Writing a serial: Nickel and dime-ing your way through fiction publishing

May 18, 2014beccakinla authors, magazines, novel, novels, serial, writer, writing, writing process Tags: binah between, bit by bit, chapter, episode, frustration, glixman in a fix, magazine, Mendel Glixman, novel, one at a time, publishing, re-reading, reading, reading your own material, reading your own work, rebecca klempner, serial, writer, writing process Leave a comment

On the way to pick up one of my kids at school on Friday afternoon, one of the other moms pulled me aside.

“We’re really enjoying your new serial in Binah,” she said.

I got a little extra bounce in my step. “Thanks!”

“But getting just one chapter a week is driving us crazy! It’s so hard to wait for the next one!’ she added.

“Sorry!” I replied.

There really isn’t anything I can do to help her, but I feel her pain. Usually, I’m the reader throwing my arms up in frustration at the end of a serial episode screaming, “I have to know what happens next! Argh!”

What’s really funny, is that now as a writer, Continue reading →

You’ve got to be a reader to raise a reader: My take on recent research on teens and reading

May 14, 2014beccakinla advice, literacy, parenting, reading, recommended reading, teachers, teens Tags: adolescents, advice, book, common sense media, habit, kids, kids reading material, library, literacy, literature, media, parenting, reading, reading habits, teaching, teens Leave a comment

Common Sense Media recently issued a report about kids and teens and their reading habits. The four principal findings (I’m going to quote CSN directly) were these:

Reading rates have dropped precipitously among adolescents.
Reading achievement among older teens has stagnated.
There’s a persistent gap in reading scores between white, black, and Latino kids.
There’s also a gender gap in reading across ages.

The NY Times and NPR are both aghast at the findings, but their responses focused more on the problem — and how it has arisen — than on solutions. Common Sense Media itself has offered several strategies to increase reading, but I’m going to suggest my own. Continue reading →

Reading a great book? Do you get that “Can’t put it down” feeling?

May 12, 2014beccakinla reading, recommended reading Tags: book, book recommendations, can't put it down, can't stop reading, classic, contemporary classic, favorite, favorite book, great book, reading, recommend Leave a comment

I’m not writing a long post tonight, because I’m reading an outstanding book I’ve wanted to read for a long time. I plan to curl up in bed with it shortly. It’s been a while since I’ve had that “can’t put it down” feeling, so I’m going to indulge it.

Anybody want to share what books have recently (or not-so-recently) given them the “can’t put it down” feeling?

An interview with author Batya Ruddell

May 8, 2014beccakinla advice, authors, HaModia, inyan magazine, Israel, Jewish, Jewish writing, Judaism, magazines, Orthodox, serial, writer, writing, writing process Tags: advice, author, Batya Ruddell, binah, binah magazine, Chareidi, english, fiction, hamodia, hareidi, interview, Inyan, Israel, jewish, journalist, media, orthodox, serial, writer, writing 4 Comments

Today, I have the pleasure of sharing with you another interview. In this post, you’ll meet the funny, talented Batya Ruddell. For those of you who read Binah Magazine or Hamodia, her name will certainly be familiar. Batya is one of the foremost writers in the Hareidi world today, and her work is beloved both by readers and other writers. Next week, she’ll be presenting at the Jerusalem Writers’ Conference, and this week, she’s answered a few questions for me via email.

RK: How long have you been writing? First, as an amateur, and then professionally?

BR: I think I was writing in the womb!! Seriously, for as long as I can remember I’ve had a pen in my hand. Writing was always my passion but a botched attempt at getting into Journalism school (I knew NOTHING about politics or current events, LOL), led me down a different path to a career as a pediatric and neonatal intensive care nurse. I worked in this field for almost three decades before switching tracks to my initial dream a few years ago and becoming a professional writer.

Continue reading →

Announcing a class for beginning Jewish writers in L.A.

May 5, 2014May 5, 2014beccakinla advice, authors, California, los angeles, writer, writing, writing groups, writing process Tags: article, author, beginner, Chareidi, class, course, hareidi, jewish, Jewish children, Jewish magazines, Klempner, magazine, novel, novice, orthodox, picture book, picture book idea, rebecca klempner, serial, short story, workshop, write, writing, writing workshop Leave a comment

Do you have a picture book idea?

Have you always wanted to write for the Jewish magazines, but didn’t know how?

I will, G-d willing, be teaching a workshop on writing for Jewish tots, tweens, and teens later this month.

A possible student for my workshop?

Audience: Ladies ages 15 and up are welcome to participate.

Date:May 25th

Time:10 am – 1 pm

Location:Private home in L.A.

Cost:$25, $18 if you refer a friend and they also commit

To sign up: Please fill out the form below.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Telling kids about storytelling

May 1, 2014beccakinla advice, author visit, authors, children, kids, stories, students, writer, writing, writing groups Tags: children, elementary school, fisherman, fishing, kids, process, skills, story, storyteller, storytelling, students, teaching, writing, writing process Leave a comment

I’m very excited to be visiting one of the local day schools tomorrow. For a change, I won’t be doing a read-aloud of Raizy. Raizy may not even come up, due to the age of the kids involved. Instead I’ll be talking about “Storytelling,” to coincide with the current unit the students are studying in school.

Fishing for a few stories on this fine morning

Breaking down storytelling in forty-five minutes will be challenging, especially at the upper-elementary school level. After a little intro, I plan on making an extended metaphor connecting storytellers to fishermen. I’m hoping it will be both instructive and age-appropriate. I’ve spent quite a bit of time preparing and concocted a whole series of visuals, and the like.

How is a good storyteller like a fisherman?

The truth is, everyone is a storyteller. Continue reading →

Rebecca Klempner

Author page of Rebecca Klempner

Author: beccakinla

Writing a serial: Nickel and dime-ing your way through fiction publishing

You’ve got to be a reader to raise a reader: My take on recent research on teens and reading

An interview with author Batya Ruddell

RK: How long have you been writing? First, as an amateur, and then professionally?

Announcing a class for beginning Jewish writers in L.A.

Do you have a picture book idea?

Have you always wanted to write for the Jewish magazines, but didn’t know how?

I will, G-d willing, be teaching a workshop on writing for Jewish tots, tweens, and teens later this month.

Thank you for your response. ✨

Telling kids about storytelling

How is a good storyteller like a fisherman?

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Anybody want to share what books have recently (or not-so-recently) given them the “can’t put it down” feeling?

Share this:

RK: How long have you been writing? First, as an amateur, and then professionally?

Share this:

Do you have a picture book idea?

Have you always wanted to write for the Jewish magazines, but didn’t know how?

I will, G-d willing, be teaching a workshop on writing for Jewish tots, tweens, and teens later this month.

Thank you for your response. ✨

Share this:

How is a good storyteller like a fisherman?

Share this: