Over a week ago, my good friend Donna Bowman Bratton asked if I’d like to take part in a blog tour to talk about my writing process. Donna writes nonfiction and historical fiction for young readers. Her first two nonfiction books for Capstone Press will be released later this year followed by Step Right Up: The […]
Tag: Writing Life
Beaches and Butterflies and Beavers, Oh My!
It’s good to be back home after visiting my mom’s place in Canada but I do miss the beaches, butterflies and beavers that I saw while on our many adventures throughout my home province of Manitoba. Beaver house on one of the slews near Russell, MB The kids and I often took the car to […]
A Common Thread – More Thoughts
A couple of days ago I wrote the post A Common Thread in the Stories We Write (Click HERE to re-read it.) and then yesterday I was reading The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master by Martha Alderson, founder of PlotWrMo (Adams Media, 2011) in which Alderson talked about finding the […]
A Common Thread In the Stories We Write
Have you ever noticed a common thread emerging in the stories you write for children? Take a look at what you’re writing. Is there a pattern surfacing? A common theme? Well, several months ago, I was looking at the body of my works-in-progress and I said, “Holy cow!” The majority of the stories I write […]
Why We Write for Children
At this time in the season, I always find myself sitting back and reflecting about the many things I’m thankful for such as my family, air in my lungs, a roof over my head, words in my head and memories to fill my heart. I’m also thankful for the wonderful writing community I belong to […]
Word After Word After Word
I just finished reading Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia Maclachlan’s Word After Word After Word (Katherine Tegan Books, 2010). Twice. The first time I read it, I was swept away by the story. The second time I read it intentionally with a writer’s eye. It was hard not to get swept away again. I stopped several times. […]