The story of the word count I imagine most resembles the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The aspiring writer steps into a publishing house,
Tag: young adult
Want to Know Your Characters? Try a Character Sketch.
One of the hardest aspects of writing a novel, a good novel, is creating characters that are relatable. Whether you’re writing a 300 word picture
The Plotter, Pantsed
Recently, I baked banana cookies. I was doing a series of posts on holiday recipes because my book, A Witch’s Kitchen, was #10 or 14
So You Didn’t Win #NaNoWriMo
With end of November last week, many people in the writing community struggled with finishing their 50K word goal for NaNoWriMo. If you were one
Odyssey Online Writing Courses: Intense Focus, Great Results
Last winter my novel got wrung out, taken apart, and put back together. It was praised and constructively critiqued by classmates from nearby towns and
The Body Institute, by Carol Riggs
The Body Institute, a young adult novel by Carol Riggs, is a compelling read with an intriguing premise. It grapples with body image and scientific technology
Full Moons Can’t Rise at Midnight
I was reading a YA romance novel set on the coast of Maine. The teen girl woke up at 5am on July 4 to sneak
From Picture Books to Young Adult: A Transition into Madness!
Okay I might be exaggerating a tiny bit with the title of this blog, but it is an intimidating transition nonetheless. I am a picture
Mapping Character
I’ve been on a personal journey for the past few months, doing something that I’ve needed to do for a long time: therapy. Therapy includes
Wartime Through a Child’s Eyes, Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit
by Amy Courage Anna and the Swallow Man from Random House/Alfred A. Knopf is a book almost too big to write about in a
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,
7 Reasons Why Everyone Should Read Award Winning EVERY LAST WORD by Tamara Ireland Stone
1. Sam is an authentic teenaged girl with OCD who has successfully hidden her condition from her friends. She spends every second worrying about how
3 Reasons Why YA Matters
In the last 10 days I’ve read 15 YA books and as a YA CYBILS award panelist, I’ll be reading dozens more within the next couple
100 Children’s Books to Read in a Lifetime
A Bit of End of Summer Fun If you have ever been on Facebook, you have probably seen posts like, ‘Which Harry Potter Character Are You?’,
