A Really Good Friday Afternoon

We're traveling right now and so my computer time is limited because of the driving time, visiting family and friends and now in Door County, Wisconsin, where there is much to explore. Last Friday afternoon, I did a quick check on facebook and found an announcement of the People's Choice awards given at Knowonder! online magazine for kids. You may remember that I won second place in that category in June for Message in the Night.

Then there was one more award announced for the month of July and that was the Editor's Choice award. My story, Just Plain Sarah Jane, was the winner! What a surprise! The editor had selected my story out of the 31 published that month. There is a cash prize that goes with the award, and while that is very nice and appreciated by any writer who receives it, the thrill of being chosen takes top place for me.

It made me want to write another story that I can submit to Knowonder! Definitely a good incentive. I may never win another award at this magazine, but that's OK. This one will be remembered and it will make me want to encourage other writers to try this market. Getting paid for the story is good, but with the possibility of winning one of these monthly awards, it's even better.

It will also be nice to be able to advertise the fact that I am an award-winning writer when I approach the editor of a new market, when I want to blow my horn a bit to get a speaking engagement. That information can make an editor take me seriously.

Thanks to Phillip Chipping and his assistant editors for making my Friday a really good one.

Chock-Full Website for Kids and Parents

The first book Knowonder! is publishing features this cutie

     Yesterday, Phillip Chipping was a Guest Blogger. He wrote about the importance of reading to children. I urge you to check out his innovative website that appeals to both kids and adults, also to those who write for kids. 

     Knowonder! publishes a new story for kids every day of the week. All are written by professional writers and carefully selected by a team of editors. 

     There are articles with tips for parents and grandparents, artwork done by kids for kids, a section on fun facts--always a hit with children. 

     Children and the authors of the stories can win monthly prizes. Authors receive payment for their stories but can also win for having one of the top three stories of the month or Editor's Choice. Children can submit stories and art work, which are all in the running for awards.

     Knowonder! has a lot to offer, and as of September 1st, they will begin publishing digital books. They also have an app so you can check out all they offer on your smart phone. See the homepage for a link to download.  

     There is a page with detailed, and I do mean detailed, guidelines for writers. If you have a story for kids that you would like to submit to this paying market, read these guidelines carefully. Then follow them! Saves everyone time when writers adhere to guidelines. 

     Take some time to go through all the sections on this full-to-bursting website. Add it to your Favorites or Bookmarks and check it daily for a new story. 

A New Day For Knowonder!

Knowonder! is an online magazine for kids. Once a print publication, it went online with the premise of printing a brand new story each day. It went from no-pay for authors to being able to pay $10 per story. Read the home page to learn how the editor almost had to dissolve the entire project but then found new life through a large donation which will now allow payment of $25-50 per story.

It's not easy to find 30 or 31 quality tales for kids month after month. Editor, Phillip J. Chipping, has done an admirable job with the help of two volunteer associate editors. When Mr. Cushing found new and good  funding for his endeavor, he quit his job and is giving it his full-time attention.

I've had several stories published at Knowonder!  One of them, "There's A Dragon In The Library," has been listed in the Top 15 Stories. The editor also used this story as an example in the guidelines section of the website. I wasn't aware of either of these gold stars for Nancy until I was cruising through the website one day. Certainly pleased me very much, especially since the dragon story is one I loved writing.

Take some time to read all the pages on the Knowonder! website. Their aim is to promote reading and to give parents an aid to do this with read-aloud stories for younger children and read-alone stories for the older ones already able to read. There are some good articles for parents and grandparents concerning reading with and for children in the For You By You section.

For writers, the most important page on the website is the submit page. It's here that you will learn what kind of stories are being sought. I was amazed at the detailed information given in this section.. There's a lot to read, but it will be worth your effort. The editor makes it very clear what he wants and also gives excellent examples.There is a submission form when you're ready to send a story. You might be tempted to read only the Short Version of the guidelines, but it will be to your benefit to read the Long Version. It's akin to taking a class on writing for children.

The new version of Knowonder! will not begin until June 1st, but that's only two months away, so now's the time to submit to this very fine magazine for children. Meanwhile, use it frequently to read to and with your own kids and grandkids.

Other stories I've had published at Knowonder! are "Where's Pete,"  "Angels In The Snow,"  and "A Feast For Oscar."  My first story for Knowonder! was in the print edtion in November 2009. "The Boy Who Wanted A Tail" was a story based on a real situaiton with my son when he was around 4.