Some of my favorite writing resources weren’t written by novelists or for novelists; they are the books written by screenwriters for plotting a movie. These books have some of the clearest, most helpful words ever written on the subject of plots.
Madeline Smoot
Big Day! Our 10th Anniversary!!!
Today is a big day for this little old blog. On this day exactly, ten years ago, I began blogging about editing for a small press over on Blogger.
To Write or Not To Write: Making Decisions
This morning was the perfect morning. I woke up and my husband and son were out of town. I didn’t have a bunch of pressing emails, and I’m fairly caught up on both my CBAY work and the online marketing class I’m taking.
For once, I had free time. FREE TIME!!!
On the Road Again, Again
Today I hit the road on my way to the annual Texas Librarians Association conference. I love conferences like this. It's the kind where I'm not a speaker, not really an exhibitor, and I'm not a conference attendee. Basically, it's a trip where I get to hang out with...
Do’s and Some Don’t’s of Submitting
Last week I got a submission. On the face this isn't so odd. I get submissions all the time even though we aren't taking unsolicited manuscripts over at CBAY right now. It wasn't even unusual that this manuscript wasn't for the kind of children's book that we publish...
Book Review: My Love Letter to Melvin Invents Music
In honor of its release today, I composed a short little Love Letter for Melvin Invents Music. You can also see it on my Goodreads reviews (in a less missive-manner) as well.
An Overview of the Children’s Fiction Market
The Children’s Fiction Market can be divided into six areas based on age. Here’s a handy image with some quick references.
Celebrating Your Book’s Birthday
Most of the time on this site, I talk about ways to improve your writing, how to submit your manuscript, and other pre-publication topics. Today let’s talk about something exciting that will hopefully be in your near future: your book’s birthday! Or the day your book releases out into the world.
Shopping Your Manuscript
’Tis the season to shop. It’s that time of year when lots (but not all) people are frantically running around buying things for others. The other way to look at that is that lots of people are trying to sell things. And if you’ve got a polished manuscript that’s been critiqued, reviewed by your beta reader, and ready to face the world, then you have something to sell too.