A friend once told me that if she didn’t have to write, if there weren’t stories building themselves in her head constantly, her life would
Category: Writing – Middle Grade & Young Adult
A Launch Day Ode To My Editor
Sure, authors get acknowledgement pages to wax poetic about all the many, many people who help turn a manuscript into an actual book, but sometimes an
What Kids Can Teach Us About Writing for Kids
The past few months I have been revisiting a musical that I wrote about ten years ago, Jack and the Beanstalk, the Musical. I am
Show and Tell for Writers
SHOW, DON’T TELL! Most of us have received that advice at least once in our writing careers. What does it mean? And how should you
The 7 Layer Cake Writing Method
Baking a 7 layer cake is like writing a story. You have so many tempting and tasty choices to make, and each new layer builds
Getting Back Into the Swing of Things
I have a confession to make. I haven’t written anything new in six months. My hiatus started after writing 12,000 words of a new novel,
The Writers’ Rumpus 2018 Review
Racing through the mall Voice croaking like a frog Wishing you were home sweet home Perusing your favorite blog! Is it my imagination, or does
YA’LL Fest Survival Guide
It’s the end of November, and with it goes another YA’LL Fest. This was my third YA’LL Fest, and each year I learn valuable information.
Sharpen Your Skills with Odyssey Online
Need to revise your NaNoWriMo novel in January? Do your descriptions leave you flat? Is your character hiding his/her/its emotional truth? Try an online course
YA Lovers Are Heading To #YALLFest this Weekend!
YALLFest is an annual November event in Charleston, South Carolina, celebrating young adult literature and its authors. Essentially, it’s a book festival that brings together
Writing for Every Child: Avoiding the Pitfalls of ‘The Chosen One’ in Children’s Literature
When I was a child, oh, nine or ten years old, I desperately wanted to believe that I was adopted. It wasn’t because my parents
DARE TO CHANGE YOUR POINT OF VIEW
Ever since my eyes were opened to the importance of Point of View (POV), I’ve paid close attention to narrative voice whenever I write as well as read. I’m happy to share my observations, with a focus on books that dare to push POV boundaries.
