Simon Rose's Blog, page 232

Tips, Hints and Helpful Advice for Writers at Ezines

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I have a number of articles published with Ezines on a wide variety of topics of interest to both published authors and aspiring writers, which you can view at the following links.
Getting Started as a Writer
Creating the Spark - Kick-Start Your Creativity - People Plotting - No Happily Ever After - Inspiration From Daily Life
Naming Your Characters
Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four - Part Five
Where Do Ideas Come From
Finding Inspiration - Influences and Imagination - Historical...

Naming My Characters - The Clone Conspiracy

In my books for middle grade readers, my choice of names isn't always related to researching different time periods. The Clone Conspiracy is set in the present day, so delving into history wasn't required this time around. Emma and Luke are the main characters, attempting to track down Emma's sister and Luke's best friend, Patrick, who has gone missing.

Other people appearing in the book were given names that suited their personalities and roles in the novel. Rupert Lennox, the CEO of...

Vintage Construction Toys: Blasts From The Past at Dark Roasted Blend

Check out the latest article at Dark Roasted Blend, entitled Vintage Construction Toys: Blasts From The Past
We all have our own vivid memories from our childhood – family vacations, friends long gone from our social circle, siblings we now see only once or twice a year, TV shows and movies we followed avidly and of course, toys. For many boys growing up in the era before the advent of video games, construction toys were always popular. Here's a look back at those far away days. 
Vintage...

Incredibly Inventive and Inspirational Articles at Ezines

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I have a number of articles published with Ezines on a wide variety of topics of interest to both published authors and aspiring writers, which you can view at the following links.
Author Visits & Workshops by Children's Writers
Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four - Part Five
Writers Helping Writers
The Benefits of Professional Manuscript Evaluation
Virtually Famous
Websites For Authors and Writers

Magnificent Motorcycles: Part One - The latest article at Dark Roasted Blend

Check out the latest article at Dark Roasted Blend, entitled Magnificent Motorcycles: Part One.
Even for those who have never ridden a motorcycle, there's just something about these magnificent machines that make us simply stop and admire them. In this article, we take a look at the cool, the fascinating, the unusual and the 'what the heck were they thinking' designs for motorcycles that have appeared for over a hundred years. 
Magnificent Motorcycles: Part One is now published at Dark Roasted...

Kids on the Beat: Online Newsletter Camp with SAIT in Calgary, July 2010

Extra! Extra! Read all about this great new camp. Kids on the Beat is part of SAIT's summer program for children in Calgary. Campers will learn what makes a story newsworthy, practice the basics of reporting, and create their own online newsletter. I will kick start the creative process with an exciting workshop on the first day of each camp, July 5-9 and July 26-30, 2010. Further details and registration for Kids on the Beat is available here.

Naming My Characters - The Emerald Curse

[image error] Like The Clone Conspiracy, The Emerald Curse is also set in the present day. At the time, I asked my son if he wanted to be in a story before he was too old to enjoy them. He said he would, so I chose Sam as my hero in this novel. In the superhero universe, Sam is assisted by Tanya, only daughter of the sinister Baron Midnight. I chose Tanya because the Baron's castle is located in a region akin to Central Europe, such as Transylvania, with an alpine environment, tiny villages nestled in the...

Magic in Stories for Children Part Four – Magic and Reality, Limitations and Fatal Weaknesses - This month's teleclass at the Children's Writers' Coaching Club, Wednesday, June 23.

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Join me on June 23 at 7 pm, Mountain Standard Time,
at the Children's Writers' Coaching Club at the National Writing for Children Center. In this month's class, entitled Magic in Stories for Children Part Four – Magic and Reality, Limitations and Fatal Weaknesses, we examine how magical stories, however fantastic, have to be rooted in reality, ways to make a magical story credible to the reader, the limitations of magic depicted in stories for children and themes of fatal weakness for both...

Summer Camp in Calgary - Drama Camp in Parkland, July 19 to 23

[image error] This half-day camp runs from 9.30 am to noon from Monday July 19, and provides children with the opportunity to use their incredible imaginations to create their very own dramatic production. They will discover how to craft the plot, script and dialogue, plus perfect their acting skills while rehearsing their own play, before a performance at the end of the week. This camp is open to children who are in grades three to six.

Park 96 members: $80 Non-residents: $90
Fees include GST, cheques are p...

Fabulous, Fantastic and Fascinating Articles at Ezines

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I have a number of articles published with Ezines on a wide variety of topics of interest to both published authors and aspiring writers, which you can view at the following links.
Creating Space and Time for Your Writing
Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four
The Importance of Editing and Revision
Part One - Part Two - Part Three
Seeing the Light - Writers and Seasonal Affective Disorder
Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four
Top Ten Reasons Why
You Should Hire a Professional...