For some readers, the attractions of a new culture or setting can be huge. We all know our own culture down to the level of our subconscious and consider it “normal,” possibly even boring. I admit I enjoy seeing and reading about other cultures and peoples. Black Panther’s land of Wakanda and it’s tribal structure and
Crafting Fictional Cultures Read More »
I was recognized today. When you are a writer, that’s important. Even when, no especially when, another author knows your name. I attended a writing workshop at the Northbrook, Illinois public library about crafting YA characters. The library holds a series of workshops int he fall entitled NorthBrook Writes! These are all open to the public,
It feels good to be known Read More »
This post is a response to a question about how I got an agent, from someone about to start the process of searching for one of their own. The timing on was excellent. I have been commissioned to create a workshop on the business side of writing for KidLitNation.com, and chose to use this as
Finding a Literary Agent Read More »
I laughingly call writing my sub-minimum wage job. Counting the time involved in coming up with an idea, writing the first draft, revising, editing and creating a dozen or more successive drafts, gnawing at my fingernails, sleep-walking and dreaming the story, the ROI is nothing to write home about. And then there\’s all the time
Even if no one paid me Read More »
I have seen a lot of discussion lately about contest judging. There is a big blame-it-on-the judge outbreak for making snarky comments or having a God complex and not liking the manuscript. Maybe it\’s because I just finished donating my time to judge two contests, I\’m in the middle of a third, and coordinating a
Last weekend brought the biennial writers conference presented by the Chicago North chapter of RWA – Spring Fling. This year the exciting event was held in a new venue, Marriott at Hoffman Estates. Things began with two-hour master class on pitching presented by Carrie Lofty. She gave us a great overview on pitching graciously stayed
Early in June I went to Chicago\’s Printer\’s Row book festival, an annual weekend celebration of the printed word. I shared a booth with Barbara\’s Bookstore – totally coincidental – and the Chicago Writer\’s Association. I spoke to a family about PULL, and as I talked to the parents their son picked up a copy and started
YA books and censorship Read More »
I am a plotter. I\’ve tried pantsing it, and I get lost every time. I need to understand my beginning, middle checkpoints and ending before I can write word one. Especially I need that end, something for me to aim toward. That said, things change a lot between word one and the time I can
Plotting vs. Pantsing Read More »
This idea has knocked around for a few years now, a seperate classification for books aimed at the 18-20 something reader. Many YA authors would like to move beyond high school and set their stories with protagonists in college, or just entering the work force – or still living in Mom and Dad\’s basement after
New Adult classification for books Read More »
Several fellow authors have told me not to read my book\’s reviews, but I can\’t help myself. And frankly, most of them are favorable, so it\’s usually a boost. But by reading them I have discovered an interesting trend in the difference between the way adults and kids view the book and its realistic deptition
Sometimes kids just get it better than adults do Read More »