Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 159
October 22, 2019
Retreats, Residencies and Colonies
Yesterday I saw a headline that Stephen King’s home in Maine is going to be an archive and writer’s retreat. It is going to be some time yet before it is ready for eager writers but a friend and I were just talking about applying to a retreat together. Some retreats are free — funded […]
October 21, 2019
Setting: Making It Real and Establishing a Mood
Today I read a really interesting post on how to build a strong setting by D.M. Pulley. In addition to the importance of deciding whether or not you should you as actual place or a completely fictional location, she also talked about mapping your city or neighborhood and drawing something similar to a blueprint for […]
October 20, 2019
Inspiration: Seeking Story Ideas and Energy
For almost two weeks, one of my writing friends who lives in New Hampshire is staying at the Writer’s Colony in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Friday, I turned in my latest teen nonfiction manuscript and my husband and I hit the road. I knew I was just happy, Happy, HAPPY to be away from my desk […]
October 17, 2019
Deadline Met!
Finished my last book assignment at 12:30 this morning. As soon as I get it off to my editor, I’ll be taking my cue from Willie Nelson. Not to worry. I’ll be back next week with photos and stories to share! –SueBE
October 16, 2019
Picture Book Writing: Free Course
The other day, a group of us were tweeting about how frustrating it is that so many people, even other writers, think that writing for children is going to be easy. After all, the books, especially picture books, are so short! But if you’ve ever drafted a picture book manuscript, you know how tricky they […]
October 15, 2019
Writing Fast: 3 Tips to Help You Get the Words Down
I have a book due Friday so I’m in the midst of a rewrite. Before I can do this essential task, I need to get words on the page. I can rough out 12,500 to 15,000 words in about 7 days. Here are three tips to help you get the words down fast. Have a plan. […]
October 14, 2019
Teen Read Week: Win A Set of Books
Mackin Library Services is celebrating Teen Read Week by giving away book collections from 13 different publishers. If you are a teacher, check it out and enter! You can click here to go to the entry form. Participating publishers and imprints include Bloomsbury, Candlewick Press, Diamond Book Distributors, Hachette, HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, MacMillan, Penguin […]
October 13, 2019
Book Sightings
Last Friday morning, I was puttering along on Facebook. I hadn’t even made coffee yet when I came across a friend’s post. “When your kid brings this book into your perfectly happy dog-free home and you have to read an entire chapter that very persuasively debunks your #1 allergy argument, suddenly censorship of books doesn’t […]
October 10, 2019
Setting the Scene in Your Home Office
The other day I read a post by Debbie Ridpath-Ohi, Want to Do Your Drawing or Writing in a Medieval Tavern... This was the first that I had ever heard of of ASMR or Animated Scenes for Meditation or Relaxation. As Ohi explains, she has a basement office and she likes to shake things […]
October 9, 2019
Inanimate Objects Tell It Like It Is
How do you take a step back from an emotional topic and give young readers the space they need to read and learn about it? Linda Skeers recommends using an “unnatural narrator.” Think inanimate object. One of the topics that Skeers discusses are riots, specifically the Stonewall Riots. Rob Sanders rights about the riots in […]
