Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 190

Subplots: How Much Is Too Much?

Since I wrote “Plot and Subplots” about two weeks ago, I’ve been paying special attention to subplots and plotlines in the books I read.  One of the things I’ve been wondering about is how many is too many. At the moment, I’m reading Breakout by Kate Messner.  Plots and subplots include: A prison break (that’s the main […]

Recharging: Especially Important When A Job Is Stressful

Every now and again I get an assignment that is a bit more stressful than normal.  Sometimes, like with the Ziki Virus book, I’m wading through science in an area that is less familiar and I’m having to learn some of the basics along with the specialized material.  The topic interests me but it is […]

Book Challenge: 7 Books I Love

On Facebook, a number of my friends have been taking part in a challenge to post the covers of seven books that they love.  No explanation.  No reasons given.  So I’ve been noodling over what books I would choose today.  I say today because when I was 25, the list would have been different.  In […]

Writing Nonfiction: The First Draft, One Hot Mess

I’m drafting a new book this week.  This isn’t a picture book.  I can actually create a picture book first draft that isn’t terrifying. I’m not saying it is great but it doesn’t make you want to hide.  A first draft of a 15,000 word nonfiction for tweens?  Oh, what a mess it is. I […]

Audiobooks: Is Listening to a Book Cheating?

Yesterday, I was poking around Jane Friedman’s blog and read Kristen Tsetsi’s post, “Resolving My Cheater Shame: Listening to Books Instead of Reading Them.” It was a different take for me. I have absolutely never felt like I was cheating, probably because I don’t listen instead of reading.  I listen to some books and I […]

Book Promotion: Where Does Your Book Fit in the Library

I wish I could remember which editor gave us this piece of advice.  She said that when we submit a manuscript, we should be able to tell the editor what special B&N displays would include our book. If we can do that, we know that there is a market/interest in the subject.  I know she […]

Rewriting

At the moment, I’m slapping down two really rough first draft.  Seriously rough. One is so bad that tomorrow I’m going to start this chapter all over again.  But that’s okay because I don’t have a deadline.  This is a something I’m writing for fun. But the other one? Once I get a draft down, […]

Plastics: What Does Being a Writer Have to do with Single Use Plastics?

Admittedly, the link isn’t something I had given a ton of thought until my writing buddy Jeanie Franz Ransom tweeted about National Geographic’s Planet or Plastic.  She just happened to tweet this as SCBWI members from around the world are heading to LA for the summer conference.  I have no clue how many people attend […]

Writing Success: Getting Out of Your Own Way

Last weekend, I was talking to a friend about craft. This wasn’t about writing, although we both write, but crafting, specifically crochet.  Because of arthritis in her hands, she has had to give up embroidery and beading also proved impossible.  She can’t hold the needle long enough to get anything done. “Could you crochet?  Some […]

Danielle Smith: Agent Gone Bad

I wasn’t going to blog about this but if you aren’t on Twitter you may not have seen the news.  Agent Danielle Smith has shut down her agency, Lupine Grove, after telling her writers that they had been offered publishing contracts that never existed.  She would tell these clients that the contracts were unacceptable and […]