It is my honor to host Tameka Brown, a local Charlotte, NC picture book author. Her latest book, My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood was just released last week. Here she talks about the inspiration for the book and the impact she hopes it will have on readers. At the end you'll see how you… Continue reading Guest Blog with Tameka Brown and a Giveaway!
My most recent book is Teaching the Story: Fiction Writing in Grades 4-8. Although intended as a teacher's guide for upper elementary and middle school students, I draw upon it when I teach writing classes at Central Piedmont Community College. I was looking over this week's class on Creating a Character and found my instructions for students to… Continue reading When the Teacher Becomes the Student PLUS a Great Giveaway!
My friend and role model, Joyce Hostetter, tagged me last week in a work-in-progress meme called, "The Next Big Thing." You can read about Joyce's WIP here, and since I've had the privilege of reading parts of it, I can tell you that it will be great! Now it's my turn to answer eight questions… Continue reading My Next Big Thing
Looking for an affordable writing event that will pump up your work in progress? Look no further! The following information is from the Write2Ignite Blog. Write2Ignite! Conference for Christian Writers of Literature for Children and Young Adults Presents: A Day Apart You love to write. Right? But it is highly possibly that you dread re-writing. A… Continue reading A Day Apart
I am in the middle of teaching a Fiction Writing class at CPCC. Scott Kusel, a voice and film actor, has been learning how revision improves writing. In this blog he shares his observations on the writing process as well a "Before" and "After" character sketch. SCOTT'S THOUGHTS ON REVISION: I am learning that writing… Continue reading Revision Works
Judy, hard at work on her new laptop computer. I met Judy at a Highlights Writers Workshop two years ago. When I saw on Facebook that she was attending an editing workshop with Stephen Roxburgh, I asked her to be my guest blogger. I hope you enjoy these reflections on her experience. ******************* Writing is a… Continue reading Guest Blog: A Fresh Perspective by Judy Beglau
If you have taken a writing class with me, than you have heard me extol the virtues of the red pencil as your best friend. One of the themes of Teaching the Story is that revision happens on many levels. Writers must be ready to delete their "word treasures," rewrite sentences, add or remove paragraphs,… Continue reading In Which I Take My Own Advice
Harold Underdown and I at the Highlights Writers Workshop at Chautauqua Highlights Foundation offers a number of excellent writing workshops throughout the year. This one in March features Harold Underdown, an expert in the field of writing and publishing for children. I was fortunate to work with Harold when I attended Chautauqua two years ago.… Continue reading Learn to Revise with Harold Underdown
image from http://www.uber-kitty.com/ If you have taken a writing workshop with me or who are familiar with Teaching the Story, you know that I always stress a positive approach to revision. DevoKids, a Christian website dedicated to providing spiritual inspiration, fun activities, and writing instruction for young people, is now featuring my article on this topic. A funny thing happened… Continue reading The Red Pencil is Your Students' Best Friend
Last February I had the privilege of reading a rough draft of Committed! (working title) by Joyce Hostetter, my fellow Talking Story partner and my inspiration for writing historical fiction. Although Joyce hadn’t signed a contract for it, she had already spent two years writing it. I finished reading it with tears in my eyes… Continue reading A Committed Writer