This week is our Third Blogiversary! That’s three years of “butt in chair” commitment to writing, illustrating, blogging, and all the other activities that keep
Category: Writing
Mingling at the Twitter Cocktail
By Wendy Leiserson Josh Funk, author of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast, knows more about being an author than how to cook up a
So You Want to Be a Writer
Since you are already reading this blog, you obviously want to be a writer. There’s no doubt about it and I applaud you. Seriously, it
Charlie Brown Inspires a Character Study
By Carrie Charley Brown While watching The Peanuts Movie the other day, I was reminded of how much I empathize with Charlie Brown. This kid
Plotting a Novel with Sticky Notes
This pantser has gone plotter, and for one particular reason: Speed. My first attempt at a novel took me two years. I wrote it by
Parodies, Spoofs, and Modern Retellings- What Makes Them So Fun and So Marketable?
I’m crazy excited to celebrate the release of The Sleepover today—a book I had a ridiculous amount of fun writing, and hopefully one that will
Meet #Kidlit Author/Educator Abby Hanlon
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Abby, I read about you on a Nerdy Book Club post and was so touched by your experience teaching in a
Talented Author, Miranda Paul and Trainbots
I first met Miranda Paul through the 12×12 challenge. I was immediately impressed by her passion and willingness to give back to the kidlit community.
Intentional (RE)Invention: #NESCBWI16
This past weekend I was fortunate to attend the annual spring conference of the New England chapter of SCBWI. This year’s conference theme was “The
1-2-3-4 Pressure!
By Carrie Charley Brown Have you ever noticed how much more you get done when working with a deadline? With the pressure on, you must
How to Survive Co-Writing
The idea of co-writing might seem great at first: “Hey, I only have to write half a story!” “Yay, I have someone to push me
Poetry Month
By Kirsti Call I’ve always loved poetry. Robert Frost’s STOPPING BY THE WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING and Emily Dickinson’s I’M NOBODY are permanently seared
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
How (Not) to Write a Rhyming Picture Book
It’s very easy to write bad rhymes. Lots of people do it. Therefore, there is a stigma associated with rhyming picture books. Note: The following
WRITERS' RUMPUS 