On Our Bookshelf: Sand Cakes by Kallie George
“Sand cake, sun cake, sprinkle-topped-with-rocks cake. Will you eat what I baked?” —Sand Cakes by Kallie George A Summary of Sand Cakes Kallie George’s picture book Sand Cakes tells the story of a creative young baker who turns sand into tasty treats. She makes cakes and pies, tarts and buns–a whole shop full of delicious […]
No Power? Now What?
I’m sitting at my desk, preparing to work on a big writing project. I have my notes, and my laptop is ready for me to find some additional online information. But then I notice that the livestream I was listening to has fallen silent. Streaming issues? Hmm. Next, I notice that the ceiling fan above […]
Writing Wisdom from Big Bertha: Part 2
Hello Friends! Guest blogger Big Bertha here with a second installment of Writing Wisdom. This month’s topic? The Importance of Being Broody.
Take a Break!
Life can get crazy sometimes. Obligations, unexpected circumstances, appointments, and just living life in general can keep our plates full. This craziness can definitely hinder our writing, especially if deadlines are looming. I suggest, it’s time to take a break! A break? But wouldn’t that be counterproductive when there’s so much to do? No. Here’s […]
A Seasonal Sensory Exercise
Summer is gone. Fall is in full swing. Winter will soon be on our doorsteps. So now is the perfect time to practice some seasonal sensory exercises to stir your writing imagination.
Creating Books and Learning with Children by Melissa Henderson
As a “Mimi” with two grandchildren, I am always on the lookout for fun and creative projects for us to enjoy together. When Rowan and Eden come for a visit, one of the first questions they ask is, “What project can we do today?” Recently, we worked on creating books and the outcome was wonderful. […]
It’s Not Just a Blank Piece of Paper
I’m sure you have seen one or two old movies or TV shows where someone takes a blank piece of paper, feeds it into the roller of an old fashioned manual typewriter, and begins to peck out a story with gusto (His Girl Friday and Murder, She Wrote immediately come to mind). Even though most […]
Change of Scenery
We’ve had some unusual weather here in Southern California. We’ve had days of rain. And not just rain, continuous rain. That was what was the most unusual. I had some writing deadlines, but being cooped up at home wasn’t helping me whatsoever. I needed a different environment where I had no distractions and where I […]
What Writers Can Learn from Walt Disney
Out of the 62 animated films from the Walt Disney Company, only 8 are original ideas, and 2 of those were propaganda films made during WWII to help strengthen our relationship with South America. Everything else was based on either a book, mythology, poems, folk tales, or a piece of classical music. So why do […]
Are Your Senses Turned On?
I just returned from a trip to Colorado to visit my niece. One of the highlights of the trip was taking the Royal Gorge Route train ride based in Cañon City. Because this trip had been planned in advance, I decided to make it a writing exercise. I wanted to be intentional about using my […]