4 on 400: February 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. The Mouse … Continue reading 4 on 400: February Feedback
Brandon Mull’s Creative Juices
Brandon Mull writes for boys using his relentless imagination and his scouting experience. He has written Beyonders, Fablehaven, and Five Kingdom among others. Mull says in an interview with Tori Ackerman, “I wanted to go to a world where there was a lot to discover, but still light and fun.” If Brandon Mull’s series appeal to every demand of one’s imagination, it’s because the author … Continue reading Brandon Mull’s Creative Juices
Star in MG / YA Magazines
Although often not lucrative, magazine publications can offer you many benefits. They help your name get out there and stand out from the crowd of writers; they can give you a unique insight into the publication world; they can help you be more productive and serve as experimental pieces; they can help you connect with other authors; you might attract the attention of an editor … Continue reading Star in MG / YA Magazines
Twitter 101 for Writers
Over the holidays, my father-in-law mentioned that a friend had just written a book, his memoirs about the Vietnam War. Since my father-in-law knows I write, I felt like I should offer to help his friend, but I write middle grade and young adult stories. What useful advice would I have? Then I asked if his friend was on Twitter. He wasn’t. That opened up … Continue reading Twitter 101 for Writers
Creative Cross-Pollination
Cross-pollination: the transfer of pollen from one type of plant to another type of plant of the same species, often by insects or wind. When you’re working really hard on a writing project, tunnel vision can creep in. It makes sense. Your life is busy, the publishing industry is slow, and you need to finish your book yesterday. So if you have time to do … Continue reading Creative Cross-Pollination
Our February #Fouron400 Kidlit Writing Contest Window is now Open!
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 on their work from four of The Winged Pen’s contributors. Q: Sounds exciting! How do I enter? To enter, simply comment at the bottom of this post! At 4pm (EST) … Continue reading Our February #Fouron400 Kidlit Writing Contest Window is now Open!
The Four C’s — Yoga Rules for Writing
Back when I took my first yoga class, the teacher warned us to avoid “The Four C’s” – comparing, competing, complaining, and criticizing. I can still vividly remember feeling so chastised – I had committed every single one of those sins! In the years since that first class, The Four C’s have popped into my head at various times – while taking yoga or other … Continue reading The Four C’s — Yoga Rules for Writing
Book Birthday Twofer: CARAVAL and EDGE OF EVERYTHING
With two books we love coming out on the same day, we debated what to do. Give one book the spotlight today and feature the other another day? Arm wrestle for the blog spot? (That would be a pathetic sight!) But our own birthdays are only a week apart and we celebrated them together with a glass of bubbly—after a morning of talking through fixes for … Continue reading Book Birthday Twofer: CARAVAL and EDGE OF EVERYTHING
Book Talk with Author Jessica Lawson
Jessica Lawson is not only the author of three terrific middle grade books, she’s also an all-around cool human being. When she discovered my daughter was a fan, she commenced a covert operation to make sure a swag bag, along with a handwritten note, was waiting under the tree for my daughter on Christmas morning. Today, she’s agreed to chat with the Winged Pen. Jessica, … Continue reading Book Talk with Author Jessica Lawson
Review – How to Write Dazzling Dialogue: The Fastest Way To Improve Any Manuscript
In How to Write Dazzling Dialogue: The Fastest Way To Improve Any Manuscript, James Scott Bell promises the reader craft secrets to shape great dialogue. As a writer juggling a full life, the phrase “fastest way to improve” catches my eye and I hit Amazon’s buy now button. When the book arrives, it’s a slim 135 pages. Was it worth the price? Will it stay … Continue reading Review – How to Write Dazzling Dialogue: The Fastest Way To Improve Any Manuscript
How to Break Your Resolutions & Live to Tell About It
It’s still January and everyone’s talking about goals. Making goals, keeping goals, how to write your goals and Blah, Blah, Blah! Actually, I’m a very goal oriented person. I love goals. I make goals to shatter them, not just reach them. BUT 2016 was a bit of a different story. Shortly after finalizing the edits for my first book, I hit a huge snag. A … Continue reading How to Break Your Resolutions & Live to Tell About It
Happy Release Day to The Outs!
Today, I’m thrilled to welcome my friend and critique partner E. S. Wesley to The Winged Pen to talk about the release of his debut, The Outs. JA: Congratulations on your debut! Can you tell us a little bit about The Outs’ journey toward publication? ESW: Sure thing! The Outs was the culmination of other work I’d done in the past, developing this idea and exploring what … Continue reading Happy Release Day to The Outs!
