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

MYC The Dread Pirate Synopsis: Into the Shallows

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss writing a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last year, we walked you through every step from getting the big idea through polishing your finished novel. Last time, we posted some tips for drafting a query. This week, we’re tackling the dreaded synopsis. Numerous resources exist for how to write a synopsis. Any writer … Continue reading MYC The Dread Pirate Synopsis: Into the Shallows

Rebecca PetruckMarch 21, 2018May 2, 20191 Comment

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Query Tips, Tricks and Tidbits

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss writing a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last year, we walked you through every step from getting the big idea through polishing your finished novel. Last week, we tried to answer the question Are you ready to query? So if you answered “YES!” this week, we aim to help you get your query drafted. Queries … Continue reading MYC: Query Tips, Tricks and Tidbits

Richelle MorganMarch 7, 2018May 2, 2019Leave a comment

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC – Six Steps to a Query-Ready Manuscript

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss writing a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last year, we walked you through every step from getting the big idea through polishing your finished novel. This week, we tackle one of the most frequently asked questions in the history of the known world in your critique group and beyond: Is your manuscript query-ready? … Continue reading MYC – Six Steps to a Query-Ready Manuscript

Julie ArtzFebruary 28, 2018May 2, 20192 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

It’s BACK! Master Your Craft Returns

So you’ve finished your book, polished and pruned and read it through a few million times. What do you do now? The Winged Pen’s Master Your Craft (#WPMYC) Series is back to guide you through all the hard work that comes after you finally complete your novel. Next week, we’ll be tackling the very first question you should ask yourself when you’ve revised as much … Continue reading It’s BACK! Master Your Craft Returns

Richelle MorganFebruary 21, 2018October 5, 20182 Comments

Creativity and Craft

The Magic of Friendship

I’m working on revising one novel and pre-writing another, and one thing keeps coming up with both projects: friendship. I have two teen daughters, and I can tell you that EVERYTHING revolves around friends. And I remember that from my own teenage years – friendships were all-consuming, intense, up and down, and central to my daily life. So as I’ve worked on these two projects, … Continue reading The Magic of Friendship

Richelle MorganFebruary 12, 2018May 2, 2019Leave a comment

Conferences & writing retreats, Creativity and Craft, Writer's Life

Get Ready for WriteOnCon!

WriteOnCon is near and dear to our hearts at the Winged Pen because it’s where a lot of us first connected. I’ll be attending this year and I hope you will be too! If you haven’t before, here’s some tips on making the most of it. What is WriteOnCon? WriteOnCon is an online writing conference. No pricey registration fees. No hotel rooms required. No extended … Continue reading Get Ready for WriteOnCon!

Rebecca J. AllenFebruary 6, 2018June 2, 20195 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft, Writer's Life

How to Survive Your Toughest Draft

For the last couple of years, every time one of my writer pals would ask me what I was working on, the answer was the same breezy, “Oh, I’m still plugging away on that rockstar mom book I told you about ages ago.” I’m pretty sure that more than a few of them wondered if I shouldn’t just give it up and move on to … Continue reading How to Survive Your Toughest Draft

Richelle MorganJanuary 15, 2018May 2, 201910 Comments

Book Recommendations, Creativity and Craft, Writer's Life

New Goals + New Approach = New Opportunities

The new year is here. What does that mean? Resolutions! We all make them and unfortunately about one third of us break them. I’m sad to say I am in that group. Let me give you some examples from my life. Resolution 1: Cut out frivilous spending. Reality: This beautiful journal with the sun and stars cover will make me a better writer. I need it. Resolution … Continue reading New Goals + New Approach = New Opportunities

Halli GomezJanuary 8, 2018May 2, 20191 Comment

Creativity and Craft, Writer's Life

What Did I Do in 2017?

The end of the year is close. When I changed the calendar from October to November, I felt as if I wasted the entire year. Of course I spent too much time on social media, binge-watched several TV shows, and stood for what seemed like hours in front of the coffee machine waiting for the cup to fill, but as far as writing, what exactly … Continue reading What Did I Do in 2017?

Halli GomezDecember 11, 2017November 9, 20173 Comments

Creativity and Craft

Six Mentors to Help You Plan Your Novel Series

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

Laurel DecherNovember 15, 2017November 14, 2017Leave a comment

Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Wrap-up

This week’s MYC post is going to be a bit different because instead of focusing on an aspect of writing a novel, this week, we’re focusing on YOU! So, THANK YOU for following along on our series, which addressed everything from finding a big idea for your story, to honing in on voice, to charging through that first draft, to tightening your manuscript and getting … Continue reading MYC: Wrap-up

Richelle MorganNovember 8, 2017October 5, 20184 Comments

Creativity and Craft, Interviews

Writing About Native Americans: A Diversity Conversation with Kara Stewart

Welcome to The Winged Pen, Kara! Thank you for taking the time to talk with us about Writing About Native Americans. I know many readers/writers in my circle are eager to learn more about this topic. Tell us a little about yourself and your passion for Native American Literature, especially for children. Kara: I’ve been a Literacy Coach and Reading Specialist in the public schools … Continue reading Writing About Native Americans: A Diversity Conversation with Kara Stewart