Work-for-Hire Writing: Getting Your Foot in the Publishing Door
In May 2018, I attended a workshop on work-for-hire writing at the New England SCBWI Conference. I was interested in finding out what work-for-hire was about.
In retrospect, I wish I’d done that earlier in my writing career… Continue reading Work-for-Hire Writing: Getting Your Foot in the Publishing Door
Writing Neurodiverse Characters Responsibly
Who is ready for WriteOnCon? You know we are! For those who can’t wait until next week, I am going to give you a sneak peek into my presentation about neurodiversity. The entire presentation will be shown on Sunday, February 23, 2020, from 12:00 – 12:30 pm EST. Of course, if you get an extended ticket, you can view all events throughout March 22, 2020. … Continue reading Writing Neurodiverse Characters Responsibly
WriteOnCon 2020 – An Online Kidlit Writers’ Conference
WriteOnCon 2020 is right around the corner, Friday, February 21st – Sunday the 23rd. This year, Halli and I will both be speaking at the conference, so we wanted to share info on the talks we’ll be giving as well as topics we’re excited about in the line-up… Continue reading WriteOnCon 2020 – An Online Kidlit Writers’ Conference
Recommended: SHOWTIME SABOTAGE by Verity Weaver
Do you like to solve mysteries? Know an amateur detective? Need a series for reluctant readers? The What Happened Series is the answer. And SHOWTIME SABOTAGE is the perfect place to start. Green Valley Middle School’s theater students knew their production of Pirates and Lost Boys was cursed. After months of snow days, chicken pox, and flaring rivalries, they have finally made it to opening … Continue reading Recommended: SHOWTIME SABOTAGE by Verity Weaver
Recommended: FITNESS FIASCO by Verity Weaver
The thing I loved about this book was the genuine characters. My favorite might be Dawson, the martial arts guy planning to stage a karate brick-break to recover from his embarrassing flop… Continue reading Recommended: FITNESS FIASCO by Verity Weaver
Reflections on My First NaNo
This past November, I did my first ever NaNoWriMo! I’ve always wanted to try and have followed others’ tweets and posts about it with envy, but November has historically been too busy a time of year for me to take on an all-consuming project like writing an entire novel in 30 days. In 2019, though, the stars aligned, and I decided to dive in. THE … Continue reading Reflections on My First NaNo
Jump Back into Writing With a Hop
Holy moly! A new year. A new decade. Both come with excitement, motivation, and promise. But they also come with stress. If you’re like most people, you didn’t get a lot of writing done during the holidays. Either you were enjoying a house filled with friends and family, filling someone else’s house with holiday cheer, or hanging out at home stuck in a sugar rush-crash-rush-crash … Continue reading Jump Back into Writing With a Hop
This Blog Is Under Construction!
Since we started blogging, members have written front-list books with big 5 publishers and work-for-hire books. Some have become Pitch Wars mentees and/or Pitch Wars mentors. Some now offer critiquing/writer coaching services… Continue reading This Blog Is Under Construction!
Interview and Giveaway with Author Clare Hodgson Meeker
I’m thrilled to introduce my friend and nonfiction author Clare Hodgson Meeker! The Winged Pen is delighted to help her celebrate the release of GROWING UP GORILLA. Gorillas are one of my favorite animals and this story took place right at our local zoo. It’s a gorgeous picture book full of facts and pictures and one that elementary school children will ask for again and … Continue reading Interview and Giveaway with Author Clare Hodgson Meeker
MYC: Sit Up Straight!
Can posture improve your writing? This was a question I pondered when author Amber Smith visited me for a few days. In my efforts to be a good host, I kept trying to encourage her to write in “comfy” spots, like my soft couch or a beanbag chair outside. She confessed she had to sit upright at a desk or table to feel like she … Continue reading MYC: Sit Up Straight!
November 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) and encouragement in the comments section below. Young Adult: Dilla’s … Continue reading November Four on 400 Feedback!
MYC: The Hook & the Backpedal
First pages of a manuscript are tough to get right. Advice generally encourages writers to jump into the action to hook readers, but readers need a certain amount of information first in order to care about the people or events. I’ve written about this before in my post “Let the Main Character Drive the Bus,” and now I’d like to come at it from a … Continue reading MYC: The Hook & the Backpedal