What Facebook “Groups” Can Do For You As A Writer: *Allow you to make new writer friends and interact daily *Learn about the craft of writing *Discover new writer blogs and websites *Learn about the writing industry and marketing *Learn about publishers and agents *Discover and participate in contests and conferences *Participate in monthly writer challenges and online courses. GROUPS Here are some groups that I have found particularly helpful. Anyone can join most of these groups. Just be sure to read the "rules" each group before posting. (Most of them do not allow self promoting.) Picture Book Writers/Illustrators Once upon a time, I sorted all my picture book friends into a group on FB to make life easier.Most were my friends from writing classes and a critique group. Whenever, I would get interesting articles on picture book writing or illustrating, I would zap it to them. That is how this group got started. But then... creative people from all over would ask to be in this group. I said, why not? So I added them on. Please add anything related to children book writing or illustrations. It's just a place to share, share, share! Please tell us about your glories in writing or illustrating such as book launches, art openings, wonderful art events, etc. If not, tell us about your rejections. They are harsh but we learn from each other. Announcements are wonderful. Please brag. No politics here. Please share photos. We love them! https://www.facebook.com/groups/167318063310294/
Agent/Editor Discussion This board is for picture book authors. We discuss agents/editors, sending manuscripts, cover letters and queries. We support the successes and celebrate the rejections (that means we are one step closer to a yes). For those asking to join: If you are a writer, it would be helpful if your Facebook timeline or profile (if available to public) indicated that you are a writer. Writers only please. https://www.facebook.com/groups/299530846844884/
Poetry Bootcamp Poetry Bootcamp is about getting those words down on a page and stretching your imagination. Let's get everyone writing poetry. https://www.facebook.com/groups/248838151936193/
Debut PB Study Group This board is for picture book writers who want to study debut picture book texts from PB authors (v. author-illustrators). We will discuss telling v. showing, story structure, sentence structure, page turns, rules broken, word count, and more. https://www.facebook.com/groups/debutPBstudygroup/ Writing Chapter Books for Beginner Readers This group is for those who write chapter books for beginner and reluctant readers, or are in the process of writing them. It is a place to discuss books you have read, plots, publishers, and to find critique partners. This group is for those who write chapter books for beginner and reluctant readers, or are in the process of writing them. It is a place to discuss books you have read, plots, publishers, and to find critique partners. https://www.facebook.com/groups/268325186678063/
Fightin Bookworms Private group for paid subscribers of Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's Book Writers. If you're not currently a CBI subscriber, please visithttp://cbiclubhouse.com/clubhouse/join to become a member. Then you may request access to this group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/cbiprivate/ Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator Market Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market (CWIM) "Connecting Authors, Illustrators, Teachers &Students" CWIM is a diverse group of dedicated, timely, and enthusiastic artists from across the United States and four countries abroad. Our focus is on children’s picture book and children’s educational publishing. "Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market" is a group for aspiring writers and illustrators searching for information about publishers and how to contact them. “Our mission is to continue to find innovative new ways to promote children’s books and connect the people who create them.” Here's a place where you can post your AWESOME Illustrations, discuss your Art Techniques, show off your artistic talent and writing skills, and check out the stuff other TALENTED people do. https://www.facebook.com/groups/illustratorsandwriters/ Children’s Book Creatives Children's Book Creatives is a fun group dedicated to helping folks become excellent writers, illustrators, revisionists, and successfully published children's book creatives. There are lots of extraordinary people here and I hope that you will join us. Just request or ask a friend to add you : ) Led by the Picture Book Whisperer herself, Dr. Mira Reisberg, and with contributions from Picture Book Academy faculty and members - we aim to support, have fun, and succeed!! https://www.facebook.com/groups/184441188368169/ Sub Six Welcome to the “Sub Six” picture book submission support group. The Sub Six focus is supporting each other as we work toward our submission goals. Last year, we set out to submit a manuscript every other month, with the result being six submitted manuscripts for each member by the end of the year. However, many of the members went way beyond six manuscripts already. So, we just support each other. We ask questions, share news, share concerns, ask for help, and so on. I post a tally sheet doc each month in the file section, which you can find under the strip of member's profile images on our Facebook page. If you click on file, you will find a bunch of docs. To add to a doc, click on edit, enter your info, and click save. Many members add their submissions to the tally sheet as they go along, others add their submissions at the end of the month. For many of us, having that accountability of documenting our progress is helpful in keeping us motivated. Seeing what the other members are accomplishing is also encouraging. You will also find a doc in the files with members' blog and web addresses. Feel free to add to it. We have a doc where members can post query letters or cover letters that they might want other members to critique. Around the second week of each month, I tally up the group’s subs from the previous month and post our progress on our Facebook page. I try to offer a monthly prize. The winner is chosen via a drawing from all the names on that month's tally sheet. Please contact me if you have questions. Sub Six is a closed Facebook group, so you must ask to join. - Alayne Kay Christian https://www.facebook.com/groups/SubSix/
Word by Word Book Club Thank you for joining us! This group was set up to study Ann Whitford Paul's book Writing Picture Books. Blanche Baxter and I talked about how much easier it is to push through these wonderful resources as a group and here we are. I hope that when we finish WPB people will want to continue with other books. Happy writing and learning! https://www.facebook.com/groups/536519409761124/ Platform Building for Children’s Authors This is a site for those who write for children to learn from one another, share resources and assist one another in building and expanding their platforms. The site is set up to allow members to invite and approve new members. Feel free to share as you see fit. I look forward to working with you. https://www.facebook.com/groups/586598641416295/
Children’s Authors and Illustrators on Facebook A group for authors and illustrators of children's books, from picture books to YA, in all genres, plus aspiring writers and all readers who love children's literature. Authors and illustrators, tell us about your published work, what you're working on right now, any cool stuff you've seen or heard about in the field of children's books, post your book covers or illustrations and more. And don't forget to spread the word about this group to all your contacts in the writing community. For aspiring writers, connect with published authors or other writers like yourself and for readers of all ages, check out what your favourite authors are up to, discover new ones and join in discussions. Spread the word about Children's Authors and Illustrators on Facebook and thanks for stopping by. Please only post book covers or artwork from books in the photos section. Pictures from events or other promotional photographs will be removed. Please just post links to where they can be found elsewhere online. https://www.facebook.com/groups/childrensauthorsandillustrators/ Children’s Book Writers USA Children books are important for everyone. All of us grew up on them. Who can not forget classics like Where the Wild Things Are. Many people play an important role in putting these wonderful books together. There are Writers, illustrators, Editors, Publishers, Readers and so many other people that make books possible. This group is open to everyone who has interest in Children books and it will help everyone network and meet new people. We are an international group, so do not let our name scare you. Please join us . We are family friendly so children are also encouraged to join. Join the SCBWI summer and winter conferences twice a year. Also check out your local branch. Enjoy your stay. http://SCBWI.org/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/CBWUSA/
If you know of any other great groups to join, please post the Facebook link below!
16 Comments
Dana Carey
6/30/2014 02:15:34 am
Great post, Mandy. So nice to see all these groups and all the good they do. Thanks for rounding up all this info!
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7/1/2014 12:07:29 pm
Thanks for including Platform Building For Children's Authors in your article, Mandy. This is a great list!
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Charlotte Dixon
7/1/2014 12:34:57 pm
Fantastic blog about the benefits of groups to nurture the writer and the illustrator. Thank you, Mandy,for gathering this information in one place!
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7/6/2014 02:39:46 am
Mandy, Thank you for including KidLit TV in this amazing list of FB groups! We are simply thrilled to be in such great company.
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7/6/2014 04:44:17 am
Terrific post of valuable resources. Thanks for the KidLit TV mention!
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7/6/2014 05:29:11 am
Thanks for the great resources. That's a lot of work to compile with links and pics! Shared on my FB fan page.
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7/6/2014 07:35:54 am
Wow! I'm over the moon to find this treasure trove. Thanks!
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7/6/2014 07:40:48 am
Excellent list of groups, Mandy and Mira. I belong to a lot of these groups, and I agree they are helpful and offer a wonderful sense of community. I have learned so much and made some great friends through these communities. They all offer something a little different with the top benefits being support and resources. Thank you for sharing, and thank you for the shout out on Sub Six.
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Betty Horn
7/6/2014 09:44:25 am
Thanks, Mandy and Mira, for including KidLit TV in this incredible group of kid's lit fb communities! I'm glad to know I have such a great source of references to turn to for this newbie!
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7/12/2014 12:07:55 am
Fabulous list, Mandy. Thanks for putting it together. I'm surprised you didn't include 12x12, perhaps because there's an enrollment fee and members enroll only during January and February of each year, The Facebook group is also for members only. However, I think it's one of the best groups for picture book writers.
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Elaine Kiely Kearns
8/5/2014 10:01:17 am
Thank you, Mandy and Mira, for including KidLit411! Somehow, I missed this post! :)
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3/1/2017 02:19:19 am
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely helpful information specially the last part I care for such info a lot. I was seeking this particular information for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
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We are so excited to be mixing things up at CBA, beginning with some delicious additions to the Blogfish. Meet our awesome bloggers!!
Here's our lineup: 1st Mondays begin with awesome Aussie debut author and former student Amanda Lieber who will be focusing on Aussie kidlit. 2nd Mondays will feature super smart Melissa Stoller whose career is taking off with several new books. 3rd Mondays will feature STEM, STEAM & SEL obsessed author Kourtney LaFavre sharing delightfully dorky, quirky, and fun info. 4th Mondays will be a mystery for right now. And 5th Mondays we'll be taking a break Archives
September 2023
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