Monthly Archives: March 2015

listening to children

Recently I’ve realized that I’ve done almost nothing for children’s writers. This makes less than no sense, because in my opinion, children’s authors are super heroes. You think I’m wrong? I’m not, and I can prove it, too. Think back to your very first favorite book. I am willing to bet it was not anContinue reading “listening to children”

Secondary Characters, Learn to Love Them

If you’ve never questioned my sanity, you might be after reading that title.  But I bet that I can say four names that will change your mind; Hermione Granger, Gandalf, Rue and Four/Tobias.  Secondary characters make the story. If you’ve never really explored all the different ways to use secondary characters in your book, hereContinue reading “Secondary Characters, Learn to Love Them”

Writing Prompt Saturday- List character traits

So, I’ve got a thing about lists.  I really like making them, and reading them.  List the 20 best movies in the last fifty years, worst songs from the 90’s (that would be a really long list) most offensive things said by church officials.  They’re fun. Lists are also a great way to organize thoughtsContinue reading “Writing Prompt Saturday- List character traits”

Market- Highlights for Kids

I don’t do a lot of children’s fiction on this site, which I consider a glaring omission on my part.  Especially this particular market.  It’s popular, high paying, and my kids used to have a subscription that they devoured every month without fail.   It almost makes up for the fact that they don’t accept e-mailContinue reading “Market- Highlights for Kids”

The Writing Life- Reading to Learn

There is a ton of things that go into being a good writer, as we’ve discussed here. You’re not just writing, or just editing, or just revising. You’re also learning all the time. This business changes all the time, and you’ve got to keep on top f things. The good thing is, you’re keeping onContinue reading “The Writing Life- Reading to Learn”

This April in Blogging U.: The Return of Writing 101!

Originally posted on WordPress.com News:
This April, we’ll be offering Writing 101: Building a Blogging Habit. Writing 101 is a write-every-day challenge designed to help you create a writing habit and push you as a writer, while publishing posts that mesh with your blog’s focus. What is Writing 101? Writing 101 is a four-week course that runs…

Idiosyncracies, how to use them and why your character needs them

This is an often overlooked and sometimes misunderstood part of creating a character. Too often we talk about a characters strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, favorite brand of coffee, that sort of thing. We don’t talk a lot about characters idiosyncrasies, though, and that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. When you think aboutContinue reading “Idiosyncracies, how to use them and why your character needs them”

Writing Prompt Saturday- Write An Abecedarian Poem

This post contains an affiliate link at the bottom For those of us who have little ones, this is a poetry form that you can share with your kids. Especially if you’re kids are little enough that they’re still learning there alphabet. Like so many other poetic forms, this poetry form started in Greece.  Ah,Continue reading “Writing Prompt Saturday- Write An Abecedarian Poem”

Markets- Wergle Flomp Humor poetry contest

I really do love poetry in all forms.  My love affair started when I was a little girl in the most irreverent of ways, with Shel Silverstein.  If you’ve never read Where The Sidewalk Ends, A Light In The Attic or Falling Up, go read them right now.  If you read those when you wereContinue reading “Markets- Wergle Flomp Humor poetry contest”