-
Writing Wednesday: Revision Cards and Mentor Text Videos
Revision cards break the task of revision into manageable chunks. They feature revision suggestions for: * beginnings * description * staying on topic * titles * putting boring words to bed * visualizing * onomatopoeia * sensory words * details * endings * strong verbs * clearing up…
-
Picture Book Status Updates
I’ve been involved with Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Picture Book Challenge for 2 years. In that time, I’ve written, revised, revised, revised, and revised. However, I realized recently that I have a ton of different picture books, all at different stages, and I really needed to get a handle on…
-
Mentor Text Tip Tuesday: One Thing at a Time
Tip: Revise one thing at a time. If you are working on describing the setting, then only work on composing and revising the setting. As a writer myself, revising a whole host of things at one time can be overwhelming. Many professional writers I know do several passes of…
-
Writing Quote Wednesday: The Backstory
“Before you can tell others your story, you have to tell yourself its prequel.” —K.M. Weiland, OUTLINING YOUR NOVEL: MAP YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS In other words, as the writer, you have to know the backstory of your story. The reader doesn’t necessarily need to know very many of…
-
We’re All in This Together: Revision Tips Post #2
Miranda Paul Children’s author and RateYourStory.org Founder www.MirandaPaul.com 3 Revision Tips for Picture Books 1. Search for “filler” words that add to word count unnecessarily. I am often guilty of using the words “just” “even” “all” and “only” too much, and also of transitions that aren’t needed such as…
-
We’re All in This Together: Revision Tips Post #1
Today children’s writers share their favorite revision tips. I hope you will find some practice ways to revise your writing in today’s post. EW Clark YA novelist ewclark.net I slog through early stage revision like everyone else — cutting out tens of thousands of words and rewriting. But the…
-
Writing Quote Wednesday: Creating the Habit of Art
“Creating art is a habit, one that we practice daily or hourly until we get good at it.” —Seth Godin, The Icarus Deception Last weekend, the “We’re All in This Together” folks gave advice on finding time to write (see Post 1 and Post 2). Truthfully, I…
-
Making Time to Write Monday: Organize Your Writing Life #3 Become a Hoarder
This week I’m talking about being a hoarder and coming soon there will be a post about cleaning up your office space. Think they are incongruous? Well, they’re not. I’ll explain. I’m not a hoarder (my husband might beg to differ with you). But I’m not. And in fact,…
-
Writing Quote Wednesday: Winter
“Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.” – Pietro Aretino I’m not a big fan of winter. I grew up in the tropics, so I love flip-flops and warm weather. I have a hard time staying motivated when the daylight hours are shorter. But this…
-
Making Time to Write Monday: Research Trip
The protagonist in my young adult novel is from Emerald Isle, North Carolina though very little of the book actually takes place there. I’ve been working on this book for awhile (gulp, years). I’ve tried on a few occasions to make a research trip to Emerald Isle. I did a…
