O = Openings

A to Z Blog Challenge: Day Fifteen

OPENINGS

GREAT OPENNGS!

When I ask students what their biggest challenge is when writing they all say the same thing. It's how to begin. The want to know how to write a great opening. I think authors will agree with them.
Here are some examples of opening lines I use in my author presentations that have worked well in my nonfiction books.

Summarizes a big idea
A job in the Army could take you anywhere in the world.
 

 

Ask a question
Have you ever heard of a bird eating with a spoon?

An interesting fact
An earthworm does not breathe through a mouth or a nose.

A statement that keeps readers thinking
Service dogs help disabled people lead more independent lives.

The purpose of opening lines is to get readers thinking, wondering, and wanting to learn more about a particular topic. We want them to read on . . . turn the page. How do we make that happen? With great openings!

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Linda Bozzo has published more than 50 nonfiction books for the school and library market. For more information about Linda and her books, you can visit her website. 
 

N = Network

A to Z Blog Challenge: Day Fourteen

 

NETWORK

 

 

Author's Network = a system of people that are connected to each other.

What better way to describe this group of people! Authors understand each other. We get the highs and lows of the business. We can relate to writer's block, rejection letters, acceptances. Every author needs a network of other authors for support. We can't write good books alone. But choose your network like you choose your friends . . . carefully.

 

Surround yourself with people who are willing to give and not just take. If you are giving and not receiving the same support in return it might be time to find a new network. Your author network should make you feel good about yourself. They should be your friends as well as your colleagues. When you're in the middle of baking your story and you need a cup of support you should be able to knock on your network's doors at any time and they will be there to welcome you. 

 

 

 

Where can you find a network of authors? The first place you can start is by joining an SCBWI chapter in your area. Speak with your public librarian to see if there are other authors living in your community. Take a writing class at your community college or join groups on the Internet. With social media it's a lot easier today to find like-minded people. Connect, network, and enjoy a successful career!

 

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Linda Bozzo has published more than 50 nonfiction books for the school and library market. For more information about Linda and her books, you can visit her website.

M = Media Specialists

A to Z Blog Challenge: Day Thirteen

MEDIA SPECIALIST

Over the course of this school year I've had the opportunity to visit various elementary school libraries and meet many wonderful media specialists, assistants, and volunteers. What I found in these libraries varied immensely from school district to school district.

Some districts are still lucky enough to have media specialists on staff, a generous book budget to keep their collection up to date, and an actual library class that they teach. Others are not so fortunate. In many schools the children are only allowed time to check out books once every week or two. They go to a random shelf with their rulers and hopefully find something that might interest them or they can ask a library clerk to help them.

In other schools, I found more than half of the library space was taken up by computers. One of my tutoring students mentioned that their school was giving library books away to students because they were turning the library into "something else." Some libraries had smart boards but no media specialists to utilize them.

I met many wonderful library staff members who are not media specialists but clerks with little to no training who are doing their very best to maintain a library for the children. They would do anything to have their media specialists back. 

I wonder how anyone thinks a library, equipped with books, as well as computers and technology, AND a media specialist isn't a priority in elementary schools. It seems that media specialists have become a privilege and not a necessity.

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Linda Bozzo has published more than 50 nonfiction books for the school and library market. For more information about Linda and her books, you can visit her website.

Copyright 2015 Linda Bozzo 

L = List

A to Z Blog Challenge: Day Twelve

Linda's LISTS

Using a list is how I survive. I separate my personal tasks from my author tasks writing them on the same piece of paper. I keep my book idea list on my computer. These ideas often start on a piece of paper prior to getting added to my computer. I love to cross things off my list and I get great joy in throwing away all the scraps of paper of notes that I've added to my main list.
I add to my main list throughout the day but before I go to bed I make a list of the things I HAVE to do the following day. This is the only way I have any chance of getting any sleep! Things on my author list this week include logging mileage and income for recent author visits, writing thank you notes, critiques, pick up books on hold at the library, type out mentor texts, and wash my book dress!

 

I also have a book journal where I list all the books I want to read. I go through this list about every two weeks and place holds for whichever books I can get from the library. It's small enough to stick into my purse when I'm heading to bookstore.

My lists are definitely reminders to myself but many times they're just a way to get thoughts out of my head. I feel like if I put them down on paper I can release them from my brain. Then when I wake up in the morning I feel like I already have a plan and can dive right into my day.

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Linda Bozzo has published more than 50 nonfiction books for the school and library market. For more information about Linda and her books, you can visit her website.

 

 Copyright 2015 Linda Bozzo 

 

K = Knickknacks

A to Z Blog Challenge: Day Eleven

 

KNICKKNACKS

Just for fun, I thought I'd share some of the knickknacks that I keep on or near my workspace.

Amethyst - my birthstone and favorite color.

An eraser from Stonehenge that I thought was a real rock when I bought it in the gift shop.

Inspirational Candle

Inspirational words to live by from Jane

A knickknack that reminds of my annual trip to the Florida with girlfriends

A gentle reminder of what I love to do

Signed duck by Cindy

From the Grand Canyon because hearts rock!

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Linda Bozzo has published more than 50 nonfiction books for the school and library market. For more information about Linda and her books, you can visit her website.

 

 Copyright 2015 Linda Bozzo 

 

 

J = Juggle

A to Z Blog Challenge: Day Ten



JUGGLE

 

I'm a multi-tasker so I know how to juggle. I know how to do it well and so often that sometimes if I'm not juggling my world feels a bit . . . off. I become bored. I think I'm forgetting something. I feel like I need another ball to throw in the air. It's the way I function. Authors probably juggle more things than most people realize. People always ask "what are you writing now?" as if that's the only thing authors do. While it's fun to talk about your latest writing projects authors are usually busy critiquing other people's work, marketing, attending writing conferences, attending author signings, preparing for school visits, reading, researching, and list goes on. So in addition to learning to write, authors benefit greatly from learning to juggle.

 

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Linda Bozzo has published more than 50 nonfiction books for the school and library market. For more information about Linda and her books, you can visit her website.

 

 Copyright 2015 Linda Bozzo 

 

 

 

 

 

I = Income

A to Z Blog Challenge: Day Nine

INCOME

 

Let's talk about income. The definition here indicates that income is "received regularly" so according to this dictionary I'm not earning an income on my writing. My author income is anything but regular! It's been almost one year since I committed to making writing my full-time job and my largest source of income. I do work 10 hours a week in an office so I do have a small regular income. But if I look at where most of my income has come from in the past 10 months, I can say it's been from my writing career. What I did discover that for this to happen I had to find various sources of income. Some of those sources include: tutoring students in writing, school visits, professional development workshops, freelance work, critique services, writing projects for adults as well as for children. I've written new genres over the past year which has enabled me to submit to new publishers which I hope will help increase my sources of income. I'm happy to say I've been fortunate with the choice I made –earning an income doing something I love!

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Linda Bozzo has published more than 50 nonfiction books for the school and library market. For more information about Linda and her books, you can visit her website.

Copyright 2015 Linda Bozzo