© Dianne Bates
In 2004 I started Buzz Words, a subscriber-based
twice-monthly online magazine exclusively for people in the Australian
children’s book industry, such as writers (new, mid-career and experienced),
illustrators, librarians and publishers – in fact, anyone interested in
children’s books. As the Buzz Words’ compiler, I gather
material from many sources and sometimes commission material.
Buzz Words aims to keep readers abreast of what’s
currently happening in the children’s book industry and to give them as many
opportunities as possible to advance their career and/or to keep them informed. Every
issue contains markets, competitions and awards, publisher profiles, profiles
of people in the industry, industry news, an interview (editors, publishers,
designers, etc), opportunities, recommended books and websites/blogs, festivals
and conferences, workshops, article/s, subscribers’ achievements, letters to
the editor and children’s book reviews. Links are frequently provided to help
readers.
Two recent additions are ‘Who’s Who in Children’s Books’
(profiles of publishers, editors, agents and packagers), and ‘Book Creators’
(featuring famous and outstanding children’s authors and illustrators of the
past such as Enid Blyton, Dorothy Wall and Eve Pownall).
Buzz Words is as subscriber-friendly as possible.
Preference for interviews, articles, profiles, etc is always given to
subscribers. They are also given the opportunity to advertise for free if they
have a product and/or service they wish to promote. Often publishers take up
this offer as it’s a very inexpensive way of promoting their latest titles.
There are many ways readers can show-case their books
and/or their writing or editing services: Buzz Words interviews both
commercially and self-published authors for ‘The inside Scoop’ and ‘A Foot in
the Door’. Questions are generally directed in such a way as readers can learn
about how to get feet past publishers’ locked doors, or which resources (such
as designer, editor, printer and distributor) that self-published authors used
and how effective they were. Subscribers are also invited to submit
to ‘Have Your Say’ and to present samples of their writing or illustrating.
Articles are often commissioned (payment is offered)
and have included ‘My Experiences with Literary Agents’, ‘How to Crowd-Fund to
Publish Your Book’ and ‘The Art of Picture Books.’ There’s an ‘Achievements’
section as well as ‘Classifieds’ which is free for those who support Buzz
Words.
Buzz Words is exactly the kind of resource which I
wish was available when I first started writing for children. And it’s ideal
for anyone in the industry who wants to place their work and/or learn what the
latest trends in writing for children are and/or what’s happening in the
industry here in Australia or overseas.
The magazine also has a children’s book review
blog http://buzzwordsmagazine.com where
books by subscribers are reviewed. And, too, the blog is available for
subscribers to post material, such as a blog tour, book launch or forthcoming
title.
If you’d like to check out the latest issue of Buzz
Words, I’m only too happy to send you a complimentary, obligation-free copy;
contact dibates@outlook.com. Cost
is $48 per year (for 24 issues). The magazine is distributed on the 1st and
15th of every month.
Dianne (Di) Bates has been in the industry
for decades! She has published over 130 books for children, some of which have
won state and national awards, including two children’s choice book awards
(WAYRBA and KOALA). She is married to award-winning children’s author Bill
Condon; they share a website http://enterprisingwords.com.au
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