March Four on 400 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. Middle Grade … Continue reading March Four on 400 Feedback
Self-Care for Writers
Writers need self-care, too! Check out our Winged Pen tips. Continue reading Self-Care for Writers
March Four on 400 Contest
Q: What is Four on 400? A monthly contest that provides ONE LUCKY MG or YA WRITER with feedback on their opening 400 WORDS! As part of our ongoing mission to support writers, we’ll give a MG or YA writer feedback from four of The Winged Pen’s contributors. Q: Sounds exciting! How do I enter? To enter, simply click the link the at the bottom of this post and submit … Continue reading March Four on 400 Contest
Tales From an Introvert: My Experience at the SCBWI Winter Conference 2019
We’ve all heard that writers are introverts. Maybe it’s because we spend so much time working alone, or because we’re always in our heads thinking, developing, and writing stories. Some writers know how to get out of their own minds and socialize when at conferences. Others do not. I fall into the DO NOT category. But let me explain. Not only am I constantly writing … Continue reading Tales From an Introvert: My Experience at the SCBWI Winter Conference 2019
The CYBILS Award YA Speculative Fiction Short List – A Wrap-up
Serving as a judge for the CYBILS Book Awards provided me with the opportunity to discuss 7 great stories with fellow book nerds. I read the spec fic category, which includes fantasy, sci fi, magical realism, and alternate history – all genres with lots of world building and action! If this is the type of story you enjoy, you should check out these short-listed books. It was hard to pick a winner! Continue reading The CYBILS Award YA Speculative Fiction Short List – A Wrap-up
Featured: GAME OF STARS
Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences. This week we are featuring GAME OF STARS, book #2 in the KIRANMALA AND THE KINGDOM BEYOND series by Sayantani DasGupta. Princess Kiranmala is back home in plain old New Jersey, trying to readjust to normal middle school life. Just four months ago … Continue reading Featured: GAME OF STARS
Book Release! Emotion Thesaurus Second Edition
Hello! Today I’m helping authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi launch their new book, The Emotion Thesaurus (Second Edition)! You might know about The Emotion Thesaurus and even have it on your shelf. But chances are, you may not have known a second edition was in the works. Becca and Angela decided to keep it a surprise and only recently announced the book was releasing! So not only … Continue reading Book Release! Emotion Thesaurus Second Edition
Book Birthday and Author Interview: The Unicorn Quest, Secret in the Stone by Kamilla Benko
Kamilla Benko’s second book in THE UNICORN QUEST series, SECRET IN THE STONE, releases today! To celebrate, Kamilla has dropped by to chat. Before we begin, let’s take a look at the publisher’s description of her new story: Claire Martinson and her sister Sophie have decided to stay in Arden–the magical land they discovered by climbing up a chimney in their great-aunt’s manor. If what … Continue reading Book Birthday and Author Interview: The Unicorn Quest, Secret in the Stone by Kamilla Benko
February Four on 400 Winner 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. Middle Grade: … Continue reading February Four on 400 Winner Feedback
Featured: WATCH US RISE by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences. This week we are featuring WATCH US RISE by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan. Chelsea and Jasmine grow frustrated with the way girls are treated at their supposedly progressive New York City high school– body shaming, stereotyping, and unapproved … Continue reading Featured: WATCH US RISE by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
Featured: The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away by Ronald L. Smith
Welcome to Windows & Mirrors, where we feature books that provide us windows to lives outside our own and mirrors to our shared common human experiences. This week we are featuring The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away by Ronald L. Smith. I have been wanting to read The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away since before I knew the title! Ronald. L. … Continue reading Featured: The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away by Ronald L. Smith
My Writing Life to Date: Stay-at-Home Dad & Words
During this morning’s writing session I was reflecting on how long I’ve been at this writing gig. Not in a bad way. Strictly the facts. I’ve written five middle grade novels now. It’s impressive to me when others in the arts share their struggles WITHOUT some big news to share at the end. Just the challenging points in the middle with no “but-now-I’ve-made-it” caveat. So … Continue reading My Writing Life to Date: Stay-at-Home Dad & Words
