Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 220
May 4, 2017
Fiction vs Nonfiction: The Hybrid
For the most part, it is fairly easy to categorize children’s books as fiction or nonfiction. Made up story as in Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon or Linda Sue Park’s Cavern of Secrets? Fiction, of course. Just as certainly, books ranging from Stand Up and Sing! Pete Seeger, Folk Music, and the Path to Justice by Susanna […]
May 3, 2017
Resurrecting an Old Manuscript
Are you one of those writers, like me, who loves working on a new manuscript? After all, new manuscripts hold the allure of unexplored territory. The story, as it emerges, is shiny and new and not goofed up. Ahhhhhh. That said, there’s a lot to be said for resurrecting old manuscripts. Not that I think […]
May 2, 2017
Leaving Room for Your Reader
Recently I read a post on Litreactor about leaving room in your story for the reader. One of the examples that the author used was a super short piece attributed to Hemingway. “FOR SALE: Baby shoes, never worn.” That’s all there is to it and immediately, as the reader, your mind starts reeling out possibilities. […]
May 1, 2017
Are you in a rut? How to jump-start your picture book writing
You know how it goes. You finish a big job, turning in a book manuscript or doing an editorial rewrite. Or maybe you’ve just participated in some major life event like a move or graduation. Whatever the reason, you just can’t seem to get going on another writing project. It isn’t a lack of ideas. […]
April 30, 2017
Page Street Publishing: New editor
Are you familiar with Page Street Publishing? If not, you probably should be. They are listed as a “fast-growing, independent publisher of 2016” by Publisher’s Weekly. With a 70 title backlist, Page Street is a general lifestyle publisher with books in health, parenting, crafts, popular science and more. Many of the books are cookbooks but […]
April 28, 2017
Children’s Book Landmarks
Yesterday, I saw a School Library Journal post on children’s book landmarks being named to celebrate Children’s Book Week. I hadn’t even thought of that when I wrote yesterday’s post but that’s something else you could do — visit a children’s book landmark. Two of the “new” landmarks that will be named next week include […]
April 26, 2017
Children’s Book Week
Children’s Book Week this year is from May 1–7. Yep. It starts on Monday. It snuck up on me! In celebration of this week, Every Child a Reader encourages authors and illustrators to participate in events in their area. If you are only now finding out about it, I don’t know how possible that […]
April 25, 2017
“What is your favorite book?”
“What is your favorite book?” I shouldn’t be surprised when young readers ask me that, because teachers and other adults ask them the same question. But that’s a tough one for me. I probably had 10 or 20 “favorite books.” I’m not very good about picking out a favorite food or favorite color either. […]
April 24, 2017
Fact vs Fiction When You’re Making Things Up
Just how fictitious is too fictitious? That’s the question that I’ve been asking myself as I research a new picture book. It isn’t fantasy in the unicorns and elves sense. There is no magic. But there are animals doing things that animals simply do not do. Without giving it all away, I have animal and […]
April 23, 2017
Re-entering Your Story: Picture book version
Ideally, you start a story and you finish it. You aren’t interrupted. The words flow from beginning to end. You don’t need a break. Everything comes together flawlessly. Nevermind that we all have lives, families, and friends. Forget about the fact that a paying deadline may force you to set aside your current manuscript so […]
