Author Topic: Rutgers One-on-One 2012 application is up (Read 6010 times)

eecoburn · « **Reply #90 on:** September 05, 2012, 09:47 AM »

Sheri,

I'd like to add my friend Jenn who is carpooling with me to the dinner list. Thanks!

elisa · « **Reply #91 on:** September 05, 2012, 10:32 PM »

That all sounds good, Sheri, it worked so nicely last year (especially since my plane was 2 hours late!). I vote for not changing a thing. Thanks again for organizing.

elisa · « **Reply #92 on:** September 05, 2012, 10:37 PM »

Tara, I always love hearing about overcoming the adversity of rejection (if that's your experience, of course) as that inspires me to keep going. . .

Lisa

marcycollier · « **Reply #93 on:** September 06, 2012, 08:42 AM »

Sheri, I agree with Lisa - last year was perfect. It was great having the private room, especially with people arriving at different times. The wait staff was really accommodating.

Tara, I'm so excited to hear you speak! I would love to hear about your revision process. I could revise forever and never submit my manuscript. I know many writers (myself included) who struggle with deciding when the manuscript is actually "ready" to send.

Marcy

taralazar · « **Reply #94 on:** September 06, 2012, 10:45 AM »

Sheri, those details sound perfect to me. People will probably be arriving at all hours, depending on travel delays. I can be there right at 6:30, though, I live pretty close.

Thanks for the feedback on the speech and please keep it coming! It's YOUR DAY so I want to cater to what YOU want.

Sheri D. · « **Reply #95 on:** September 07, 2012, 12:40 PM »

Hi all,

I just got off the phone with the Hilton, and we're all set. It's set up just like last year. We'll be in the private room from 6:30-10pm. The staff knows that we will be arriving at different times and that we will pay with separate checks.

The group is reserved under my name, Sheri Dillard, and also as "blueboarders."

Elizabeth, I saw your note about your friend, and I've added her to the list.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone! (And Tara, I can't wait to hear your speech!) See you all soon!

Friday night dinner:

1. Sheri
2. Stephanie (stefwrites)
3. Lisa (elisa)
4. Andrea
5. eecoburn
6. stephw
7. Michelle (maliazmom)
8. Marcy C. (marcycollier)
9. Kate D.
10. Betsy F.
11. Sona
12. Liz G. (jadedmetaphor)
13. Tara (taralazar)
14. Angela (RainbowMom)
15. Mona (anom3)
16. Joyce (maybe?)
17. Jenn
18.

amberlough · « **Reply #96 on:** September 07, 2012, 12:53 PM »

Why didn't I hear of this before NOW?!!!

Everyone, have a great time. And Tara, you're going to be amazing. Will you be recording your speech?

eecoburn · « **Reply #97 on:** September 07, 2012, 10:14 PM »

Sheri,

Adding one more -- my fellow writer's group member Karen, who I just discovered is going to Rutgers, too!

Elizabeth

Sheri D. · « **Reply #98 on:** September 08, 2012, 05:50 PM »

Friday night dinner:

1. Sheri
2. Stephanie (stefwrites)
3. Lisa (elisa)
4. Andrea
5. Elizabeth (eecoburn)
6. stephw
7. Michelle (maliazmom)
8. Marcy C. (marcycollier)
9. Kate D.
10. Betsy F.
11. Sona
12. Liz G. (jadedmetaphor)
13. Tara (taralazar)
14. Angela (RainbowMom)
15. Mona (anom3)
16. Joyce (maybe?)
17. Jenn
18. Karen
19.

RainbowMom · « **Reply #99 on:** September 08, 2012, 11:41 PM »

I'm reaching out to the writers who have experienced Rutgers in past years and can offer some specifics on how they spent their 45 minutes with their mentor. Did you focus on one manuscript and come in with specific questions? Did you allot so much time for each of several manuscripts and just have your mentor give general first impression feedback? Anything you wish you had done differently? I want to come as prepared as possible and not waste that precious chunk of time.

eecoburn · « **Reply #100 on:** September 09, 2012, 09:10 PM »

In one way, the answer is to be ready for lots of things to happen, but not to expect them all to happen, depending on what your mentor wants to say about your work. First and foremost, they are going to want to talk about the manuscript they just read and have comments on. It is a great idea to come with specific questions about that manuscript, and perhaps a query letter for that manuscript, so that you can really get great feedback on that piece. Sometimes that will take all your time, but sometimes you will have time left over, so you want to be ready to fill that time profitably as well, if you get the chance. I have asked my mentors if they'd be willing to do quick first page critiques of other manuscripts. You could also come with other burning questions you have about the industry, submissions, the type of stories their publishing house is looking for, etc. Be prepared, be flexible, and go with the flow, depending on who you get and the kind of expertise they have. Have fun!

elisa · « **Reply #101 on:** September 09, 2012, 09:32 PM »

I couldn't have said it any better - I completely agree with eecoburn-

I came with a rewritten beginning to my novel last year and my mentor was happy to read it and compare the two beginnings. Then we talked about how to improve it and my strategy for finishing it as well as submitting it. I think it's wise to come prepared with questions, a query to read, etc because it would be terrible to waste that time!

Lisa

kiperoo · « **Reply #102 on:** September 10, 2012, 06:03 AM »

Oooh, hey! Just wanted to wave to everyone going to Rutgers! I'm going to another thingie that weekend so didn't apply this year, but it was full of SO MUCH AWESOMENESS last year. Here's my blog post about the 2011 conference: http://kiperoo.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/rutgers-2011/

I ended up talking as much about my then-WIP as my then-current ms with my mentor last year, so I'd definitely recommend bringing extra stuff. Such a great opportunity!

Hope you all have a great time at the Blueboarder dinner and at the conference!

taralazar · « **Reply #103 on:** September 11, 2012, 10:16 AM »

Well, truth be told, my mentor wasn't all that excited about my work. Which was probably to be expected, as I hadn't been writing seriously for very long. We didn't click. But, she taught me a lot about what I SHOULDN'T be doing. I had brought a list of picture book premises and she only liked one of them, but even then she had difficulty with the logic of it. So while I came away disappointed with not having made a connection, I did learn a heckuva lot. (And the one premise she did like? I have decided it's not right for me to pursue anyway. It doesn't have a big enough hook in my own opinion!)

I wouldn't go into the day expecting to make a deal. While that does happen, it happens for a very few. And typically not right there and then, but weeks, months or years after the conference, when your work is polished nice and shiny.

And remember, although I didn't have what I would call a "success" on that day, a mere four years later I am the "success story" speaker. So...

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN.

LOL.

stefwrites · « **Reply #104 on:** September 11, 2012, 02:01 PM »

Kip,
Your blog post is very helpful. As a newbie, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect.

Tara,
What an inspirational path to success! Can't wait to meet you in person!

Off to check airfares, which still seem to be a tad on the outrageous side.

lauriew · « **Reply #105 on:** September 11, 2012, 03:14 PM »

Put me down as a maybe also. I only live about an hour away, but I'm not sure I can get there on Friday evening. Laurie

RainbowMom · « **Reply #106 on:** September 11, 2012, 09:02 PM »

What sound, outstanding advice to take with me to Rutgers. Thank you for sharing!

:grouphug2

Sheri D. · « **Reply #107 on:** September 12, 2012, 10:26 AM »

(Hi, kiperoo!)

RainbowMom, I agree with all the advice here. It's best to be prepared for anything. I've been to Rutgers twice and had two very different mentor experiences. Both good, but very different.

One thing I like to bring is a list of my current projects (both completed projects and WIPs) and their "pitches." I write PBs, and I find it so helpful to put this list together. It "reacquaints" me with stories that I haven't worked on in awhile and even starts some new revisions. And it helps me feel prepared to talk about my work, if asked. A list like this might be useful to share with your mentor if you have time. He/she might comment on which projects look most promising or ask if you'd like him/her to take a look at some pages of a ms. Or it could start a discussion of the current market and what types of stories are doing well, etc.

Good luck and have fun!

Our dinner group looks great! Here's our current list:

Friday night dinner:

1. Sheri
2. Stephanie (stefwrites)
3. Lisa (elisa)
4. Andrea
5. Elizabeth (eecoburn)
6. stephw
7. Michelle (maliazmom)
8. Marcy C. (marcycollier)
9. Kate D.
10. Betsy F.
11. Sona
12. Liz G. (jadedmetaphor)
13. Tara (taralazar)
14. Angela (RainbowMom)
15. Mona (anom3)
16. Joyce (maybe?)
17. Jenn
18. Karen
19. Laurie (lauriew) (maybe?)
20.

stefwrites · « **Reply #108 on:** September 14, 2012, 10:22 AM »

Anyone have tips for researching the Rutgers mentor list?
Agent research is easy...plenty of info on Lit Rambles and other sites.
So far, editor research is tedious. I'm not finding too much info. For some editors, all I find is their Linked In page.
Advice?

Thx!

SummerGirl · « **Reply #109 on:** September 14, 2012, 10:24 PM »

I will be there. I write PBs. Does anyone know if attendees have color coded badges?
Stef, I had read on a post here that Publishers Marketplace is a source for research.

eecoburn · « **Reply #110 on:** September 15, 2012, 11:50 AM »

First, Google their names. You'd be surprised how many have at least one interview online with a children's lit blog. Our own Betsy has a wonderful list of editor info, as well, at http://www.ellenjackson.net/editors_a_to_c_89771.htm. You might also consider paying for a subscription to Publisher's Marketplace. You can pay for just one month and get info on what books many of the editors have published. If you can't find out a lot about an editor, don't worry. Just try to find out a lot about their publishing house. Then if you do make contact with that editor, you can talk intelligently about what their company has published and ask what they worked on. Amazon's advanced search engine is a great tool for this. You can search by publisher for the last five years. Publisher's websites can also help you with this -- some allow you to download their entire catalog. It is also good to look at the publisher's entry in the Children's Writer's and illustrator's Market. As a PB writer, I usually try to read a few books by each publisher that I know I might be a good fit for my work (i.e. for me, I wouldn't bother with Flux, a YA publisher). My library's online system lets me sit at home, search for the books I want, and request that they be sent to the nearest branch for me to pick up. This saves a lot of time. Remember to check the dedication page of the books as you look through them. The author often thanks her editor or agent, which is another way to pick up information.

The last thing I want to say is this is all the stuff you can do, and it is helpful not just for Rutgers but for your entire submission process. However, if you don't have that much time, don't stress. Focus on just a few editors that seem like a good fit. If you don't have time for that, still don't stress. You will receive a packet when you arrive at Rutgers with a bio for each mentor that will tell you some of the things they have published and what they are looking for.

stefwrites · « **Reply #111 on:** September 15, 2012, 01:45 PM »

eecoburn, this is incredibly helpful!
Thanks for the link and the insight.
Really appreciate it.

Sheri D. · « **Reply #112 on:** September 15, 2012, 04:16 PM »

Thanks, Elizabeth! Very helpful!

elisa · « **Reply #113 on:** September 16, 2012, 09:08 PM »

Thanks, Elizabeth, I particularly like your "don't stress" suggestions. Very helpful!

Lisa

Sheri D. · « **Reply #114 on:** September 16, 2012, 09:35 PM »

SummerGirl, about the badges -- if I remember right, the mentors have a different color nametag than the mentees. (Is that what you were asking?) I think all the attendee/mentee badges are the same.

SummerGirl · « **Reply #115 on:** September 17, 2012, 12:23 PM »

Yes, thank you. I remember at the book expo, people had different color badges depending on their role. It just makes it easier.
Please put me down for dinner. I would like to meet everyone before the event. It is kind of you to arrange it. Phyllis

Sheri D. · « **Reply #116 on:** September 17, 2012, 01:39 PM »

Great! I've added you to the list. See you soon!

Friday night dinner:

1. Sheri
2. Stephanie (stefwrites)
3. Lisa (elisa)
4. Andrea
5. Elizabeth (eecoburn)
6. stephw
7. Michelle (maliazmom)
8. Marcy C. (marcycollier)
9. Kate D.
10. Betsy F.
11. Sona
12. Liz G. (jadedmetaphor)
13. Tara (taralazar)
14. Angela (RainbowMom)
15. Mona (anom3)
16. Joyce (maybe?)
17. Jenn
18. Karen
19. Laurie (lauriew) (maybe?)
20. Phyllis (SummerGirl)
21.

maliazmom · « **Reply #117 on:** September 19, 2012, 10:24 AM »

Rebecca Hahn @ Henry Holt anyone?

eecoburn · « **Reply #118 on:** September 19, 2012, 10:52 AM »

From last year's Rutger's bio:

"Rebecca Hahn assists a Senior Editor and an Executive Editor on everything from picture books through YA novels. She has been part of the editorial team for books including Ruby Red, a romantic YA time-travel novel; The Fox Inheritance, a psychological YA sci-fi novel; and Jon Katz's nonfiction picture books about his dogs. While open to books for all age ranges and genres, she is particularly interested in character and voice driven middle grade and YA fiction, and picture books with great stories. Her favorite books include The Graveyard Book, The Enchantress from the Stars, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, Megan Whalen Turner's The Queen's Thief Series, and everything by Robin McKinley."

But I went back and checked the 2012 mentor list again and she is no longer on it. They must have taken her off. Looks like I need to go back through and see if they made any other changes...

eecoburn · « **Reply #119 on:** September 19, 2012, 11:13 AM »

I went back through and here is my report:

Rebecca Hahn, Rebecca Kilman and Gillian Levinson are no longer on the list. Andrea Martin, Assistant Editor at HarperCollins, has been added to the list.

News:

Author Topic: Rutgers One-on-One 2012 application is up (Read 6010 times)