Lynn E. Hazen & Susan Taylor Brown's: Beyond Websites -- Facebook, Blogs & Twitter -- Oh MY!

I co-taught a class for SCBWI yesterday in Walnut Creek with Susan Taylor Brown called:

Beyond Websites -- Facebook, Blogs & Twitter -- Oh MY! How to Juggle Your Promotion Efforts, Social Websites & Online Personalities and STILL HAVE TIME TO WRITE


Oh MY! Susan and I had been preparing for weeks. There was a great turnout—49 people—and set up thanks to the swell organization skills and good spirit of scbwi volunteer and writer, Keely Parrack.

We had several super-duper valuable handouts. People asked great questions and the two hours zipped by in a flash. And Oh MY, it was great fun, too. Everyone left with several “To Do” lists to research, explore and try on the web. We tried to make our exploration of Web 2.0 for children’s authors and illustrators not too daunting or overwhelming. We were aiming for inspiring, fun, and chock full of info. Judging by the positive vibe of the attendees, their questions, and the evals we got—it was a success. Whoo hoo!

Here is what a few folks said on their evals:

"I've been a web developer for 14 years and I learned so much!"

Marik Bergits

"Great information on the various tech sites told in a user friendly fashion."

Marya Ashworth

"Susan Taylor Brown and Lynn E. Hazen paint realistic website and blogging panoramas. Practically focused, their energetic presenting made a believer out of me."

Lyndsey Davis

"Blogspicational!"

Chad Cameron

"Lynn and Susan took the mystery out of Twitter for me."

Carma Dutra

"A great introduction to Web 2.0 for Kidlit mavens. Lynn and Susan make the world of social networking seem accessible no matter how busy you are."

Dashka Slater

For final inspiration, I read aloud Gotta Book Gregory Pinkus’s great I’m Pretty Well Connected poem. (Thanks Gregory!!) I hope that the 49 participants felt inspired and a bit more confident to go out on the web to Facebook, Blog & Twitter (plus much much more) Oh MY!

Susan and I mentioned KidlitosphereCentral.org so there's the link.

I also mentioned Britt Bravo’s site and her Vimeo video on the value of Social Media. Here it is here. Take a look.

Meet Britt Bravo from David Collin on Vimeo.

And just for you, Imaginary Readers, Susan and I are offering a great free download with links to many of the Social Networking sites we mentioned (and a few we didn’t have time to mention) with clickable links for easy viewing.

Just go to my website www.LynnHazen.com and download our free:
"Lynn E. Hazen & Susan Taylor Brown's Social Media Adventure Map for Children's & YA Authors" (and illustrators too of course!)

Enjoy!

But wait, there is more good news. In case you were unable to attend the class or want more in-depth info and guidance, Susan Taylor Brown, digital native extraordinaire, will be teaching online classes on this very hot topic. If you are interested in more info on her Social Media classes go to Susan’s web page at www.susantaylorbrown.com/classes.html.

To be put on Lynn Hazen’s email list of upcoming classes and events, please send an email to LynnHazenEvents@gmail.com saying “Add me to your mailing list” (And tell me where we met or how you heard about me, too!)

Thanks to Jill Ann Cooke for creating the nifty photo collage at the top of this post.
And a few participants are already blogging about the class.
Take a look.

Lyndsey Rose Davis
Laure Latham Guyot
and of course, Susan Taylor Brown
Carma's Window
Fragments/ Keely Parrack

Forecast: Updating my own websites and blog!

Lynn Hazen Teaches Berkeley and Stanford Classes in Writing For Children & Young Adults

Registration is now open for a two-day U.C. Berkeley Extension class (held in San Francisco) May 30-31st, 2009 on Writing the YA Novel. Elissa Haden Guest and I taught this last summer and it was great fun. We're looking forward to teaching it again. Register here before it fills up.

Speaking of filling up...

I was also going to announce that we'll being teaching Writing for the Youngest Audience at Stanford Continuing Studies (a two-day class on May 2nd & May 9th, 2009 co-taught with Elissa Haden Guest). But the class is already full! The good news? There is a way to join the waitlist. Just click right here for more info about the class and the waitlist. Who knows? If enough people join the waitlist, maybe they'll ask us to teach another section.

Here is the description of: Writing the Young Adult Novel: A Two-Day Intensive Workshop
What exactly is a Young Adult novel? How does it compare with middle-grade children's literature or adult literature? How do you get started, keep going, and once you've written it, find the right publisher? In this two-day intensive workshop, students are introduced to various Young Adult genres, including traditional, edgy, verse, and graphic novels. We look at successful examples of the Young Adult novel, focusing on specific writing techniques. Participants explore voice, character development, and plot-point ideas through in-class writing exercises.

And here is the description of the Stanford Class: Writing for the Youngest Audience
In this workshop we will explore how successful picture books, early readers, and young chapter books engage a young audience (birth through age nine). Aspiring as well as experienced writers will explore exemplary titles for children in this age range. We will investigate and practice writing techniques focusing on developing character, story structure, and vivid language, and we will consider when to leave room for the illustrator and more. Students will participate in engaging, in-class writing exercises. Practical tips about the world of children’s book publishing will also be addressed with plenty of time for Q&A. Participants are welcome to bring and focus on their own typed first three pages of a picture book or early reader manuscript.

Lynn Hazen Interviewed on Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog--Cynsations

This is cool. Cynthia Leitich Smith posted an interview of me today on her Cynsations Blog.
Please take a look!

CSLA (California School Library Association) Author Illustrator Brunch

Sunday's CSLA Author Illustrator Brunch in Sacramento was fun. I had a chance to say a brief 'hello' to several author friends. Here are some pics:
A few of the authors in attendance (from left): Gennifer Choldenko, Jay Asher, Erin Dealey, Elissa Haden Guest, Lynn Hazen, Karen Beaumont & Bob Barner

More pics:

Elissa Haden Guest & Lynn Hazen

Alma Flor Ada, Gennifer Choldenko & Isabel Compoy

Lori Lim (one of the organizers of the brunch) with Elissa Haden Guest

Pam Turner, Lynn Hazen & Gennifer Choldenko

I was seated at Table 10 where I met a really great bunch of librarians and curriculum leaders from Long Beach.

I was happy to see author Ron Koertge there, faculty from my MFA days at Vermont College. I was hoping to get a photo but--oops--I must have had the camera set to "movie." Well, this is the Imaginary Blog so please imagine a nice photo or a very short video of Ron & me smiling.

Forecast: I'm still aiming for another interview before November becomes December!

My Heart Belongs to Vermont College...

My heart belongs to Vermont College where I got my MFA in Writing For Children & Young Adults. I met many wonderful and talented writers, connected to my Salon sisters, and honed my craft with the help of amazing faculty in an exciting, intensely challenging, yet fun creative environment. So it's great to get together with local MFA grads. It's even more fun when a member of Vermont's faculty comes to town.

Here's M.T. Anderson with Vermont MFA grads Lynn Hazen, Sharry Wright and Jandy Nelson after his reading and signing at NYMBC in San Francisco. M.T. Anderson read from Feed and his new book, Octavian Nothing II. Having drinks afterward at Max's Opera Cafe was fun, too--though the waiters failed to burst into song as we had hoped. Maybe next time.

If you'd like to read an interview with M.T. Anderson, including his musings on the merits of broccolli, new strategies for plotting and more--please check out this post on the Imaginary Blog back in April 2008.

Forecast: Happy Memories of The Dame Has a Lame Tame Crane--Hmm, can you forecast memories? I think I just did.