Words Have Wings
Drop Everything and Read Day
Drop Everything And Read Day is a special reading celebration day that was designed to encourage families to make reading together each day a family priority and habit. Families are encouraged to read and enjoy books together for at least 30 minutes. April 12 is also the birthday of the children’s author Beverly Cleary. Beverly Cleary received many letters from students who enjoyed D.E.A.R. time at their … Read more
Encourage a Young Writer Day
April 10th is Encourage a Young Writer Day. This national event gives teachers and parents an opportunity to help young writers use their ideas to create a story. Most children are natural storytellers. Their imagination and creativity allows them to come up with some of the best stories. Reading cultivates imagination, vocabulary, and basic writing skills – … Read more
Let’s Celebrate International Children’s Book Day
I love celebrations, especially those that involve books. International Children’s Book Day is a day to celebrate children’s books which includes picture books and easy-to-read stories written exclusively for children, and fairy tales, lullabies, fables, folk songs, and more. What is International Children’s Book Day? International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is a celebrated event dedicated … Read more
Editing Hacks
Editing your picture book is more than using spelling and grammar checks. If you take the time to learn and incorporate better self editing techniques, you can become a stronger writer. I appreciate those who choose to be an editor. The editors I have worked with, truly enjoy their work. A good editor understands what you … Read more
WIP Summit 2024
The Women in Publishing Summit (WIP Summit 2024) is an online conference. It is held the first week of March and it features women, and those who identify as women, who are authors, editors and publishing professionals. It’s a multi-day virtual event. All sessions are held LIVE on Zoom, and the conference covers topics on … Read more
Self Editing
When people ask me what I am writing, the truth is most of the time I am editing a story. While every author needs to have their manuscript edited by a professional editor, but authors can begin with a good self edit. I have found that incorporating self editing techniques before sending my manuscript off … Read more
Take a Leap
In honor of leap day, I encourage you to take a leap today. It can be a small leap or a giant leap the choice is yours. What I have learned is that when you take a leap is just like flexing a muscle. The more you exercise it, the easier it gets and the more … Read more
Always Be Connecting
“Always be connecting” is a phrase I have heard over and over again from fellow authors. There is value in connecting with other writers, no matter where you are in your author journey. I highly recommend connecting with others who share similar goals. Writing is mostly a solitary activity with you and your computer. Connecting … Read more
Read Aloud Day
On February 7, 2024 classrooms around the world took time to celebrate and honor the power of reading and sharing stories and expand the scope of global literacy. As Pam Allyn, creator of World Read Aloud Day, reminds us, “World Read Aloud Day celebrates the power, magic, and influence of the read aloud for children … Read more