Names say so much about a person. When you get a call or email from a stranger, you immediately get an idea of what that person looks like in your head based on their name. Some names sound blonde to me, like Vicki (maybe because I have a friend from my teen years who’s blonde).…
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A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the SCBWI Houston Editor’s Day, where five editors — Simon & Schuster’s Alexandra Penfold, Beach Lane Books’ Allyn Johnston, Golden Books/Random House’s Diane Muldrow, Egmont USA’s Elizabeth Law and Sleeping Bear Press’ Amy Lennex — talked about what they look for when they’re considering a book to…
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I was asked this question at the SCBWI Houston Editor’s Day, and it’s something I’ve asked myself a lot. In our lunchtime discussion at the conference, one of the attendees said she hadn’t written for a while, and when someone asked her if she was a writer or illustrator, she said she felt funny saying…
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As I mentioned last week, I attended the SCBWI Houston Editor’s Day last Saturday, and it was fabulous. Five editors gave talks and then chatted with us over some Mexican food. As each talked about their books and what they look for in books, one theme kept cropping up: books that resonate, books that stay…
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I’m still planning to write up a more detailed account of the SCBWI Houston Editor’s Day on Saturday, so think of this as a primer. Finding time to write seemed to be a theme for the writers at the conference, fitting in our novels/picture books/whatever between our day-jobs and families. A number of writers I…
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Wow, the week passes fast. It’s Monday again, so it’s time for the Community Story. But first a little update. At the beginning of last week, I was ahead on my writing goal of revising six chapters a week and feeling really good. The end of the week got hectic, however, and I ended Sunday…
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As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve been somewhat of an absentee blogger lately. First I was busy, then I was sick, then I was busy and sick, and now I’m back to busy. And when I say busy, I don’t mean I have writing deadlines for my novel that I have to achieve. (I wish!) I’m talking…
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It’s Monday, so you know what that means: Community Story time. But before I get into that, an update from me. This morning I finally started my polish of my novel. I meant to start on Saturday, but procrastinated until I ran out of time. Then I planned to start on Sunday, but couldn’t get…
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I love writing quotes (quotes about writing, not writing them myself), those pithy phrases that inspire us and make us smile and think. I read some fun ones from author J.A. Konrath on his A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing blog. He uploaded them on Jan. 24, but I’m a little behind on my blog reading. Click here…
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I talk a lot about the importance of writing every day and for some, I understand that it’s not the way they work. But for me, I can tell you, I need it. Writing is like a drug, and I feel as though I’ve been jonesing for a fix for the last few weeks. A few…
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