Description

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STORY SPROUTS

A Collection of Writing Exercises and the Resulting Creative Works of Fiction by the Children's Book Writers of Los Angeles

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WRITER What happens when linguistic lovers and tale tellers workshop together? Inspiration. Wonder. Discovery. Growth. Magic. Brave and talented, the writers featured in this anthology took on the challenge of dedicating one day to the raw and creative process of writing. A rare view into the building blocks of composition, Story Sprouts is made up of nearly 40 works of poetry and prose from 19 published and aspiring children's book authors. This compilation includes all of the anthology writing exercises and prompts, along with tips, techniques and free online writing resources to help writers improve their craft.

EDITED BY: Alana Garrigues Nutschell Anne Windsor

POETRY AND PROSE BY: Stacy Yamaoka Anderson Tiffani Barth Cacy Duncan Abi Estrin Diane H. Fisk Alana Garrigues Angie Flores Glenn Jason Hanna Kristina F. Jordan, M.A. Lucy Ravitch Donna Marie Robb Diane Sepulveda Robinson Nora Rodriguez Lissa Ross Lynne Southerland Christal Terry Kathryn Thornton Cameron S. Ulyate Nutschell Anne Windsor

ABOUT CBW-LA: CBW-LA is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, dedicated to educating and inspiring writers on the road to publication. Our members range from hobbyists to published authors. We welcome all writers, but focus on children's literature, from picture book through young adult. Our monthly workshops provide tips and lessons on the craft of writing and the business of publishing. Topics range from creating three-dimensional characters, weaving intriguing storylines, revising and editing a manuscript, to writing and submitting query letters to agents and editors. Members can also get helpful feedback on their manuscript through our critique sessions, and our annual Writing Day Anthology Workshop offers them a chance to gain publishing experience through publication in Story Sprouts Anthology.

About the Author

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STORY SPROUTS EDITORS Alana Garrigues Alana Garrigues is a freelance journalist and creative nonfiction author. Originally from the bookish mecca of Portland, Oregon, she now lives the sunshine life in Redondo Beach, California, where she writes for the local newspaper and raises identical twin girls with her husband. She is currently writing a "humorous humanitarian" book about a California nurse who uprooted from her laid-back, beach town lifestyle to move to the bush of Benin, West Africa to found a non-profit. Other projects include rough drafts of several children's stories scribbled into notebooks, awaiting rediscovery and revision. Never one to pigeonhole, Alana is equally in love with telling compelling true stories and inspiring kids to love reading and writing; she hopes to move her career forward with one foot solidly rooted in both camps-creative nonfiction and kid lit. Alana is the Publications Director for CBW-LA and author of "writercize," a blog brimming with writing prompts for writers, students and teachers. Visit www.alanagarrigues.com for more information, including social media links. Nutschell Anne Windsor Nutschell (pronounced Noo-SHELL, in case you were wondering) Anne Windsor is a middle grade/young adult fantasy writer who hails from the Philippines and now lives in sunny Los Angeles. She is the Founder and President of CBW-LA and is the Assistant Regional Adviser of the L.A. Region of SCBWI (Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators). Nutschell founded the Children's Book Writers of Los Angeles (www.cbw-la.org) in 2010 with the hope of sharing knowledge with fellow children's book writers in the area. Following a BA in Psychology from the University of the Philippines (Diliman), Nutschell became an English teacher at Miriam College High School. Currently, she is the Creative Writing (Online) and Events Rep for UCLA Extension Writers' Program. Nutschell's experiences have turned her into a detail-oriented, organized planner, and she uses these skills to teach and facilitate workshops and critique sessions for CBW-LA. She is also an active member of the blogging community. She shares writing tips, techniques and reports on various writing events at www.thewritingnut.com and on Twitter @nutschell.