Some stories — even if written during a different time — are applicable to every generation of teens because they help with interpreting culture.  First published in 1967, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, has inspired readers for more than 50 years. Hinton, just fifteen years old when she began writing the book, was inspired by … More The Challenge of Interpreting Culture by Emily Babbitt
“‘So why does our writing matter again?’ they ask. Because of the spirit, I say. Because of the heart. Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul.” –Anne Lamott, pp. 237 Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott should be on every … More Bird By Bird: A Timeless Writing Resource by Karley Conklin
“All the best parts of art come from pain turned to celebration.†-Natalia Kills When life’s circumstances put you in a rut, a hole, or even a deep pit of despair and loss, we have a powerful tool at our disposal: our writing. Pain is a universal aspect of life that visits all who dwell … More Write Through the Pain: The Why, How, and Results
Do you hear the people sing? Well, no. But I do hear fears expressed and complaints a-plenty! There was trouble during the French Revolution, and there is trouble today in the form of a virus — the coronavirus. Although many are in dread of the contagious enemy, we as Christians know we have nothing to … More Finding Comfort in our Crisis with Les Misérables by Jarm Del Boccio
“It is necessary to be hopeful to write successfully for children, yes, because children themselves are generically hopeful, but the quality of hopefulness is not an immature quality.” -Natalie Babbitt ( pp 42) Natalie Babbitt’s book Barking with the Big Dogs is a collection of her essays and speeches written over several years. In all the … More Barking with The Big Dogs: Hope and Honesty for Children by Karley Conklin
I had the privilege of visiting England the last week of February — one of my favorite destinations before the coronavirus situation became a deterrent for travel. Â I am so grateful! Since I am a historical fiction author, researching the location in person is a real treat, as you can imagine! The day … More Researching for Historical Fiction in Bath, UK by Jarm Del Boccio
“A picture book illustrator needs to tell a story with pictures. A picture book author needs to show the same story with words.” –Jean Matthew Hall When I attended last year’s Write2Ignite conference, I went to Jean Matthew Hall’s discussion, What is a Picture Book. One of her main points was that a true picture book tells the … More Picture-Driven Stories: Learning to Think in Pictures
When I was 14 years old, I won the grand prize in a contest: a set of encyclopedias. I know—not very exciting, is it? But this was in the ancient days before computers, personal or otherwise. You’d have thought I won London’s crown jewels! I was so proud of that prize. It replaced the 25-year-old … More Do You Google? by Ava Pennington
“This book is for you–the person who wants to be published or grow in your writing craft . . . My desire is for your writing to thrive and move into a higher gear after you read these pages.” (W. Terry Whalin, pp. 20) Writing for publication is a skill that must be learned, and … More Writing Resources: Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams
“Imitation is not just the sincerest form of flattery – it’s the sincerest form of learning.†― George Bernard Shaw As writers, we tend to strive for originality. We don’t want our work to be a copy of someone else’s; we want to write words that are unique. But what if I was to tell … More Find Your Writing Voice Through Guide Poets by Karley Conklin