We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
With school in full swing, now is the perfect time to check out another picture book: We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins. Summary It’s Penelope Rex’s first day of school, and she can’t wait to meet her classmates. But making friends is hard when they’re so delicious! My Review This is one […]
How to Revise a Stanza by Natalee Creech
Natalee Creech demonstrates how she revised a stanza in one of her picture books.
5 Things I loved about Rachel Hartman’s “Seraphina”
Join us for a review of “Seraphina”, a young adult fantasy by Rachel Hartman.
Exploring the Art of Plotting
Exploring the Art of Plotting Part One In Exploring the Art of Plotting, DiAnn Mills pulls from her years of studying the craft of writing, along with her experience penning multiple award-winning novels, to educate writers on the many twists and turns of plotting. Within these 170 pages, DiAnn explores how plot is developed, how […]
Nothing! by Natalee Creech
“Nothing!” by Natalee Creech and Joseph Cowman, published in 2019 by Worthy Kids, explores the reassuring message of Romans 8:38-39 from a child’s perspective. The book beautifully combines captivating illustrations and lyrical language to convey the unbreakable love of God. With engaging scenarios and literary techniques, it enhances both children’s imaginations and their understanding of God’s love.
Lyrical Language in Literature
Our next master class is coming up soon! On September 28, Natalee Creech will speak about lyrical language in prose. In thinking about this topic, let’s look at some examples of lyrical language in different types of literature. The House of the Seven Gables Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables contains many examples […]
What is so Exciting About the Inciting Incident?
I’ve got about a dozen unfinished stories. When I look back to see why I gave up on the story (sometimes mid-sentence), I discovered most of them died out around chapter three. I was shocked. What was so hard about chapter three? Why would I give up so easily? As I read through the first […]
Mimosa Trees and Writers’ Dreams
Mimosa Trees Have you ever compared mimosa trees and writers’ dreams? I have. Several years ago, I attended a writers’ conference in North Carolina. While driving with my husband from our home in Texas, north through Alabama on Interstate 85, my husband and I looked for blossoming mimosa trees along the road. We do this […]
Book Review: Miraculous Sky
Join us for a book review of Michelle Weltz’s new picture book, Miraculous Sky; a story based on true events.
8 Questions to Ask Yourself When Brainstorming Your Synopsis by Ann Harrison
Writing a synopsis is hard. Don’t let anyone kid you. I struggle with this task, but it doesn’t have to overwhelm you. I’ve found that I can brainstorm my synopsis in the same way I brainstorm or revise my books, or do developmental edits for my publishers. Here are eight questions I used to brainstorm […]