Mina Witteman – author | editor | teacher of creative writing

Posts from the “A Bit of Everything” Category

Check This Out: The Book Passage Children’s Writer’s Conference

Posted on April 18, 2018

Originally posted on El Space–The Blog of L. Marie:
I don’t think I have ever talked about conferences for writers on the blog, let alone had someone on who coordinates one. But with me on the blog is the fabulous Pamela Livingston, who roomed with me during grad school. She’s here to talk about the Book Passage Children’s Writer’s Conference in Corte Madera, California.    El Space: Four quick facts about yourself? Pamela: 1. I was the Macy’s Easter Bunny. 2. I am the proud owner of both a VCFA MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults degree plus a Picture Book Certificate which I may have illustrated before finally finding space on a wall. 3. My newest aka is “Mama Goose” of…

Plot Intensive in Berkeley!

Posted on April 13, 2018

BAY AREA AND MARIN WRITERS!   I still have spaces available!   On Saturday, May 5, I will teach a daylong plot revision intensive. I have space for eight writers with a finished draft of Middle Grade, Young Adult or adult fiction.   Intensive: A PLOTTER’S PARADISE — GOING DEEP Day and time: Saturday, May 5, 2018 – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Location: North Berkeley Costs: $150 (includes tea, coffee, cookies and lunch)   To sign up, please, send me a message through the contact form below and I’ll reserve you a seat. First come, first serve!   This daylong intensive is for writers, who have a full draft of their MG or YA ready or almost ready. First draft, second draft, final draft……

Boreas 4!

Posted on March 30, 2018

  A sneak preview of the fourth Boreas book: Boreas en de vijftien vrienden! The cover isn’t final yet, but I am pretty sure it will be as exciting as the first three Boreas books. Pub date is set for early September this year, right on time for the Dutch National Children’s Book Week.

Clipper Stad Amsterdam

Posted on March 12, 2018

Today, I visited the clipper Stad Amsterdam, a tall ship from the Netherlands which is currently moored at the San Francisco Embarcadero. Quarter Master Frank van Wamelen and Captain Andi Manser welcomed Boreas and me aboard their ship, where I presented them with copies of the three Boreas books for the ship’s library to entertain crew and guests during long ocean crossings. So, from now on, Boreas will sail the seven seas aboard the Stad Amsterdam, too! Next destination is Mexico. I am excited and so is Boreas. And the Captain and the Quarter Master? They can’t wait to start reading the books! Here are some pictures:   Of course, I hurried back home to finish Boreas 4 which will come out this fall.

A Plotter’s Paradise

Posted on March 4, 2018

The San Francisco North and East Bay region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators had asked me to teach a workshop on plot for their Contra Costa County Meeting in Walnut Creek. Sixty people signed up, all children’s writers eager to hone their writing skills and improve their craft. Now, I love teaching, but when the room is filled with people who simply love what they are doing, people who are dedicated to and persevering in their dream to become better writers, my heart leaps. Yesterday was such a joyful day.   I set out to show how plot structure formats — and there are so many out there that a web search brings you 3.000.000 results in 0.76 seconds! —…

A Plotter’s Paradise – Writers’ Workshop

Posted on March 2, 2018

Sat. March 3, 2018 2 – 4 pm, Contra Costa County Meeting, Plotting with Mina Witteman! Date/Time Date(s) – 03/03/2018 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Location St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 1924 Trinity Ave – Walnut Creek, CA 94596 The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators San Francisco North and East Bay Region Contra Costa/Alameda County   Presents: A PLOTTER’S PARADISE Featuring: Mina Witteman Please join us for a presentation on plotting by the plot master herself, Mina Witteman, at our latest SCBWI meeting in Walnut Creek.  Mina’s plotting class is for picture book and middle grade/ YA authors. She will demonstrate the techniques required for all genres. Come prepared with paper and pencil to get the most out of this class. Refreshments will…

Book Signing Boreas 3

Posted on May 17, 2017

AVONTUUR ZONDER KOMPAS… Mina Witteman, auteur van de spannende reeks over Boreas, komt zaterdag signeren. Het derde deel BOREAS EN DE VIER WINDSTREKEN is net verschenen. In dit boek arriveert Boreas met zijn ouders in Amerika. Hij kan niet wachten om zich in de drukte van New York te storten en gaat op spokenjacht op Key West. Eenmaal weer onderweg naar de Stille Oceaan krijgt hij te maken met haaien, beren en een orkaan. De radar en radio begeven het, en zelfs het kompas werkt niet meer. Hoe komen ze ooit weer aan land..? In de etalage seinen Mina’s eigen vlaggen B O R E A S… Kom haar zelf vragen naar de avonturen van Boreas, want vlak voordat ze emigreert naar Amerika komt…