Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 111

How to Publish Multiple Books in One Year

Last week, I read Rajani LaRocca’s Writer’s Digest Post “How I Managed to Get Six Books Published in 2021.” What an inspiration! My year for six books was 2018 when Meth (Abdo, 2018), Steroids (Abdo, 2018), The Debate about the Electoral College (Focus Readers, 2018), Advertising Overload (Abdo, 2018) which was co-authored with Duchess Harris, … Continue reading How to Publish Multiple Books in One Year →

Creating a Rough Draft is a lot like Building with Lego Bricks

I don’t normally open with my graphic alone but this one pretty much nails what it is like to create a rough draft without actually discussing writing. Here are four ways that building with Lego is like creating a rough draft. You Start with a Plan Every manuscript starts with some kind of idea or … Continue reading Creating a Rough Draft is a lot like Building with Lego Bricks →

3 Tips for Creating Characters with Depth

In my middle grade science fiction novel, I have two primary groups of characters. There is my protagonist and her two brothers. That’s the main group. Then there is the second group of young characters. Like the first group, they are siblings and there are thee of them. This shouldn’t be too many characters but … Continue reading 3 Tips for Creating Characters with Depth →

Adapting My Save the Cat Scene Outline

At one time, I hated outlining a project. Hated it. Then I started writing for RedLine Editorial. I have to outline a project so that my editor can make sure it is a good fit for the series. Nonfiction outlines aren’t an issue although I do sometimes have to play around with them to see … Continue reading Adapting My Save the Cat Scene Outline →

Cutting Excess Words to Streamline Action and Clarify Your Story

When the time comes to rewrite, one of the things I focus on is getting rid of any excess. Early on, one of my mentors encouraged me to cut 30% from everything I write. I don’t always manage to do this, but trying to do it means that my writing is lean and specific. Often … Continue reading Cutting Excess Words to Streamline Action and Clarify Your Story →

3 Tips on Foreshadowing What Is to Come

As I get back into my middle grade science fiction novel, Air Stream, I’m reworking the three chapters that I had already written. The first scene? Let’s just say that I did a great job on that one and then proceeded to goof things up later on. I was trying to work in the theme. … Continue reading 3 Tips on Foreshadowing What Is to Come →

4 Reasons Writers Need to Reach Out

Finally I am getting back into my middle grade work-in-progress. This was one of those times that putting my butt in the chair and getting to work just wasn’t leading to progress. I was flailing around and just couldn’t figure out why. Fortunately, I did the right thing and reached out, discussing the book with … Continue reading 4 Reasons Writers Need to Reach Out →

4 Things to Consider about Looking for an Agent

One of my students recently came to me asking about finding an agent for her work. She is working on a pair of nonfiction manuscripts for teens and several fiction picture books. Should she look for an agent? Should she look for an agent who can represent both types of work? I thought our discussion … Continue reading 4 Things to Consider about Looking for an Agent →

Is Your Story Science Fiction, Fantasy or Speculative Fiction?

As I’m working on my science fiction novel, I’m seeking out more science fiction to read. In the past, I’ve read more fantasy than science fiction. Still I would sometimes come across the term speculative fiction. Which is which and how do you tell which you are writing? Science Fiction For the most part, science … Continue reading Is Your Story Science Fiction, Fantasy or Speculative Fiction? →

4 Tips for Creating Quirky Characters

I love quirky books which probably explains why I read so much speculative fiction when I was a tween and teen. I devoured Robert Asprin’s Myth series and Douglas Adam’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Human characters, mythical characters and characters spun from the author’s imagination, quirky characters and the stories they populate are … Continue reading 4 Tips for Creating Quirky Characters →