“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Another perfect sunset at Playa Larga, Cuba. (Credit: M. Kopp)
Cuba, Naturally
Category Archives: One Writer’s Life Blog
New books, new books!
Love coming home from a travel adventure to find hardcover proof that I do have a job! Four new children’s non-fiction books arrived from Crabtree while I took 10 days to decompress and dip into a little of Cuba’s charming culture.
The first two books explore the world of writing. “How to Write Science Fiction” reviews the elements of science fiction and guides young readers with step-by-step instructions on how to compose their own, out-of-this-world science fiction stories. “How to Write Drama” follows a similar pattern.
Two new books in the Text Styles series from Crabtree. (Credit: M. Kopp)
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Many people credit Ghandi with this saying and it is the cornerstone for Crabtree’s new series. My two books, “Be the Change for the Environment” and “Be the Change in your Community” offer a blueprint for young readers to follow and become active citizens. Can’t wait to present them to a local school!
Caring for Earth is everyone’s job. (Credit: M. Kopp)
Helping others helps you. (Credit: M. Kopp)
What do you use as a yardstick for measuring your “success” as a freelance writer? Leave a comment below!
Travel Spotlight: Sierra de San Francisco
“On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it.”
— Jules Renard
Sierra de San Francisco, Baja California. (Credit: M. Kopp)
Motivation for a natural escape
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
— John Muir
It’s true, being outside is good for mind. When I walk, I think. About everything and anything. Walking allows time for reflection. Movement, sights, sounds, smells, thoughts – they all combine to clear the head.
Perhaps more importantly, walking is good for the body. As a writer, I sit – a lot. New research shows that we all need to move more. Looks like I’ll have to walk more than once a day – aw, shucks!
In love with the outdoors. (Credit: M. Kopp)
What do you get out of walking in nature?
50! Kid’s Books Under This Author’s Name
By: Megan Kopp
I finally sat down this week to update my list of published books and – surprise, surprise! – I’ve hit 50 titles bearing my byline. True, six are still in various stages of the publication process, and I’m awaiting author copies on a few more, but they should all be out in 2015.
A few of my books! (Credit: M. Kopp)
Now here’s a not-so-secret secret: these books are all non-fiction, work-for-hire (WFH). What this means is that a publisher comes to me with a series or a topic and I write the book. The idea belongs to the publisher, but I still get a byline as the author.
Pros of WFH
- Editors approach you with an idea
- Guaranteed income
- Format established
- Artwork (pictures, maps, illustrations) is completed by the publisher
Cons of WFH
- You don’t own the copyright
- You don’t have any control over artwork
- You must follow a set format
- The editor has the final say on content
After 50 books, it’s safe to say that WFH works for me. That being said, I plan to take a walk (or dogsled ride – hint!) on the wild side and write my first, completely author-driven children’s book this year. Stay tuned!
Resources for Writing Children’s Non-Fiction and WFH
Evelyn Christensen’s Educational Markets for Children’s Writers (website)
2015 Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market (book)
Children’s Writer’s E-News (email newsletter)
NFforKids (Yahoo group)
What writing project(s) are you working on in 2015?
A Break from Winter
Winter’s great – most times – but long, dark days and colder nights take a toll as the months begin to stretch on. Maybe that’s why we usually escape in January or February for a little break and swap ski boots for hiking sandals. Sometimes the destination is Mexico’s Pacific Coast or the Yucatan. Sometimes it’s Costa Rica or Hawaii.
Occasionally, it’s as close as the southern United States.
Sunset at Big Bend National Park, Texas. (Credit: M. Kopp)
Where do you like to go when you need a break from winter?
Winter Birds in the Canadian Rockies
It’s a sad time in the fall, when the last of the migrants head south and the woods become silent. All of a sudden there seems to be a huge void, and I know winter has arrived. But there are a few hardy species of birds that stick around to put a little sparkle in winter outdoor adventures.
House Sparrows haunt feeders and town trails. Chickadees fly in flocks from tree to feeder to tree in search of seeds left untouched. Gray jays perch near skiers’ rest stops, hoping for stray crumbs. Ravens soar the skies from mountain hut to windswept pass and back again, keen eyes always on the lookout for their next meal.
One of my personal favourites is the white-winged crossbill – a backcountry denizen large enough to be spotted on its perch and easily identifiable by its odd-crossed shaped bill (used to pluck seeds from cones).
Female white-winged crossbill. (Credit: M. Kopp)
What is your favourite winter bird?
Twitter and the Writer
Tweet, tweet, tweet!
As a freelance writer, I enjoy Twitter. It’s a valuable marketing tool, a place to find inspiration and a vehicle for getting outside of my head and into those of other writers.
A good start is the Twitter Guide for Writers & Illustrators. Whether you are a tweeting fool or tweetless, Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s (@inkyelbows) guide is priceless. Wondering how Twitter can possibly help writers? Read this. Ready to start, but don’t know where? Answer’s here. Wondering how to make your Twitter feed more interesting? Look here.
The Ultimate Guide to Twitter for Writers is one long post – I mean, really long. Although it’s not quite as easy to use as Ohi’s Q & A format, it’s still full of stellar info. Learn how to customize your header, use gearshifts, or perfect your writing hashtags. Frances Caballo (@CaballoFrances) writes even more on the topic at her own site, Social Media for Writers.
Carol Tice (@TiceWrites) offers 15 tips for writers to get noticed on Twitter at Make a Living Writing. Personally, I think #7 “Stop constantly marketing yourself” is critical. Create a dialogue that isn’t self-absorbed and people will want to keep the conversation going.
As a writer, do you find value in Twitter?
Amiskwi: A Backcountry Ski Getaway
Last year right around this time, we were twiddling our thumbs at the airport. The helicopter was late; something about a rescue. You can’t argue with that. We were itching to hop on our chopper and head in from Golden, B.C. to our home away from home for the next week – Amiskwi Lodge – but patience was required.
Bags and boxes and skis and poles were stacked high in the hangar. We paced a little, chatted a lot, took yet another bathroom break, paced some more – and then it was on. Rush, rush, rush – do this, don’t do this, put skis in here, bags in there, buckle up and we’re off.
Amiski Lodge – the view from afar. (Credit: M. Kopp)
We flew above the Blaeberry River, all eyes on mountains passes, avalanche paths and snow-covered meadows, as if it were possible to judge the potential for a good week of touring options from the air. It didn’t matter. The trip wasn’t really about the skiing, it was about the journey.
The backcountry retreat. (Photo: M. Kopp)
It was about forging new friendships over shared meals and dice games. It was exploring the thrills of open slopes, testing skills in treed glades and standing still to soak in views from ridge tops. But most of all, it about escaping the turmoil of the outer world to find a sense of peace – for me, at least.
The inner sanctum of Amiskwi. (Credit: M. Kopp)
Such is the magic of getting away, of travelling (near or far), of letting go and finding yourself within.