Writing absolutely requires hard work. Persistence. BIC. Being at the desk. But… I’ve heard that scientists studying brain waves found that the brain waves of children playing were the exact same brain waves shown in writers in the heat of writing. In that hot moment of creating, writing can feel like play. And it seems [...]
Archive for March, 2010
Work Vs. Play
Posted in A million and two reasons to procrastinate, tagged Center for the Book and the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, exquisite corpse adventure, read.gov on March 31, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Got Drama?
Posted in Writing information and tips, tagged david mamet, increase drama, screen writing tips on March 30, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Links to this Memo from David Mamet, the executive producer of a CBS drama, The Unit have been circulating… it’s a good read for book-writers as well as screen-writers. Some particularly meaningful suggestions (Caps are his): WE, THE WRITERS, MUST ASK OURSELVES OF EVERY SCENE THESE THREE QUESTIONS. 1) WHO WANTS WHAT? 2) WHAT HAPPENS [...]
Parenting Isn’t for Sissies
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Mom Blogs, Teenage drivers on March 26, 2010 | 3 Comments »
The other day I received the call that every parent of a driving teenager dreads. My husband was out of town, so Son #1 was using Dad’s car to drive himself to and from school. I was in the middle of making dinner when Son#1 called to tell me the six words we don’t want [...]
Tips From Author Alexis O’Neil
Posted in Writing information and tips, tagged Alexis O'Neill, Denise Harbison, highlights Magazine on March 25, 2010 | 2 Comments »
This week we have a special guest blogger. Denise Harbison is a fellow writer-mama and San Diego SCBWI member. She is the author of “Solving the Violin Mystery” (Highlights Magazine) and is currently enrolled in the MFA program at Hamline University. Thanks Denise. We began with a song—an Irish song—because that’s the way it’s done at [...]
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleishman
Posted in Book Reviews, tagged Sid Fleishman, The Whipping Boy on March 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
On Wednesday we received word that author Sid Fleishman had died. He was the author of over 50 children’s books. When son #1 was in fourth grade his teacher read “The Whipping Boy” to the class. The story of an orphan Jemmy, who must take the whippings for the royal heir, Prince Brat. Jemmy plans to [...]
Just Whose Side Are You On?
Posted in Book Reviews, Writing information and tips, tagged Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Duck! Rabbit!, Flipped, Multiple Narration, operation yes, sara lewis holmes, Sharon Creech, The Wanderer, Tom Lichtenheld, Wendilin Van Draanen on March 23, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Q:What do the following books have in common? A: Each of these stories has a multiple narrator. An author will use multiple narrators, in stories in which it is important to get different characters’ views on a single matter. The use of multiple narrators also helps describe separate events that occur at the same time [...]
Where Writers Write to Get it Right
Posted in Blogs We Love, Writing information and tips, tagged dear-editor.com, Deborah Halverson, Writing Advice on March 22, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The writing business is a tricky business. You spend your time plotting, planning and writing your manuscripts then you send it out into the world and wait for a response. Sometimes it is “NO”, sometimes the response isn’t nearly so clear cut. What’s an author to do? How can we cut through the ambiguous responses [...]
Baseball and Writing
Posted in A million and two reasons to procrastinate, Writing information and tips, tagged BASEBALL AND WRITING on March 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The biggest kid in the house pitched three innings yesterday! Hallelujah! The team ended up with a heart-breaking loss in extra innings, but I have to celebrate anyway. A senior in high school, this was his first appearance after being cleared to play on Tuesday. He broke his foot in December and has been living [...]
Travel Through Time and Space
Posted in Writing information and tips, tagged candlewick press, Carolyn Marsden, la jolla atheneum school of the arts, snail society, take me with you on March 18, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Fellow Snail Society critique-mate, Carolyn Marsden will have her art on display at the OA Creates Studio in San Diego! The kick-off celebration is this weekend, March 20, 2010 and will showcase the work of Carolyn and other students from the La Jolla Atheneum School of the Arts. One of the (many) things I love [...]
