Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 255
February 8, 2016
Which Comes First? The Plot or the Character?
About two weeks ago, I blogged about naming a new character. I pointed out that although she wasn’t being entirely forthcoming with the details, I had figured out her name. I planned to get to know her a bit better and then figure out what the plot problem is. This is the opposite of how […]
February 7, 2016
News from the Bent Agency
Just a quick heads up! Brooks Sherman of the Bent Agency will be closed to new submissions for several months beginning on Monday, February 8, 2016. So many good things have happened lately for his clients that he has been busy negotiating etc. and not responding to queries. This closure will give him time […]
February 4, 2016
Read the World
Back in December, I wrote about my plans to “Read the World.” The challenge is to read a book from every country in the world in one year. That seemed pretty unrealistic since I would have to read something like 4 books/week, each from a different country. Me being me, I decided to do it […]
February 3, 2016
Manuscripts Wanted by Cricket Media
Did you know that Cricket Media posts manuscript calls with deadlines? I didn’t have a clue until a friend forwarded a call from Ladybug to me. What can I say? On a good day, I learn something new. There are only two deadlines for their various magazines at the moment and you’ll have to get moving to […]
February 2, 2016
Comparable Books vs Competing Books
Whether you are writing a query or a nonfiction book proposal, you need to know which books are comparable to your own. Note: Comparable does not mean identical or competing. You do need to know which books would compete with yours. This is vital because you need to know that there is space for your […]
February 1, 2016
Graphic Novels and Comic Books
If you are interested in this literary form, California College of Arts instructor Matt Silady is offering a course, “Comics: Art in Relationship” through Kadenze. The course starts on February 17, 2016 and features 5 sessions. The description is sketchy enough that although I assume that means 5 weeks, it is an assumption. Here is […]
January 31, 2016
Gender Norms
Don’t use stereotypes when you write. I know you’ve heard that advice but have you ever taken it beyond character? You know what I mean by character stereotypes. These are the characters that tend to be cardboard and two dimensional. The perky cheerleader. The brainy but clutzy computer geek. The melodramatic drama student. When we […]
January 28, 2016
Portrayals and Prejudice
Yesterday, I read an article about the controversy surrounding The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz. Admittedly, I haven’t read the book yet although it is on my list. The Hired Girl is set in 1911. The main character, fourteen-year-old Joan, is desperate to get off the farm. She takes on a variety of hired jobs and […]
January 27, 2016
Naming a New Character
How much effort do you put into naming a character? I have to admit that for me it varies. In part because how I create a story varies from piece to piece. Some characters come into being with a name attached. Felicity has always been Felicity. That said, her last name has evolved over time. […]
January 26, 2016
GoodReads Reading Challenge and Why I read so Much
Do you know about the annual Goodreads Reading Challenge? I’m not using it as a reading challenge but I am using it as a way to keep track of what I read. Here is how it works. Goodreads members pop over to the reading challenge page and click the proper button and then state the number of […]
