Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 242

The Rule of Three: When to Use It or Lose It in Picture Book Writing

I have to admit it — when it comes to writing a fiction picture book, I’m a stickler for the Rule of 3.  For those of you who don’t know what that is it is the idea that things should come in threes.  The example that Heather Alexander gives in her most recent blog post, […]

Book Buys: Boy Books vs Girl Books

In our household, we seem to go on buying splurges.  While we buy groceries every week as well as toiletries, other items including yarn, picture frames and books seem to be bought only every now and again but in bulk.  The photo here shows, not only my skirts and feet, but also our most recent […]

Goodreads 2016 Reading Challenge

When I signed up for the Goodreads 2016 Reading Challenge, I did it for the most part to help me keep track of what I read this year.  That said, I was also curious.  How many books do I read in a year?  I wasn’t sure but I came up with a guess-timate of about […]

Magical Realism: What It Is, What It Isn’t

Ask about my middle grade novel manuscript Rat Race and I’ll tell you that it is magical realism.  At least, that’s what I would have said before reading associate agent Roseanne Wells posts (1 and 2) on MSWL (Manuscript Wish List.) First things first, Wells discussed the history which lays in Latin American literature.  Magical realism, as […]

Writing Nonfiction: The Steps in Producing a Book

One of the things other writers frequently ask is what steps I use in writing a book.  I have a process I mean to follow, but each book is a unique experience.  What I plan to do and what I actually pull off are two separate things. I’m working on the book formerly known as What’s […]

Walt Whitman’s Advice to Writers

I recently read an Open Culture post discussing Walt Whitman’s advice to new writers.  Before you read Whitman’s advice, know he was contrary.  He liked to contradict people.  He reminds me a lot of Twain who seemed to enjoy being argumentative just for the fun of it. Some of this may seem dated at first read, but think […]

Why Do You Write?

If you haven’t read David Levithan’s Margaret A. Edwards Award acceptance speech, you should.  Excuse me while I have a fan girl moment.  No just a moment.  If you know me, you know I’m not the stuff of fan girl legend. It just isn’t . . . me.  But he had so many things to […]

Writing the Contemporary Children’s Novel

If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch Roger Sutton, of the Horn Book Reader, as he interviews reknowned children’s novelist Richard Peck than you need to check it out (see below). It is a fairly lengthy interview but Peck has a lot of worthwhile things to say to those who write for children. As […]

Finding Time to Write

Is your writing a priority?  I always say yes but I’m not sure that that has been true this past month. My dad has been in the hospital twice.  He’s now in rehab.  We’re looking for new housing for him.  And I had to get my son registered for high school.  It seems like no […]

Audio Book: Do you consider this possibility as you write?

I’ve been thinking a lot about audio books lately – what makes a good audio book and what doesn’t.  In part, this has to do with my recent listening experience.  My family listened to The Blackthorn Key on a recent road trip.  Excellent book.  Actually it was perfect for the three of us because it combines science, history, […]