Author Archives: Rondi Frieder

by | January 11, 2026 · 4:37 pm

Final Blog!

Thank you for taking the time to follow our blog, “www.inthewritersweb.com,” for the past ten years! Although we continue to meet regularly for critique sessions as “The Story Spinners,” we have decided to close down our website. But we are all still very much engaged in the Kidlit space and hope you will continue to follow us on the long and winding road to publication.

Here’s what we are doing and where you can find us:

 

IMG_1302 Elizabeth (Beth) Duncan

As we bid farewell to the Story Spinner’s website, I look forward to welcoming my debut picture book into the world. Antonia and Her Magic Wand: The Extraordinary Story of Antonia Brico, Symphony Conductor, tells the story of one of the first women symphony conductors. It will be published by Anne Schwartz Books/Random House in October of 2026 and illustrated by the talented Victoria Tentler-Krylov.

I continue to work on writing projects, especially picture book biographies, and am learning about the ways one promotes a new book. I’m enjoying getting to know others in the children’s book writing community and hope to have a more active social media presence as I move into the future. You can find me and Antonia on our new websites: www.elizabethduncanwriter.com or at www.AntoniaAndHerMagicWand

 

Coral  Jenrette

Coral continues to write and edit, shifting between kidlit and adult. She lives and works in Denver with her partner, kids and cats. One of her favorite things about being in the writing community is giving and getting feedback, being supported by and supporting other creators. She’s at www.coralwrites.com

 

Karen Deger McChesney – Writer of YA mystery novels with elements of history and romance, picture books and personal essays.

I love writing about nontraditional messy families, secrets and lies. All of my works are steeped in themes of belonging and rising above and have fiercely determined females. My goal: Publish my books traditionally. Immense thanks to Story Spinners and my other writer heroes who keep inspiring me to persist, persist, and believe in my stories. I am a member of SCBWI-Rocky Mt. Chapter, Writing Away Refuge, Wednesday Writers, and co-chair of Rocky Mt. Fiction Writers YA Birds of a Feather Group.

Love to meet you. Drop me a line at kdmwriter@gmail.com

 

Mary Kuehner

Friends, thank you for joining us on our writing journeys! While In the Writer’s Web is ending, we’re all still continuing on our paths to publication. I am sharing booklists and reviews of my favorite picture books, middle grade, and graphic novels, as well as occasional posts about writing and literacy, over on my new-ish website, www.MaryKuehner.com. I hope you’ll check it out – and drop me a line via the contact page if you want book recommendations for the littles in your life! Sharing books for kids is truly one of my most favorite things to do. I also post about books and writing on social media – primarily TikTok, Instagram, and Bluesky – under the username @maryloveswords. Find me there – I’d love to connect!

 

Rondi Sokoloff Frieder

After close to ten years of volunteering for the RMC-SCBWI as the PAL LIASON (I promoted authors and illustrators at conferences and bookstores and hosted panels and webinars), I am now 100% focused on my own projects! For me, that means middle grade fiction. I am currently querying a humorous book about friendship, grief, and ghosts and am just starting my next project that takes place in Antarctica. Yes, there will be penguins! To keep my writing journey going, I participate in a variety of writing/critique groups and take tons of classes. Many thanks to The Story Spinners, The Just Do It Crew, Shalom Writers, and The Tuesday Writers who keep me writing and submitting. All my past, and possibly future, blogs are archived on my website: www.rondibooks.com. I can also be found on Bluesky – @rondifrieder.bsky.social or you can email me at Rondifrieder@gmail.com.

 

Susan Wroble

Contributing to our critique group’s In the Writer’s Web site was such a joy, and I learned so much over the years as I researched and wrote my posts. I leaned into kidlit in other ways as well, serving first as a critique group coordinator for my local Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI, then as Co-Regional Advisor, and now as one of the heads of RMC’s phenomenal mentorship program. In the years since we started this blog, I’ve published numerous articles for science magazines and books for the educational market, and my debut trade book, DAWN CHORUS: Conservation Efforts that Help Protect Birdsong Around the World is coming out with Holiday House’s “Books for a Better Earth” collection next spring. These days, you can find me online on my website, susanwroble.com, @susanwroble.bsky.social, and reviewing bird books for kids at 10,000 Birds—or out in the garden, where you’ll find me playing the dirt and listening to birdsong.

 

 

*Many thanks to former Story Spinner, Denise Schurr, who pushed us to “get blogging” those many years ago!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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by | July 1, 2025 · 11:50 am

“JUST DO IT AGAIN!”

I’m so happy to be here with YOU!

Finally… I’m meeting you in person!

I can’t believe it’s been over two years!

 In April of 2023, I started a two-month online class through the Highlights Foundation called “JUST DO IT!” led by the amazing Sarah Aronson and Chris Tebbetts. (To read more about this, check out my post: https://www.rondibooks.com/just-do-it/.) The goal of this course was to be part of a collaborative support group to finish our drafts. There were weekly meetings on Zoom that provided us with tools to do this, as well as inspirational talks by Chris and Sarah, and the occasional guest speaker. We were also encouraged to participate in weekly word sprints by joining an accountability group. Needless to say, everyone in this group was determined to “get it done.”

And many of us did. I wrote 24,000 words. I didn’t finish my draft, but I made a lot of progress. I also amped up my writing practice, connected with kindred spirits, and wrote half a middle grade novel. But how was I going to finish the second half? The workshop was over. My daily support group and accountability team were gone. After speaking to other class members who felt the same way, we decided to keep going.

Luckily for us, Dale Marie Bryan (a fellow “Just Do It!” participant and now my dearest friend) kept us on task. Dale organized morning writing sprints, afternoon writing sprints, once a month read-alouds and a goal-setting googledoc. The read-alouds not only helped us revise, it also enabled us to truly get to know each other’s work.

Chris and Sarah attended many of these sessions and often wrote and read right alongside us. They also offered more “Just Do It!” classes and continue to host inexpensive monthly online sprints. (For more information about these, message Chris on FB.) We also invited the next group of “Just Do It” graduates to join us for sprints and read-alouds. And after two years of meeting online on a regular basis, we have definitely bonded. So much so, that when Chris asked if any of us would like to attend a writing retreat at the Highlights campus, fourteen of us said  ABSOLUTELY YES!

At first, I didn’t think I could go. It’s quite a shlepp from Colorado to Honesdale. But the stars aligned. I was already going to NY the week before for my niece’s bridal shower. After spending a few extra days visiting family and friends, I rented a car and drove to Pennsylvania.

Spending time at the Highlights campus is always magical. Just ask anyone who’s been there. With the idyllic wooded setting, the cozy cabins, and the delicious farm-to-table cuisine, you can’t go wrong. This was my third time. However, the other two workshops I attended were mostly with people I didn’t know. It took a few days to connect and build trust. Gathering with the “Just Do It!” crew was a totally different experience.

 

 

The minute I arrived, I felt like I was at a family reunion. Or a getaway with camp or college friends I hadn’t seen in a long time. There were hugs and exclamations of glee. And after the initial thrill of finally being together in-person, we immediately got to work. Because that’s what we do when we’re together – WE WORK ON OUR STORIES!

And there was more. Sarah offered inspirational talks and morning yoga. Author/illustrator Daria Peoples joined us and did an art exploration. Chris asked if we’d like to workshop our manuscripts “theater-style” in the evenings. This entailed printing out 500-1000 words of a manuscript that contained a great deal of dialogue. We made multiple copies, highlighted (pun intended) individual parts and passed out the “scripts.” After an initial reading, people were assigned a role and got up and acted out the scene. Wowwy kazowwy! We were able to see our work in a totally different way. Some scenes needed more movement, heightened action, deeper emotion. Others needed a bit more description or a transition or two. We were all mesmerized by this exercise. We gasped at the dramatic pieces and laughed hysterically at the humorous ones. What a great editing tool! If you’d like to participate in one Chris’ future workshops, check out this link:https://www.theatercampforwriters.com/

I have to say, except for bidding farewell to the ridiculous number of ticks that had recently burst onto the scene, it was sad to leave. Sort of.  We were heading home, but we also knew we’d be seeing each other again online the following week. Because the “Just Do It!” community is unstoppable!

If you’d like to take Chris and Sarah’s class, the next one starts in October. https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/just-do-it-your-collaborative-support-group-for-finishing-your-draft-fall/.

And by the way… I did finish my manuscript. Stay tuned!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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by | November 25, 2024 · 2:41 pm

THE GIRL WHO SANG

Last year in November, my dear friend Estelle Nadel passed away. She was about to turn eighty-nine-years-old. In January of 2024, only months after her death, her graphic novel memoir, THE GIRL WHO SANG, came out into the world. This saga of Estelle’s (Enia in Polish) traumatic childhood as a young Jewish girl in Borek, Poland during the Holocaust, is moving, heart-wrenching, and powerful. And the story is greatly enhanced by the drawings of illustrator and storyboard artist, Sammy Savos.

Estelle’s story is one of life-threatening events, narrow escapes, and compassionate neighbors. She told it many times – in schools, on the news, and ultimately for the Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation. She cried during every presentation. She couldn’t help it. Her life had been so difficult. But she was driven to keep going and often said, “People need to know this really happened… and that it happened to me. I have to do it now because I won’t be around forever.”

I was so happy when Estelle told me she had found both an agent and a publisher. I also told her that publishing a book, especially one with illustrations, could take years. At first, she wasn’t sure about it being a graphic novel. She didn’t want the illustrations to minimize the seriousness of what had happened to her. But her agent and editor felt like this was the best format to use in order to get her story into the hands of young readers. And after seeing the final product, I totally agree.

Last month, Estelle’s illustrator, Sammy Savos, did a Zoom presentation for one of my critique groups. I had been communicating with Sammy via email for many months and trusted that she would give us a good sense of her process. I hadn’t met Sammy in person or even spoken to her on the phone. Still, her heartfelt and appreciative correspondence made me think we were in for a treat. And boy, was I was right. Sammy’s talk was INCREDIBLE.

For a group of mostly kidlit writers, seeing and hearing about Sammy’s illustration process was mind-boggling. Not only did it take four-and-a-half years to complete the book, Sammy’s attention to detail was unprecedented. She had a very personal story to tell with many emotional components. Estelle’s father, sister, and one of her brothers were taken to Auschwitz and murdered. Her mother was shot in front of their small farm house. Estelle (Enia) and her one of her surviving two brothers were put in a jail cell as young children. They miraculously escaped and found their way to a neighbor’s house. That neighbor not only took them in, she hid them for over two years in the attic of her barn. And even when the war was over and Estelle and her remaining family members were liberated by the Russians, she still wasn’t safe. She and her brothers were taken to a displaced persons’ camp in Austria. But after a soldier heard Estelle sing, she and her brothers were given passage on a ship to America.

Sammy did an amazing job capturing Estelle’s life in Poland, giving particular attention to the buildings, clothing, and facial expressions of family members. She took great care in choosing the proper color palette to give the story a realistic tone. She made sure all the characters were proportional to one another, wore the proper clothing, and kept detailed notes about the timeline of events. Many of her drawings were inspired by the few photographs Estelle had from her childhood, and from her subsequent trips to Poland. Other information was gleaned by Sammy’s own meticulous research.

But most importantly, Sammy wanted to get the story right. She wanted to honor Estelle and her family, by getting the emotional and factual information as true as possible. She wanted young readers to learn about what had happened to Jews during the Holocaust by learning about a real person who had experienced it. Estelle and Sammy never met, but Sammy would often confer with Estelle by phone. And through it all, they developed a close bond. Sammy is in her twenties, Estelle was in her eighties. But the two connected as if they were related. As it turns out, members of Sammy’s family lived about an hour away from Estelle’s hometown of Borek, Poland before they came to America.

Estelle loved to sing, and I had the privilege of singing with her in our synagogue’s choir for many years. Whenever we were together, she always made time to ask me about my family and how I was doing. Despite her traumatic childhood, Estelle remained positive, active, and compassionate. She went on yearly trips to Poland where she participated in The March of the Living. She, and the grandson of the neighbor who had hidden her, gave talks in Polish schools about what had happened during the war. But her biggest claim to fame, Estelle’s signature line was telling everyone she cared about that she loved them. She didn’t want those words to go unsaid.

I am so thrilled that THE GIRL WHO SANG is out in the world to honor her legacy. Thank you Estelle, for telling your story, and thank you, Sammy, for bringing it to life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed under 2024, Book Review, Graphic Novels, Interviews, Middle Grade, Nonfiction, Persistence, Rondi Frieder

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by | June 7, 2024 · 12:38 pm

Hosting a Writing Salon in Montreal!

About a month ago, my son Noah asked me if I’d be interested in teaching a writing class for his friends. He lives in Montreal, and my husband I would be visiting him over Memorial Day weekend. Noah has been hosting “salon-type” evenings at his apartment ever since the pandemic. Montreal had an eight o’clock curfew back then,  and in response to this, Noah and his extremely creative friends, began gathering in small groups for events at their apartments. They offered everything from jazz jams to yoga stretching to candle-making. And if the session ran past curfew, many of them unrolled their sleeping bags and spent the night.

I told him I’d be happy to teach a class. After all, I am a teacher and I write almost every day. But my expertise was in elementary education. And I write children’s books. I needed to create an activity that would appeal to a group of international thirty-somethings, many of whom work in the tech field.  Hmm…

I thought about the variety of writing workshops I’d attended over the years. Most of them focused on plotting tools, character arcs, and world building. These were great, but I needed something with more universal appeal. Something that might inspire poetry, song-writing, or journaling. I thought about the prompt intensive I took with Andrea Wang: (https://inthewritersweb.com/2022/12/the-stories-hidden-inside-you/) and the revision workshop with Kate Messner: (https://inthewritersweb.com/2024/03/highlights-from-the-2024-scbwi-winter-conference/). Both of these classes had us tapping into childhood memories to spark the stories within us.

I went through my notes and came up with a variety of prompts, starting with childhood memories and moving to present day experiences. I asked my attendees to bring a blank notebook and their favorite writing implements. (I brought extra of both, knowing some people were rushing over from work to the event.) By 6:30, there were 17 people gathered in my son’s living room. They all settled in on couches, chairs, pillows, and the floor, and looked like they were ready to write.

The prompts would be five minutes in duration. I began by saying that some of the prompts would resonate, while others would not. I told them not to worry. This was not a school assignment. There would be no critique and no grades. I invited them to write poems, draw pictures, or make lists. I wanted them to enjoy themselves. I also told them the writing would get easier as we progressed.

We started with the question: “What is your earliest memory?” People stared at their notebooks. Others looked at the floor or the ceiling, while some got right to work. Eventually, the pens and pencils started moving. Everyone was slowly, but surely, getting into the flow. The teacher in me was thrilled to see my “students” scribbling away.

To be honest, an hour of writing by hand can be tedious. Some people were literally wiggling their fingers in between prompts to loosen up the muscles. I told them writing by hand was important for this fast-paced activity. It made it harder to edit and forced them to keep going. They understood this and before long, were immersed in their writing and flipping through pages in their notebooks. It was going well!

I had prepared twenty prompts and chose the following eleven because of our time constraints.

  1. Describe the house or apartment and neighborhood you grew up in. Use your senses.
  2. Tell us about a memorable family trip. Where did you go? Who was there? Include as many details as possible.
  3. Who was your first real friend growing up? What did you do together? Are you still in touch with this person?
  4. What is your favorite food and when was the last time you had it? Who prepared it?
  5. First crushes: Who was it? Give us details!
  6. Is there a story in your family that gets told over and over again? Tell us that story.
  7. Write about an amazing trip you’ve taken as an adult. Where did you go? Who was with you? Try to include all the five senses in your writing.
  8. Successes: Write about a time you achieved something extraordinary. How did it feel?
  9. Failures: Describe the most devastating failure or disappointment in your life. What happened and how did you handle it?
  10. What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you? Write about it using lots of emotion.
  11. Think about the most hilarious thing that has ever happened in your life. Write about this now and try to reignite those feelings of fun, laughter, and joy.

This took up the full hour because 12×5=60 minutes! We had twenty minutes to share before the next session, which was being taught by my husband. Each person was invited to read what they had written or tell the story in their own words. Only one person felt uncomfortable doing this, but at the end, she came over and said this was one of the most powerful experiences she’s ever had. She had no idea these events and feelings were lurking inside her brain, waiting to burst forth.

Can you guess which prompts were the most popular? Earliest childhood memories, favorite foods, and first crushes were the winners. Two people even had the same favorite food story – a sweet, buttery, stuffed pastry from India. One person described a crush she had on a boy in kindergarten. Another spoke about how his mother sang to him every night before he went to bed. And one women described the house she lived in as a child, which was so vivid, I told her it would be the perfect setting for a middle grade novel.

As writers, we enjoy creating a compelling plot. We rejoice in finding the perfect verb to convey a feeling. And we love the challenge of imagining a setting with lots of sensory details. Did any of these attendees feel this way? As it turned out, the answer was a resounding yes. One person told me she was now inspired to take a writing class Another said he had no idea these memories would be so emotional for him. A third said he needed to do more prompts when he taught his adult writing class for immigrants. I was elated. Telling our stories is the universal human language.

By the way, my husband’s class was about how to plan a multi-day bicycle trip. Perhaps when our “students” go on a bike trip, they’ll take some time to write about it!

 

 

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by | March 2, 2024 · 3:58 pm

Highlights from the 2024 SCBWI Winter Conference

By Rondi Sokoloff Frieder

“Poetry inspires all other writing!” Joseph Coelho

“Go snoop in your protagonist’s bedroom.” Kate Messner

“Throw rocks at your characters!” Phil Bildner

“There’s always more to learn!” James Ransome

 I recently had the pleasure of attending the SCBWI WINTER CONFERENCE in New York with my RMC-SCBWI buddies, Susan Wroble and Stan Yan. Susan and Stan are the dynamic co-regional advisors for the Rocky Mountain Chapter and spending time with them made the weekend extra-special. We went to a Broadway play, strolled through Central Park, ate in charming restaurants, and regularly checked-in to discuss our sessions.

I’ve attended this conference before, but not in many years. I remembered being wowed by the inspirational keynote speakers, and blown-away by the impressive portfolio showcase. This year did not disappoint. Our opening speaker was the Children’s Poet Laureate from the United Kingdom, Joseph Coelho –  www.thepoetryofjosephcoelho.com. Joseph was extremely entertaining and drew us in with zany poetry prompts, rap writing, and tales of riding his bike through the countryside, collecting library cards (he has 213). His mission – to engage children in literacy. Here’s author/illustrator Stan Yan’s visual documentation of this presentation:

Our closing keynote was the award-winning illustrator (and sometimes author), James Ransome. James has published over 70 books for children, many with his wife, Lisa Cline Ransom. http://jamesransome.com. James’s vibrant use of color and innovative composition evokes an emotional response in the reader every time. His illustrations linger in your mind, long after you’ve turned the page. James’s passion for being a lifelong learner was infectious. He encouraged us to always take classes to hone our craft and told us to never stop creating.

But the highlight of the conference for me, were the “Creative Labs.” We all signed up for two, three-hour intensives in our genre – one on Saturday and one on Sunday.  In my case, these workshops focused on revising middle grade novels. My incredible teachers were Kate Messner, https://katemessner.com and Phil Bildner  https://philbildner.com.

In Kate’s REVISION HALF-MARATHON, she told us that “Revision is magical. You are shaping your manuscript into something TRUE!” She asked us to spend some time thinking about THEME. And once we figured out what that was, she suggested we post this in our workspace to remind us that theme must show up in every scene. She also set the timer and had us write about two things: “My novel is about… But underneath that, it’s really about…” I’ve done this exercise before and it is always enlightening.

Kate also talked about loglines and pitches and reminded us that we must write these in order to really know what our book is about. But the second part of the intensive, the heart of the workshop, involved snooping around in our main character’s bedroom! And man-oh- man, was this eye-opening. I thought I knew almost everything about my main character. But oooooh, there was so much more to discover, right in the most obvious place!

Coincidentally, the opening scene of my novel takes place in my protagonist’s bedroom. But after starting this exercise, I realized I didn’t have a detailed enough picture of what this room actually looked like. Kate asked us to consider the following: Does your MC have her own space or does she share? What’s in her closet and dresser? Are there books on a shelf? What are the titles? Stuffed animals? Collections of rocks, shells, baseball cards? Is she neat or messy? What kind of technology does she use? And my favorite… What is ON and UNDER her bed? Kate also had us make character circles, with inner circle friends vs. outer circle friends. Then she asked us how these circles changed throughout the course of the book – a very important component of most MG stories. Brilliant!

Kate loves charts and gave us a zillion ideas on how to make them. She suggested a chart to track important characters and themes in each chapter. A chart that monitors emotions and image systems. And finally, a chart that looked for the frequency of short sentences vs. long. She also suggested making a calendar and map of our setting. She even gave us chart paper to take home so we could start the work! This was a master class. I can’t wait to use some of these “magical tools to make something true!”

My second Creative Lab was with the dynamic writer and teacher, Phil Bildner. It was entitled “Breathing Life Back into Your Manuscript.” I had taken a class with Phil at another conference and I knew we were in for a treat. Phil’s session was extremely interactive. First, he had us working alone, then with one partner, and eventually three of us spent time creating a completely new story together! In the partner-exercise, we were asked to clean out our pockets; either in our clothing or from our purse or backpack. He asked us to use three of the found objects in a new scene in our novel. That’s when I literally struck gold. I found a gold candy wrapper that sparked an idea. Gold is now an image system that pops up throughout my novel.

Phil also had us reimagine an abandoned manuscript as a different genre. I scribbled down a variety of picture book ideas from a MG novel that has not sold. Phil also gave us a list of mentor texts to read and, more importantly, provided us with resources to combat the banned books movement: Authors Against Book Bans, Unite Against Book Bans, Book Riot, PEN America, We Need Diverse Books, and many more. He is passionate about this cause and inspired us all with his activism. Because if books didn’t matter, they wouldn’t be banned.

I also had the opportunity to have dinner “off-site” with the amazing Jewish Kidlit Mavens. I am in the Maven’s Facebook group, but hadn’t met these people in-person. Most of the authors/illustrators who attended were from the NY/NJ area. And what an impressive group – Liza Wiemer, Chana Stiefel, Ann Koffsky, Josh Levy, Kimberly Marcus, and Yevgenia Nayberg, to name a few. It was such a treat to spend the evening with these inspirational creators of books for children with Jewish content.

But the biggest takeaway for me was the strong sense of community we all felt by being together, in-person, with a common goal – to create the highest quality books possible for children. Oh, and one more thing… I had a very promising critique with an agent. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome!

 

 

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by | December 2, 2023 · 7:30 am

How Writing Got Me Through a Very Tough Year

2023 has been a tough year for me. It began in January when my 97-year-old father’s health began to seriously deteriorate. And after many trips back and forth from Denver to New York, it was clear that the end was near. He passed away on May 18. It was a long life well-lived, but still, a big loss for everyone who knew him.

Then on the day before the funeral, when we were flying from my son’s business school graduation in Washington DC to New York, my husband received the final diagnosis of his recent health problem. He had multiple myeloma, cancer of the plasma cells, which seriously affects the body’s immune system. After the funeral, three shivas, and a couple of days of cleaning out my dad’s condo, we flew back to Denver. My husband would begin treatment. This included a regimen of twice-a-week infusions of a targeted drug therapy for three months. It was supposed to be followed by a stem cell transplant in October. Only in September, he contracted West Nile virus.

I am not making this up. And for those of you who are unfamiliar with the disease, West Nile is no joke. You get it from a mosquito bite. And although Colorado is known for its dry climate and lack of bugs, this year was different. We had an unusually large amount of rain and much warmer fall temperatures. There were swarms of mosquitoes. Colorado actually had the most cases in the entire country! West Nile can cause a high fever, excruciating headache, tremors, brain fog, paralysis, meningitis or worse. My husband had the first four symptoms. And with his compromised immune system, the virus took hold in a big way. He was hospitalized for two days and sick for five weeks. The stem cell transplant was postponed.

And then in October, the world went crazy. Hamas attacked Israel and a violent war erupted. Anti-Semitism around the world and on college campuses, including my own college campus, reared its ugly head and shook us to the core. It was soul-crushing, complicated, terrifying.

But we had to keep going. My husband slowly recovered from West Nile. Family members flew in to help. Our friends baked and cooked. My morning dog-walking group provided an arena for venting and processing whatever was on my mind. But the biggest distraction of all, was my writing. It became my refuge, my emotional escape hatch, my joy.

Before my dad died and my husband was diagnosed, I serendipitously signed up for the Highlights Foundation online class, “Just Do It” in April. https://inthewritersweb.com/2023/06/. This class became a lifeline of structure and support during my most difficult months – May and June. It pushed me to get up and work on my novel. Every single day. I was moving along at a clip and decided to apply to the “The Whole Novel Workshop,” an in-person retreat at the idyllic Highlights campus in Pennsylvania. I wasn’t sure if this was going to work with my husband’s transplant schedule, but he really wanted me to go. He thought it would be good for me to do something for me. And as it turned out, the transplant was scheduled for the week after I returned from Highlights. The timing was perfect. Our sons flew home to be with my husband while I spent a week in the “Renee Watson cabin,” surrounded by talented writers, inspirational faculty, and the award-winning Highlights cuisine. Oh, and let’s not forget the pair of roosting bald eagles, the white-tailed deer meandering past my cabin, and a rusty red-colored forest right out my window! It was perfect.

 

 

 

There were other ways my writing supported me in a big way. I continued meeting with my always amazing critique group, The Story Spinners, twice a month. Members of my Tuesday writing group, The Nanos, stepped up to host, since I could no longer have people in my house because of my husband’s compromised immune system. I also joined two new online groups: an accountability group from my “Just Do It” class and a critique group of Jewish writers from around the world. I completed my nine years of being the PAL LIAISON for the RMC-SCBWI by moderating the industry panel at the annual Letters & Lines Conference in September and was asked to moderate two more panels at the Denver Festival of Stories, sponsored by Second Star to the Right Book Shop and the non-profit Books To Kids in October. I even got to introduce the keynote speaker, Bruce Cameron!

“Thinking about my writing” also relieved daily stress. I would take walks and ask myself: How can I strengthen my main character’s arc by throwing more obstacles in her way? Is there a better way to describe the setting? What plot twists will surprise my reader? Throwing myself into the world of my books gave me a constructive outlet when I felt overwhelmed, frustrated, or deflated. It was the best way to reflect, regroup, and recharge.

Despite the challenges of the past year, I do have some good news. After 18 days in the hospital, my husband is coming home. Today! The stem cell transplant was successful. He still has months of healing ahead, but we are moving forward. Our younger son earned his MBA and has started a new job. Our older son continues his humanitarian work around the world and is engaged to be married. One niece got married and another had a baby – the first child of the next generation of our family. One of my manuscripts was a finalist for the Golden Pen Award at the RMC-SCBWI Letters & Lines Fall Conference. And my latest novel, the one I workshopped at Highlights, received glowing feedback. It wasn’t easy, but I made it through 2023. And leaning into my life as a writer was a big part of this accomplishment.

How has writing helped you through a personal challenge? Please share your story in the comments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed under 2023, Middle Grade, RMC-SCBW, Rondi Frieder, Second Star to the Right Book Shop, Uncategorized

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by | August 31, 2023 · 4:02 pm

PAL LIAISON Interview in Kite Tales Magazine

A version of this interview appeared in the Spring 2023 RMC-SCBWI Kite Tales magazine.

Some volunteers make programs better. Some make them good. Others, like Rondi Sokoloff Frieder, take them to a whole new, exceptional level. Frieder grew the RMC-SCBWI Published And Listed (PAL) program from the ground up-cultivating it into one of the most enviable and productive in SCBWI. Susan Wroble, Co-Regional Advisor for RMC-SCBWI, said, “When I started in my leadership position, I was shocked to learn that most other chapters have very few PAL members, and for many, SCBWI is regarded as being an organization to get you published, not to stay in once you are published. However, Rondi has made being a part of our chapter worthwhile—and fun—for so many of our PAL members. In turn, they have been our mentors and Connect speakers and guides, and have brought up the skill level of the entire chapter. Without her work over these past nine years, we wouldn’t be nearly as strong a chapter.”

I had the privilege of interviewing Frieder before she steps down to focus on her own writing career.

Shelly Steig: How long have you been a member of SCBWI?

Rondi Sokoloff Frieder: A very long time! This is actually a great story. Back in 2000, my school principal said I needed to do something with my writing. I had been teaching kindergarten and first grade for over 20 years and loved writing plays, raps and short stories with my students. When I told my brother I was thinking about writing for children, he told me his son (my nephew) had a friend at school whose mother did something with children’s books. He suggested I email her. And guess what? It was Lin Oliver, the co-founder of SCBWI!!! I immediately joined and went to the LA conference that summer. I’ve been a member ever since.

SS: What has being a member of SCBWI meant to you?

RSF: So many things. First and foremost, I love the people! There is nothing like spending time with kindred spirits who totally get what you are trying to do. Writing for children is a challenging, and often discouraging, endeavor. I probably would have given up long ago had it not been for the support and encouragement of this writing community. It’s also where I met my critique partners, the brilliant and talented Story Spinners. We’ve been going strong for over twenty years and even have a blog: www.inthewritersweb.com.

SS: When did you become the PAL Liaison, and how did that come about?

RSF: Great question! I have been the PAL (traditionally published and listed authors and illustrators) Coordinator/Liaison for nine years. After I retired from the classroom, one of my critique partners challenged me to get more involved in the RMC-SCBWI. I looked at the volunteer positions available and noticed there was an opening for the CCIRA (Colorado Chapter of the International Reading Association) Coordinator. CCIRA hosts an annual literacy conference for teachers and librarians and the RMC-SCBWI usually purchases a table in their Exhibits Hall. This immediately resonated with me. I had been attending this conference for years as a teacher and always loved it. Plus, it was held at a hotel five minutes from my house! I emailed the Co-Regional Advisors to say I was interested. They were thrilled and also asked me to host a table at the annual Colorado Teen Literacy Conference. Our next Co-RA she asked if I’d be willing to expand my job. She envisioned four PAL events a year and changed the position title to PAL Liaison. Together, we developed the new model. Now, along with CCIRA, I coordinate the annual Book Birthday Bash, webinars tailored specifically to the needs of PALs, meet-and-greets at local bookstores and social/support gatherings. We even hosted the YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) group at a reception when the American Library Association Conference was in Denver!

SS: What was your favorite part of being the liaison?

RSF: I absolutely love all the PAL events. Our authors and illustrators are a delight to work with and our programs are inspirational and informative. But if I had to pick my most favorite thing of all, it would be moderating a panel at CCIRA. I’ve used a variety of formats from Speed Dating with authors, illustrators and teachers to opening for keynote speaker, John Schu, librarian extraordinaire and former Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs. For the past two years, I’ve led an actual session at the conference and this year’s was over-the-top incredible! We had sixteen authors and illustrators present to a packed room of teachers and librarians. Their anecdotes took us from laughter to tears as we learned about the “stories behind the books.” I was so proud of our literary rockstars!

SS: What are you working on with your own projects?

RSF: I am smitten with middle grade! I recently submitted my time-travel, baseball, comic book, golem romp to a slew of agents. While I wait for their responses, I am working on a humorous MG story about friendship and grief that takes place in a summer camp in the Rocky Mountains.

SS: Anything else you’d like our members to know?

RSF: I’m very proud of the fact that our PALs have stayed super involved in the RMC-SCBWI. Apparently, this is not typical. In most chapters, after people get traditionally published, they disappear. By providing dynamic programming for our PAL authors and illustrators, we have been able to keep them engaged. Along with attending PAL events, they have become mentors, webinar presenters, and speakers at our annual conference. Also, being the PAL Liaison has enabled me to work directly with many of our outstanding local bookstores. We have held PAL events at Second Star to the Right, Book Bar, The Bookies, The Wandering Jellyfish and The Tattered Cover. Getting to know these booksellers has given me tremendous insight into the publishing world. Children’s book people are the best!

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by | June 15, 2023 · 5:39 pm

JUST DO IT!

In the middle of March, I began sending my middle-grade time-travel novel out to agents. And as all experienced writers know, the best thing to do when you are waiting for query responses is to work on something else. My “something else” was an idea I got from a friend after we attended Andrea Wang’s intensive at the RMC-SCBWI Letters and Lines conference last September. (https://www.rondibooks.com/the-stories-hidden-inside-you/) But even though I had a “Beat Sheet” outline from Save the Cat for the Novel by Jessica Brody, I hadn’t written a single word of the story. Luckily, after an animated conversation with my friend and teacher, award-winning author Sarah Aronson (https://saraharonson.com/), I decided to sign up for her eight-week online Highlights class, JUST DO IT – Your Collaborative Support Group for Finishing Your Draft. Sarah would be co-teaching this class with the incredibly articulate and inspirational author and coach, Chris Tebbetts. (https://christebbetts.com/). It sounded like the perfect way to get this book started.

If you have ever done NANOWRIMO (The National Novel Writing Month-long challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days) you know the joy of writing fast. Just Do It! has a similar premise. It focuses on a creating a daily writing practice with many extra goodies thrown in. The formal part of the class is a one hour Zoom on Wednesday nights where Sarah and Chris give informative presentations on craft. Only there is so much more. Whether you are working on a picture book or a young adult novel, there are writing sprint sessions every day at a variety of times, morning prompts, and inspirational quotes. There are accountability groups, Discord channels for discussion and sharing, and OPEN MIKES! We also received videos and slides and oodles of handouts. But the best part of these two months was being part of a supportive writing community. Our class had over fifty participants from across North America, two guest speakers, and many Highlights staff members coordinating logistics behind the scenes. I felt like I was at a two-month writing retreat without leaving my house.

So, you may ask, after weeks of diligently sitting  at my computer, did I finish my draft? Unfortunately, the answer is no. A variety of expected, and unexpected, life cycle events collided right smack in the middle of the eight weeks. However, I did write 24,000 words, which is probably half the book, right? And more importantly, I am now totally immersed in the world of my new story. I wake up every morning with character traits, plot twists, and image systems rolling around in my brain. And after my recent critique with Sarah, I am considering all kinds of possibilities. I am in the zone!

But there’s more. The virtual writing sprints will continue through the summer which should help me pound out the next 24,000 words. Also, my accountability group is planning to keep meeting on a regular basis. We are committed to cheering each other on to the finish line. But here is my biggest takeaway – the greatest change in my writing process: I am way much more comfortable with integrating the concepts of “discovery and play” into my drafting. I have also found the courage to silence my internal editor. (One person in my accountability group has named her IE and repeatedly tells her to stop talking. I now do the same thing and it is phenomenal.) I am finally accepting the fact that plot changes happen when your characters come to life on the page. And although my “Beat Sheet” has been dramatically modified, my themes are stronger and my main character’s true wants and needs are clearer to me. It’s funny, but along with me just doing it, my characters are just doing it, too! And I can’t wait to see what they do next.

If this sounds like something you might be interested in, another Just Do It! class is being offered by Sarah and Chris this fall. You can sign up here: https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/just-do-it-your-collaborative-support-group-for-finishing-your-draft-fall/

 

 

 

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Filed under 2023, craft advice, Main character, Middle Grade, Motivation, Persistence, Revision process, Rondi Frieder, WORD NERD

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by | March 3, 2023 · 3:30 pm

Get Ready To Submit Your Novel!

By Rondi Sokoloff Frieder

As I get ready to submit my latest middle grade novel to agents, I am filled with a mishmash of emotions. I’m excited, nervous, anxious, and dare I say it… petrified! I have been working on this book, on and off, for over ten years. It has been written, critiqued, revised, workshopped, re-imagined, edited, and rewritten. This is my seventh draft. And although it is way better than when I started, I am still filled with a case of the jitters as I get ready to set it out into the world.

I love this book. And I’m hoping agents and editors will, too.

If you are also getting ready to submit your novel to agents, please keep the following in mind:

  1. You must truly believe that you have done everything possible to make this book the best it can be.
  2. Your critique partners should agree and cheer you on.
  3. Write a query letter. Make sure it is tightly written with a unique hook. Have your critique partners give you feedback and rewrite it.
  4. Draft a synopsis. And get feedback on that, too. This is one of the hardest things to write. Especially if you are limited to one page for a 50,000 word book. Use a template and polish it until it shines.
  5. Create  a short bio. Many agents are asking for this, especially if you are submitting to them on Query Tracker – querytracker.net .
  6. Research agents who are looking for what you have written. You can start with Manuscript Wish List – manuscriptwishlist.com , but make sure to visit the agent’s website to make sure they are still with the same agency. Development editor Susan Chang (www.susanchangeditorialcom) also recommends becoming familiar with Publishers Marketplace and reading the acknowledgement pages of comp books to identify the type of agent who would be interested in your genre. Check social media platforms like Twitter, TicTok, Instagram, and Post.news to see what agents are currently looking for. Go through your conference/webinar notes and identify agents who might be a good fit. Even if the conference was a while ago, mention you attended and went to their sessions. Agents know  writing a book takes a very long time.
  7. Make a spreadsheet to keep track of your submissions. Some people do this on Query Tracker. I do it on Excel and use six columns: Name of Agent, Name of Agency, Date Submitted, Why I am Submitting to this Agent (met at a conference or watched a webinar where they presented), Response Time (if stated), Response Date, Comments.
  8. Tailor your query letter to each specific agent. Tell them how you found them and why your book is right for them.
  9. Send your queries out in batches. I would start with ten–twenty. However, Susan Chang says you can go as high fifty! The industry is glutted right now and agents are busy. She recommends casting a wide net.
  10. If your responses are mostly form letters (or no response at all which is THE WORST!), you probably need to rework the query letter or look at your first ten pages. Perhaps you can improve the writing or amp up the pacing. If you are getting personalized rejection letters, you are on the right track. Send out another batch. If you get requests for partials or fulls, CELEBRATE!!!! You are getting close.
  11. It may take months to hear from an agent. To keep from getting totally stressed out, start working on your next project. All agents want clients who are building a career. Outline your next novel, take a class, storyboard a picture book, and don’t forget to READ!
  12. Congratulate yourself for completing the process. You had an idea, you developed it, you got feedback, and you put it out there.

I am in the middle of doing all of the above. Like you, I am thrilled to finally be sending this story out into the world. But I am also nervous about the responses I will get (or never get!). And while I wait and obsessively check my email in-box, I will work on my next project.  I have the idea, an outline, three chapters, and a new notebook for journaling. I have signed up for an accountability class and am hoping to workshop this book later in the year. I am pushing on. Because I am a writer. And this is what writers do.

 

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Filed under 2023, Agents, craft advice, critique, Middle Grade, Motivation, Rondi Frieder, Susan Chang

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by | December 1, 2022 · 11:41 am

The Stories Hidden Inside You

By Rondi Sokoloff Frieder

At this year’s RMC-SCBWI Letters and Lines Conference, I attended an afternoon intensive entitled “Generating Ideas From Your Own Experience.” It was led by the multi-award-winning-Colorado-rock star-author, Andrea Wang https://andreaywang.com/, and was filled with useful tips and strategies. The goal of this workshop was to uncover important moments in our lives that could inspire the development of our next story, while also enhancing our current projects. For me, it did both!

We began with lots of  writing exercises. They were quick – less than five minutes for each prompt – and hand-written in notebooks. (I also brought a set of thin colored markers to make the writing more fun.) Apparently, this fast-paced format was crucial to unlocking the most visceral of memories; experiences that had a dynamic emotional impact on our lives and lurked just below the surface. I was amazed at what I remembered. Detailed anecdotes that had been  buried inside me for years, even decades, were waiting to burst forth.

Many of the prompts Andrea used in the workshop came from the New York Times writing list “650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing”: https://static01.nyt.com/images/blogs/learning/pdf/2016/650promptsnarrativewritingLearningNetwork.pdf. This list includes everything from Overcoming Adversity to Animals and Pets to Meals and Food and Friends and Family. It’s a fabulous resource for jump-starting your creativity.

So what gems did I uncover as I scribbled pages and pages of my memories in green, orange and turquoise? There were detailed descriptions of my family, my childhood neighborhood, the ins and outs of friendships over the years, favorite foods, games, family trips, toys, sports, hobbies, school experiences, and impactful teachers. Many memories focused on my mother who was the child of Hungarian-Jewish immigrants and a first-generation American. She was clearly determined to expose us to a myriad of experiences. These included a wide variety of sports, all the arts, warm family gatherings, musical holiday celebrations, delicious foods with a Hungarian twist, and a strong emphasis on doing well in school.

I also discovered hidden memories about summer camps I attended, concerts I went to, friendship issues, boyfriends, my biggest successes and failures, and why fall is my favorite season.  Details about broken bones, having my tonsils out, visiting my mother-in-law every week in a memory care facility for three years, and how upset I am about gun violence in this country came pouring out of me. There were also many stories that revolved around raising my two sons and two golden retrievers here in Colorado.

After each prompt, we took time to share what we had written. Some people felt comfortable reading their entire pieces aloud, while others shared a quick synopsis. One thing became obvious from the get-go. These untapped memories were deeply rooted inside us and filled with emotion. Some stories made us laugh, while others caused us  to tear up. And some were not for sharing at all. Not yet. The memories were too raw. But Andrea encouraged us to use these  emotional memories in our stories whenever possible. She told us how she used her own family stories to create two of her most recent books: WATERCRESS (Neal Porter Books) and THE MANY MEANINGS OF MEILAN (Kokila). Her honesty and vulnerability were  inspirational. But she also said  you don’t have to write an autobiography to utilize these memories. You can integrate them into your settings, your characters’ flaws and  problems, and your plot points. It’s the use of  the emotional component of your memories that counts. This is what will keep your reader turning the page.

For me, the sharing of our stories was the most powerful part of the workshop. Everyone was so passionate about what they had experienced. And  that clearly included me. Because the next day, a fellow attendee emailed me, suggesting  I consider using one of the stories I told as my next book idea. And guess what? I’ve already created a detailed outline and written three chapters! That story was in me all the time waiting to be told and I hadn’t even realized it.

So dig in, fellow writers. Mine your brain for memories and start working on your next project. You never know what you might discover.

Other places to find writing prompts:

https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/

https://thinkwritten.com/365-creative-writing-prompts/

https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/500-writing-prompts-to-help-beat-writers-doubt/

https://www.writersdigest.com/prompts

https://thewritepractice.com/inspiration/writing-prompts/

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Filed under 2022, Caldecott Medal, craft advice, Main character, Motivation, Revision process, Uncategorized

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