Wednesday, May 1, 2013

BIG NEWS!

Happy Wednesday!

You've probably been wondering. . .where's Miranda?

Well, she's been busy preparing a final exam for her high school students (who have 10 days left of school.).

AND. . .

She's been downstairs in her secret laboratory mixing up a super-secret-super-potent-awesome-tasting-magical concoction to help other people learn how to revise their picture book manuscripts so that they scream to editors, "I'm a super-stellar writer!"

Well, the secret's out!  Soon, The Picture Book Academy be doling out vials of launching an e-course called THE GRAMMAR GROOVE.

Mwah! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Miranda Paul's secret ingredient to making grammar fun? Silliness, sprinkled on top of hot-cross puns.


Learning grammar for professional writing is hard, tedious, and overwhelming. OR at least it HAS BEEN in the past. . .

Miranda Paul and Mira Reisberg have created a course (launching soon!) that teaches children's authors what they really need to know about grammar and style, and what they can sort of skip over (don't tell the editors she said that!). With Miranda’s expertise as an English teacher and picture book author, combined with her hilarious “voice,” and Mira’s expertise in pedagogy, course creation, and children’s literature, this course is a “must have” for anyone who ever wonders where to put that comma, quote, apostrophe, em dash, etc. If you struggle with English or have gotten SPAG issue comments on a manuscript (or your manuscripts continue to get form rejections or no response), this may be the workshop for you.

BUT. . .other than creating an awesome course that will help you get your SPAG issues out of your picture book manuscript (no matter how you submit it—electronically or via printed copy), Miranda's got one other piece of BIG NEWS:


RATE YOUR STORY IS OPEN TO SUBMISSIONS AGAIN!

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAA!

However, please note—Because of the overwhelming popularity of our free critique rating service and the number of manuscripts we receive (which put a heavy demand on our volunteers at times), we will be creating a "monthly window" for submissions. 

Beginning this month (May 2013), we will be open for submissions during the first seven days of each month only. Submissions received between 12:01 a.m. Central Time on the first day of the month and 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the 7th of each month will be read and rated for free. We will be closed during all other times of the month. 

If this helps us keep our inbox at a level we can handle, we'll look at modifying it. But, for the rest of the summer and into the fall, we're going to try this schedule. Thanks for understanding, and we look forward to getting your MSS!


By Julie Rowan-Zoch


8 comments:

  1. Congrats Miranda. I struggle with grammar, so I look forward to the course. I am known for missing subjects and run-on sentences.
    Yikes only open 7 days, I better get cracking and submit for the 7th.
    I totally get the monthly window thing, thanks again for this wonderful service.

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    1. oops I meant get my story in before the 7th.

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  2. The (Mira) squared plus "anda" grammar program sounds terrific! Congrats.

    Love the predictability of the seven day window. Thanks for the easy, brilliant solution!

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  3. The voice over guy from Sesame Street must be one busy guy, he read your blog to me with such enthusiasm I am going to sign up straight away - I may even use my own blood.
    P.S. I don't think my pants could handle any more hot cross buns.

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  4. THAT'S SO COOL! I'm really excited to see this, Miranda. :)

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  5. Congrats! I hope the course is a BIG success. All that you do for the writing community is very much appreciated!

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  6. Sounds like a good solution. And leave it to Miranda to make grammar look so exciting!

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  7. Hahaha...just had to delete my comment because of SPAG issues. :) Your new course is definitely needed. :) Congrats on that, Miranda! Also, I love the definite window of opportunity for submitting to RYS. When I get back from Singapore, I will buckle down and SUBMIT!

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