The power of quitting is very liberating. I am not talking about quitting writing altogether, but rather knowing when to quit a story when it just is not working. I belong to a writing group, Teach Write, of teachers who teach writing. They are a wonderful and supportive group of writers. Each week we set … Read more
It’s a new year and I decided to try a new approach; the sticky note approach to writing a picture book. I have long admired those writers who use sticky notes and while I am a notebook type of writer. I am trying something new and different. One of the most important elements of writing … Read more
Resolutions are great if you can stick to them. For me, by mid January I am back to my old habits. What if I told you that there was a better way to start your year? After reading One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon I decided to try it. Each year I pick … Read more
November 15th is I Love to Write Day. It is a day for people of all ages spend time writing. You can write a poem, a love letter, a greeting card, an essay, a short story, start a novel, finish a novel … the possibilities are endless. John Riddle, started I Love to Write Day … Read more
As a former teacher, I believe that there is a lesson in most things. The lessons I have learned from Gertie Saves the Day could fill a notebook or two. Hard as it is to believe, it has been two years since Gertie Saves the Day was published. Happy 2nd Birthday Gertie! My launch date was September 8th and … Read more
It is time for a summer break. A writing break is any time spent away from a writing project. It can be a short break— a day, a week—or a long break, like a month or a year. Regardless, writing breaks can help you clear your head, get a fresh perspective, accomplish other tasks, or simply … Read more
Picture book comps are a challenge, or at least they are a challenge for me! As an educator and parent, I have read thousands of picture books, but when it comes to finding picture book comps, I freeze. Comps are my querying nightmare! What are book comps? A book comp in is simply a comparison … Read more
With summer right around the corner, it’s time to get excited about sunny days that are perfect for writing. But when school is out we often find ourselves with a house full of children. Finding a balance between writing and family can become a daily challenge. I would like to share a few tips and … Read more
This week I attended two meeting with picture book authors. The topic of conversation was picture book writing with AI. Several authors were impressed by its ability to quickly produce large amounts of content. That is, content that is mostly accurate and mostly grammatically correct. I want to understand AI before deciding if it is … Read more
Rising Stars Picture Book Mentorship program pairs agented picture book creators that are knowledgeable about querying, agent calls, author-agent relationships, being on submission, book deals, and contract language, with the next generation of children’s book authors and illustrators for an immersive, custom-made mentorship experience that is more than just a critique. I submitted my application … Read more
