Wish you could afford a writing coach to hold your hand and encourage you to write each day? Me too! But if that’s not in your budget right now, don’t despair. You can learn to be your own best writing friend. With Friends Like This… If a friend from your critique group told you “I just […]
Month: August 2013
A Treat for You: Speech by Kate DiCamillo
Here’s a treat for you! Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo received the 2013 Kerlan Award on Saturday, June 8. Here is her acceptance speech, posted by the University of Minnesota. Happy watching! [Kate’s speech comes after the introductions, around Minute #18.] Her Newbery was for The Tale of Despereaux. You’ll laugh, you’ll sigh, you’ll identify. Enjoy […]
For Writers: Gems on the Web!
While I’m away from my desk this week, I want to share with you some “gems” I’ve gathered in recent weeks from the Web. I hope you will take time to read and/or print out both things listed today. You’ll be glad you did! Gem#1 So You Want to Write Books for Children? Is writing […]
Writing Strategy: Acting AS IF
(First re-read the last post: New Twist on the Thought-Feeling-Behavior Writing Cycle.) After three very busy weeks (two new grandbabies, lots of travel, a conference, two work-for-hire deadlines), I was finally able to sit down for a lengthy time yesterday and write on my novel. Or so I thought. I sat down all right, but once […]
New Twist on the Thought-Feeling-Behavior Writing Cycle
“Enthusiasm, motivation, and dedication are necessary for your success as a writer,” says Kelly L. Stone, author of Living Write: the secret to inviting your craft into your daily life. But…what if you don’t have all those emotional tools (the enthusiasm, motivation and dedication) at your disposal? “Don’t worry,” says Kelly. “They can be learned […]
Chop! Chop! Writing in 20-Minute Slices
Thirty years ago I read an article that said writing was like eating a salami. You’d choke if you tried to swallow the whole thing at once. Slice by slice, though, it was easy. Life has been hectic lately, with few large chunks of time to work. So I went back to creating 20-minute tasks […]
Writers at Work: Accepting the Accountability Challenge
Many of you know that we’ve added two new grandbabies to the family in less than two weeks. (Photos below.) Because I’ve been spending many wonderful hours holding babies, I am going to post a guest blog today, but it’s actually one that I wrote myself for the blog of good friends of mine. It’s […]