It’s easy to go to a writing conference and think that there is only one road to a published book: Agent–> Editor–> Publisher–> New York Times Bestselling Author. 🙂
Many children’s books are produced by a completely different path. With a Work-For-Hire project… Continue reading WHAT HAPPENED? Halli Gomez, Rebecca J. Allen and the Work-for-Hire Writing Process
A sprint is a timed exercise for writers, usually used to get lots of words onto the page. Today, six of our Winged Pen members give their 7 best sprinting tips. Let it fly! Laurel Decher: Chris Fox’s 5,000 Words Per Hour reminded me that it isn’t always about getting more words or the right voice. I made myself a doodle: 1. I want to … Continue reading A Winged Pen Round-Up: 7 Best Tips for Writing Sprints
It’s March and some of us are working hard to get words on the page before summer comes (or school gets out.) I asked my fellow Winged Pen writers to describe a favorite writing technique or a trusty stand-by that they use regularly. Sketch. Use a “marker” for the parts you don’t know. Get whatever you’ve got onto the page and use [add tech here] … Continue reading 7 Simple Trustworthy Tricks for to Keep Your Draft Moving Smoothly
Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Last year, we walked you through every step from getting the big idea through polishing your finished novel. Our bonus post this week dipped back into craft and how to give your story cliffhangers. Last week, we were all about querying strategy. Naturally, this week is about The Waiting Game and how to play it. <cue game show music> … Continue reading MYC: The Waiting Game and 15 Ways to Play It
If you’ve ever tried to figure out how long your manuscript will be or whether you have ‘enough’ for a series, this round-up of series-planning tools and tips is for you. It’s all about choice. Resist the urge to fall down the tool rabbit-hole. 🙂 As the Writing Excuses‘ team points out, the goal for books in a series is “the same but different.” You … Continue reading Six Mentors to Help You Plan Your Novel Series
At The Winged Pen, we’ve written about Angela Ackerman’s and Becca Puglisi’s wonderful writing books before. So we’re super excited to tell you about their newest one: The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Psychological Trauma. Yay!!!!! *shoots off rockets* A wound, in the writing world, is the hurt the main character carries around that keeps him or her holding onto a lie. A … Continue reading Need Stronger Backstory for Your Characters? The Emotional Wound Thesaurus to the rescue!
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
If you’re an eleven-year-old girl in the middle ages, becoming an artist is almost impossible! Even when you have a special talent. Author Jackie Randall brings the earthy but beautiful world of the middle ages to life in this story of art, theft, persistence, and friendship. “The year is 1398. Eleven-year-old Emelin Lambert is quick-witted, mouthy, and an orphan. She also has an incredible gift … Continue reading Becoming an artist: Jackie Randall’s historical middle grade EMELIN
Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi do it again! Introducing The Rural Setting Thesaurus! Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Urban Setting Thesaurus in exchange for an honest review. I also bought a copy of The Rural Setting Thesaurus because it has GOOD STUFF for #kidlit. You know, SHINY settings, like Backyard, Basement, Birthday Party, Child’s Bedroom, Halloween Party, Outhouse, and *cough* Secret Passageway, … Continue reading Spark a Story with the Setting Exercises in The Rural Setting Thesaurus
Revising a novel is a form of bookkeeping. So many moving parts!! How do you keep from losing your mind? Never fear, writer friends! The Winged Pen is here! Ta daaaa! Give your revision Wings: Download the Tame Your Revision Infographic here. INVENTORY Make a scene list. Timeline Map of Major Scenes Draw, Doodle, Diagram, Index Card, Cut up Manuscript, Synopsis, Query Letter, Colored Markers. … Continue reading Tame Your Revision: 7 Tips to Finish Your Novel Before Your Battery Dies
Here are ten books for Middle Grade readers (9 to 12) I enjoyed reading this year. Maybe you’ll find something for the special readers on your holiday gift list. Nancy Cavanaugh’s THIS JOURNAL BELONGS TO RATCHET is the story of a lonely girl with a gift for auto mechanics, her tree-hugging granola-head father, and how she finds real friends. Gennifer Choldenko’s AL CAPONE DOES MY … Continue reading 10 Great Books for the Young Readers on Your List
Fellow writers! The 8 on Eight contest window is OPEN! Q: I must have missed the announcement. What is 8 on Eight? A monthly contest that provides one lucky kidlit writer with feedback on their opening eight lines! As part of our ongoing mission to support writers, we’ll give a PB, CB, MG, or YA writer feedback on their work from at least 8 of The Winged … Continue reading 8 on Eight Contest Window is Now Open!
