A fabulous editor at a top-notch house invited one of my crit buddies to revise and resubmit a picture book manuscript. Yeah!! Tonight we evaluated her revision in light of the editor’s comments. It’s a beautifully, rich story. But here’s the problem. The editor’s early comments seemed to completely contradict her later comments. We discussed…. Read more »
The Writing Process
Hard Evidence That I’m Really Writing Today!
I know. I can’t believe it myself. But here’s proof: A pic of my crazy, marked-up manuscript. (Of course, taking pictures of your work is a tried and true procrastination technique!)
Back to Basics – Revision
No need for fancy methods or specialized software. Sometimes we need the simplest of reminders.
Pondering the Predictable Plot Point – SLUMDOG spoiler alert!
I must be the last person on Earth to have seen SLUM DOG MILLIONAIRE. But I’d heard so many wonderful things about it – aside from all the Oscars – I waited for a night when I was well-rested enough to take it all in. Well I’m still waiting to feel well-rested, but I finally… Read more »
PB Peek #1 – General Observations
I just finished my last critique for PB Peek Week #1. What fun to read and analyze 7 totally unique manuscripts. Hurray for all the participating children’s writers!! What a stellar group. After reviewing my letters to the authors, I’ve found some recurring comments that I thought might be helpful to note and share. Here… Read more »
Spreadsheet Novel Analysis and Free Download
Spreadsheet analysis of novels allows me to pattern author storytelling and plot devices. But the value in the methodology lies in the columns I create – in other words what I choose to track throughout the book. After reading HOOKED: WRITE FICTION THAT GRABS READERS AT PAGE ONE AND NEVER LETS THEM GO by Les… Read more »
Practice Makes Perfect – or at Least Very, Very Good.
OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell, heads up my to-read list, and there’s a lot of blogging going on about his 10,000 hours to success theory. I buy it. And today a friend directed me to this NEW YORK TIMES op-ed piece about practice as compared to genius. I like that Brooks actually uses a writer as… Read more »
National Picture Book Writing Week!
Can you write 7 books in 7 days? Or maybe just one perfect picture book. The challenge begins tomorrow. And Paula Yoo kicks it off here National Picture Book Writing Week.
Creating the perfect “inciting incident”
When I’ve finished reading Les Edgerton’s HOOKED: WRITE FICTION THAT GRABS READERS AT PAGE ONE AND NEVER LETS THEM GO, I plan on writing a review – a stellar review – because I’m completely taken with his pin-point logic, instruction and examples. I’m about halfway through so you’ll have to hold your breath. But in… Read more »
Great Article on Picture Book Writing!
After this past week of blogging about perfect picture book words, a message board buddy asked me to critique her picture book manuscript today. It’s always fun to let the text tumble around in my brain where it can be met with illustrations from my imagination. That’s why they’re called picture books after all. But… Read more »
My Books
