You finished your book, so how long until it’s out on shelves? Says some ignorant family member at dinner. Let’s discuss that, shall we? (Not necessarily the rude family member who thinks all the hard work is done once you type THE END) The first step on the Writer’s Journey is the idea. It mightContinue reading “The Writer’s Journey”
Category Archives: Writing Advice
Guided Meditation for Characterization
This is the script for a meditation on your characters. Start by finding a comfortable spot to sit. It doesn’t matter where you are or if you’re sitting straight up or slouching. All that matters if that you are comfortable. Begin with a few deep breaths in and out. Be sure to breathe in through your nose and out through you mouth.
How to Use the Synopsis Method to Outline Your Kidlit Novel
A synopsis is a brief summary of your book. It hits all the major plot points and reveals all the secrets. Some writers know all of the big moments in their book before they’ve even put a single word on paper. This could be a good method for you if you like to have a road map but also enjoy flexibility when it comes to drafting your story.
KidLit Manuscript Lengths
I run and proudly contribute to several writing groups. And one thing that constantly comes up is word count. Am I over my range? Am I under it? I’m in a sweet spot but I need another scene. I can’t cut anything and I’m way over count what do I do?
NaNoWriMo Inspiration Day 2
Originally published on November 2, 2021 @ 12:00 pm
Self Care for Writers
It honestly doesn’t matter if you’re a writer or not, self care is important. There are some myths about it being self-indulgent, a waste of time, and expensive. Not to mention the idea that all artists are supposed to suffer (queue my eye roll here).
How Many Characters Do You Need?
A large cast of characters is just as great as a small cast, but let’s face it: the fewer the better.
100% Awful Writing Advice
Because of my search history I get a lot of links with a lot of the same advice. And quite frankly, I hate most of it. Not every writer is the same, not every manuscript can be written the same way.
Genre vrs Audience in KidLit
I could say this with a single sentence but I plan to go on a tangent. Young Adult and Middle Grade are not genres of children’s literature.
But they have their own sections at the bookstore.
No kidding. Kids have their own sections at the department store too, but it’s not meant to do anything other than dictate what sizes the pants are.
The Art of Making Mood Boards for Your KidLit WIP
A mood board is a type of visual presentation or ‘collage’ consisting of images, text, and samples of objects in a composition. It can be based on a set topic or can be any material chosen at random. A mood board can be used to convey a general idea or feeling about a particular topic.