| janfields |
JULY 18 OPEN FORUM will
begin in 5 minutes. Today's topic is School Visits. What are the
benefits, the challenges, and the must knows on School Visits? Come
on in and ask...in five minutes.
|
| janfields |
JULY 18TH OPEN FORUM
begins in 2 minutes. TODAY'S TOPIC: School Visits. Bring your school
visit questions and ideas in and let's do some pontificating...in
two minutes.
|
| janfields |
Welcome to Open
Forum...glad to see y'all here.
|
| janfields |
Today's our topic is
School Visits...which is not a topic about which I am the very most
richly informed...
|
| janfields |
since children frighten
me...
|
| janfields |
but I have researched
and gathered information which I plan to share with y'all...so that
I can do a kind of low level pontificating.
|
| omalizzie |
Is it best to contact a
librarian or school board member?
|
| janfields |
If you are planning
your first ever school visit...
|
| janfields |
the one that is a kind
of "practice run"
|
| janfields |
The very best "in" is
through whichever school you are most familia
|
| janfields |
familiar
|
| janfields |
School visits in the
early days tend to be a "who you know" situation.
|
| janfields |
This is because SCHOOLS
go looking for school visits using two
techniques...
|
| janfields |
1. word of
mouth.
|
| janfields |
Schools book authors
that have done a good job at other schools.
|
| janfields |
Teachers talk about
those authors they liked the best.
|
| janfields |
Who connected with the
children well.
|
| janfields |
And who were flexible
and cheerful.
|
| janfields |
Teachers ALSO talk
about those authors who don't connect well with
children.
|
| janfields |
Who were rigid and
pompous or snooty.
|
| janfields |
And who made the
teachers lives miserable.
|
| janfields |
I have heard teachers
on discussion lists say, "Oh never book so-and-so, he's so rude and
unpleasant to the children."
|
| janfields |
So the early visits you
do, usually for free, and usually for schools where you know
people...make a big difference in getting you into the "talk it up"
network of teachers.
|
| janfields |
Now, the NUMBER 2 way
that schools book authors
|
| janfields |
is through
publishers.
|
| janfields |
Most publishers will
book author visits.
|
| janfields |
So if you have a book,
make certain your publisher knows all your author visit
information
|
| janfields |
because booking through
a publisher gives you instant credibility.
|
| janfields |
If you are booking your
own visits...again, start local.
|
| janfields |
And you could consider
being listed on some of the "visiting author"
sites.
|
| janfields |
Most local SCBWI
chapters have a list of visiting authors.
|
| janfields |
And there are sites
that make those lists...let me find a couple...
|
| janfields |
http://mattly.net:8080/schoolvisit/default.aspx
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|
|
|
|
| janfields |
Those three all
"showcase" visiting authors...but this is NOT the number one way
author visits are booked.
|
| janfields |
It's probably way down
the list.
|
| rainchain |
Can an unpublished writer
share a story with a lower grade
|
| janfields |
Sure, and it's great
practice.
|
| janfields |
Again, you simply
volunteer.
|
| janfields |
Usually the person to
talk with is the teacher.
|
| janfields |
But you won't get
paid....you will get good practice for the time when you have the
'creds' to charge.
|
| casey |
I had my sister-in-law
tell her sister, who teaches 2nd grade, that I'd be willing to read
my story to her class. She jumped at my offer and has had me back a
second time and wants me to come next year as she'll have a new
class.
|
| janfields |
And that is wonderful
experience.
|
| janfields |
You do have to be
careful that you don't get overbooked.
|
| janfields |
Schools will run "free"
visitors to death.
|
| janfields |
At some point, if you
become very popular, you will need to charge
something
|
| janfields |
to be worth the time
away from your work.
|
| janfields |
Many of the writers I
talked with began charging sometimes after their 5th to 10th visit
locally...depending upon their natural generosity.
|
| rainchain |
If you read unpublished
stories in a class is that a problem
|
| rainchain |
if you intend on
submitting it later?
|
| janfields |
Not at all, a reading
is very different from publication.
|
| janfields |
Now if you read it on
national television, that *might* be a problem.
|
| janfields |
But not a school
reading.
|
| janfields |
In fact, it can show
you were any slow parts are
|
| janfields |
or if your humor works
for the age group.
|
| omalizzie |
Author visit information
being???
|
| janfields |
How much you
charge.
|
| janfields |
Any "blurbs" you have
...quotes from thrilled teachers/librarians.
|
| janfields |
What specific needs you
have (white board? felt board? projector?)
|
| janfields |
How long your
program
|
| janfields |
What age it is geared
toward.
|
| janfields |
How interactive is
it?
|
| janfields |
Stuff like
that.
|
| omalizzie |
Would it be a good idea
to ask to attend one locally?
|
| janfields |
If you can catch an
author visit, it's good to see one.
|
| janfields |
You can see what seems
to "work" with the kids...what makes them attentive
|
| janfields |
And what didn't "work"
-- when did their attention span wander.
|
| janfields |
And little things
like...'wow, I never want to do a program just before
lunch'
|
| janfields |
or during
lunch.
|
| janfields |
So, yeah, if you can
catch an author visit locally, I would think it would be
great.
|
| bliss1585 |
what should I talk about
with the children? My stories? The process? The reward? The
hardship? Does it all depend on grade?
|
| janfields |
Teachers like
interactive stuff and they LOVE LOVE LOVE writing
talk.
|
| janfields |
It is curriculum linked
because writing is such an important part of
curriculum.
|
| janfields |
So they like to hard
about how to plan a story, construct a plot, revise,
etc
|
| janfields |
That's for kids old
enough to write at all.
|
| janfields |
For younger kids, they
like to see lots of visuals...always use visuals, even with big kids
if possible
|
| janfields |
Give them something to
look at.
|
| janfields |
But "the process" is
very popular
|
| janfields |
Think of ways to make
the talk relate to things the kids will do
|
| janfields |
Like ways your story
writing is like their school creative writing.
|
| janfields |
And for young kids,
working out things like rhymes and little stories is
good.
|
| omalizzie |
Would it be a good idea
to video tape yourself for reference
|
| omalizzie |
so you can see how you
do?
|
| janfields |
If you can handle how
much you're going to HATE seeing all your mistakes,
yes,
|
| janfields |
that's a good
idea
|
| janfields |
Many writers practice
in front of a mirror.
|
| janfields |
Don't try to memorize
your presentation but do practice will all props.
|
| janfields |
with, not
will
|
| rainchain |
Once you get to charging
how do you find out how much?
|
| janfields |
Okay...once you start
charging, there is a stairstep rate system.
|
| janfields |
Virtually everyone gets
at least if they have done enough presentations to charge at
all
|
| janfields |
Plus, expenses (even if
you're doing it for free, start charging expenses by your sexcond or
third time)
|
| janfields |
So, for your first year
of visits (or your first book)...your rate is likely not to get
higher than a few hundred.
|
| janfields |
Once you begin going
some distance from home, you'll want to bump that up to 5 or 6
hundred.
|
| janfields |
Oh, my one hundred
dollars is going to disappear from the transcript because I used a
dollar sign, so let me repeat that most authors who charger at all
charge at least one hundred dollars
|
| janfields |
Now, I visited this
website...
|
| janfields |
http://www.harperchildrens.com/teacher/authorlist.pdf
|
| janfields |
And they listed all
their authors along with pay scale
|
| janfields |
and basically what the
program was...
|
| janfields |
So...most of their
authors charge under one thousand dollars.
|
| janfields |
But some with many
school visits behind them
|
| janfields |
or several books,
charge between one and two thousand.
|
| janfields |
And Chris Crutcher and
a very few others charge over two thousand
|
| janfields |
But even AVI charges
under two thou so even being experienced usually doesn't bump you
all the way to the two thousand per visit mark.
|
| eggamy |
Jan, I came in late, do
you do school visits?
|
| janfields |
Not me personally...I
am scared of kids.
|
| janfields |
Actually, I love kids,
but something about my personality
|
| janfields |
makes them immediately
go insane and begin climbing on me.
|
| janfields |
So...maybe when I do a
YA book...I should be safe then.
|
| bliss1585 |
if you did video tape
yourself, wouldn't you need to get permission slips incase some of
the children are caught on tape?
|
| janfields |
Technically, not unless
you are going to use the tape in your promotion
|
| janfields |
or show it to anyone
but you.
|
| janfields |
It's like taking
pictures at Disney, lots of folks get in them but you're purpose is
to photograph your family for private reasons.
|
| janfields |
But the school itself
may have rules about it.
|
| janfields |
Actually I was thinking
that you could tape your practice sessions,
anyway...
|
| janfields |
seeing how you actually
acted when totally nervous...that could be too
horrifying.
|
| casey |
After I read my story I
asked the kids to draw illustrations. Then I read the story again
and they proudly held up the picture they'd drawn when I got to that
part. They loved it.
|
| janfields |
Good idea...anything
interactive makes teachers love you.
|
| janfields |
Which brings me to
something some of the school visit authors have
said.
|
| janfields |
It's a great idea to
create handouts for teachers to use BEFORE you
come.
|
| janfields |
Games and worksheets
related to your books.
|
| janfields |
To encourage teachers
to read them to the class.
|
| janfields |
Kids are much more
excited if they feel like they already "know" you from your
books.
|
| janfields |
Then you could do a
presentation on the method of making a book
|
| janfields |
and the kids already
know the book in question.
|
| coloradokate |
When I taught, the best
presentations were author/illustrators who drew as the kids
directed, and authors with funny stories about where they got their
ideas and characters. And always leave time for kids' questions, and
let the school know ahead of time what size group you're comfortable
with, or you'll get 400 kids in the gym!
|
| janfields |
Good
tips.
|
| janfields |
Which brings me to
something Verla Kay told me
|
| janfields |
Assume
nothing.
|
| janfields |
Don't assume how many
kids you'll be talking with
|
| janfields |
Don't assume what kind
of room you'll be in
|
| janfields |
Don't even assume you
can drink the water in the water fountains.
|
| janfields |
ASK...
|
| janfields |
and get a clear
plan.
|
| janfields |
She likes to get a
contract...with each element spelled out.
|
| janfields |
How many kids will be
presented to
|
| janfields |
How long the
presentaiton will last
|
| janfields |
What the school will
provide.
|
| janfields |
Then they have a
document saying what they agreed to
|
| janfields |
Now some schools STILL
won't have the stuff they agreed to
|
| janfields |
So it's always good to
have an "emergancy" kit in your car
|
| janfields |
With a folding
chair
|
| janfields |
or
stool
|
| janfields |
A big white board or
pad of paper
|
| janfields |
stuff like that...for
those times when you get a surprise and NONE of the audiovisual
equipment they promised is there.
|
| rainchain |
How long is an average
presentation?
|
| janfields |
Harpercollins says most
of their writers can do three presentations a day at the
school.
|
| janfields |
Each, about, I
believe...one hours
|
| janfields |
hour
|
| janfields |
Now you may wish to go
shorter for very young children's presentations...it's hard to keep
them busy for an hour.
|
| janfields |
Unless you have them
getting up and moving around as part of the
presentation.
|
| chippy |
When you start charging,
does this fee include travel and accommodation expenses etc.
especially if you are going away from home for the
visit
|
| janfields |
Most of the folks I
know charge expenses on top of the fee
|
| janfields |
Ummm...can you hold one
moment...my 6 year old seems to be chatting up an adult in the
yard.
|
| janfields |
I want to see if it's
someone I actually know
|
| janfields |
Okay, I'm back...I
swear my kid would talk to someone hauling a bloody ax
around
|
| dell |
(for the transcript) I
find it helpful to be in direct contact (thru email) with the person
coordinating the author visit, whether it be the PTA Rep, Librarian,
or Principal
|
| janfields |
Ahhh...so how many
author visits have you done Dell?
|
| janfields |
Dell has done five
unpaid and then five paid.
|
| janfields |
Dell: I did local
schools to develop the program and work out the
kinks
|
| janfields |
That is very much the
norm from the authors I quizzed.
|
| janfields |
Dell: This past spring,
I charged three hundred.
|
| janfields |
Again, that sounds
pretty typical...though this can vary with your
location.
|
| janfields |
I know some school
districts can support up to five hundred fairly
quickly.
|
| janfields |
While others really
have to scamble for
|
| janfields |
scamble for one
hundred.
|
| rainchain |
Does Dell have a
published book?
|
| janfields |
Oh yes...Dell lets plug
you.
|
| dell |
yes, I have 3 books and
several solid magazine credits
|
| dell |
My picture book is called
HOW WILL I EVER SLEEP IN THIS BED?
|
| janfields |
I was just looking at
the cover on your website...so adorable.
|
| janfields |
I have to go find
it.
|
| dell |
And I have two beginning
readers, PICNIC ON THE SIDEWALK with Seedling Publications
and...
|
| dell |
HEY! YOU'RE EATING MY
HOMEWORK with Bebop Books
|
| janfields |
I saw your Bebop book
the other day when I was on their website.
|
| janfields |
Very
nifty.
|
| dell |
Yes, three hundred is
pretty reasonable around here ...actually, I consider myself a
bargain! :)
|
| janfields |
Oh....can we take a
moment to do good news?
|
| janfields |
I cannot believe I
forgot good news.
|
| janfields |
I love good
news.
|
| janfields |
GOOD NEWS: JILLIAN: I
am a graduate of two ICL courses. I have good news... I wrote an
interactive middle grade mystery for a software company that is
available online. It is called "Mystery at Fantasy Fun Park" and is
available through Fast Rabbit Software.
http://www.fastrabbitsoftware.com/interactive_reading_adventure.htm
|
| janfields |
How fun is that???? And
a mystery too
|
| janfields |
GOOD NEWS: TIGGER: Some
good news for your weekly writer eNews. I am so excited! The phone
rang and it was Family Fun magazine calling to tell me they want to
buy my recipe idea for their "Everyday Fun" department. They had
already tested it and it will be in the October issue. I am pleased
as punch to sell all rights on this one, even though there probably
won't be a byline. :o)
|
| janfields |
Family Fun!! Now is
that fantastic, or what? I love that magazine.
|
| janfields |
And finally a writer
who just keeps on getting the good news...
|
| janfields |
GOOD NEWS: VIJI: "I'm
on a roll!. Whimsy just accepted my story, "Silkworm Surprise!" This
is in addition to her three other good news bits we reported Monday:
"My article, "Tweaking the Ideas" is online at kidmagwriters.com (as
you know). I received a copy of my story "Banana Pancakes" from Our
Little Friend. And Highlights just accepted my story, "Maya's Indian
Bread!"
|
| showauthor |
Hey! Congratulations,
Jillian...Way to go!
|
| omalizzie |
I have dell's book How
Will I Ever Sleep in this Bed...
|
| omalizzie |
It is a very good book.
My grandkids really enjoy it and...
|
| omalizzie |
the illustrations are
great too.
|
| janfields |
Just had to slip that
in...since we love dell
|
| janfields |
Okay I want to share
some outstanding links about school visits.
|
| janfields |
The first is by the
school visit queen of the world!
|
| janfields |
http://tonibuzzeo.com/index.html
|
| janfields |
Toni is the author of
Terrific Connections...which is "the" school visit
handbook.
|
| janfields |
Stuffed with
greatness...and Toni is just a firecracker.
|
| janfields |
School visits are often
approached from the school side...
|
| janfields |
how they should book
one.
|
| janfields |
how to find
them.
|
| janfields |
etc.
|
| janfields |
But writers end up
having to "read backwards" to find out what to do at
them.
|
| janfields |
Terrific Connections is
also written for schools
|
| janfields |
but it's a good "read
backwards" guide to understanding how to prepare
|
| janfields |
and what might
happen.
|
| janfields |
Oh...want to slip in
another cheer...
|
| showauthor |
wtg VIJI.
Congratulations!
|
| janfields |
I like
cheering.
|
| eggamy |
What name is dell
published under? I'd love to read her work
|
| janfields |
I am not even going to
try to spell your name, my dear
|
| janfields |
If you write it, I'll
pass it on.
|
| janfields |
On a good day, I can
spell mine.
|
| dell |
My name is: Della Ross
Ferreri :)
|
| janfields |
Wow, I almost could
have done that...except you would have gotten to many
R's
|
| janfields |
Okay, I want to
encourage everyone to come to Thursday night to hear Brenda Ferber
tell us her story of going from ICL student to a STARRED review for
her first book.
|
| janfields |
She's going to be
terrific.
|
| janfields |
So...let me hit five
school visit tips to close.
|
| janfields |
1. Overplan...imagine
every catastrophe you can, and be ready for it.
|
| janfields |
2. Practice your
props...both the ones you intend to use and any emergency
ones
|
| janfields |
3. If speaking to very
young children, plan ways to get them involved and
moving.
|
| janfields |
4. Avoid live
animals.
|
| janfields |
[psst...yes, many if
not most children love live animals.
|
| janfields |
But some are TERRIFIED
of them
|
| janfields |
And it's never nice
when your school visits ends in tears.
|
| janfields |
Speaking of
tears...
|
| janfields |
5. Beware singling out
children for special things.
|
| janfields |
If you choose a
"helper" -- try to give all the kids something to
do.
|
| janfields |
If you're giving a
prize...don't award it to just one child in front of the
others.
|
| janfields |
With small children,
unexpected things can end in tears.
|
| janfields |
And the number one
tear-jerker is feeling "left out"
|
| janfields |
And if you're working
with small children, one author recommends creating a "fault
line"
|
| janfields |
with masking tape...on
the floor.
|
| janfields |
A line the children
need to stay behind.
|
| janfields |
It will keep little
kids from wanting to feel your clothes (warning, I've had first
graders want to feel my clothes)
|
| janfields |
And keep props
unbroken.
|
| janfields |
Also, deal with
problems early...if you don't want to answer questions while reading
(and who does) don't worry about stopping for a moment to ask a
child to lower his hand and remember his question for
later.
|
| janfields |
Otherwise, hand raising
can go to hand swinging and from hand swinging to odd noises...it
can get very ... odd
|
| janfields |
And once the visit is
over...send thank you notes to everyone who did
anything.
|
| janfields |
Remember, word of mouth
rules
|
| janfields |
And the more you seem
friendly, kind and flexible.
|
| janfields |
The quicker your
speaking calendar will fill up.
|
| eggamy |
could we give small gifts
to the whole class?
|
| janfields |
Oh, sure, if you have
something for everyone
|
| janfields |
A lot of authors give
everyone a bookmark.
|
| janfields |
Which works
great
|
| janfields |
Even little kids like
bookmarks
|
| janfields |
Well, that's
3pm...thanks for joining me.
|
| janfields |
I always have such fun
with
y'all.
|