Category: Writing Tips

Never say anything bad about a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes. By then, he’s a mile away, you’ve got his shoes, and you can say whatever you want. Like a joke (even that one), a story doesn’t work properly without set-ups. What are set-ups? Just the crucial planting of key information in …
Continue reading →

Okay, so you’ve completed a full draft of a picture book manuscript. Now what? Revisions, of course! As we all know, it’s unusual that a first draft (or even a tenth or eleventh) be ready right off the bat for submission. Writers should embrace the revision process. And while I’m no author, I do get …
Continue reading →

1. You aren’t making it disappear forever

Create a “cut file” for everything you remove from your work-in-progress, knowing you can use it in a) another book b) a short story c) the same book, should it prove relevant later on.

2. Serve that plot/kill those darlings

Remember, we’re all storytellers, thus the Continue reading →

As an onomast and an author, I’m very sensitive to names in fiction. Yes, your characters are metaphorically your “babies,” however you shouldn’t name them as you would a child. Here are five mistakes that writers make regarding names in fiction: 1. The name …
Continue reading →

Here are three things that glib, hasty or form declines from New York editors and agents aren’t telling you. The solutions can help you whether you are seeking a major imprint or going it alone: 1. PROBLEM: I was able to begin skimming your novel almost right away. Ouch. That’s …
Continue reading →

Plots are like Christmas turkeys — we’re always looking for ways to fatten them up. Juicier plots feel more complex, more satisfying. They keep readers up late turning the pages, and keep editors asking for more. How do you make sure your book’s plot is a juicy one? Here …
Continue reading →

Thinking about crafting a series for young readers? You’re not alone. Serial fiction has been on the rise in the past decade (hello, Harry Potter and Divergent). And despite a slight slowdown in middle-grade series, the trend looks to continue. Does this mean you …
Continue reading →

I have been a writer my whole life long, beginning with writing on walls as a toddler to writing professionally as an adult. In that life-long career, I have written articles, picture books, non-fiction, …
Continue reading →