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Writing is a journey . . . Join me.

Upcoming Classes

The Writing Barn

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Beyond Fact-Flinging: Essential Elements to Elevate your Info Books

January 17-February 21

6:00 - 8:00 PM CST

Online

My Posts on Writing Craft

STEM Tuesday Posts

Sound Maps

Procedural Writing

Reading Like a Writer

Reading Between the Facts 

Comparing Two Books

Peeking into the Mind of a Scientist

Begin at the End

Figuring on Figurative Language

Getting into Character

Backmatter Matters

Tackling a Planet-Sized Topic

Title Talk

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Other Blogs

Simple Acts Save Lives

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep

Simple Acts Save Lives

 Read this Authors for Earthday post which could have been the last chapter of ​Something Rotten. 

Rules & Roadkill

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep

Simple Acts Save Lives

 A Nerdy Book Club post about becoming a writing rebel.  

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep

 A post on Melissa Stewart's Celebrate Science blog about my inquiry approach. 

Using Big Ideas

Writing Science Books

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep

A post on Elizabeth Dulemba's site about principles to guide onfiction writing.

Path to Publication

Writing Science Books

Writing Science Books

Cathy Hall's post on The Muffin looks at what it takes me to get from first to last draft. 

Writing Science Books

Writing Science Books

Writing Science Books

A post on the GROG blog about the ins-and-outs of writing about science for kids.

WRITING EXERCISES TO EXTEND LEARNING

Asking Questions (K-3) (docx)Download
Sound Map (All ages) (docx)Download
All About Voice (Grades 3 - Adult) (docx)Download
All in the Details (Grades 3 - Adult) (docx)Download
Tree Guts (Grades 3 - and up) (docx)Download

Links You Might Like

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Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

Largest professional organization for kidlit with a searchable author/illustrator list 

Celebrate Science

 Melissa Stewart's fabulous blog focused on teaching about nonfiction kidlit. 

Nonfiction Monday

 A round up of recent nonfiction. 

Kid Lit Frenzy

Alyson Beecher's great reviews and challenges.

Authors by State

 Kim Norman's state-by-state listing. 

STEMTuesday

Monthly themed lists of middle grade STEM Books, lesson plans, writing craft and author interviews. 

Professional Critiques

Contact
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For aspiring Kidlit writers I offer manuscript critiques based on the guidelines, fees and structure

I Critique

  • Nonfiction picturebooks
  • Fiction picturebooks
  • Nonfiction chapter books  
  • Nonfiction middle grade 

Format

  • Limit submission to 10 full pages (note, for middle grade, this usually means submitting either the proposal or the first chapter).   
  • For format guidelines, use "From Keyboard to Printed Page" from SCBWI. 

You Receive

  1.  A written critique using the SCBWI Gold Form which includes all of the major categories an agent/editor would consider.
  2. Comments written on the manuscript. This does not usually include extensive line-editing, rather it provides suggestions and examples.
  3. A 20-minute follow-up Skype or phone conversation. 

Fees & Timeline

  • Flat fee: $45.00.
  • You will receive your critique from 1-3 weeks of submission.

Heather L. Montgomery

Copyright © 2020 Heather L. Montgomery - All Rights Reserved.