A Report on Kidlit Con 2010

It's no secret that the key to successful blogging is community. But mostly that community communicates from their keyboards--posting, commenting, and emailing from the privacy of their own home offices or neighborhood coffee shops.

So it was a rare treat that 80 or so bloggers (myself included) emerged from behind their keyboards to converge on Open Book in Minneapolis for the annual Kidlit Con.

Here are a few key points I learned (or was reminded of) throughout the weekend:


1) An online presence truly can make a career.

The weekend started off with a terrific Friday night panel by the Merry Sisters of Fate (Maggie Stiefvater, Brenna Yovanoff, and Tessa Gratton) during which they discussed their tremendous critique trio relationship (mostly done via Google chat), an illustration of how online communication of can impact the career of an author.

Maggie underscored this idea in her Saturday morning keynote, describing how blogging helped her career as an artist and writer living in middle-of-nowhere Virginia. "Blogging can be good for you professionally and good for the soul," said the New York Times bestselling author who's toured the likes of Lithuania recently. "Ten years ago, my career arc would not have been possible. Blogging made it happen." (Note: I'd rather be reading Maggie's book LINGER than blogging right now. It's calling to me from my nightstand.) An example: Instead of sending her on tour during fall when school visits would precede bookstore event--and bring in teen readers--her publisher sent her out during the summer, banking on her blog presence to bring in fans. It's worked beautifully.

2) Community means participation.

The kidlitosphere is a community and you can't be part of a community if you're a hermit. You've got to read other people's blogs if you want them to read yours. You've got to leave comments. You've got to tweet and facebook links to other posts you like by other bloggers. You cannot blog in a void. You've got to make friends.

3) There's strength in numbers and 3b) There are voids to be filled.

Elissa Cruz and Kurtis Scalleta offered a great session on the birth of their ginormous group blog From the Mixes Up Files...of Middle Grade Authors.

Elissa had the idea to start a blog by MG authors focusing on MG books, posted her idea on a message board, and was overwhelmed by the response. There are currently 30 writers and illustrators participating in Mixed Up Files. A group blog such as this offers plenty of bloggers to share the workload, a big talent pool to draw on, and lots of varied expertise within the group.

And In middle grade, Elissa found a hole that needed filling in the world of kid lit blogs. Mixed Up Files got great traffic right out of the box and is likely to become the go-to spot online for the MG gatekeepers--teachers, librarians, and parents--for reading lists, interviews, and all things MG.

4) Book review bloggers are a powerful and far-reaching bunch.

During Kidlit Con, I was thrilled to have the chance to chat with with Pam Coughlin of Mother Reader, Jen Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page, Sarah Stevenson of Finding Wonderland, and Liz Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy also heard them participate in a panel about the Cybil Awards (given to books in a number of categories and judged solely by kidlit bloggers).

This year their call for potential judges yielded 200 volunteers for 100 open spots. (Yours truly is a second round YA fiction judge!) During the book nomination period, an unnamed publisher wanted to nominate their entire list. Authors like Jane Yolen and Lee Bennett Hopkins were talking about the Cybils on facebook.

Beyond the popularity of their award, they hold an annual blog book tour, and publishers seem happy to offer them review copies (based on a panel of marketing folks from Lerner, Flux, and Harper). These reviewers are reaching the gatekeepers, and publishers are aware of that.

5) Skype is cool.

During a panel on virtual school visits, Kidlit Con was joined via Skype by Nick Glass of TeachingBooks.net. (I likened this virtual panelist to The Giant Benevolent Wizard of Oz with headphones.) With a laptop and a projector (and no IT or AV professionals), Nick was able to fully participate in the panel, offering information and answering questions. Authors should really consider using this technology for virtual visits.


I've got lots more to share, but not today, dear readers. In the meantime, if you'd like more on Kidlit Con 2010 check out this stuff:

• Greg Pincus (who did not attend the event), has created a full transcript of #kidlitcon tweets. (Thanks, Greg!)
• Conference co-coordinator Andrew Karre continues to update the Kidlit Con blog with links to conference-goers' recaps. (Click here, and here for particularly good ones.) Conference PowerPoints will follow.
• You can check out the official Kidlit Con 2010 Flikr page (and add photos if you have them).

Kidlit Con 2011 will be held in Seattle.

Kidlit Con 2012 will be held in New York City.

If you're a blogger, you should come!

Featured Blog: Rose Cooper Talks About From the Mixed Up Files...of Middle Grade Authors

There seem to be a ton of blogs out there run by groups of young adult authors, but not much in the way of blogs which focus on the wonderful world of middle grade. In early June that all changed with the inception of FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES...OF MIDDLE-GRADE AUTHORS.

MIXED UP FILES "is the group blog of middle-grade authors celebrating books for middle-grade readers. For anyone with a passion for children’s literature--teachers, librarians, parents, kids, writers, industry professionals."

Debut author Rose Cooper is one of the 30 plus voices behind the blog. Here she talks about their philosophy, keeping things organized, what they post, why she signed on, and why she writes for the MG crowd. 

How did MIXED UP FILES come about? How did all these middle-grade authors get together? Why a blog focusing on MG?

Elissa Cruz is the brilliant brain behind MIXED UP FILES. She told me that, as a blogger and MG author, she felt alienated in a world of YA and she longed for a group of like-minded bloggers. It took her nearly a year of thinking about it before taking the plunge and hoping for the best.

Elissa put a call out on her blog and started a thread on Verla Kay's message boards asking for a few who might want to join her. Only expecting a few responses, she had more than 30 people wanting sign on in less than a week. Elissa is not one to shy away from a challenge so she took all offers and thought bigger. It was at that point she realized "something magical was happening."

What's the mission for the blog? What kind of audience are you hoping to reach?

Our mission is to come together as group blog of middle-grade authors celebrating books for middle-grade readers. We offer regularly updated book lists organized by unique categories, author interviews, market news, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a children's book from writing to publishing to promoting. Our audience is for anyone with a passion for children’s literature--teachers, librarians, parents, kids, writers, industry professionals.

How/why did you personally get involved?

A friend from my online critique group, Mindy Weiss, gave me a heads up on what Elissa was planning. She thought I would be a good fit for this new blog since I since I just recently had an MG book deal. I absolutely loved the idea once I heard about it and I wanted to get involved because I felt the same--that not everyone realizes what MG is all about and we need a larger online presence.

There are a lot of you participating in the blog. Is anyone "in charge?" How do you keep things organized?

While Elissa is the backbone, Wendy Martin is in charge of the technical aspects of the site. As far as content goes, it really is a group effort. Each member is in charge of a section of the site as well as their individual posts, so it always runs smoothly. To keep organized we have the forums which help with communication and a calendar that allows us to keep tabs on the rotating topics.

The blog has only been up-and-running for less than two month and you've had posts featuring interviews, new releases, giveaways, even defining the MG reader. What else is in store?

If check out our very first post you can see what our plans include. And it’s a pretty long list! We definitely have something for everyone and you can always count on more contests and giveaways! Currently we are working on a For Kids Page, where the website mascot will be hanging out. In the fall there’s a plan for a special MG giveaway to one lucky school or library. We are always thinking up something bigger, better, or more interesting to share with our readers. We love hearing what readers want to know, so we always take their comments into consideration.

What draws you to writing for the MG audience? Tell me about your upcoming books.

MG is the age I can really relate to, as I remember those in-between years and how difficult and awkward they can be. As you try finding your place in the world, it seems like there's always conflict, drama, and unavoidable situations and I like to draw humor from those. The voice just clicks for me and I’m drawn to it in a way that’s hard to explain.

My debut humor middle-grade series, GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLS' ROOM, A BLOGTASTIC! NOVEL  will be released January 11, 2011 and RUMORS FROM TEH BOYS ROOM, A BLOGTASTIC! NOVEL will be released spring 2012 by Random House. I am lucky enough to be both author and illustrator of these books. You can visit my website for more info on my books at www.Rose-Cooper.com.

Can you offer some advice for those writing for the MG audience working toward publication?

Remember who your readers are--you don’t want to sound like an adult writing for tweens. Tap into your inner child and remember what it's like to be in their shoes. The words shouldn't sounds forced or fake. It's also a good idea to spend time around that age group to get an idea of the latest trends and slang.

Lastly, don't give up. It can be a difficult and often frustrating road to publication, but the end is so rewarding. It took me six years of rejections, revisions and pity parties, but you need to remember to believe in yourself and your writing. Without that, you can't have success.