Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 17

Adding Depth to Your Writing

Recently, I started taking Joy Harjo’s MasterClass “Teaching Poetic Thinking.” I love playing with the sounds of words in my writing. This can be using alliteration or onomatopoeia. Harjo may cover something that relates to wordplay but we aren’t there yet and that’s entirely okay. I’m not a poet but I do periodically play around … Continue reading Adding Depth to Your Writing →

How Many Characters Are Too Many?

Recently I found myself wondering how many characters are too many. That may seem like an odd thing for a nonfiction writer to contemplate but I read a lot of fiction. Right now, the book on my nightstand is fiction as is my current audiobook. In fact, I started wondering about this because of the … Continue reading How Many Characters Are Too Many? →

Giving and Receiving Critique

I love getting good critiques. And I’m not saying that I expect only compliments. “I loved it!” “It was really good.” But then I’m not talking about simple negatives either. “I didn’t like it.” “I don’t read fantasy.” Comments like these are not going to help anyone improve their work. I’ll be honest. I’m not … Continue reading Giving and Receiving Critique →

Finding Time to Create, guest post by Barbara Barth

Thank you for joining me here today to welcome Barbara Barth. Barbara is the author of Sleeping with Dogs: A Poetic Memoir. It is so easy for writers to think “if only I didn’t work/was retired/won the lottery I could find time to write.” But Barbara knows otherwise. It is the writing habit that keeps … Continue reading Finding Time to Create, guest post by Barbara Barth →

New Writers: Don’t Undervalue Yourselves

Last week, my critique group had a meeting. We’re a scattered group of children’s writers. Although we originally met in person, we switched to online during COVID. We’re in the St. Louis area but being online allowed us to pick up a writer who lives in St. Joseph, Missouri. Another member of our group has … Continue reading New Writers: Don’t Undervalue Yourselves →

Creating Depth in a Picture Book and a Review of Up, Up, Ever Up!

I wasn’t sure what I expected when I requested Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei, A Life In the Mountains by Anita Yasuda and illustrated by Yuko Shimzu. I habitually request the Caldecott and Newbery titles as well as several of the honor books each year as well as the winners of some of the … Continue reading Creating Depth in a Picture Book and a Review of Up, Up, Ever Up! →

Figuring Out How to Revise a Manuscript Proposal

Sigh. This is perhaps a little too true. Even when I do have the occasional epiphany where my own writing is concerned, it can take quite a while to occur. Last year, I sent out a nonfiction proposal 19 times. This was for my early middle grade nonfiction title about mountain lions. I had one … Continue reading Figuring Out How to Revise a Manuscript Proposal →

Writers Helping Writers: Getting Word Out about Your New Book

About a week ago, I agreed to take part in the cover reveal for Richie Billing’s upcoming novella Together We Rise. Basically, I agreed to share the cover and news about Richie’s upcoming book on social media. In return, Richie agreed to help promote my upcoming projects. When I got the email with the various … Continue reading Writers Helping Writers: Getting Word Out about Your New Book →

National Library Lover’s Month

I’m going to start out this post with a serious brag. But I’m not bragging about myself. The St. Louis County Library just won the 2024–25 Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize from Library Journal. There’s a large cash prize – maybe $250,000. I’m sure they’ve already got plans for the money. I suspect that a … Continue reading National Library Lover’s Month →

Where Do Your Character’s Live?

Where do your character’s live? In so many of the books that I read, the characters live in apartments or houses. At least that’s the case when the books are written for your readers. The author wants to the reader to identify with the character so it makes sense. But I have to say that … Continue reading Where Do Your Character’s Live? →