Tag: novel

Lifestyle

Q-Kids: Chicken Coop Club #3 & #4

hsdeurloo

Sorry about the delay in posting these stories. I've fallen a week behind with good reason. I welcomed my new little one into the world this past week. I feel so blessed to have her here amidst all the world's craziness these past weeks. Story #3 is all about the game of charades and you… Continue reading Q-Kids: Chicken Coop Club #3 & #4

Writing

The Perfect Page Turn

hsdeurloo

With picture book writing their is a real art to handling a page turn. You have to think through not only the words but the accompanying art on the pages. There are many amazing tools out there to help you envision what your story will look like with each turn. You can find a wonderful… Continue reading The Perfect Page Turn

Inspiration, Lifestyle, Writing

The Good, The Bad, & The Changes

hsdeurloo

I've had the opportunity through my amazing agency Golden Wheat Literary to be working through a marketing series. The goal is to get a better grasp on our audience and make our efforts line up across our platforms. While it sounds like a less than fun experience I've actually had a realization this week. I… Continue reading The Good, The Bad, & The Changes

Writing

A New Kind of Note

hsdeurloo

I'm delving deep into a new type of childrens writing and am loving it. I'm five stories into a historical fiction STEAM series. It's a blast. What I'm realizing though is everything can't be an art note. I've talked in the past about what makes a good illustration note, you can read more here. So… Continue reading A New Kind of Note

Writing

Revising Grief

hsdeurloo

Nothing kills my creativity faster than grief. It's like my mind gets tunnel vision and my whole demeanor is sad. I try to find the creative pieces in every part of life but in these moments I can't. So I look elsewhere for comfort. I usually start with my Bible and that helps the healing… Continue reading Revising Grief

Writing

Why Snow is Like Story

hsdeurloo

I'm sitting at my desk on a cold February day and it hits me how much stories and snow have in common. If you'll indulge my little analogy, here's why I think so. At the start, small flakes are falling in a quiet tumble. Little whispers of plot are coming out of the sky and… Continue reading Why Snow is Like Story

Writing

Research Tricks & Tips You Can’t Live Without

hsdeurloo

I've been digging deep these past few weeks working through a historical fiction picture book series (I'm so stinking excited about it). On that note I've gotten fairly good at finding information and I want to share some of my best tricks and tips. Unpopular opinion #1: Wikipedia is NOT a safe research source. While… Continue reading Research Tricks & Tips You Can’t Live Without

Writing

How to Pick A Point of View

hsdeurloo

I've been wrestling with a new picture book story that I want to write. I've got nothing on paper, yet. It's just bubbling in the back of my mind. The story elements are all there, plot, structure, information, character options. What I can't wrap my mind around is the point of view. WHO is going… Continue reading How to Pick A Point of View

Inspiration, Writing

10 Reading Quotes to Fall In Love With

hsdeurloo

Oftentimes someone has said what I wish to say far more eloquently than I ever could. So today I'm going to let others way in on reading. I hope you enjoy these quotes as much as I do. I'm also going to take Bill's advice as the weather is dreary to a fault. So cheers… Continue reading 10 Reading Quotes to Fall In Love With

Writing

How to Write During the Holidays

hsdeurloo

I've come to realize the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are somewhat of a twilight zone for writing. It seems like either it all gets written or none of it does. So how do you fit in a routine when life's routine is out the window? The short answer is, I don't know. The long… Continue reading How to Write During the Holidays

Writing

“You charge for so few words!?”

hsdeurloo

"You charge for so few words!?" Says so many folks who are looking for copy writing services. While I love the agency I work through for copy writing (and they would never make a statement like this) I've heard this line so often from those outside the writing business. Let's be really clear. Writing short,… Continue reading “You charge for so few words!?”

Writing

You Should Talk to an Agent Today, Seriously.

hsdeurloo

So I've been steadily working through my stories as they come to me. I've talked before about choosing a story to write that really gets you excited. I still stand by all of that. However, there comes a moment when a choice must be made and that choice has consequences. I'm there. I've got five… Continue reading You Should Talk to an Agent Today, Seriously.

Writing

I’m Failing NaNoWriMo & Happy- You Should be too.

hsdeurloo

It's Day 11 of National Novel Writing Month. If you're like me you are slowly watching the gap between the words written and words that should be written graph on your NaNoWriMo home page grow. It's not that I'm not writing. It's that I'm not getting as many words as I need. I'm still happy… Continue reading I’m Failing NaNoWriMo & Happy- You Should be too.

Writing

5 Tricks to Fast Drafting

hsdeurloo

It's National Novel Writing Month and word counts reign supreme in the writing world right now. The thing is we are all so short on time. When I sit down to write it needs to happen now. There's no luxury of sitting and staring at the screen for hours. Kids, chores, other work, and the… Continue reading 5 Tricks to Fast Drafting

Writing

Don’t Say It That Way!

hsdeurloo

I really enjoy coming up with witty titles for my blog posts. It's fun. Part of me (the stubborn part) doesn't want to change. But one of my good writing pals pointed out the wisdom of key words the other day. She even backed it up with this fascinating and fear producing article. Have I… Continue reading Don’t Say It That Way!

Writing

Public Speaking: Conference Edition

hsdeurloo

On Saturday, I had the privilege to speak at a local writers conference hosted through the Kent District Library. I was one of four speakers and we were all focused on the craft of writing. While I know many writers cringe at the idea of public speaking don't be too intimidated. It's a room full… Continue reading Public Speaking: Conference Edition

Writing

Competitive Writing

hsdeurloo

Not all competition happens in the gym. I've been struggling with a picture book for over a month now. It's driving me crazy. I need to rework my pitch so it doesn't get an automatic no. I need to revise, revise, and revise some more. I need to brainstorm like it's the end of the… Continue reading Competitive Writing

Writing

Hello from Writing Camp- Kids Edition

hsdeurloo

I wanted to write a post that would demonstrate how kind and creative these kids at writing camp have been this past week. Turns out they wanted to tell you themselves. So I'm going to step aside today and give you all the wisdom, insights, and art they want to share with the world. This… Continue reading Hello from Writing Camp- Kids Edition

Writing

Blog Time Travel

hsdeurloo

It's my fourth year of blogging. I've been reviewing my blog a bit and doing research on ways to improve it. One source recommends reusing older blog posts as a way to save time and reuse material. Sounds nice to a thrifty person like myself. So that lead me to digging back into my older… Continue reading Blog Time Travel