 By Stephanie Bearce
Hey Friends! We Ninjas want to hear from YOU! As most of you realize we host the always fun and exciting NF Fest in February. For the rest of the year, we try to help the nonfiction community with information right here on the Nonfiction Ninja Blog. We would LOVE to hear from YOU! What do you want to learn about? What burning questions tug at your nonfiction heart? Do you want to know how to snag the perfect agent? Curious about mentor texts? Need Pat Miller's recipe for perfect doughnuts? Please leave a response in the comment section below, about what you would like to learn this year. (I've given a few suggestions, but feel free to get crazy and creative.) Everyone who comments will be entered into a drawing to receive one of two FREE manuscript critiques from our well-published Ninjas. (Full PB or NF proposal) Just tell us what would you like to learn more about?
83 Comments
3/29/2022 12:30:20 pm
I'd like to learn more about writing proposals and Editing and Revision 4/4/2022 03:21:19 pm
We can do that! Thanks so much for telling us what you want to learn. 3/29/2022 12:32:54 pm
I'd like more specific information directed at non-fiction illustrators (not that I don't love and appreciate all you do!). I've been told I should submit more artwork to non-fiction illustration agents but there's very little about how that process works. (And maybe it's no different then the regular way). 4/4/2022 03:24:06 pm
We have our illustration guru, Susie, on it! Look for more posts that will help illustrators. 3/29/2022 01:45:29 pm
I’d love to know more about researching and writing collective bios, like how to choose what subjects to include, how to make sure that the sections seem cohesive without feeling repetitive, etc. 3/29/2022 02:16:17 pm
Absolutely more on queries and submissions. It can feel like there's a secretive Man Behind the Curtain, so I'd appreciate you pulling back that curtain! 4/4/2022 04:12:38 pm
Are there any agents you would like to suggest? We will certainly work on getting agents to be guests. 3/29/2022 02:22:24 pm
I vote for research tips, revision, and using mentor texts. Thank you for asking! 4/4/2022 04:14:39 pm
Thanks for sharing! We will be working on some special mentor text posts very soon. 3/29/2022 02:35:30 pm
I would like to know more on revision and editing techniques to have flow. 4/4/2022 04:23:04 pm
Thanks! We will get some more info out there on revision and editing.
Susan Eyerman
3/29/2022 02:41:47 pm
I would love to know more about how to embellish a really good NF story that has few usable personal details and still keep it non-fiction. 4/4/2022 04:24:07 pm
Great question. How to add interest to the story but keep it nonfiction.
Halsey, Kathy
3/29/2022 04:02:33 pm
Hey, Ninjas, I'd like tips on how folks organize their research, how and if they include it in drafts, tool that make bibs and source notes easy to create, and what their edito prefer - selected bibs, recommended reads, etc. 4/1/2022 07:20:56 am
Hi Kathy! 4/4/2022 04:25:53 pm
You are in luck - Peggy Thomas has a post coming up all about this!
Ann Ryan
3/29/2022 05:06:07 pm
Yes to using mentor texts. 4/4/2022 04:27:39 pm
Oh - I love the idea of how to collaborate with other groups! 3/29/2022 05:15:40 pm
I would love to know more about how you decide which ideas are "the one" to pursue. How much time, attention, research, etc does it take, and what tips do you have for writers just starting out? (Especially for those of us with kids and/or full-time jobs who can't chase endless research rabbit holes.) Thanks! 3/29/2022 05:29:17 pm
Thank you for this opportunity! I’d love to hear more research and revision tips, knowing when a MS is ready to submit. I’d also love to see more on queries and submissions. 4/4/2022 04:30:23 pm
Thanks! These are important subjects. We'll be working to get some posts to help. 3/29/2022 07:38:49 pm
I am interested as to how to write humor in a NF informational PB.
Natasha
3/29/2022 07:44:28 pm
I'd love to learn more about techniques for builds tension and creating arc in non-biography NF. 3/29/2022 08:10:19 pm
How to guage sending query letters to which possible publishers - facts that will help us decide.
Ellen
3/29/2022 08:27:19 pm
I would love tips on how to ORGANIZE my research! How do you keep track of it? How do you manage digital files and books and photos and printouts… and be able to refer to them if you or someone else has a question? As you are writing, do you keep track of where the information came from? Do you annotate? Thanks! 4/4/2022 03:52:17 pm
We are working on this one! Stay tuned for a great post by Peggy Thomas.
Donna Rossman
3/29/2022 09:01:08 pm
Many nonfiction biographies start with a line about the MC as a child - Hoping you can explore different ways to begin if there is nothing known about the MC’s childhood. Would love a list of mentor texts where there is little known about the MC’s early life. 4/4/2022 04:32:18 pm
How to start the story is always hard. Great idea for a post!!
Karen Chun
3/29/2022 09:23:19 pm
I would love information about how to document research and what kind of back matter should or shouldn't be included. 3/30/2022 05:25:47 am
I’d love more about teasing the narrative out of the nonfiction :) 4/4/2022 04:35:59 pm
Thanks! We will work on getting you information about this.
Don Halquist
3/30/2022 05:29:15 am
I would like to learn more about editing and revising. Thanks so much!
Emily
3/30/2022 06:07:35 am
I'd love to learn more research and revising tips! Thank you! 4/4/2022 04:39:18 pm
This is a popular topic. We'll try to get more info out there to help. 3/30/2022 06:22:41 am
Thank you for helping writers grow and learn. 3/30/2022 07:06:56 am
How to find specific standards (common core, nggs, etc), how to navigate the library of congress website to maximize research, and how to properly cite sources for longer nf (mg and above).
Val McCammon
3/30/2022 07:24:45 am
I would love more insight, ideas, and mentor text suggestions all related to incorporating the "emotional element" in nonfiction where it's appropriate, taking the nonfiction topi further with the "emotional connection" as the topic lends itself. THANKS! 4/4/2022 04:47:13 pm
Thank you so much for giving us your wish list! We will be working on it!! 3/30/2022 09:06:39 am
Such a fun post! Love the energy! 4/4/2022 04:51:56 pm
Blended N/NF is interesting. We'll see what we can do to help.
Jilanne F Hoffmann
3/30/2022 11:09:08 am
I've been getting rejections from editors saying they love the writing but don't have a vision for illustration. I'd love to know how to overcome this hurdle. 4/4/2022 04:53:35 pm
Another great topic for our illustration guru! We'll try to help.
Hannah LaGrone
3/30/2022 11:55:43 am
I’d like to learn about formatting sidebars, back matter, bibliography etc. and agree with many of the suggestions above! 3/30/2022 12:39:00 pm
I'd like to know more about how to create kid-friendly hooks and takeaways when writing nonfiction STEM picture books and the info is complex. 4/4/2022 04:57:41 pm
Hooks are something I want to learn, too! We will find an expert to teach us all.
Joyce Patricia Uglow
3/30/2022 12:40:15 pm
Please consider an in-depth look at secondary text in informational fiction and/or narrative nonfiction that provides a new layer (quote, factoid, leveled-up audience, etc.). What structures works best for such bi-level/secondary text? How is the best way for formatting this type of manuscript for submission?
Colleen Fogarty
3/30/2022 01:01:23 pm
I'm writing a PB biography, so the text is somewhat limited,
Matt Lilley
3/30/2022 03:00:40 pm
I have some experience doing write-for-hire for educational publishers, but it's always hard to find gigs. Any tips related to that, such as finding publishers and packagers to query, would be great.
Doreen Robinson
3/30/2022 05:42:23 pm
I’d love to hear from agents that rep middle grade NF STEM. It would be nice to have some blog posts that are written by agents offering their insights and sharing what makes them say yes to a NF book proposal. 3/31/2022 02:40:39 am
Id love to hear about voice and writing in different styles for NF.
Debi Boccanfuso
3/31/2022 09:22:51 am
I’d like to learn about deciding … or maybe analyzing.. the right kind of format for the right kind of NF topic.. how do you decide? 4/4/2022 05:15:54 pm
Finding the right format can be a challenge. Hopefully, we will be able to help.
Sharon McCarthy
3/31/2022 01:23:42 pm
More examples of close third person POV, sometimes called psychic distance or distant third. It seems to becoming popular for PB biographies from the seminars I have seen. Would love to learn more about it. 4/1/2022 08:30:17 am
All types of info about research - The what/why.how of crafting a research plan that can hold up over time. Pro's and cons of various methods for keeping track of research results so that subsequent retrieval methods work. Also: anything about trends and innovations in NF structure, content, etc..Thanks!
Maria Johnson
4/1/2022 10:34:49 am
Love what you do. Always could use more help with how to organize research, demystify STEM and other standards, and GN NF territory too.
Rita Russell
4/1/2022 02:36:38 pm
I'm interested in knowing more about best research and organization practices, as well as the mechanics of interviews via phone, in person, and online. 4/4/2022 05:23:38 pm
Research is the core of NF! We will work on posts that will be helpful.
Cheryl MacAller
4/1/2022 07:55:15 pm
I would love to learn more about writing proposals!
Jyothi Nookula
4/2/2022 07:36:51 am
I would like to learn about
Betty Matthews
4/4/2022 06:33:59 am
I need help proofing a picture book on the Arctic food cycle in rhyme with fact bubbles. 4/4/2022 05:27:40 pm
Are you looking for an editor/proofer? Several of the ninjas do this work. Would you like me to connect you?
Brenna Jeanneret
4/9/2022 12:42:57 pm
I'd love to hear more about adding emotional arc or finding the heart of NF :) 4/12/2022 09:22:54 am
i'd like to know which agents are interested in nonfiction and which editors are looking for it who take unagented authors. 4/18/2022 05:24:21 pm
I'd love to learn more about finding the thread/through line of your NF topic Leave a Reply. |
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Disclaimer: The Nonfiction Ninjas are a group of writers with diverse ideas . The views expressed in each post are those of the author and may differ from others in the group.
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