what’s so dang funny? the plot

You might be Robin Williams in everyday life, but that won’t do you much good in your WIP.  When a writer uses humor, it has to serve the story.  Otherwise, you get a bunch of random one-liners that jump out at the reader like an Attack of the Living Dead.
Buff up your plot with situational [...]

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napibowriwee gone wrong

Depending on your perspective, I was either duped, shamed, or lured under false pretenses into participating in the NaPiBoWriWee. Write seven picture books in seven days.  It’s a great idea started by a fab gal, and I have absolutely no business participating.
Because this is what you get, when a YA writer turns her talents on [...]

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book report #11: letting boys be boys

Wow.
Just finished Ghost Medicine, by Andrew Smith.
Did I mention, “Wow” ?
This is YA Guylit for manly men.  As the cover promises, the story is about friends, enemies, heroes and blood. But it’s…so…mindful.  It’s downright…now don’t take this the wrong way…lyrical.
Wait!  Come back here!  I didn’t say it was sappy.  Or girly.
It’s thoughtful.  Andrew Smith [...]

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i’m so excited that i just can’t hide it

Elizabeth C. Bunce’s  A CURSE DARK AS GOLD wins the American Library Association’s William C. Morris YA Debut Award. 2009 is the first year for this award, which honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature. The work cited will illuminate the [...]

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10 sites for kidlit authors, and other funlovers

This is known as “The Lazy Girl’s Way to Blog”.

But these really are great links.  If I do say so myself.  I surf the net until my toes are wrinkled every week, putting together the Sunflower Scoop newsletter for KSCBWI.  I’ve picked up a few things along the way.
1.
Keenan Gundy. Dovie Bertog. Hedwig Nardone.
Names [...]

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book report #10: evolution of a fairy tale

We all know the story of Little Red Riding Hood.

Girl goes into the woods to bring her poor grandmother some sustenance, wolf tries to eat her…

But there’s a whole book about that “yadda yadda yadda”.
Little Red Riding Hood UNCLOAKED: Sex, Morality and the Evolution of a Fairy Tale by Catherine [...]

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for writers: the beginning of the hero’s journey

 

 
The Hero’s Journey begins in the Common Day, veers off into the Magical Woods, and returns to the Common Day.
Simple, huh?
The first steps happen in the Hero’s day-to-day world.  This is where the writer draws the readers in, constructing a character we identify with.  This is also where the conflict starts.  Plant the seeds for your Hero’s growth deep.  [...]

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for writers: 16 characteristics of a hero on a journey

Ya gotta start with an interesting character.
 

 
Really not what I meant.
My project ideas usually start with a premise or concept, but I can’t write the story until I have a picture of the main character.  (mc)

I wish I was like Jack London, who reputedly wrote his stories down once, in longhand, and sent them to [...]

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resurrecting wee willie, georgie porgie and mother hubbard

Does anyone teach their kids nursery rhymes anymore? 
When my kids were little I was constantly stupefied by the fact that their little pals didn’t seem to know very many nursery rhymes.  Sure, there was Itsy Bitsy Spider and Pat a Cake, but not much else.  Reciting    Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross  got me nothing [...]

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