Over the past month, I have been sending out query letters to agents for my middle grade science fiction manuscript. Writing the query letter took much
Category: Inspiration
You Are Writing the Future
Tomorrow’s do-ers are reading kidlit today. Keep writing! You may have missed it, but this past Friday a rocket returned to Earth and landed on
Inspiration from Author/Illustrator Elizabeth O. Dulemba
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: I met the talented author/illustrator Elizabeth O. Dulemba at the wonderful writers’ retreat, Kindling Words a few years ago. When I read
Animation, Illustration and Writing – Part 3: Observation
By Sarah Lynne Reul (This is the final entry in a three-part series – earlier posts here: Part 1: Iterations and Part 2: Planning) Finally, my favorite point
To Write or Not To Write?
TO WRITE OR NOT TO WRITE? — THAT IS THE QUESTION So, here I am again—at the BUT. Excited that my manuscript is in the final,
Why Write Young Adult?
When people ask me what I write, I instantly reply Young Adult. Then they give me this strange look, force a smile and say “Oh,
Coloring by the Numbers
As creatives, we color by numbers all the time without even realizing it. We want to know if ____ is working for others and if ____ is normal and if ____ has ever happened to our creative friends.
What to do while waiting for that next book contract? Follow Kirsti Call’s example!
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: It is always the most amazing time in a writer’s life when that first book gets sold. You wait for the contract,
Finding a Critique Group to Nurture Your Fire
You’ve heard of Burning Man, right? The arty, fire-infused festival takes place each Labor Day week in the middle of the 400 square mile Black
Animation, Illustration and Writing – Part 1: Iterations
By Sarah Lynne Reul Animation has been called the illusion of life. It’s the optical illusion of persistence of vision that creates the effect of
Helping Hands
By Carrie Charley Brown Does anyone else remember that Calgon slogan? For some reason, it stuck with me through childhood and continues to pop into
5 Ways to Squeeze Writing into Your Life
My life is a tornado. Sometimes kids, house stuff, homeschooling, church work, therapist duties, chickens, and everything else pull me into a frenzy of activity
Inspiration for Writers and Illustrators
Sometimes the writing life throws punches. I’m not even talking about the 1100-plus rejections that I’ve received. For me it’s the smaller disappointments. The lack
Advice from a kid: Miranda at age 9 and at age 13
Nine-year-old Miranda and I went for a walk. She told me what she thinks about books. Here’s what she said. Topics that some kids like
WRITERS' RUMPUS 