I stumbled upon the best query letter advice in awhile through the Manuscript Academy. It’s called key selling points. Sounds super business fancy I know. But don’t let that freak you out. I’ll break it down for you super easy. If you want to watch the original clip or to see the whole video youContinueContinue reading “Query Letter Upgrade”
Tag Archives: book
Bullies vs. Cheerleaders
I’ve been blessed to join a new critique group of amazing ladies. If you are in a critique group you know it can be invaluable in so many ways. I try to have a writing group for each age category I write in if possible. This means I have my picture book pals, my middleContinueContinue reading “Bullies vs. Cheerleaders”
Bravery is Not a Feeling
Bravery is an action. You heard me. It’s what you do that gets you labeled brave. Your feelings are secret and no one knows you are quaking inside. To the world, you are doing something incredible. Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience. -Paulo Coelho Every time you write your story, yourContinueContinue reading “Bravery is Not a Feeling”
The Art of the [Art Note: …]
I’m a fairly traditional writer. So making the transition into picture books has been difficult. Not because my writing is bad but because picture books are more than just the words. In picture books I have to leave room for art. You can check out another post on book structure HERE. When I say I’m leavingContinueContinue reading “The Art of the [Art Note: …]”
A New Editing Resource
For those of us that write kid lit, especially at the chapter level and below, it’s essential to understand reading levels. Unfortunately, there are nearly a dozen different scales you can use to “grade” your story. Additionally, how do you know what makes a story a higher or lower level, are your edits even working?ContinueContinue reading “A New Editing Resource”
Comparable Titles Are Like Buried Treasure
Finding a good comparable title is like following a map to buried treasure. Once you’ve got a good one you’re golden but the journey can be grueling. Let’s add some tools to your backpack on this excursion. Beware! None of these ideas will help you if you don’t fully understand your own story first. YouContinueContinue reading “Comparable Titles Are Like Buried Treasure”
11 Tips for Building a Writing Team
I talked last week about different types of critique. Check out that post HERE. This week I want to dig in about how to create and maintain a critique group. I saw an interview with a group of writers who’ve been critiquing for over 15 years and I took notes. These folks were making itContinueContinue reading “11 Tips for Building a Writing Team”
Different Types Of Critique
I’ve been taking a writing course for picture books and something has become abundantly clear, there are different types of critiques. Within a group of writers and authors I’m looking for specific feedback regarding plot, pacing, character, sentence structure etc. All the things that writers have learned to improve craft through the editing process. That’sContinueContinue reading “Different Types Of Critique”
Writing & Facebook: Caution is Key
I enjoy Facebook like most folks and use it regularly. However what I don’t put on Facebook is my writing that I’m seeking publication for. I’ve been told my stance is extreme at times and I’d like to dive into the why behind my stance. This is an excerpt from the Facebook Legal Agreement thatContinueContinue reading “Writing & Facebook: Caution is Key”
Writing & Parenting: A Juggling Act
I have two young kids, neither of them are in school yet, and let me say it’s hard to find time for creative endeavors. By the end of the day I’m too tired to think. In the morning even the littlest peep will wake them early. What’s a parent to do? All hail quiet time!ContinueContinue reading “Writing & Parenting: A Juggling Act”
How to Utilize Book Structure
When you hear the words picture book, what comes to mind? A book with pictures? Me too. But picture books are so much more than the words and pictures, there is also the book itself. When you go to revise your story think about these different elements and see if any of them are aContinueContinue reading “How to Utilize Book Structure”
Finding the Next Step
“If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.”― Confucius It was common for my business professors to quote Confucius and I always wondered what they meant by it. Were they jokingly saying they were sick of teaching? Were they challenging us, as students, to learn our way intoContinueContinue reading “Finding the Next Step”
Troubleshooting Stories
We’ve all heard about plotting vs pantsing but what gets overlooked is those of us who either start with a plot/world and those of us who start with character. Several of my writing friends always starts with character. I always start with a question that unravels into a plot and world. There are pros andContinueContinue reading “Troubleshooting Stories”
Being a Writer Curator
I’ve been doing some cleaning out of old files, papers, and documents. You know what I found? More boring than I care to admit. I’m not talking about old bills either. I found-gulp-boring stories. Stories that told everything from the day of my character from brushing teeth in the morning to turning off the lampContinueContinue reading “Being a Writer Curator”
Emotional Plotting
It’s that time of year again! The time to dive deep, start drowning, and scramble back up to breath by December. It’s time for National Novel Writing Month! If you didn’t read Samantha’s post about generational plotting be sure to check it out because I’ll be building off of her thoughts here. Character is sovereignContinueContinue reading “Emotional Plotting”
Negotiation No Go
A couple months ago I got that magical email that said “we’d like to publish your story.” And before you get too excited, that’s where the magic ended. I received a contract via email and I began the painful process of looking up how to negotiate a book contract solo. Folks this is why agentsContinueContinue reading “Negotiation No Go”
Flipping Cliches
We’ve all done it, see there I just did. I used a cliche. A common phrase or string of words that most folks like us understand. it’s good to be understood. The problem is, cliches are boring. So let’s take some examples and flip them. What we are hoping to do is convey the sameContinueContinue reading “Flipping Cliches”
Scene by Scene
After working on nearly a dozen picture books over the last year I want to go back into a longer story. I dusted off one I had a good start to (I’ve talked about before) and dove in. While I know first drafts are not worth sharing I couldn’t help myself and let a few readContinueContinue reading “Scene by Scene”
Favorite Middle Grade Book Quotes
I’ve been compiling a book full of best quotes for years. When I find one I add it to the pile. I’ve noticed a trend of having quite a few from books from the middle grade reading level. Here they are and I hope you have as much joy in them as I do. “TheContinueContinue reading “Favorite Middle Grade Book Quotes”
Expanding Vocabulary Or Not…
I had admiral goals when I stated to my critique partner that I wanted to expand my vocabulary. The issue was in execution. Read the dictionary, was the first thing we thought of. Then realized that retention of those words would be dismal. We’d have to create an exercise to make the words become organicContinueContinue reading “Expanding Vocabulary Or Not…”
Holy Homesteading 