Mastering Middle Grade
What Rejection Really Is
Behind every book on the shelf, and every story waiting to be published, there’s an author who has experienced…
June 16, 2022-
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Fantasy-Sci-FiWho’s Ya Buddy?
Crashing waves. Wild winds. Scratchy sand between my toes. I loved those summer days when someone’s mom would offer…
June 11, 2022 -
Kids LitOf Adjectives and Illustrators
“So how do you feel about art notes?” This came up to a panel of editors recently, and it…
June 8, 2022 -
ScreenwritingPowerful Storytelling
Movies are sometimes regarded as the most powerful form of communication. Although they are primarily visible, their reach goes…
June 4, 2022 -
Writing for YAWhat I Learned by Writing for Anthologies
I’ve had two types of experience with anthologies. My first experience with contributing to an anthology was simple. I…
May 27, 2022 -
Writing RomanceLessons From the Movies
I recently watched Hudson Hawk, a (deservedly) lesser-known Bruce Willis movie. It was released three years after his smash…
May 23, 2022 -
History in the MakingThe School Bus, Early Rides and Development
Most folks are very familiar with big yellow buses boasting black-stenciled letters: SCHOOL BUS We can’t miss them. We’re…
May 20, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Hooks
I recently read a few middle grade novels I could not put down, even when sleep called loud and…
May 18, 2022 -
Kids Lit
What is “High Concept”?
After the fifth editor said, “I am especially looking for high concept picture books. I can’t explain that, but…
May 8, 2022 -
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
Baby Stepping
The proverbial journey of a thousand miles begins with the one step. But it doesn’t end there. Writing an…
May 7, 2022 -
Screenwriting
Tight Writing
Tight writing has its place and purpose in all forms of writing, but more so in a screenplay. When…
May 4, 2022 -
Writing for YA
What I Learned by Being on a Pub Board
I was flattered to be asked to serve as a pub board member for a small publisher. I’m no…
April 27, 2022 -
History in the Making
The History of Writing Tools
Do you remember writing your first story idea or, maybe even your first manuscript, with pencil or pen and…
April 20, 2022 -
Mystery/Thriller/SuspenseLighter Fare or Darker Stories
In a dark, and often discouraging world, are you writing your mystery, suspense, or thriller with a more lighthearted…
April 17, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Building Platform
You’ve poured hours into building a plot, developing characters, and revising. Now that your baby is written, how do…
April 16, 2022 -
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
Write Ugly
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight,…
April 11, 2022 -
Kids Lit
Who’s Listening to Your Story?
We’ve all read picture books that just seemed not quite right – the subject matter was too obscure for…
April 8, 2022 -
Screenwriting
Cut to Finish
Last month I touched on the need for a lean screenplay. Lean writing is ideal for most forms of…
April 4, 2022 -
Writing for YA
What I Learned BY Entering Writing Contests
Aspiring authors can benefit in many ways by entering writing contests. In this post, I will talk about contests…
March 27, 2022 -
Writing Romance
Can You Write Christian or Clean Romance That Isn’t Boring?
Let’s face it, even Christian men and women want to feel that spark of attraction in a romance novel…
March 23, 2022 -
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Adding Mystical Elements – Good or Bad?
Does the addition of a mystical character or creature enhance or detract from our mystery, suspense, and thrillers? Maybe.…
March 17, 2022 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Marching to Their Own Drum – Writing at a Pace Middle Grade Readers Love
Middle grade books are set apart from other genres by a few things. We’ve talked about these in other…
March 16, 2022 -
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
Same and Different
Once upon a time, there was a caterpillar tale. Worlds apart from those biped readers with their opposable thumbs,…
March 13, 2022 -
Kids Lit
More Ways to Add Humor to Your Picture Books-Part 2
Kids love humor, and publishers know it. Face it—parents love humor too. That’s why knowing how to add a…
March 11, 2022 -
Kids Lit
Beyond Halloween, Christmas, Easter!
Flip through the 2021 calendar and remember especially happy times. Big annual events were special, but your best memories…
March 8, 2022
