sallymurphy.com.au

Sally Murphy, Australian author

Featured Blogger Friday: Carmela Martino

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It is Friday again – which means it is also  Featured Blogger Friday. My visitor this week is  Carmela Martino, who has come to talk about herself, and the blog she is part of. www.TeachingAuthors.com. 
Welcome, Carmela.
 

Firstly, why do you blog?
After my first book was published, I kept hearing that authors needed to have a blog as part of their online presence—a website wasn’t enough anymore. But I didn’t want to be just another blogging author. In addition to being a writer, I also teach writing classes for both children and adults. While brainstorming with a couple of my published friends who are also writing teachers, we came up with the idea of a group blog that was not only about writing, but about teaching writing, too. That’s how our TeachingAuthors blog was born. There are six of us blogging together: April Halprin Wayland, Esther Hershenhorn, Jeanne Marie Grunwell Ford, JoAnn Early Macken, Mary Ann Rodman, and me.
What do you blog about?
We share our unique perspective as writing teachers who are also working writers, so we talk about both sides—writing and teaching. Our regular features include writing exercises (which we call “Writing Workouts”), teaching tips, author interviews, book reviews, and answers to readers’ “Ask the Teaching Authors” questions. We also try to comment on events going on in the world of children’s literature. For example, last week was Children’s Book Week here in the United States, so we blogged about that. And we share our own struggles to make our writing a priority.

Who is your target readership?
1)      Writers of all ages
2)      Those who teach young writers, whether in a classroom or homeschooling setting.
How often do you blog?
We have blog posts at least three times a week. With six TeachingAuthors blogging, that means I blog once every two weeks—my blogging day is Wednesday.
How much time do you devote to blogging?
It really varies, depending on the type of post I’m writing. I can spend 1-3 hours, or more, on a blog post. I also oversee the technical issues and overall layout of the blog, and I’m always tweaking things.  
Do you have a favourite blog post? 
That’s a tough question, because I love so many of my co-bloggers’ posts. We’ve had some lovely interviews with Guest Teaching Authors, too. However, I have to say I had great fun celebrating our first blogiversary in April:  http://www.teachingauthors.com/2010/04/our-first-blogiversary-earth-day-and.html So many readers posted comments congratulating us—it was a virtual party. 
What do you see as the benefits of blogging?
Many more than I expected! It’s been terrific to connect not only with our readers, but also with so many amazing bloggers in the Kidlitosphere. I love sharing information with my present and former students, and a blog is an excellent tool for that. And having a group blog is the best of both worlds—I can share the workload with my co-bloggers while learning from them, too. We recently had the opportunity to present together at a conference, which was not only great exposure for us and our blog, but wonderful fun!
What blogging platform do you use and why?
Google Blogger. When I was looking at other Kidlit blogs I liked, it seemed to be the most common platform.
Do you have a favourite blog to visit (other than your own)?
I have many that I love and I link to them on our site. Here’s a sampling:
Editor Cheryl Klein’s blog: http://chavelaque.blogspot.com/
The Irrepressible Writer: http://theirrepressiblewriter.com/
Alice Pope’s SCBWI Children’s Market Blog: http://scbwi.blogspot.com/
I.N.K.: Interesting Nonfiction for Kids: http://www.inkrethink.blogspot.com/
Bruce Black’s Wordswimmer blog: http://wordswimmer.blogspot.com/
Lastly, when you are not blogging, what else do you do?
Writing (or trying to write)—I’m currently juggling several projects, including a picture book biography and a young adult novel; teaching writing; reading; cooking. (And just about anything else I can think of to avoid housecleaning.)
Thanks for dropping in.
Thanks for the opportunity, Sally.
You can visit Carmela and her friends at the Teaching Authors blog. And drop by next Friday to learn about another featured blogger.

Featured Blogger Friday: Claire Saxby

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Hooray – it’s Friday, and time again for Featured Blogger Friday.

I am delighted today to welcome my good friend and fellow author and blogger, Claire Saxby. You can check out Claire’s blog in a moment, but first let’s hear more about her.

Firstly, why do you blog?

I set up my first blog when I went to Adelaide for a May Gibbs Fellowship in 2007. When I came back I decided to keep a blog going.
Why? I’m not completely sure. I guess it’s a way to increase my profile online although my posts are not always directly related to what I’m writing at the time.

What do you blog about?

I blog about things that are happening in my writing life and about events and publications. I also have blog visitors, to talk about what they are doing and how they do it. In between there are more random posts about whatever is occupying my head. Ideas come from all over the place and the blog gives me a place to note them, even when I’m not sure if or where they’ll lead.

Who is your target readership?

My website www.clairesaxby.com is directly about my writing for children and my blog also links directly to my books and appearances. The more random part of my blog is less tied to the ‘outcome’ end of my work and perhaps more to the thought processes that precede it. So I guess the target market is for those who are interested in what I’ve done, and those curious about what I might do next. If they can work it out from what I post, I’d be happy for them to tell me, because I don’t alway know!

How often do you blog?

It varies. At times it will be daily, and at other times it can stretch out to more than a week between posts. I do try to post as regularly as I can. I love taking photos and have just bought a new camera. These photos won’t necessarily lead to story ideas but they are part of my time out. I’m not saying they’re wonderful photos either but I do enjoy playing. I see poetry as being snapshots, and I see some photos (when I can do them well) as being another way of capturing a poetic moment.

How much time do you devote to blogging?

Again it varies. Sometimes all I’m posting is a date and time for an appearance, and at other times I will spend much longer. Preparing blog visits take longer because I will prepare questions and then format the blog entries more. I do schedule blogs ahead when I can, particularly if the scheduled date is a busy one in my off-blog world.

 Do you have a favourite blog post?

Of my own? I’m not sure. Although they do act a little as a diary. I
like to look back and see where I’ve been. Again, I like looking at the
photos because they transport me to other places and times.

 What do you see as the benefits of blogging?

I think the benefits of blogging are quite difficult to quantify. In
that way, they are just like any form of promotion. You put ‘it’
(whatever ‘it’ might be) and hope that it helps in some way to promote
your work. I recently was approached about a writing project purely
because someone had been casting around online and discovered my website
and blog. But I don’t attach any expectation to any promotional
exercise. I float it into the ether and what will be, will be.

 What blogging platform do you use and why?

I use Blogger. Why? Because that was the one I’d heard of when I decided
to start blogging! Others I know use other platforms. Some of them seem
more versatile but Blogger suits me at present. I have my own website so
I don’t need my blog to function as a website (which some blogging
platforms can do). Blogger is simple enough to use and I’m now familiar
with it.

 Do you have a favourite blog to visit (other than your own)?

I visit a range of blogs on a semi-regular basis. Some are the blogs of
friends or colleagues whose work I enjoy. Others are the work of editors
or agents or other industry professionals. Visiting other blogs
sometimes takes me further and further, connecting with creators and
others all over the world. It would be easy, informative and
entertaining to spend a great deal of time travelling the world via
blogs. I enjoy hearing about how others work. It’s also very affirming
to learn that others share many of the experiences that make writing
such a challenging journey – that you are not the only one to experience
frustration and disappointment!
 Lastly, when you are not blogging, what else do you do?

Ooh, that’s a biggie. Depends whether you consider blogging work or
pleasure. Networking or other. I think blogging is a bit of everything
really. I take photos for fun. I walk my neighbourhood with my dog,
letting my brain and eyes have a break from the computer. I plan what I
will do in my leisure like learning to draw, reconnecting with my sewing
machine, reading, crosswords. Oh, and Scrabble. I’ll play with anyone
who’ll let me!

Thanks for dropping in, Claire

You can check out Claire’s blog here.And drop back next Friday to see who my next Featured Blogger will be.

Featured Blogger Friday: Jone MacCulloch

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 It’s time once again for Featured Blogger Friday and I am delighted to welcome Jone MacCulloch, who is passionate about children’s literature and runs two blogs – a personal blog, and a library blog.  Welcome Jone.

Firstly, why do you blog?
I started blogging in 2006 to create a place to writer about what was happening in my school library. It didn’t take long to start finding the kidlitosphere, Poetry Friday, and others who were blogging about children’s literature.  The first blogs I found and read were Mother Reader and Jen Robinson’s Book Page.
What do you blog about? 
Poetry, nonfiction, the CYBILS Award, student work, thoughts about life in the library, and what people are reading.  Sometimes it may be what strikes my fancy.
Who is your target readership? 
My hope is that the students will tell their parents that their poem has been posted on the blog.  Hopefully, other librarians will pop in to read.
How often do you blog?
I try to blog a minimum of three times a week at “Check It Out”: Nonfiction Monday, Who’s Reading What Wednesday, and Poetry Friday. Every once in awhile, I will do a “Thoughtful Thursday’ post. This year, every day in April was devoted to featuring a student poem so I blogged for 30 days straight.
I also try to post three times a week at “Deowriter”, my personal blog.
How much time do you devote to blogging?
It’s easy to devote 3-5 hours per week.  I finally discovered (after 4 years) the nifty scheduling feature when writing a post so I am hoping to be more efficient in my writing time.
Do you have a favourite blog post? 
Wow, I don’t think I can choose.  I am really, really happy with the student poetry project this past month, especially the kindergarteners.  The students were really excited to see their poems posted.  I also like when I can do an interview.
What do you see as the benefits of blogging?
I love the connections made with people all over the world both through the kidlitosphere blogs and the writing blogs. The world is chock full of readers and writers, what a community we have in cyberspace.
Writing regularly. It was about 6 months when I decided to create a personal blog for my personal poetry writing.  It has also given me a chance to show my photography as well.
What blogging platform do you use and why? 
Currently, I am using wordpress as my platform.  I have used edublogs and blogger.  I find that wordpress is easy to use.
Do you have a favourite blog to visit (other than your own)?
Just one?
For Writing prompts:
Lastly, when you are not blogging, what else do you do?
Photography, beading, being outdoors, reading, and hanging out with my grandgirls.  In the summer my husband and I love road trips.
That was fun!
Thanks for dropping by, Jone.

Featured Blogger Friday: Matt Cunningham

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It’s time once again for
Featured Blogger Friday.

This weeks’ featured blogger is Matt Cunningham. Welcome Matt.

Firstly, why do you blog?
 I started a blog three times and the third one stuck. The first two I was just rambling about things that I wanted to ramble about and realized that is not really the platform to do it in. I blog because I want to ask writers and illustrators about their process of creation and creativity. I blog for lit geeks like me.

What do you blog about?
I like to focus on more boy driven material. There are so many wonderful blogs out there about girl driven lit. Lots of book review blogs, etc. So I wanted to talk about books, comic books, illustrations and how they all work together.

Who is your target readership?
Other lit geeks and I am trying to spread the word to a younger audience – boys and girls (middle grade readers). I am a big believer in getting boys to read. And my hope is that when my stories start reaching out to them that they will come and check out the blog to learn more about the type of books they are reading.

How often do you blog?
Up to two times a week. I like to put something on the blog that is meaningful to me and to others to read. I don’t feel that I am the right person to just post a question and have a thousand people respond to it.

How much time do you devote to blogging?
I can spend several hours a week putting together interviews and thoughts into the posts. I have several questions out now to illustrators and writers.

What do you see as the benefits of blogging? 
I think it is a great way to stay in tune with what is going on the writing world. A great way to meet other authors. A platform to share your work and your aspirations. A really good way to meet authors and illustrators that you admire – invite them to an interview. I have met some amazing people through blogging. It has opened doors for me.

What blogging platform do you use and why?
I use Blogger. I have been reading the Kidlitosphere posts about WordPress, but I am indifferent. I think you make your blog your own, regardless of the platform. I look at it like this. If Skywalker had a crappy old beat up lightsaber and not the new fancy model, he would still be an awesome Jedi. That is a bit of a stretch, but I had to squeeze something Star Wars in this interview.

Do you have a favourite blog to visit (other than your own)?
Cynthia Leitich Smith (awesome author and blogger)

I love reading the ladies over at Boys, Books, Buzz -they have lots of great things to say about writing and they are all authors. Tons of giveaways, great posts and entertaining.

And I want to give a shout out to Beverly BevenFlorez – she has a great blog and it gives a weekly round up of all the great blogs of the week. So I don’t have to go fishing around to find some wonderful treasures – http://www.bevenflorez.com/

And of course one of my all time favorites – Guys Read – http://guysread.com/ – this is more of a site than blog. But there is a blog there. There is so much great info for the XY Chromosome crowd (guys!)

There are too many to list. Sorry if I left out some of my peeps here. But if you go to my blog you can find all sorts of wonderful blogs and sites.

Lastly, when you are not blogging, what else do you do?
During the day I am researcher for a television production company. I spend most of the day reading and looking up material to be used in documentary television. Sometimes I work on TV scripts. During lunch, after work and early in the morning (when I slip away for a few minutes from being a husband and dad) I am writing my middle grade book and working on a graphic novel with a friend.

Thanks for dropping in.

Thanks again Sally!! I really appreciate it. Happy blogging. Or should I say May the Blog Be with You! (I hope I didn’t ramble on too much)

My pleasure, Matt.
You can visit Matt’s blog at  http://literaryasylum.blogspot.com/