Whether you’re writing a novel this month or not, you’re gonna love this!
The Writing Process
Maggie Stiefvater’s Pre NaNoWriMo Process
Maggie Stiefvater, prolific author of LAMENT, SHIVER and BALLAD is a NaNoWriMo success story. Maggie describes her novel planning process in detail in her blog. Check it out. Really good stuff!
The Vibrant Triangle Part II
“I try to remember now that my words on the page, my manuscripts, even (one day!) my published books are not the finished product. The experience of a child listening to my story completes the process. I just love that idea. It connects me to something bigger than my own self in my own room,… Read more »
The Vibrant Triangle in Picture Books
Why are certain picture books read over and over again? Why do some become beloved bedtime or story time tales? According to Tam Smith, children’s author, the answer is found in The Vibrant Triangle. This is no Da Vinci Code, folks. According to Smith, “The Vibrant Triangle is the dynamic between the picture book, the… Read more »
National Novel Writing Month – I’m Jumping In
I just signed up for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I’m s-o-o-o-o excited. NaNoWriMo begins November 1st. It’s touted as “Thirty Days and Nights of Literary Abandon!” How can I resist? I’ve written three other novels which are at various stages of resting and revision. But they weren’t written under pressure. I noodled around with… Read more »
Talking about Titles
In many of my manuscript critiques, I discuss the importance of titles. As a matter of fact, the only part of a story posted for my Picture Book Peek Weeks is a working title. I understand that titles submitted are often not finalized – maybe a first thought or afterthought. Perhaps the writer intends to… Read more »
An Ode to the Slush Pile
To all my Chicago relatives, “the slush pile” is not a dirty March remnant of a long snowy winter, but instead is the ever-growing stack of unsolicited book manuscripts an editor or an agent accumulates from a host of hopeful authors. My first book which comes out next February, TOO PURPLEY!, was pulled from just… Read more »
Thoughts from Picture Book Peek Week #3
Picture Book Peek Week #3 brought me three highly original and beautifully written stories. And as always, I’m learning by critiquing. Four important questions for all PB writers popped up from this Peek Week. 1. What is your story really about?Hopefully you can answer this in one brief sentence. Then examine your text for any… Read more »
Top 10 Picture Book Takeaways from the RMC-SCBWI Conference
My Top 10 Picture Book Takeaways from the RMC-SCBWI Conference 10. Beware of dialog-heavy picture book manuscripts. 9. The only beef editors and agents have against rhyming picture books is that they’re so often poorly written. 8. Manuscripts need to be more perfect than ever before they’re ready for submission. 7. While marketing yourself is… Read more »
So You Have a Children’s Book Idea – Get Ready for PB Peek Week.
But is your idea good enough? Jon Bard answers that tough question.
My Books
