Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 206

Fiction or Nonfiction: An Opportunity to Craft the Best Story

Recently, I read a blog post, that I can’t seem to locate today, about a story that was loosely based on the author’s family.  It could have been written as a memoir but she chose to write fiction.  Why?  Because she felt it made a stronger story with greater reader appeal. That can be a […]

Best of Lists: An Opportunity to Learn

When you see a recommended books list online, do you check it out?  Or do you scroll on past?  I always make a point of seeing which books are listed, especially if the list overlaps with my own work. Recently, I read a Children’s Book Council post about the National Science Teachers Association list of […]

Titles and Wordplay: An Opportunity to Make Your Own Story

Recently I read a post about how illustrator Jake Parker came up with cover for The 12 Sleighs of Christmas.  Oh, it’s just like the 12 Days of Christmas.  Funny!   Before long, I too was playing with the title of the carol. The 12 Brays of Christmas, a Missouri mules picture book. The 12 Greys of […]

Book Covers Revealed

Merry Christmas to me!  Abdo Publishing recently posted my two most recent books with them. The Dakota Access Pipeline is a January release.  Here is the publisher’s description:  “The Dakota Access Pipeline follows the controversy surrounding the building of the pipeline and the associated month-long protests at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota.” […]

Happy Book Birthday: An Opportunity to Promote Your Work

Are you a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)?  If so, SCBWI has a new opportunity for PAL members to promote their books. Beginning in February 2018, the Happy Book Birthday program offers members the chance to announce new books in the month each is released. This opportunity is available to both […]

RIP Kathleen Karr

I have to admit that I’m a little bummed today.  I was on the treadmill catching up on my e-mail when I came across an obituary in a Publisher’s Weekly newsletter.  Author Kathleen Karr passed away on December 6th. Sadness. Although she is best known for her novels The Boxer and The Great Turkey Walk, my all […]

MOOC: An Opportunity to Learn and Generate Story Ideas

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the phrase, an MOOC is a massive open online course.  These are online classes often with video-taped lectures, readings and quizes, papers or projects.  These courses are a great opportunity to learn something new.  And with that knowledge, I often gain a handful of stories ideas per […]

Mind the Gap: Opportunities to Sell Your Work

How many of you do market research before you start to write?  I’m not talking about only looking for possible places to sell your story, article, or craft.  I’m talking about looking at what has already been published so that you have a clue where the gaps are. Let’s say that you want to write […]

Christmas: An Opportunity to Study Your Audience in the Field

The holidays can be a frustrating time for writers and illustrators.  There is so much to do, so many places to go, and so many demands on our time. But it can help if you look at these events and more as a chance to study your audience in the field.  No matter what age […]

Critique: An opportunity to improve your craft

The first Wednesday of every month, I have critique group.  I’m planning to take advantage of an Above the Slushpile opportunity from CBI.  So I brought the first 10 pages and the synopsis of my chapter book to the meeting.  I’d get help proofing and then I could send it out. Pfft. “Seriously, this reads […]