Do know about Litchat? They do book chats via Twitter several times per week. You can read more about litchat on their website.

Anyway, I’m going to be the guest this Friday May 1st (4pm EST/1pm PST) The topic? Children’s literature, of course. Please consider popping over, if only briefly, so I’m not hiding behind the virtual potted plant in the room talking to myself.

Twitter chats incorporate the use of hashtags # in order to follow them so a Twitter client is advised. The Litchat blog has more details. Follow litchat on Twitter: www.twitter.com/litchat You can follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/susanwrites

And if all that makes about as much sense as well, not much at all. Consider signing up for my online class in Social Networking for Authors (it starts on Monday but you work at your own pace) where all will be revealed. Or at least explained.

You asked for it! We are happy to oblige. 

Lynn Hazen and I are taking our Social Media show on the road!

(Note – for those of you not able to come in person, I offer online classes in Social Media as well.  More info can be found here.)

I’m happy to announce that SCBWI is sponsoring our full day Hands-On Social Media Intensive for Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators:

When: Sat. June 6
Time: 10:00-3:30
Where: Fort Mason in San Francisco
Cost:
$50. SCBWI members (without in-class internet access) 
$55. SCBWI members (with internet access–bring your own laptop & surge supressor/power cord) 
$70. non-SCBWI members (without internet access) 
$75. non-SCBWI members (with in-class internet access–bring your own laptop & surge supressor/power cord)

A Bring-Your-Own-Laptop Adventure into the Land of Social Media for Children’s & YA Authors & Illustrators. Join Lynn E. Hazen and Susan Taylor Brown as we explore Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, LinkedIn, You Tube, Red Room and so much more. We’ll have internet access, so bring your laptop (optional) and we’ll have time for you to click along, ask questions and participate in Web. 2.0. As publishers expect more and more from authors and illustrators (before during and after you’ve published), come learn how to juggle your promotion efforts, social websites & online personalities and STILL HAVE TIME TO WRITE !

Lynn E. Hazen, M.A., M.F.A., writes books filled with humor, heart and hope. Kirkus praised her young adult novel, SHIFTY, as "a realistic story that resonates.” SHIFTY was chosen as VOYA’s Top Shelf Fiction, a CCBC Choice, and a Smithsonian Notable. Lynn’s younger books include: MERMAID MARY MARGARET (a middle grade novel), CINDER RABBIT, THE AMAZING TRAIL OF SEYMOUR SNAIL, and BUZZ BUMBLE. Lynn gives writing workshops and author talks at schools, libraries and conferences, and teaches writing classes at Stanford Continuing Studiess. www.LynnHazen.com and
www.LynnHazenImaginaryBlog.blogspot.com

Susan Taylor Brown is the author of the middle grade verse novel Hugging the Rock, which was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book, an NCTE Notable Children’s Book, VOYA’s Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers, and a Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year Selection. Susan’s other books include picture books Oliver’s Must-Do List and Can I Pray With My Eyes Open? and the non-fiction book Robert Smalls Sails to Freedom. Susan leads writing and creativity workshops for writers and readers of all ages and conducts online workshops on the use of social media for authors. http://www.susantaylorbrown.com and http://susanwrites.livejournal.com

Pre-registration required. We expect this workshop to sell out quickly.

Download the registration form now.

• Need help navigating all the online promotion possibilities on the web?
• Want to increase your web presence but unsure what to do next?
• Reluctant to add one more item to your to-do list?
• Do you have the Twitter Jitters?

Yesterday was one of those days. One of those GREAT kind of days where everything seems to come together and I realize what a fabulous life I have and how it is populated with amazing and talented people.

What brought this about?

I’m so glad you asked.

I was asked to teach a class for SCBWI called Beyond Websites — Facebook, Blogs & Twitter — Oh MY! How to Juggle Your Promotion Efforts, Social Websites & Online Personalities and STILL HAVE TIME TO WRITE. Quite a mouthful, eh? :) 

Thanks to Jill Ann Cooke for making the lovely collage of our event. You can check out more of Jill’s artwork at her beautiful website.

I was lucky enough to co-teach it with Lynn E. Hazen. Lynn and I are related in a couple of publishing families – we are both published with Tricycle Press and we are both represented by the wonderful Jodi Reamer.

Thanks to Keely Parrack for taking the picture and thanks to Lynn for remembering "product placement" for us.

As my great, great auntie Louella used to say, anyway. . .

We had a record turn out of attendess. How cool is that? I kept watching people come in and wondering if we were going to have to set up another table. Although this was the first time Lynn and I had presented together, it felt easy and comfortable, as though we had been doing it for years. I hope to get the chance to present with her again.

It was a hard topic to condense into just a 2 hour session and we warned folks that they would be stuffed with info until their eyes glazed over. But Lynn and I split things into easy chunks so no one hit information overload. I did the tech talk for a bit and then Lynn would talk everyone down and give them a breather with some time management tips.The group had fabulous energy which I was able to feed off of as I spoke. They asked great questions. There is so much to learn about online social networking and using it for book promotion that I think we could have just answered questions for 2 hours. Thanks to Keely for arranging for us to be able to stay a little later and talk a little longer.

The responses to the session both via evals and emails I’ve been receiving have been overwhelmingly positive. What a thrill to know that we were able to help dispel the intimidation factor that often accompanies the idea of getting involved with social networking. It was nice to know that all the weeks of time Lynn and I put into preparing for this were worth it. Thank you, Lynn. It was great fun!

Because I only touched the tip of the iceberg in the presentation, I’m going to be offering a more in-depth class on using social media for book promotion. Since this is the first time I am offering this class I would really appreciate people helping me to spread the word. There’s also a downloadable flyer for the class.

Here are a few snippets of praise from the evaluations:

"Blogspicational!" Chad Cameron

"Great information on the various tech sites told in a user friendly fashion." Marya Ashworth

Blogging platforms. Here are some free ones for you to take a look at: Livejournal.com (which is where you are now. My blog is hosted by LiveJournal.) Blogger.com (that’s where Lynn Hazen has her blog. There’s also WordPress.com .beckylevine does something neat with her WordPress blog – she has made it her website and blog all in one. (Incidently, if you’re new to my blog and you see the little person icon next to Becky’s name, that means she’s on Livejournal too and you can "friend" her by clicking through to her Livejournal blog. Yes, she has two blogs.)
 

Do you want to write for the Educational Market? If so, you are in luck because the very talented and in the know instructor, 

laurasalas

 is conducting another one of her online classes. Read all about it and sign up soon. Class starts on March 10th.