The Fauquier Kid

Starting a business is really time consuming. It also consumes the mind. I literally had to cut some things out to make my new endeavor happen. Blogging was one of them. Writing was the second, unfortunately. Well, I'm back to writing and boy have I missed it! And, I'm back to blogging, too.

I've started a newspaper for kids, The Fauquier Kid. It has local news, stories, book reviews, puzzles, and more. My first issue came out this Saturday at our local spring festival in Warrenton. I believe I passed out about 1,500 copies. Boy was I pooped at the end of the day! It was really excited and the feedback from kids and parents was great.

A lot of kids were excited to know they could write for the paper, something I really hope becomes a reality. Not only am I asking the kids to submit news articles, but there will be story contests as well. Kids can learn how to write for an audience as well as the ins and outs of submission guidelines. And, see their name in print!

The local paper here does not subscribe to The Mini Page so unless you get The Washington Post, your kids wouldn't have their own paper. The Fauquier Kid will be very different from TMP as well as it will be focused more on the kids in the county.

The paper is free, paid for by advertisers. It's a great outlet for local businesses looking to reach kids and their folks. I am currently working on distribution. Already it has been placed in several locations including the pediatriians office, restaurants and the boys and girls club. I am meeting with the public libraries as well as other facilities to gain permission as well. It all takes so much time. But, if it works (and I'm working my butt off to see that it does) it will be a great community service as well as a lot of fun for me!

My New Business is Coming Soon!

Wanted you guys to know I am starting up a new project. Not necessarily a story project but an idea I have had for a long time and am now focusing on. May be an answer to my "job" need but probably not entirely. Even if this new project is a partial answer, it would be fantastic because it definately involves children's writing. I can NOT wait to tell all of you about it but need to get to a point where it's ready to roll out.

Until then, I am continuing to read your blogs as often as possible and will keep trying to blog myself if even more sporadic than before. There is sooo much work to a start-up especially when you are doing all the work yourself. But, can i tell you guys, there are so many supportive professionals out there who are willing to help that I have a renewed hope in my fellow neighbors. Sometimes the world feels like one big bucket of competitors until you start meeting the individuals who are willing to help even if you may be a competitor yourself. I am meeting all kinds of wonderful colleagues that I'm enjoying all this work even more.

I so can't wait to convey my new business to my blogger pals. It's part of what is pushing me to move fast. Stay tuned.

I Desperately Need an Outline!

So, with my first novel Homer and Rosie, I outlined it prior to putting pen to paper to write even a sentence. The main reason was it was required for one of the final lessons of my Institute of Children's Literature class. Once I began writing, it came easy.

When I began The Companion, I did a lot of preparation but I did not do an outline. I was desperate to begin writing it. So, I began without knowing the plot points, the climax and the ending! You may ask, "Why would you do that Jenn?" I know. Stupidity seems to hit after the fact, huh?! After struggling for months, I have finally realized I don't work this way!

I now have to put it aside for a bit. I'm too entrenched in it to see past it. So, The Companion folder is going to rest for a while on the shelf. I have begun to outline a new story and boy am I excited to be outlining! I forgot how much I enjoyed it!

Do you outline? How do you handle your pre-writing?