Four on 400 October Feedback

Thank you to all the brave souls who entered this month’s Four on 400 contest! Sharing your writing takes courage, and we appreciate your enthusiasm for our contest.Below, we’ve posted the first 400 words from this month’s winner, along with feedback from at least four of our members. We also encourage our readers to share their (constructive) suggestions and encouragement in the comments section below. Camp Chrysalis (Middle … Continue reading Four on 400 October Feedback

Gita TreleaseOctober 14, 2017June 2, 20192 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Make Your Story Fit Your Reader

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss prewriting and drafting a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last week, we talked about Creating Interesting Dialogue and Description. This week, we’ll discuss making sure the content and sentence, paragraph, chapter, and word count work for your reader. As you are revising, one important step in the process is to make sure … Continue reading MYC: Make Your Story Fit Your Reader

Michelle LeonardOctober 11, 2017May 2, 20191 Comment

image shows middle grade and young adult fiction books open with text face out

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Playing with Language

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss prewriting and drafting a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last week, we continued our series on revision with a look at first and last pages. This week, we’re diving into making your language shine. After the long slog of drafting and re-drafting and revising and editing, it can be hard to remember what … Continue reading MYC: Playing with Language

Richelle MorganOctober 4, 2017May 2, 20192 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Writing “Other” with Sensitivity

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss prewriting and drafting a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last week, we talked about the Power of Metaphor. This week, we’ll discuss writing “other” characters. What is writing “Other”? It simply means writing characters that are not like yourself. Some writers are terrified to try this. If you’ve ever witnessed arguments about … Continue reading MYC: Writing “Other” with Sensitivity

Michelle LeonardSeptember 20, 2017May 2, 20191 Comment

Author, Creativity and Craft, Interviews, Writer's Life

A New Writing Podcast! MOM WRITES: THE DIRTY LAUNDRY ABOUT WRITING WITH KIDS

I subscribe to Jennie Nash’s newsletter and read her blog posts. She’s an instructor at the UCLA Extension Writing Program; the founder of Author Accelerator, a book coaching company; and generally a smart lady. So when I read that she was involved in a new writing podcast I wanted it to know what it was about. Mom Writes: The Dirty Laundry about Writing with Kids … Continue reading A New Writing Podcast! MOM WRITES: THE DIRTY LAUNDRY ABOUT WRITING WITH KIDS

Rebecca J. AllenSeptember 18, 2017June 2, 20191 Comment

Master Your Craft

MYC: Using Metaphor

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss pre-writing and drafting a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last week, we talked about revising your world building. This week, Gita Trelease and Gabrielle Byrne talk about how to create powerful metaphors. Metaphor and simile are among the richest, most useful tools in any writer’s kit. The word “metaphor” comes from the … Continue reading MYC: Using Metaphor

Gabrielle ByrneSeptember 13, 2017May 2, 20191 Comment

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Dynamic Dialogue

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss prewriting and drafting a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last week, we continued our series on revision with Editing the Big Picture. This week, we’re diving in to crafting dynamic dialogue. Are your readers complaining of stilted dialogue, too many monologues, or not enough “voice” in your characters’ spoken words? If yes, you … Continue reading MYC: Dynamic Dialogue

Julie ArtzAugust 30, 2017May 2, 20191 Comment

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Editing the Big Picture

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss prewriting and drafting a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last week, we talked about the importance of Writing with Emotion. This week, we’re stepping back and looking at the Big Picture. One thing this MYC series has taught me over the last few weeks is that there is no one way to write … Continue reading MYC: Editing the Big Picture

Richelle MorganAugust 23, 2017May 2, 2019Leave a comment

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: How and When to Write Emotion

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss prewriting and drafting a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last week, we talked about the importance of Pacing and Tension. This week, we’re looking at emotion. I don’t know about you, but this topic brings out a lot of emotion because it is so closely tied to the phrase writers love to hate: show … Continue reading MYC: How and When to Write Emotion

Halli GomezAugust 16, 2017May 2, 20191 Comment

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Letting it Sit

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss prewriting and drafting a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last week, we looked at two Pennies’ thoughts on revising while drafting. This week, we’re talking about the very first step in revising your novel: letting it sit. Congratulations! You’ve written the first draft of your novel! Yay you! Now what? You … Continue reading MYC: Letting it Sit

Richelle MorganAugust 2, 2017May 2, 20193 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Two Opinions on Revising While Drafting

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss prewriting and drafting a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last week, we looked at the saggy middle. Today we’re tackling a somewhat controversial subject: revising while drafting. Two of our Pennies sat down and discussed their different approaches to revising your manuscript while you’re still drafting it. Richelle: When I say … Continue reading MYC: Two Opinions on Revising While Drafting

Richelle MorganJuly 26, 2017May 2, 2019Leave a comment

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Two Steps to Make the Saggy Middle Berry, Berry Good

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss prewriting and drafting a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last week, we covered Facing the Blank Page. This week, I’ll discuss the “saggy middle”. Note: Handy list of Master Your Craft topics so far. The “saggy middle” happens to the unsuspecting at any time. Some are struck down during plotting … Continue reading MYC: Two Steps to Make the Saggy Middle Berry, Berry Good