been handed over, and
· 5% royalty per reader
OR
· 10% royalty – no fees
Illustrators are invited to send portfolios / examples of their work to bernita@yebo.co.za as soon as possible. (Illustrators who can work under pressure during November and December can also apply to work on the Foundation Phase Learner’s Book.)
For the Readers, Illustrators will be paid R150 per page plus 2% royalty.
This is not a reading scheme. Each reader will stand on its own. The story should make learners want to read.
Illustrators required
Fantasi Boeke is dringend besig om ‘n splinternuwe Suid-Afrikaanse weergawe van ons gewilde Ek-kan-Lees! reeks te ontwikkel. Die reeks bestaan tans uit agt titels en sal uiteindelik uitgebrei word tot 20 titels. Ons is dringend op soek na ‘n ervare illustreerder om die komende reeks boeke te illustreer.
Die eerste vier titels wat reeds vroeg in 2009 gepubliseer word:
· Repelsteeltjie
· Klein Duimpie
· Die Drie Varkies
· Gouelokkies en die Drie Beertjies.
Formaat:
· 195 mm x 130
· 32 bladsye
· Volkleur
Spesifikasies vir Illustrasies:
· Volkleur
· Eenvoudiger, helder, oop tekeninge
· Geskik vir aanvangslesers
· Teks en Illustrasie moet mekaar baie spesifiek ondersteun om beginlesers te ondersteun
· Enige Medium
· Omslag en titelblad nie ingesluit nie
Indien u belangstel om in aanmerking te kom vir hierdie projek, stuur asseblief een voorbeeldillustrasie gebaseer op enige van bogenoemde stories in lae resolusie jpeg na hierdie adres (talita@fantasi.co.za) teen Maandag 17 November op die laatste.
Die eerste vier titels wat reeds vroeg in 2009 gepubliseer word:
· Repelsteeltjie
· Klein Duimpie
· Die Drie Varkies
· Gouelokkies en die Drie Beertjies.
Formaat:
· 195 mm x 130
· 32 bladsye
· Volkleur
Spesifikasies vir Illustrasies:
· Volkleur
· Eenvoudiger, helder, oop tekeninge
· Geskik vir aanvangslesers
· Teks en Illustrasie moet mekaar baie spesifiek ondersteun om beginlesers te ondersteun
· Enige Medium
· Omslag en titelblad nie ingesluit nie
Indien u belangstel om in aanmerking te kom vir hierdie projek, stuur asseblief een voorbeeldillustrasie gebaseer op enige van bogenoemde stories in lae resolusie jpeg na hierdie adres (talita@fantasi.co.za) teen Maandag 17 November op die laatste.
SA Pen Studzinski Literary Award
Circulated by SCBWI SA for SA PEN (http://www.sapen.co.za/)
- Any inquiries please e-mail SA PEN at rudebs@icon.co.za -
A call for entries
WRITE ! AFRICA WRITE !
PEN/STUDZINSKI LITERARY AWARD
Detailed rules and conditions for submission are available at http://www.sapen.co.za/, or e-mail SA PEN at rudebs@icon.co.za
Following the success of the HSBC/SA PEN Literary Awards, SA PEN announces a call for entries for the new PEN/STUDZINSKI Literary Award.
Writers from African and SADC countries are invited to submit original, previously unpublished, English-language SHORT STORIES
The best entries will be selected by an editorial board for inclusion in a book to be published next year, under the working title “NEW WRITING FROM AFRICA”
Three prize winners will be selected by
Nobel Laureate J M Coetzee
Prizes, given by John Studzinski, will be awarded:
£5 000, £3 000 and £2 000
Rules for submission of entries:
Entrants must be citizens of an African or SADC* country.
Stories, on any subject, must be in English; length should be 2 500 to 5 000 words.
Entries must be previously unpublished. More than one entry may be submitted.
Entries must be typed, in double spacing, on one side of A4 paper. Pages must be numbered and securely fastened together. Three copies must be submitted.
No name or address should appear on the typescript, but each page must carry the title of the story. The identity of authors will not be revealed to judges.
A covering letter with the name, e-mail & postal address, contact numbers, and photocopy of the ID of the entrant (as proof of citizenship) must be included. Entrants may currently reside outside of Africa.
Submission of entries implies adherence to all rules and conditions of this award, including that of copyright.
Closing date: 30th September 2008
Send your entry to: PEN/STUDZINSKI Literary Award, P O Box 30327, Tokai, 7966, Republic of South Africa. Fax and e-mail entries will not be accepted.
*SADC COUNTRIES
Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
A website to visit regularly!
BOOKCHAT
An independent, non-profit website that seeks to promote South African children’s literature.
This is achieved by:
- A growing database aimed to include all indigenous children’s books (so far containing details of more than 2 200 books) with search facilities;
- News of local children’s book events;
- Details of South African children’s book awards;
- Lists of recommended books in different age groups and categories;
- “Thoughts by Jay” – a new feature containing a monthly essay by Jay Heale on an aspect of our local youth literature scene. Accessible on http://www.bookchat.co.za/
With kind premission from Jay the “Thoughts by Jay” article was reprinted from Bookchat website
Thoughts on
BOOK AWARDS AND PRIZES
By Jay Heale
Quite rightly, at the AGM of IBBY SA in August, attention was drawn to recent book awards in the field of children’s literature. Wendy Hartmann,
It was fitting that these book creators should receive an extra round of applause because there is precious little publicity concerning any of these book prizes. It’s like a pat on the back in the dark. What
Yes, we all know that Literacy is essential for our children – and apparently for our adult town councillors as well. But once they – young or old – possess the ability to read, only one thing is going to keep them reading: suitably relevant books created with quality. That means Literature.
There are two highly publicised international prizes for children’s literature. The longest established is the Hans Christian Andersen Award, presented by IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) biennially to an author and an illustrator for their whole body of work. It is often called “The Little Nobel Prize” and it confers a gold medal but no financial reward. The newer award is the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, administered by the Swedish Arts Council and “may be awarded to authors, illustrators, narrators and/or promoters of reading whose work reflects the spirit of Astrid Lindgren”. The prize is worth about US$ 790,000.
We can be proud that South African authors and illustrators (and even a few book promoters like Biblionef) have been nominated for both these awards. Our work in this field is definitely of sufficient quality. Why haven’t we had a sniff at either of them? I think it’s because something is missing in this country – a national award that says clearly “South African considers that quality children’s literature is important”. Mark you, if cabinet ministers are as good at reading as town councillors, that’s hardly surprising.
UK has the highly publicised Carnegie awards; the USA trumpets aloud the Newbery winners; in Canada there is an annual Governor General’s Prize for the best Canadian children’s book of the year. What interest does the South African government take in the national children’s literature? None.
Joy Cowley is a popular and successful children’s author in New Zealand. Here are a few of the recognitions she has received: Commemoration Medal for services to New Zealand; Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children’s literature; A W Reed Award for Contribution to New Zealand Literature; Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. There is an author who has been (justly) recognised for her contributions. There is no similar award on offer in South Africa.
Why can’t we have a President’s Book Award or a Minister’s Book Medal or a South African Children’s Book of the Year with money attached? Most of our few book awards are given by publishers. Praise to the new Exclusive Books IBBY SA Award (started last year) which does offer some money and a bit of useful publicity. But such a prize doesn’t do enough to raise the status of children’s literature in South Africa. That’s what I’m after – on behalf of the authors and illustrators (and translators) who work with such skill and dedication for so little recognition.
Is there anyone “up there” reading this?
Jay Heale – September 2008
Notes about translating
At the AGM meeting of IBBY SA (7 August), Wendy Hartman, (Author) and Marjorie van Heerden (Illustrator) of Nina and little Duck [2008 MER award - winning book] were invited to talk about their writing and illustrating the book. With them to talk about translating Nina and Little Duck into Afrikaans was Johann van Heerden.
Here are a few notes about translating Nina and little Duck [2008 MER award - winning book], the translator Dr Johann van Heerden gave the members of IBBY South Africa at their annual general meeting in Cape Town. The notes below were e-mailed to the IBBY SA chairperson after the AGM:
"A reminder: In the little 5-minuter I shared with members at IBBY SA‘s AGM on 7 August, I tried to underline five points: 1) My love of words - whether reading, writing or translating them; 2) The fact that I now find myself on permanent holiday, that my time is not for sale any more (at any price) and that this kind of translation (Nina and Little Duck) I do for the sheer pleasure of playing with words for the benefit of really young readers/listeners. And what that means... 3) The value of translated works, a) from foreign languages, like (for most of us in the room) Russian and b) from not-so-foreign languages (like English for most Afrikaans-speakers) and specifically for young (often still unilingual) kids to gain access to a gem like Nina en Eendjie in their mother tongue; 4) The stunning experience Uys Krige shared with me when he was confronted with translating Twelfth Night into Afrikaans and he sat down with sharpened pencil to be challenged with the opening line “If music be the food of love, play on”!; and 5) The two metaphors that haunt me every time I sit down to translate some author’s treasured words into another language:
The first (Cervantes: “...the reverse side of a tapestry...”) I find very applicable to the translation of prose, generally: Cervantes is telling us that (with the exception of Greek and Latin, whose classical beauty cannot be ruined by even a bad translation), the challenge to translators is to keep their finished product from looking like the reverse side of a Flemish tapestry, with its negative images and loose threads. "Pero con todo eso, me parece que el traducir de una lengua en otra, como no sea de las reinas de las lenguas, griega y latina, es como quien mira los tapices flamencos por el revés: que aunque se veen las figuras, son llenas de hilos que las escurecen, y no se veen con la lisura y tez de la haz." (Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra).
And the second (Bialik: “...kissing your bride through the veil...”) has more direct application to the little verses in Nina and Little Duck (and also those Bertolt Brecht songs I translated for my stagings of the two Parabelstücke years ago). Bialik stated that, “Reading the Bible, and more specifically the Psalms, in translation, is like kissing your bride through a veil.” He was really referring to the more poetic passages in the original languages of the Bible.
And then, to try and illustrate that feeling of kissing a beautiful woman through a veil, I read aloud Wendy’s originals and my translations of a couple of the Nina verses, the two at the end of the second story, Little Duck:
Tomorrow with a bit of luck,
I will be a yellow duck.
I will swim and I will quack,
I will waddle there and back.
Tomorrow with a bit of luck,
I will be a yellow duck.
Môre, voor die son opkom,
Wil ek uit dié dop uitkom.
Ek wil graag aan Mamma raak,
Waggel-swem en waggel-kwaak.
Môre, voor die son opkom,
Wil ek uit dié dop uitkom.
Tomorrow morning there will be,
Brand-new ducklings, one, two, three.
Tomorrow seems so far away,
I wish tomorrow were today.
Môre is daar nuwe eendjies,
Een, twee, drie, op waggelbeentjies.
Hoekom nog tot môre wag?
Ek wens so môre was vandag.
You the chairperson, Robin Malan) suggest “a few words about how you went about that particular bit of translation”. That’s tricky. In a case like this, a very sensitive little verse in the first person singular, for very sensitive young readers/listeners, my guiding light is to try and stay true to the character of the speaker. In the first verse above it is the little chick pecking a hole from inside the shell before emerging into the world. In the second the mother duck is impatient for her little ones to emerge. These are feelings and emotions the target audience is familiar with. I want them to tune in to the words, to enjoy them and hopefully, to remember some of them. Marjorie once wrote that the biggest compliment she could ever get is for some young reader to sleep with one of her books under his or her pillow. I think I would be thrilled if I heard a three-year old, impatient before Christmas or a birthday, quote those words, Hoekom nog tot môre wag? Ek wens so môre was vandag."
At the same meeting Marjorie van Heerden gave a 10 minute talk on illustrating Nina and little Duck.
The Mind of an Illustrator: illustrating Nina and Little Duck
(if you want to read what she said - click on the title)
2008 M-Net/Via Afrika Literary Award Winners and the Katrina Harris awards
- The M.E.R Prize for best illustrated children’s book – Nina and Little Duck
- The M.E.R Prize for best youth novel – The Goblet Club
The M.E.R. Prize was established in 1983 and is awarded annually by M-Net and Via Afrika in two distinct categories. A prize is awarded to the best illustrated children’s book and another to the best youth novel published during the previous year. The only condition is that the books must be aimed at younger readers and that the authors and illustrators must be South African citizens. The award is named after MER (Mimie E. Rothmann 1875-1975), for her groundbreaking work in the field of children’s literature. No distinction is made between English and Afrikaans books.
For more information about the awards, see: http://news.book.co.za/blog/2008/06/15/2008-m-net-and-via-afrika-award-winners/
Nina and Little Duck -
The M.E.R Prize for best illustrated children’s book was awarded to Wendy Hartmann (author) and Marjorie van Heerden (illustrator) for Nina and Little Duck published by Human & Rousseau (SA) in 2007 (also available in Afrikaans as Nina en Eendjie).
Nina, Simon, and Mr and Mrs Rajah, together with their cat and dog, all live on a quaint little street where shops and houses are built right next door to each other. Mr and Mrs Rajah own a shop on this street. Their house is part of the shop. Next to it is an entrance to the garden where they store a few things. It is charming, just the kind of place a duck would love to make a nest. Nina and Simon spend a lot of time playing close to Mr and Mrs Rajah’s house and shop. They often stop for a chat and sometimes go into the garden to play games. Little Duck also spends a lot of time in the street and around the shop. After a long search, she recently moved into the Rajah’s garden to raise her family. And this is where the adventures of Little Duck and her ducklings, Max, Molly and Martin really start. The text is supported by humorous and charming rhymes and illustrations that warm the heart and tickle the tummy.
Nina and Little Duck (English) - ISBN 978-0-7981-4824-5
Nina en Eendjie (Afrikaans) - ISBN 978-0-7981-4825-2
Written by Wendy Hartmann and Illustrated by Marjorie van Heerden
Published by Human & Rousseau Publishers (SA) [Aug 2007]
Format (soft cover): 280mm x 215mm; 64 pages
Readership: Toddlers, Read aloud & New Readers
Copies can be ordered from: http://www.kalahari.net/ or orders@onthedot.co.za
For more information about Wendy, see her websites:
http://www.wendy-hartmann.blogspot.com/
http://www.childlit.org.za/scbwi2006/03/INDEX.HTM
For more information about Marjorie, see her websites:
http://www.grafikon.co.za/
http://marjorie-van-heerden.blogspot.com/
http://marjorie-books.blogspot.com/
The Goblet Club - The M.E.R Prize for best youth novel was awarded to S.A. Partridge for The Goblet Club published by Human & Rousseau (SA) in 2007.
The Goblet Club is a Gothic novel in the tradition of the highly successful Harry Potter series, but with distinctly South African features and set in a mysterious boarding school somewhere on the South African platteland. When Mark is sent to St Matthew's College for Boys, it is one more punishment for years of bad behaviour. The school has a reputation for knocking boys like him into shape, run with an iron fist by the sinister headmaster, Mr Crabtree. As soon as he arrives, Mark enters a sinister world of questions: what is Mr Crabtree's secret, and why does he have a miserable sixteen-year-old secretary? Are his new friends who they say are? Mark sets out to find answers, with his friends, Trent, Vlad and Francis. Together, they are the Goblet Club, dedicated to the study of poisons. They begin to use their potions to rid the school of a plague of rats, but as Mark is drawn deeper in, their thoughts turn to murder…
The Goblet Club - ISBN: 9780798148788
Written by S.A. Partridge
Published by Human & Rousseau Publishers (SA) [Oct 2007]
Format (soft cover): 213mm x 137mm; 144 pages
Copies can be ordered from: http://www.kalahari.net/ or orders@onthedot.co.za;
For more information about Sally-Ann, see her websites:
http://sapartridge.book.co.za/
http://www.nb.co.za/listing/partridge/4573/
*********************************************
Katrina Harris award
Katrina Harris, 1914 -1978 The Katrina Harries Award was for many years the only Children’s book award for illustration in
About the award:
The Katrine Harries Award for Children's Book Illustrations honours the work of a South African illustrator for a book published in the preceding two years. The illustrator must be a permanent South African citizen. The prize is named after the well-known South African artist Katrina Harris who won the first two awards in 1974 and 1976. Since 1998 the award has been managed by Unisa's Children's Literature Research Unit (CLRU). The award consists of a gold medal and is awarded biennially. (For more about Katrina Harris – see at the end of this e-mail.)
At a ceremony held at the
The 1999-2001, 2002-2003 and 2004-5 awards went to
The 2007 award went to Emily Bornoff for Prinses van die Afrikavlaktes Lapa (2006).
Breakdown
1999-2001
Eervol vermeld:
Jude Daly vir The Star-Bearer. Frances Lincoln. (2001)
Fiona Moodie vir Noko and the Night Monster. Frances Lincoln. (2001)
Niki Daly vir Fly, eagle, fly! Tafelberg. (2000)
Niki Daly, Jamela’s dress. Tafelberg. (1999)
2002-2003
Eervol vermeld
Niki Daly vir One round moon. Songololo (2003).
2004-2005
Eervol vermeld
Natalie Hinrichsen vir Roep die maan (Tell the moon). Tafelberg (2005)
Tamsin Hinrichsen vir We want tails (Ons soek sterte). Tafelberg. (2005)
Vian Oelofsen vir Hou vas, Seekoei H&R. (2005) en My sussie se tande. Lapa. (2004)
Emily Bornhoff vir Maroelaboomstories. Lapa. (2005)
2006-2007
Emily Bornhoff ir Prinses van die Afrikavlaktes. Lapa. (2006)
Eervol vermeld
Joan Rankin vir Theo die biblioteekkat; Theo en die sirkus; Theo en die kattekwaad. Lapa. (2007)
Shayle Bester vir The Cool Nguni. Jacana. (2007); Three friends and a taxi. Jacana. (2007)
Flip Hattingh vir My oupa Hoenders. Tafelberg. (2007)
Marna Hattingh vir Leander en Louise (Tiger and Louise). Tafelberg. (2007)
Fiona Moodie vir Fynbos feëtjies. Umuzi (2007)
***********************
Katrina Harris
Katrina was born in
As an illustrator of outstanding talent and sensitivity Katrina Harries made an important contribution to the raising of the standards of book production in
Her work as an independent draughtsman on paper, etching plate or lithographic stone is as importance as her book illustrations. Her drawings and graphic works have from the beginning been held in high regard by all true art lovers and earned her a Merit Award of the Cape Tercentenary Foundation and a Medal of Honour of the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns. Katrina Harries was a quietly courageous, modest, somewhat reserved person, completely honest and highly critical of herself and of her own work. In the Michaelis School of Fine Art she established a department of graphic art which, under her gentle but firm guidance, developed into one of the strongest and soundest departments of that School. Quite a few of our established children’s book illustrators were lucky to have been students of her… Paddy Bouma, Joan Rankin and Marjorie van Heerden. Her influence can bee seen in their work.
A blog with South African book reviews
A blog with South African book reviews and information by Lona Gericke. http://www.sa-books.blogspot.com/
This blog is an initiative by SCBWI SA
Lona Gericke has had a passion for children’s books her whole life and has been involved with Children’s books and libraries for over 38 years as librarian and book selector. She has twice had the honour of being elected as a member of the H.C.Andersen Jury to judge writing and illustration; and also judges books for awards in South Africa,and writes reviews and articles for the IBBY SA Newsletter and for the Cape Librarian. She regularly presents talks and workshops on Children’s literature.She runs a Born to read programme for babies every Wednesday morning in Bellville library, for the past 9 years.
Book reviews on Bookchat
Once upon a time there was a magazine about South African children’s books. It was called Bookchat and it survived for 21 years. Now, after a respectful rest, it has returned in wraith-like format as a website: http://www.bookchat.co.za/ Jay Heale’s intention as editor is the same: to provide information and due praise for South African children’s literature. There are reviews and recommended lists and contacts to publishers and bookshops. The site is updated monthly, with such features as a “Book of the Month”, news from the book world and so on. A new feature is the SACBIP database (of South African children’s books in print) which is intended, eventually, to hold full details of all our books. The English language books were put in first – about 1 600 of them and growing! At the moment, Jay is busy with the books available in Xhosa. As many entries as possible include details of the plot, theme, setting, etc. Various search facilities are available.
Members of SCBWI are, of course, welcome to visit the Bookchat site and the database. All for free! If Jay has missed out a precious book of yours, then please tell him so. He hopes that local publishers keep him up to date with the latest publications – but you know what publishers are like! Happy writing and illustrating to you all!
You will find Jay’s contact details on his website
About Jay Heale:
Jay is the author of many books for children and about children’s literature. He was one of the founder members of the South African Children’s Book Forum (SACBF) which is now IBBY SA. For eight years he served on the Jury of IBBY’s Hans Christian Andersen Award, http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=273, first as a jury member and then as president of that jury. He was the organiser of the 2004 IBBY Congress in
SCBWI Retreat: From story board and manuscript to published book
From story board to published book: How to find your own way in the world of publishing - a talk by international literary agent Susanne Koppe
Susanne explained that she works as a literary agent in Hamburg, Germany mainly with German authors. She also does some “internship” work with teenagers in schools.
She spoke about her career in children’s books which has involved study of children’s literature, work as a scout for the publishing house Beltz & Gelberg and Random House and running of the children’s booklist for Rotfuchs at Rowohlt Publishers. In 2002 she founded her own agency for literature and illustration.
Susanne described her work as an agent. She suggested that writers and illustrators should be careful in choosing an agent and should not pay money for reviews as this practice is open to corruption. It is also important to find someone who shares your values and ideas about books.
Susanne showed some of the books that she has worked on. They included some interesting “pop-up” type books, picture books, a “story song” type book with its own CD, picture books with riddles etc. She has also worked on longer stories for young adults such as those by Lilli Thal. She tries to look at the market and publish what makes sense as well as what is good.
A threat to children’s books in Europe are the big bookshops with limited lists. More than publishers, these minimize variety. Often they will say that a book is out of print when it is available from the publisher.
Book Fairs
There are a number of book fairs in Europe . Susanne particularly recommended the Bologna Book Fair which is specifically for children’s books.
Branding yourself
It is a good idea to give something small to people whom you would like to work with, such as the stamps that she has made.
Royalties
In Germany these are normally about 15%.
Packaging
Packaging is practised in some countries by some publishing houses who put together a concept and try to sell this.
Submission of manuscripts
It is best to post, not email these. Emails can get lost and are impersonal.
Submission of illustrations
Jpegs can work very well. Original artwork should never be sent. It indicates lack of professionalism and creates anxiety for the agent who has to return it without damaging it. If an original piece of work is sent t
o make a particular point, it should be small and should be sent as something that does not need to be returned. Covering letter
Give some background regarding why you wrote the book.
Summarise the plot.
Longer books - include about three chapters of the book. The exact number of words to send will vary according to the type of book.
Picture books - send the whole book.
SCBWI Retreat: Blank page to under a child's pillow - the creative process
Blank page to under a child's pillow - the creative process - a talk by Editorial Director, Picture/Gift Books, Macmillan Children's Books, UK, Suzanne Carnell.
Suzanne began her talk with a picture of her desk back home in the UK and pointed to the various pictures, mementos, reminders and notes around it to introduce the different kinds of work she does as well as the authors and illustrators she works 
with. Although Macmillan says it doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts, she said that the post often brought surprizes that the staff couldn't resist looking at. In this way some of their well known authors had first been published.
with. Although Macmillan says it doesn't accept unsolicited manuscripts, she said that the post often brought surprizes that the staff couldn't resist looking at. In this way some of their well known authors had first been published.She described working with people such as Emily Gravett, Julia Donaldson, Kazuno Kohar and Chris Riddell. Altogether the talk provided a tantalising insight into the work of a children's book publisher. The audience loved seeing the examples of books Macmillan had published. It was fascinating to see the process followed during the writing, illustrating and publishing of a book.
SCBWI Retreat: International Children's magazine market
International children's magazine market: What material they need, how to submit work, how children's magazine copyright and payment works - a talk by international editor Christine ClarkChristine began her talk by describing her experience as a child reader of magazines. She discussed a magaznine's predicability in terms of arrival and features as well as the surprizes offered by each edition. A magazine informs, entertains and inspires. Subscription to a magazine gives a child a sense of ownership as she receives an item in the mail addressed to her. Magazines are also good for reluctant readers because they break information into manageable chunks.
Surveys of magazine reading by children show that large percentages read magazines often.
Christine showed slides of a wide range of children's magazines which are available in the US, such as: Dig, Hopschotch for Girls, Cricket, American Girl, Ranger Rick, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Rocket, Chirp, National Geographic for Kids, New Moon, Ladybug, Faces, Your big backyard, Iguana, Cobblestone, Muse, Zootles, Calliope,
National Geographic for Little Kids and Owl.
Christine described how people write for Highlights magazine. She suggested that anyone aspiring to write for a children's magazine should:
Get the writers' guidelines
Carry out an extensive analysis of the content, brand and identity of the magazine.
Find out what the ideals of the magazine are / what is its mission statement?
Highlights magazine was founded in 1946 by two teachers who wanted to develop tolerance among kids without being too heavy-handed. It is a general interest magazine. 85% of the magazine is written by free lancers. Every issue has certain features such as a non-fiction article about another part of the world. Its indirect message is that "we are more alike than we are different".
The word length of articles is approximately 800 words. However, if an article targets a younger group, then a slighly larger font is used and the article comprises fewer words.
Christine acknowledged the Highlights Foundation which had enabled her visit to South Africa. Its purpose is to raise the standard of children's literature.
SCBWI Retreat: Panel Discussions
At the SCBWI Retreat two very interesting panel discussions were held. The panel members gave invaluable information and the contributions from the floor were very useful.
The topics were:
The naked editor: publishers, international and local, in dialogue
and
Contracts and payment terms
SCBWI Retreat: Stories by Sindiwe Magona
During the SCBWI Retreat, delegates were treated to stories each night which were created and told by Sindiwe Magona - a REAL treat!
SCBWI Retreat: Workshops
During the SCBWI Retreat held at Goudini from 5-9 May, a number of wonderful workshops were held which helped participants to develop skills.
Writer's tools, style, grammar and dialogue - Robin Malan and Janie Oosthuysen
How to draw children: An in-depth look at children of different ages and how their boides change - Marjorie van Heerden
Verbal characterization, character development for writers - LeAnne Hardy and Marianne Brandt
Visual characterization, character development for illustrators - Joan Rankin
Writer's tools, style, grammar and dialogue - Robin Malan and Janie Oosthuysen
How to draw children: An in-depth look at children of different ages and how their boides change - Marjorie van Heerden
Verbal characterization, character development for writers - LeAnne Hardy and Marianne Brandt
Visual characterization, character development for illustrators - Joan Rankin
SCBWI Retreat: Group discussions
A number of very interesting group discussions took place at the SCBWI Retreat. Topics included:Planning, Deadlines vs Creativity: Balancing your life
and
Finding your niche
and nurturing it: Finding your muse inside yourself
SCBWI Retreat: Gauteng representatives
For some pictures of Gauteng reps to the Retreat, click on the title above.
Book Design
Thanks to Janie Oosthuysen for this report on an SCBWI meeting in Cape Town.
Another interesting meeting of the SCBWI took place in the Bellville Library on Thursday 6 March. Beverley (Struik), Michelle (Tafelberg) and Sally (a free-lancer) spoke on book design, a fairly recent phenomenon in South Africa.
Text, illustrations and book design should work together to form a cohesive whole, the design setting off the text and illustrations to advantage. Beverley emphasised the importance of white space, i.e. the thicker the book the larger the margins, 10 – 13 cm all round, and up to 20 cm in the middle to prevent distortion. Smaller point size and bigger lead-in is more legible than the other way around. There is a fine line between what children see as either exciting or babyish, but designers shouldn’t ignore the physical presence of words, as in “the BIG bear”. Much fun can be had with typography as an art form, as well as with deconstructive fonts (Tanya). In general designers should stick to one font and use size, bold, regular and italics for variation. Cover font should tie in with inside font and match both illustrations and text.
Illustrators’ portfolios were also briefly discussed. Michelle emphasised the importance of showing the publisher that you can interpret different texts, and Beverley would like to see various talents displayed, e.g. that the illustrator can do both animals and people.
After a super meal and some discussion we all left, feeling much wiser.
Another interesting meeting of the SCBWI took place in the Bellville Library on Thursday 6 March. Beverley (Struik), Michelle (Tafelberg) and Sally (a free-lancer) spoke on book design, a fairly recent phenomenon in South Africa.
Text, illustrations and book design should work together to form a cohesive whole, the design setting off the text and illustrations to advantage. Beverley emphasised the importance of white space, i.e. the thicker the book the larger the margins, 10 – 13 cm all round, and up to 20 cm in the middle to prevent distortion. Smaller point size and bigger lead-in is more legible than the other way around. There is a fine line between what children see as either exciting or babyish, but designers shouldn’t ignore the physical presence of words, as in “the BIG bear”. Much fun can be had with typography as an art form, as well as with deconstructive fonts (Tanya). In general designers should stick to one font and use size, bold, regular and italics for variation. Cover font should tie in with inside font and match both illustrations and text.
Illustrators’ portfolios were also briefly discussed. Michelle emphasised the importance of showing the publisher that you can interpret different texts, and Beverley would like to see various talents displayed, e.g. that the illustrator can do both animals and people.
After a super meal and some discussion we all left, feeling much wiser.
Spoke, Rillers en ander Grillers
Liewe Lewendes & Bewendes
In die middernagure, onder ‘n bleekwit maan en draderige swart miswolke, is Fantasi Boeke is besig om ‘n bundel vol splinternuwe spookstories saam te stel. Die kerslig flikker-flikker en die verroeste enkelketting wat styf om die toegesluite uitgewer se enkel vas is, ratel staalswaar oor die verrotte houtplanke.
Kraak! Kraaaaaak! kerm die vloer as sy suutjies na die klein, swart venstertjie sluip en doodbang uitloer na die bedompige nag.
“Asseblief!” pleit sy in ‘n hees, hol stem, “asseblief, ek kort stories! Kort of lank, verskriklik of vreeslik snaaks, grillerig of spokerig, bloederig of beduiweld, raaisels of rympies ... enige woorde om my boek voor Julie vol te maak!
Die aaklige Kasteeleienaar gaan my nek omdraai as ek nie genoeg stories met my vangnet gryp nie ...”
“Stuur enige bydraes saam met ‘n vlermuis na hierdie adres voor einde Julie. Ek sal helder, goue muntstukke laat val vir enige woorde wat ek in my boek kan inpas. En ...” sy sluk swaar, “as julle enige kinders ken wat ook ‘n storie kan spin, stuur dit saam!
Enige wonderlike woorde wat my eienaar sal paai ... en my sal verlos van hierdie vreeslike straf!”
Katrina Harries Award for Children's Book Illustrations
The Katrina Harries Award for Children's Book Illustrations honours the work of a South African illustrator for a book published in the preceeding two years. The illustrator must be a permanent South African citizen. The prize is named after the well-known South African artist who won the first two awards in 1974 and 1976. Since 1998 the award has been managed by Unisa's Children's Literature Research Unit (CLRU). The award consists of a gold medal and is awarded biennially.
At a ceremony held at the University of Pretoria on 5 March 2008, the following awards were announced:
The 1999-2001, 2002-2003 and 2004-5 awards went to Piet Grobler for Doctor Me Di Cin / Dokter Me Di syn Human & Rousseau (2001), Toepa-toepa towery Protea (2003), Net een slukkie, padda! / Please Frog, just one sip! Human & Rousseau (2002), Die spree met foete Human & Rousseau (2002), Het Vogeljes ABC Lemniscaat (2005), Makwelane en die krokodil Human & Rousseau (2004) and Mia se ma / Mia's mom Human & Rousseau (2005) respectively.
The 2007 award went to Emily Bornoff for Prinses van die Afrikavlaktes Lapa (2006).
At a ceremony held at the University of Pretoria on 5 March 2008, the following awards were announced:
The 1999-2001, 2002-2003 and 2004-5 awards went to Piet Grobler for Doctor Me Di Cin / Dokter Me Di syn Human & Rousseau (2001), Toepa-toepa towery Protea (2003), Net een slukkie, padda! / Please Frog, just one sip! Human & Rousseau (2002), Die spree met foete Human & Rousseau (2002), Het Vogeljes ABC Lemniscaat (2005), Makwelane en die krokodil Human & Rousseau (2004) and Mia se ma / Mia's mom Human & Rousseau (2005) respectively.
The 2007 award went to Emily Bornoff for Prinses van die Afrikavlaktes Lapa (2006).
Local Language Publishing Program Writing Competition 2008 Room to Read
Local Language Publishing Program Writing Competition Room to Read is currently promoting its first Local Language Publishing Writing Competition that is open to all writers over the age of 18. There are cash prizes of R10 000 each for the best five stories. Independent judges, who will be looking for such qualities as originality, imagination and flair, will read the entries. Most importantly, they will consider how the story will appeal to children from a range of South African backgounds. The purpose of this competition is to encourage the writing and production of children's literature in South Africa, especially in indigenous languages. We plan to publish the best of these works in 2008.
Competition rules The competition is not open to Room to Read South Africa staff and their immediate families and the judges of the competition. Authors must be 18 and over. No entries will be returned and Room to Read South Africa will not be accountable for any entries that do not reach our office. Room to Read South Africa will publish the winning manuscripts only if they meet our publishing requirements. Non-winning entries may also qualify for publication. Room to Read South Africa has the right to edit and revise the manuscripts according to their requirements. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. There is no restriction on the number of entries made by any one person; however, an official entry form must accompany each separate entry.
Requirements/Criteria
The manuscripts must be original and previously unpublished. Manuscripts must be suitable for children aged 6 -14 years, and can be written in any of the 11 official languages of South Africa. Stories will be adapted/ translated into all 11official languages. The stories should be enjoyable and age appropriate and suitable for children in rural and urban environments. Length: around 600 words for Foundation Phase (6-9 years). Around 1200 words for 10-14 years. CLOSING DATE: 30 June 2008 PLEASE NOTE:Copyright in text will remain with the author. No royalties will be paid . Manuscripts must be sent to: Local Language Publishing Program Writing Competition Room to Read South Africa Postnet Suite 172 Private Bag X 15 MENLOPARK 0102 OR Corner Hilda and Arcadia Street Hatfield Gardens, Unit F1 HATFIELD 3
NOTE: Please ensure that you have a tracking number which will enable you to follow up whether your post was received. A copy of the entered manuscript should be kept as no entries will be returned. Only winners and authors of publishable manuscripts will be contacted.
Centre for the Book
Nombulelo Baba has taken over as Project Co-ordinator for the Children's Literature Programme at the Centre for the Book from Colleen Higgs who resigned at the end of February. She is a teacher by profession who taught in the Foundation Phase for 9 years before joining READ Educational as a Teacher Trainer. For another 9 years with READ she conducted in-service training for teachers. She has also conducted workshops for the WCED's 100 Books project. She joined the Centre for the Book in May 2007. She says she's passionate about reading and Children's Literature in general. She will be circulating mail related to Children's Literature to the CLN e-group which is a free service offered by the Centre for the Book. Welcome, Nombulelo.
http://www.nlsa.ac.za/NLSA/centreforthebook
http://www.nlsa.ac.za/NLSA/centreforthebook
Cape Town Book Fair
Cape Town Book Fair, 2008
The Publishers Association of South Africa (PASA), and the organisers of the Frankfurt (European) Book Fair will be organising the Third International Book Fair in Cape Town, (June 14-17, 2008).
SCBWI SA has already been allocated a stand and we are working with the organisers to plan their “Kids Zone” and the Pin Board area as in 2007. We plan to provide the opportunity for children’s book writers and illustrators (SCBWI SA members only) to display their work and to make contact at our stand with representatives from the international and local publishers who will be coming to the Fair.
SCBWI will have a critique session a week before the Book Fair to help our writers and illustrators prepare for the Fair and a Get-together after the Book Fair for feedback and general book talk.
Dates will be confirmed and posted on www.scbwi-za-capetown.blogspot.com/ closer to the time.
For more on the Cape Town Book Fair, e-mail them at: info@capetownbookfair.co.za
or visit their website at: http://www.capetownbookfair.com/ or phone: +27 (0)21 418 5493
The Publishers Association of South Africa (PASA), and the organisers of the Frankfurt (European) Book Fair will be organising the Third International Book Fair in Cape Town, (June 14-17, 2008).
SCBWI SA has already been allocated a stand and we are working with the organisers to plan their “Kids Zone” and the Pin Board area as in 2007. We plan to provide the opportunity for children’s book writers and illustrators (SCBWI SA members only) to display their work and to make contact at our stand with representatives from the international and local publishers who will be coming to the Fair.
SCBWI will have a critique session a week before the Book Fair to help our writers and illustrators prepare for the Fair and a Get-together after the Book Fair for feedback and general book talk.
Dates will be confirmed and posted on www.scbwi-za-capetown.blogspot.com/ closer to the time.
For more on the Cape Town Book Fair, e-mail them at: info@capetownbookfair.co.za
or visit their website at: http://www.capetownbookfair.com/ or phone: +27 (0)21 418 5493
Illustrators' Rates
Have you ever wondered what you should be charging for illustrating? SAFREA (Southern African Freelancers' Association) suggests some minimum rates. These can be accessed at: http://www.safrea.co.za/. The following rates were suggested in 2007/2008.
RATES
SAFREA suggested Minimum Rates 2007/2008
DESIGN AND ARTWORK 2007/8
Artwork: Black and white per piece
Filler R150.00
A5 half page R250.00 - R450.00
A5 complex R300.00 - R500.00
A5 three quarter page R300.00 - R500.00
Narrow Crown to A4 (simple) R485.00 - R550.00
NC to A4 (complex) R600.00 - R750.00
NC to A4 double spread (simple) R800.00 - R1200.00
Nc to A4 double spread (complex) R1100.00 - R2000.00
Artwork full colour per piece
Filler R175.00
A6 or quarter page R225.00
A5 or half page R300.00
A5 complex full page R600.00
A4 three quarter page 600 - R750.00
Narrow Crown to A4 (simple) R600.00 - R800.00
NC to A4 (complex) R800.00 - R1100.00
NC to A4 double spread (simple) R1500.00 - 2000.00
Nc to A4 double spread (complex) R1750.00 - 2500.00
Artwork DTP/Technical per piece
DTP/computer generated a/w (including maths) (simple) R 75.00 - R300.00
DTP/computer generated a/w (including maths) (complex) R300.00 - R550.00
Technical drawings R390.00 R250 - R550.00
Medical illustrations R300.00 - R1500.00
Graphs R200
Maps per piece
B&W Narrow Crown - A4 (simple) R400.00 - R550.00
B&W NC - A4 (detailed) R750.00 - R1500.00
B&W NC - A4 double page (simple) R1000.00 - R1500.00
B&W NC - A4 double page (detailed) R1750.00 - R2500.00
Full Colour Narrow Crown - A4 (simple) R550.00 - R750.00
F/C NC - A4 (detailed) R1000.00 - R2000.00
F/C NC - A4 double page (simple) R1000.00 - R2500.00
F/C NC - A4 double page (detailed) R1750.00 - R2800.00
Cover Artwork per piece
Learners book/Reader NC - A4 (simple) R1500.00
LB/Reader NC - A4 (complex) R1750.00 - R 2750.00
Cover designed in Photoshop (no scanning cost) R2500.00 - 3 000.00
Studio photograph for Cover including fees and props (per photo) R1950.00 - R 2500.00
Cover design
Design requires no adjustment to artwork R1565.00
Design requires some adjustment to artwork R1816.00
Artwork on front cover only (complex design work) R2300.00
Artwork on front and back cover (complex design work) R2550.00
Makeup from existing design R900.00
Makeup from existing design with new image R1250.00
Teachers guide converted from Learners book R1200.00
New design with artwork R2000.00
Design for new series per title R2750.00
Complex design using artwork and photographs R2900.00
Book design and layout
Concept design R2550.00
cover design R2550.00
Layout per page (simple � run in text through to school science and maths ) R50.00 - 90.00
Layout per page (complex with design work) R220.00 - 260.00
Magazine design and layout
cover design R2500
Layout per pageR230
Web design
Concept design R3500 - R5500
Layout of pages this is easier quoted as an hourly rateR250 - R300 per hour
RATES
SAFREA suggested Minimum Rates 2007/2008
DESIGN AND ARTWORK 2007/8
Artwork: Black and white per piece
Filler R150.00
A5 half page R250.00 - R450.00
A5 complex R300.00 - R500.00
A5 three quarter page R300.00 - R500.00
Narrow Crown to A4 (simple) R485.00 - R550.00
NC to A4 (complex) R600.00 - R750.00
NC to A4 double spread (simple) R800.00 - R1200.00
Nc to A4 double spread (complex) R1100.00 - R2000.00
Artwork full colour per piece
Filler R175.00
A6 or quarter page R225.00
A5 or half page R300.00
A5 complex full page R600.00
A4 three quarter page 600 - R750.00
Narrow Crown to A4 (simple) R600.00 - R800.00
NC to A4 (complex) R800.00 - R1100.00
NC to A4 double spread (simple) R1500.00 - 2000.00
Nc to A4 double spread (complex) R1750.00 - 2500.00
Artwork DTP/Technical per piece
DTP/computer generated a/w (including maths) (simple) R 75.00 - R300.00
DTP/computer generated a/w (including maths) (complex) R300.00 - R550.00
Technical drawings R390.00 R250 - R550.00
Medical illustrations R300.00 - R1500.00
Graphs R200
Maps per piece
B&W Narrow Crown - A4 (simple) R400.00 - R550.00
B&W NC - A4 (detailed) R750.00 - R1500.00
B&W NC - A4 double page (simple) R1000.00 - R1500.00
B&W NC - A4 double page (detailed) R1750.00 - R2500.00
Full Colour Narrow Crown - A4 (simple) R550.00 - R750.00
F/C NC - A4 (detailed) R1000.00 - R2000.00
F/C NC - A4 double page (simple) R1000.00 - R2500.00
F/C NC - A4 double page (detailed) R1750.00 - R2800.00
Cover Artwork per piece
Learners book/Reader NC - A4 (simple) R1500.00
LB/Reader NC - A4 (complex) R1750.00 - R 2750.00
Cover designed in Photoshop (no scanning cost) R2500.00 - 3 000.00
Studio photograph for Cover including fees and props (per photo) R1950.00 - R 2500.00
Cover design
Design requires no adjustment to artwork R1565.00
Design requires some adjustment to artwork R1816.00
Artwork on front cover only (complex design work) R2300.00
Artwork on front and back cover (complex design work) R2550.00
Makeup from existing design R900.00
Makeup from existing design with new image R1250.00
Teachers guide converted from Learners book R1200.00
New design with artwork R2000.00
Design for new series per title R2750.00
Complex design using artwork and photographs R2900.00
Book design and layout
Concept design R2550.00
cover design R2550.00
Layout per page (simple � run in text through to school science and maths ) R50.00 - 90.00
Layout per page (complex with design work) R220.00 - 260.00
Magazine design and layout
cover design R2500
Layout per pageR230
Web design
Concept design R3500 - R5500
Layout of pages this is easier quoted as an hourly rateR250 - R300 per hour
Margot Finke's Monthly "Musings"
Margo Finke's articles provide guidance to people getting started in the children's publishing world and answer many typical questions on PUBLISHING, WRITING, AGENTS etc.etc. These materials are posted on this site for free individual and non-commercial use. They are provided as a public service. Out of respect for their creators, please follow the copyright guidelines.
To go to Margot's site, click http://www.underdown.org.finke-htm/
To go to Margot's site, click http://www.underdown.org.finke-htm/
Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Retreat
See full programme and costs at -
SCBWI SA
Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Retreat
Goudini Spa
May 5-9, 2008
All children’s book writers, illustrators, publishers, librarians, teachers (not only members of the SCBWI)…
THIS IS AN
READ ON!
We are lucky to have enticed the chief editor from a children’s magazine and two established international children’s book agents to participate in our retreat: Christine Clark from the Highlights Magazine,
Christine Clark: “I'm delighted that my first trip to
Resources for Writers in SA compiled by Colleen Higgs
Colleen Higgs left the Centre for the Book at the end of February 2008. She developed a Resource list over her years working there and shared this with the e-group. Thank you Colleen and best wishes in your new position at Modjaji Books.
RESOURCES FOR WRITERS IN SA compiled by Colleen Higgs
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE FOR WRITERS IN SOUTH AFRICA?
*Competitions for writers to enter (Books e-group)
*Writing workshops, writing teachers (Books e-group, Centre for the Book website)
*Literary magazines (Rough guide, Centre for the Book website)
*Online zines (
www.litnet.co.za and http://book.co.za)
*National Arts Council grants to give you time to write
*Join organisations that support you - IBBYSA, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Bhala - national organisation for those who write in isiXhosa, most towns and cities in regions that have large groups of Xhosa speakers have local groups of Bhala
*Join the Books e-group books@nlsa.ac.za (You will receive up-to-the-minute information about workshops, events, conferences, competitions, opportunities for publications, readings, writers groups, etc)
*Go to bookish conferences, symposia, festivals (Books e-group)
*If you are on Facebook or MySpace on the Internet - check out the writers’ groups and bookish events that are happening in your area
*Get onto the mailing lists of bookstores - like Exclusive Books, Wordsworths, The Book Lounge (CT), Die Boekehuis (Jhb)
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY WRITING IS ANY GOOD?
*Send it off to literary magazines, both online and print. See the list at the back of the Rough guide to small-scale and self publishing or on the Writers Network website. If your writing is rejected this is feedback of a sort. Don’t give up.
*Join a writing group or start a writing group. (CfB pamphlet on this topic).
*Come to Out to Lunch at the Centre for the Book on Wednesdays between 1 and 2. (CT) *Do the Masters in Creative Writing at UCT or at Wits. Other universities around the country also offer creative writing - check out their websites to see what they have to offer.
*Join a Writing workshop. There are some excellent writing teachers around, check out the Centre for the Book website for a list of writing teachers. One of the best in Cape Town is Anne Schuster. See her website at
www.anneschuster.co.za*You could send a completed manuscript off to a publisher. Before you do this, though, you need to research the market.
*Go to bookshops and look carefully at which local publishers are publishing books in a similar genre to yours. Make a shortlist of three or four publishers, including some small publishers. Before you submit a manuscript, go to each publisher’s website and find out what their submission requirements are. Normally publishers do not want to see a whole manuscript, but rather want a package of:
(1) A one paragraph synopsis of the book
(2) A one paragraph bio-note about author
(3) A one to two page synopsis of your book
(4) A chapter by chapter synopsis (3-5 line per chapter)
(5) Two sample chapters.
*You could get your manuscript read by an "expert" reader for a small fee at
www.livewriting.co.za(available after April 2008) or email mairefisher@gmail.com
HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY WRITING?
*Information pamphlet series for writers published by the Centre for the Book - ten pamphlets are available on topics of interest to writers written by experienced writers, publishers, and editors.
*Find a writers’ course or workshop that you can attend
*Register for a creative writing course at university. The SA Writers’ College is an online writing college based in Cape Town; you don’t have to live in the city to do a course.
*You could get your manuscript read by an "expert" reader for a small fee at
www.livewriting.co.za(available after April 2008) or by emailing mairefisher@gmail.com
*Send stories, poems, articles, essays etc to literary magazines and popular magazines where relevant.
*Go to a local book store or library and find books that give advice and suggestions about how to write better
*Read widely and frequently - you have to be an avid reader if you want to be a good writer.
If I have a book that I want to publish, what should I do?
If you want a commercial publisher to consider your work*
*Look at the PASA Directory, it is updated each year or check out the PASA website at
www.publishsa.co.za*You need to identify which publishers do the kind of book you are wanting to get published.
*Basil van Rooyen’s book - How to get published in SA (Penguin) is useful, especially for non-fiction authors - but it is quite gloomy, so don’t get discouraged by the tone.
*You should also go to bookstores and see who is publishing similar books and see what is being published so they don’t reinvent the wheel
*A new website offers reader’s reports for a small fee and some at a reduced fee (bursaries). Check out
www.livewriting.co.za(available after April 2008) or contact Maire Fisher at mairefisher@gmail.com
*Poets should read the attached page about getting your poetry published. You shouldn’t think of starting with getting a book published. Get individual poems published first.
*Look at the CfB pamphlet on Publishing Opportunities for new writers
YOU COULD CONSIDER SELF OR INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING Sometimes you can’t get published straight away, because you are a new writer, or you write in a genre that has limited appeal --- have you considered independent publishing or self-publishing?
*Let’s push the boundaries of publishing - pamphlets, chapbooks, simple cheap books, digital printing, zines, reading to each other
*Get a copy of A Rough Guide to small-scale and self publishing published by the Centre for the Book - it is full of practical and useful advice. Available in English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, isiXhosa and isiZulu.
*Community Publishing Project grants, small grants for writers to publish their own work are on offer twice a year: deadlines: Usually in about March & September (Check the CB website for deadlines and to download the application form)
*Gary Cummiskey’s Blog --- he is a veteran independent publisher
http://dyehard-press.blogspot.com/*Consider a small print run and going the digital printing/ print on demand option
RESEARCH SA BOOKS AND PUBLISHING
*Go to a bookshop or a library and look at who is publishing what and whom? If you join the Exclusive Books fanatics club and the Wordsworth’s Loyalty Club, not only will you get discounts, you will be invited to launches of books, where you will hear successful writers speak, read and launch their books. There is a whole collection of wonderful bookshops in Long Street, the most famous and worth a visit is Clarke’s.
*The Book Lounge corner of Buitenkant and Roeland Streets in Cape Town city - has regular events and Kalk Bay Books in Main Road, Kalk Bay does too
*Baobab Books in Long Street has regular literary events on Wednesday evenings.
*Boekehuis in Auckland Park in Jozi - has a great selection of Africana and has regular bookish events
*Xarra Books in Newtown is a wonderful Jozi bookstore
*Read the books pages of newspapers and magazines - good ones are Rapport, Die Burger, Cape Times, The Weekender, The Mail and Guardian and the Sunday Independent, O Magazine, Real Simple - but there are lots of others!
*Check out the Publishers’ Association website
www.publishsa.co.zaor buy a copy of the annual PASA directory, which gives a breakdown of all publishers in South Africa who are members of PASA, what their publishing interests are, and contact details.
*Most publishers have their own websites and often tell you how they like to receive submissions. If they don’t tell you, give them a ring and ask.
*Listen to SAFM Literature on Sundays 1- 4pm , and keep an ear out for what is happening on "Otherwise" on SAFM at 1pm, they often have slots of interest to writers.
HANG OUT WITH/ MEET AND/OR LISTEN TO PUBLISHED WRITERS AT VARIOUS EVENTS AND FESTIVALS AROUND THE COUNTRY
*For Afrikaans speaking writers - Woordfees at Stellenbosch in March is a must
*The Cape Town International Book Fair in June each year - what more can I say?
*The Franschoek Literary Festival in May is a feast of literary activity
*Spier Poetry Exchange at the end of January, early February each year - a chance to see local and international poets in action
*Poetry Africa is held at the University of KZN in Durban in October each year -a fantastic opportunity to listen to local and international poets reading and performing their work
*Time of the Writers is held at UKZN in March each year
*Wordfest is the bookish/ writerly part of the Grahamstown Arts Festival at the end of June/July each year
WHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN'S WRITERS AND PICTURE BOOK ILLUSTRATORS?
*Join Society for Book Writers and Illustrators --- SCBWI SCBWI.ZA@gmail.com
*Join IBBYSA, for more information check out their website ---
www.ibbysa.org.za*Join the Children’s Literature Network (CLN) e-group - cln@nlsa.ac.za
*Find courses and workshops for the writers of children’s books - SCBWI and IBBY SA often advertise such course
*Read lots of children’s books - to yourself and to children
*Tell stories to children - either your own or volunteer at a school or library
*Go to the Children’s Zone at the Cape Town International Book Fair
*Some cities and towns have specialist children’s bookstores - eg A is for Apple in Cape Town. Most decent bookstores have a children’s section and some are better than others. Look out for books that have won prizes or other recognition.
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE FOR WRITERS IN CAPE TOWN?
(other regions should figure this out and find a place to share this information)
*Out to Lunch at the Centre for the Book on Wednesday’s between 1 and 2, there is a free open writing practice session.
*Watch out for the Cape Town International Bookfair in 2008. (www.capetownbookfair.com)
*Off the Wall at A Touch of Madness in Observatory has poetry sessions on Monday nights. Usually there is a guest poet, and then an open mic. Contact: Hugh Hodge hahodge@gmail.com
*Gus Ferguson’s mailing list, you can subscribe to Carapace & get onto it that way (Invitations to launches, readings and other events) email: snail@pulsar.co.za
*The Central Library has a monthly poetry group that meets on Saturday afternoons.
*Keith Gottschalk convenes a writers group called the Landsdowne Local which meets last Saturday of the month, contact kgottschalk@uwc.ac.za
NOTES ON PUBLISHING YOUR POETRY
(by Robert Berold)
It is almost impossible to get a first book published. The route to go is to try to publish your work bit by bit in poetry magazines (see the Centre for the Book website). You will be able to find copies of these magazines in a large library, like a university library. Read them first to see which magazines suit your style of poetry. Reading these magazines will also give you an idea of what is going on in South African poetry in general, which is a very diverse field.
Publishing through small magazines is a slow process, but that is the way all poets do it. Some editors give criticism and feedback, others don’t.
Do not send the same poems to more than one magazine, and do not send more than 3 to 5, it just irritates the editor to be flooded. You sometimes have to wait a long time for a reply, up to 6 months or more.
After that time it is fair to write and ask the editor to make a decision so that you can send those particular poems somewhere else.
The slowness of this process is no reason to stop writing poetry, or sharing it with others, starting a poetry reading group, or even publishing a small book of your own.
READ, READ, READ
*As well as whatever else you read, you must also read what other South African writers have written and are writing. You need to know where you fit into the ongoing conversation that is South African literature, South African writing.
*Buy South African books and subscribe to our local literary magazines. For a list see the Centre for the Book website and the Rough guide to small scale & self publishing
*Read South African and African books from the library closest to you. South African writing and publishing is flourishing --- and there are some wonderful reads.
*You may find books about writing useful too. See a selected bibliography at the end of handout.
USEFUL WEBSITES
www.publishsa.co.za (Publishers Association of SA) www.nac.org.za (National Arts Council) www.litnet.co.za (Litnet - online magazine about arts and culture - strong Afrikaans focus) http://book.co.zaBook SA -- Southern Africa Lit Daily - mostly in English
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BOOKS ON WRITING Natalie Goldberg’s books (1986) Writing Down the Bones Boston &
London: Shambhala and (1990) Wild Mind" New York: Bantam Books
Anne Lamott (1994) Bird by bird - Some instructions on writing and life. New York: Anchor Books, Doubleday.
Dorothea Brande (1934 first published, republished 1996) Becoming a writer. London: Macmillan.
Julia Cameron (2000) The Right to Write. London: Macmillan
Peter Elbow (1973) Writing without teachers. New York: Oxford University Press.
Judy Reeves (1999) A Writer’s Book of Days - A spirited companion and lively muse for the writing life. Novato, California: New World Library.
Stephen King (2000) On Writing: a memoir London: Hodder & Stoughton
Anne Schuster’s novel (2006) Foolish Delusions - has separate mini-sections which are helpful in writing memoir/ autobiography. Johannesburg: Jacana Media