Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 264
August 27, 2015
Diversity: What is Casual Diversity?
Since I’m not writing books that fall into the category of diversity, I decided I better educate myself when I ran into a new-to-me term — Casual Diversity. Casual diversity is when diverse characters populate a story but the story is not about diversity. For example, let’s say you are writing a series of fantasy […]
August 26, 2015
Favorite Books: The Boxcar Children
Recently, I read a series of blog posts about favorite children’s books. This got me thinking about my very own favorites. There may have been one gold medalist but they was, in all truth, a list. The Boxcar Children. I discovered this one when I was 11. I had just started at a new school […]
August 25, 2015
Public Speaking: Newbie Orientation
On Saturday, September 26, 2015, I will be giving the Newbie Orientation at the Missouri SCBWI Fall Conference, Soaring to New Heights. This will be the second year that I’ve been in charge of this session — I hesitate to call it speaking because although I give tips I run it as a Question and […]
August 24, 2015
Back Pain: Writing and Your Lower Back
This past spring and summer, I suffered through several months of lower back pain. What does that have to do with writing? More than you might think. Eighty percent of all people will have lower back pain at some point in their lives. Yes, sometimes an injury is the cause. Sometimes it is hereditary. But […]
August 23, 2015
Mo SCBWI conference
If you are interested in writing or illustrating for children and live in the St. Louis area, consider attending “Soaring to New Heights: Missouri SCBWI Fall Conference.” Friday, September 25, is devoted to critique meetings but those slots have already filled. There are approximately 20 slots still open for Saturday, Sept. 26, which includes the various workshops […]
August 20, 2015
The Read Quarterly
A new quarterly magazine about international children’s literature will be available in January 2016. The first will include pieces on artisan publisher Tara Books, Michael Heyman discussing “nonsense,” and Eleanor Taylor sharing her thoughts about Beatrix Potter and the loss of childhood. The journal will focus on the culture of children’s books and will feature stories about […]
August 19, 2015
Story Shapes: Plotting Our Characters Ups and Downs
Recently I saw this infographic about the Shapes of Stories. The idea is that when you plot out your characters ups and downs, you come up with a story arc or story steps in a recognizable pattern. This has me thinking. Take a story that either doesn’t work yet or that you haven’t been able […]
August 18, 2015
Warnings: May Not Be All They’re Cracked Up To Be
“My world history teacher is going to be your favorite.” That was one of the first things my son had to say to me when he got home from his first day of his junior year. Since he’s sixteen, this could be a case of Mom Baiting. If that was the case my son’s next […]
August 17, 2015
Work Habits: How do you write?
Do you have to write in a specific place such as your office? Maybe you only write first drafts long hand, polishing things up on the computer. One of the things that we quickly learn as writers is that what works for you may not work for me. Check out this infographic to see how […]
August 16, 2015
Writing a Graphic Novel
When I took the MOOC, or massive open online course, “The Rise of Superheroes and Their Impact on Pop Culture” from the Smithsonian through edX, I had to complete several assignments. In addition to creating a hero (Shadow Walker), a villain (The Preacher) and mock-up three panels. Goody-two-shoes that I was in school, I’d love […]
