The cumulative story is a popular picture book format. The rhythm and beat of the text fall easy on the ears. These stories follow a repetitive pattern or text structure. Each page repeats the text of the preceding page and adds a new line or plot. The details continue page after page until the story builds to a climax. Stories such as There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly and This Is the House That Jack Built are examples.
The text in a cumulative story can begin as one word, a phrase, or a sentence. As new events happen, the previous events are repeated with additional words added. The story builds and so does the anticipation. This type of story works well for young children, ages 3-5, because the predictability of the story allows them to become active participants.
Word count is important in this type of writing. Keep the phrases or sentences short. Use strong nouns and action verbs to keep word count low and the action high. A specific character and his/her actions is a typical subject and plot for cumulative stories.
Contest for young writers:
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO’S NEW COSMIC FRONTIERS INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE ESSAY COMPETITION
The New Cosmic Frontiers International Science Essay Competition On the Nature of our Universe and its Habitats is open to high school and college students. Its purpose is to inspire students to consider careers in science and to nurture their enthusiasm for the subject, and to engage young minds in creative, intellectual activities essential in scientific endeavors.
Winners will be awarded significant monetary prizes to support their education and given an extraordinary opportunity to meet today’s world-renowned scientists and scholars at a conference and award ceremony, held in Philadelphia, on October 12-13, 2012.
CATEGORY 1: ESSAY THEME FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Are we alone in the Universe? Or, are there other life and intelligence beyond the solar system?
First Prize – $25,000 cash prize. Second Prizes – Two essays will be chosen for $10,000. Third Prizes – Five essays will be chosen for $5,000.
CATEGORY 2: ESSAY THEME FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
What is the origin of complexity in the universe?
First Prize – $50,000 cash prize. Second Prizes – Two essays will be chosen for $25,000. Third Prizes – Five essays will be chosen for $10,000.
In addition, up to 10 honorable mentions of $3,000 each will be awarded in either category.
Deadline June 15, 2012.
Details at http://www.newfrontiersinastronomy.org/
Call for submissions for adult writers:
ASK Magazine is a nonfiction magazine for children 6-9 years old who are curious about science and the world they live in. Each edition of ASK is built around a central theme on some question or concept in the natural, physical, or social sciences, technology, mathematics, history, or the arts. Feature articles are usually 1200-1600 words, with sidebars. ASK also occasionally commissions photo essays (400-600 words), humor pieces (200-400 words), short profiles of people, inventions, events, or the arts (200-400 words), and theme-appropriate experiments.
Details at http://www.cricketmag.com/19-Submission-Guidelines-for-ASK-magazine-for-children-ages-6-9
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
Showing posts with label format. Show all posts
Showing posts with label format. Show all posts
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Writing Picture Books: The Format/Contests
Today, let’s take a close look at the format of a picture books. Most are 32 pages and are designed for ages three to eight. Lots of picture books break this rule. Some are 40+ pages; others are geared for children who are eight and older. However, if you’re an aspiring writer with no books published, your best bet for getting a manuscript accepted is to write for the format that is most popular. Of the 32 pages, 3-4 pages are delegated for front matter, such as the title page, copyright, and dedication. That leaves about 28-29 pages for text and illustrations. Some books have illustrations on all 28 pages; others have illustrations on every other page. Both of these formats work well in picture books.
The text of picture books is getting shorter. When I first began writing professionally 22 years ago, 1000 words were common for picture books. Today, the maximum word count for most is 650. The sweet spot is 350-500 words. The text must have a balance of words and action from page to page so the illustrations can tell part of the story.
Within the short text a story with a beginning, middle, and end should be revealed. Usually, this is done in about 15 scenes or pieces of action.
Next week, I’ll discuss the picture book cumulative story.
Contest for young writers:
Hummingbird Poetry Contest. Hey Kids!....We are excited to host our second kids hummingbird poetry contest to give you a chance to write a poem and maybe you'll win a prize! When you submit a poem you will have your own web page!
Tip: You can visit some other pages on our site and learn more about hummingbirds to help write your poem.
Each of the Top 3 Favorites will win everything you need (except your recycled bottle) to make your own "Recycler" Hummingbird Feeder".
Submit original work written by you.
Contest open to ages 6 to 12.
Fill out the "Your Name" box and be sure to include your age.
Winners will be selected based on visitor comments and our judge.
Deadline: September 30, 2012. Winners announced October 31, 2012.
Details at http://www.hummingbird-guide.com/kids ... gbird-poetry-contest.html
Contest for adult writers:
FAMILY CIRCLE FICTION CONTEST
Limit 2,500 words of short fiction.
Must be unpublished and never have won a prize. Limit two entries per person.
Must be 21 or older and a legal resident of the US. Grand prize may be published in Family Circle.
One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a prize package including $750, a gift certificate to one (1) mediabistro.com course of his or her choice, one (1) year mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership valued at $55, and a one (1) year mediabistro.com How-to Video membership valued at $99.
One (1) Second Place winner will receive $250, a one (1) year mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership, and a one (1) year mediabistro.com How-to Video membership.
One (1) Third Place winner will receive $250 and a one (1) year mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership.
Deadline September 7, 2012
Details at http://www.familycircle.com/family-fun/fiction/fiction-contest-rules-2012/
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
The text of picture books is getting shorter. When I first began writing professionally 22 years ago, 1000 words were common for picture books. Today, the maximum word count for most is 650. The sweet spot is 350-500 words. The text must have a balance of words and action from page to page so the illustrations can tell part of the story.
Within the short text a story with a beginning, middle, and end should be revealed. Usually, this is done in about 15 scenes or pieces of action.
Next week, I’ll discuss the picture book cumulative story.
Contest for young writers:
Hummingbird Poetry Contest. Hey Kids!....We are excited to host our second kids hummingbird poetry contest to give you a chance to write a poem and maybe you'll win a prize! When you submit a poem you will have your own web page!
Tip: You can visit some other pages on our site and learn more about hummingbirds to help write your poem.
Each of the Top 3 Favorites will win everything you need (except your recycled bottle) to make your own "Recycler" Hummingbird Feeder".
Submit original work written by you.
Contest open to ages 6 to 12.
Fill out the "Your Name" box and be sure to include your age.
Winners will be selected based on visitor comments and our judge.
Deadline: September 30, 2012. Winners announced October 31, 2012.
Details at http://www.hummingbird-guide.com/kids ... gbird-poetry-contest.html
Contest for adult writers:
FAMILY CIRCLE FICTION CONTEST
Limit 2,500 words of short fiction.
Must be unpublished and never have won a prize. Limit two entries per person.
Must be 21 or older and a legal resident of the US. Grand prize may be published in Family Circle.
One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a prize package including $750, a gift certificate to one (1) mediabistro.com course of his or her choice, one (1) year mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership valued at $55, and a one (1) year mediabistro.com How-to Video membership valued at $99.
One (1) Second Place winner will receive $250, a one (1) year mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership, and a one (1) year mediabistro.com How-to Video membership.
One (1) Third Place winner will receive $250 and a one (1) year mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership.
Deadline September 7, 2012
Details at http://www.familycircle.com/family-fun/fiction/fiction-contest-rules-2012/
Check out more contests on my blog: http://nancykellyallen.blogspot.com/
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