Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > What happens when your writing fails you? This time exactly one year ago, I was struggling. Coming off some personal losses, a move, and a general upheaval of everything in my life,…
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > People often ask successful writers “how do you do it?” as if there is a special roadmap that will always take you from wanting to be a successfully published author to actually…
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > As the end of the year creeps ever closer, it can be a good time to take stock of how your writing life is going, as long as you do that examination…
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > What to do when your creativity ebbs. Being a writer for a living is a funny thing. Unlike a lot of other jobs, writing comes down solely to you, and to your…
Picture books are a character-driven art form. A large part of their success lies in truly memorable picture book characters. So what makes us love your character?
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Here’s the short answer and the not-so-short answer. On the way to school the other day, my kids and I were chatting about how much Amazon has changed the world. Strapped safely…
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > One of the defining characteristics of picture books is that they are designed to be read aloud. They are a way for parents to share art with children through story and illustration.…
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Every picture book must begin somewhere and those opening lines are surprisingly important. For one thing, buyers on Amazon who use the “Look Inside” feature to browse the book often only see…
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > There’s no one way to sign on the dotted line. Hi there. My name is Chaunie and I’m a published author. I say that to you, not to sound like a conceited…
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Many children’s writers have tried writing picture books. Some have gone on to tremendous success. Some have simply moved on to writing that suits their skill sets better. But the reality is…
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Confessions from a writer too scared to try the challenge. If you’re a writer reading this, I’ll just go ahead and say it: I know your secret, the one you’re embarrassed to…
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > As with many art forms and literary genre, the picture book has changed over time. Picture books are a fairly young art form. The beginning of true picture books can probably be…
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Techniques for pulling it all together. With National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) right around the corner, or if you’re about to write a new book, it’s helpful to have a plot outline…
In novel writing, transitions jump readers ahead in time or place quickly. Here’s how to leave the reality of a scene and skim ahead via a transition.
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Let’s get ready! NaNoWriMo is the National Novel Writing Month. Every November, writers of all ages and skills get together online and in community meet-ups to write their own 50,000-word novel. In one…
Few things are scarier in novel writing than a blank page. Since your rough draft is almost certain to change, the important thing is to begin.
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Don’t miss these in your manuscript Once you finish your novel, you should put it away for a few weeks so that you are fresh when you come back to edit it.…
Before plotting, comes planning the premise. The premise is the idea that will make this particular novel different and is the kernel from which the plot grows.
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Letting the reader experience what your characters are experiencing Dwight Swain, a prolific 1940s pulp author, wrote: “Most folks get ‘Show, don’t tell’ wrong because they take it literally rather than figuratively.…
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > For many children’s writers, the concept of attempting a novel is daunting at best and filled with questions. So for the sake of those looking toward this exciting writing option, let’s answer…