"Pansy Smith has just heard the most amazing news in her life. Her best friend Anna, who became brain-damaged fifteen months ago, is going to have an operation that could cure her. Now it’s time for Pansy to become all those things she hasn’t been in the past: Brave. Smart. Talented. Exceptional. The perfect friend… Continue reading Bragging on a Friend – Perseverance Pays Off!
Tag: SCBWI
Writing for Children
My granddaughter, Ebby Clark, reading before bedtime. Have you always wanted to write a book for children but didn't know where to begin? If you live in the Charlotte, NC area than you can take a class that covers the basics of writing and publishing for young readers. Starting January 22, I'll be teaching at… Continue reading Writing for Children
A Shout-Out for a Friend
Eleven years ago Fran Davis, the regional advisor for SCBWI-Carolinas, suggested that I coordinate a writing conference with Linda Phillips. I had never met Linda, but Fran assured me that we would work together well. Her words were true and our working relationship grew into a deep friendship as we both journeyed on the path towards publication. Along the… Continue reading A Shout-Out for a Friend
Reading & Writing Resources
Along the way I have discovered a variety of resources that can help you in your classroom or in your own writing. Here are a few. Let me know if they help you as instructors and writers. For teachers and homeschool educators: If you look above this blog heading, you'll see that I just created a… Continue reading Reading & Writing Resources
First Pages
This past weekend I attended the SCBWI-Carolinas annual regional conference. I learned about plot, pacing, and novel outlines and connected with old and new friends. Workshops and general sessions with editors and agents packed the schedule. Liz Waniewski, Senior Editor at Dial Books for Young Readers On Saturday we gathered for an hour titled, "First Pages."… Continue reading First Pages
Watch this Video! (if you want to write for kids)
A friend just told me about this You Tube video. File it under I "wish I had thought of this" category! Technorati Tags: SCBWI, you tube, Writing for children, Erin Dealey Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |
Ideas and Images
"I write as a participant, to see what will happen." Patricia MacLachlanMany of the recent quotes which headline this blog have come from SCBWI's journal, Ideas and Images. I thought MacLachlan's words were worth their own separate blog since she expresses my feelings as I write my first novel. Although I have a broad outline… Continue reading Ideas and Images
Nonfiction Needed
As an addendum to last week's post, I just read an article in this month's SCBWI Bulletin in which Libby Nelson listed the following subjects that teachers, students, parents and librarians were requesting. If you're a writer looking for a topic, try one of these. (Remember, you have to feel pretty passionate about it yourself--you'll… Continue reading Nonfiction Needed
Great Writing Resources for Children’s Writers
Hello from Cullowhee, North Carolina- home of NCCAT where Joyce Hostetter and I are teaching the seminar, "Is There a Children's Book in You?" We are acting as midwives-- helping 21 talented teachers from across the state write picture books, early chapter books, and novels. Here are some writing resources I have collected for them,… Continue reading Great Writing Resources for Children’s Writers
SOS for Writers
After a recent SCBWI critique meeting, I was musing with a 14-year-old first-time-attendee that writers need to consider three very distinct elements when they write. For the sake of simplicity and creating an easy to remember acronym for teachers and writers, let's think of this as: Story Overview & CritiqueStyle In other words, every writer,… Continue reading SOS for Writers