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Answers from the Editor
Ask
a question
about
reading, writing, thinking, or publishing.
- Do
you give money for your patrons?
Johnathan 4/12/00
r•w•t
junior™
does not pay patrons. But, your question relates to an important part
of publishing your work. Sometimes publishers offer one, and sometimes
they do not.
Very
few publishers pay for children's writing. Just like any business,
publishers have to decide if there is an audience for children's
writing. They often perceive that audience to be small. Therefore,
they don't believe the amount of money they would spend to publish
children's writing would be greater than the amount of money they
would earn.
However,
keep in mind that even adult writers often begin publishing their work
unpaid. Many can't depend on their writing to make a living until they
are well-known. Once they are well-known, they are more likely to be
published and more likely to be paid.
If
you like to write, you should write. Like anything you love in life,
you can't
not
write
because you won't get paid. Write for the joy and experience writing
brings you.
- I
was wondering if you'd be able to have a contest and give cash prizes
to the winners of the writing contest?
Joanna 4/12/00
r•w•t
junior™
just announced the winners of the Young People's Poetry Contest.
Although that contest did not offer a cash prize, we might offer one
in the future. At this time, another contest has not been scheduled,
but keep an eye out for future contests.
- How
do you get your ideas to write, and how do you get your writing
published?
Derek 4/12/00
There
are many ways to get writing ideas. Sometimes they just come to you,
but other times you just can't think of anything. If you can't think
of anything to write about, r•w•t
junior™ has
writing ideas in almost every section. You can also write about your
personal experiences, events in your life, people in your life, your
hopes and dreams, your goals, imaginary places... Begin with what you
know. Write about things you do, see, or hear about.
All
publishers have instructions for how they want you to submit your
writing to them. Those instructions are usually called submission
guidelines. Your teacher can tell you the submission guidelines for
r•w•t
junior™.
If your teacher doesn't have them, your teacher can get them in The
Guide section of
r•w•t
junior™.
When
you send your work to a publisher, make sure they publish the kind of
work you are sending them. For instance, newspapers usually don't
publish fiction. Each year, a book called Writer's
Market
is published. It lists hundreds of pages of publisher names and
information (guidelines, addresses, and more).
- Do
you like books?
Joanna 4/12/00
Yes—very
much. If you have a favorite book, tell us about it, and we might give
it the Page-Turner
Award.
- Where
can I e-mail you to have my teacher be the Gold Star Teacher?
Beth 4/12/00
Thank
you for helping us discover an error in the Gold Star Teacher
link. The link would only work if your computer has an e-mail program
on it. We changed the link to allow everyone to nominate a teacher,
even if your computer doesn't have e-mail. Go
there.
- Can
you submit a story that was not from one of your story starters?
Rebecca 4/12/00
r•w•t
junior™
accepts any student writing (or artwork). Writing from classroom
exercises and assignments are welcome. You can even submit things you
write in your free time at home. But, if you need some ideas, take a
look at Brain Boosters in Research
Rockets™.
- How
do I submit my writing?
Tracey 4/12/00
Your
teacher can tell you the submission guidelines for r•w•t
junior™.
If your teacher doesn't have them, your teacher can get them in The
Guide section of r•w•t
junior™.
- If
I do a really good story on one of your topics, will I be paid money?
If so, how much?
Johnathan 4/12/00
For
the answer to your question, please see Question
1.
- I
want to submit a new word. The word is gweet, which is a grumpy,
magical elf. Where do I submit that?
Derek 4/12/00
Thank
you for telling us your new word—very creative. Although we'd be
happy to read your answers to our questions and activities, we don't
have an official place to submit answers to all of them online. If you
would like to send us your answers, you can send them by e-mail
(rwtjunior@educyberstor.com).
- Do
many publishers publish books by kids?
Elizabeth 4/12/00
Most
publishers do not publish books by kids. For more details, please read
Question
1.
Also, check online for children's book and writing contests. A few
years ago, a company chose one book by a kid to publish each year.
We're not sure if that company still offers that contest, but see what
you can find online.
- Do
you prefer swimming in the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean (survey
question)?
Kaitlin 4/12/00
The
Pacific. But, we live in Texas, so we mainly have to stick to the Gulf
of Mexico.
- How
many kids joined the poetry contest last April (2000)?
Ian 5/11/00
Although
we did not take a final count, we received so many that it was hard to
decide on the winners.
- About
how much of the stories sent in get published?
Margarita 5/12/00
We
do not have a limit for the amount of stories and other writings that
are published. Writing pieces we receive are reviewed individually,
and everyone has an equal opportunity to be published.
- How
could I start teaching my four year old to read?
Daisy 1/13/01
You
can begin teaching your child to read, first, by simply reading to
your child. As you read, your child will learn associations between
language, sounds, letters, and more. Beyond that, though, you will
instill a love of reading in your child.
Have
your child sit in your lap or next to you, so your child can see the
words and pictures on the pages. Point to each word as you read. Let
your child play an active part by having him/her turn the pages.
Look
for future articles about teaching your emerging reader in Teachers'
Club
and parent*link.
Also, try the following resources for emerging readers:
- Do
you have an easy and rapid way to grade level books?
Eileen 2/10/01
We
use a combination of methods to determine the reading levels of
novels, such as scoring formulas like the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
score. Unfortunately, we are unable to suggest any one easy and rapid
way to determine book grade level. However, some publishers indicate a
suggested reading level on the copyright page or the back cover of the
book.
- Why
do authors use literary elements, and how do they use them?
Cris 3/29/01
The
major literary elements are the following: character, setting, plot,
point of view, style, theme, symbolism, tone, and irony. An author
uses literary elements to shape his/her writing and to form and
develop his/her purpose or message. For example, an author might use
the setting to trigger certain emotions in the reader and to set the
mood of a story or scene. A dark, dreary, damp place could create an
ominous mood and stir up emotions of fear or melancholy.
- Do
you have anymore information on Max Wier IV, the author of
"Whispers" in the book Salting the Ocean?
Kaitlyn 4/2/01
Salting
the Ocean is a collection of 100 poems by young poets, which were
selected by poet Naomi Shihab Nye. She chose the poems from the many
poems she has gathered from her students—including Max Wier IV—over
the years. The students ranged in age from primary to high school. We
are sorry, but we do not have any further information about the young
poets, beyond what is provided in the book.
- How
could [I] write an analysis of a book by using the literary elements?
Diana 05/05/02
In
this type of analysis of a novel, you could discuss the author's
overall purpose or message or a continuing theme from the story based
on the literary elements (e.g., setting, point of view, etc.) of the
story. You should include why each literary element used is
significant to the story (purpose, message, or continuing theme). For
instance, why did the author choose the point of view (s)he chose?
Additionally, you should discuss how the elements are related. For
example, how does the setting impact the plot, and why is that
significant?
For
more information about literary elements, please read Question
16.
Note:
Your question depends on the writing assignment you are given.
Therefore, not knowing the specific requirements of your assignment,
we have provided a general answer to your question.
- I
am trying to write an autobiography of my life and I don't know what
is needed to write or what information that goes into [it] from
beginning to end.
Ryusann 05/14/02
An
autobiography is quite a personal piece of writing, as it is about
your own life. Thus, what you include in your autobiography is up to
you. However, autobiographies typically include at least the core
events and moments of the author's life. The order in which you
present the events of your life is also your choice, but an
autobiography should have a clear structure that the reader can easily
follow.
If
an author's ultimate goal is to have his/her autobiography published,
the story of his/her life should bring something to the reader, such
as a valuable lesson, beyond an account of the events of his/her life.
Since
this topic is broad, we are unable to provide all of the information
you may seek. We can suggest a few ways to learn more, though. First,
simply read the autobiographies and memoirs of other people, which
will give you a feel for the genre. Secondly, check out resource books
on writing an autobiography or memoir.
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