Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 273
April 23, 2015
Writer’s Block: How to Start Writing when You’re Stuck Part 2
Yesterday, I shared a few tips on how to break a block and get going on your fiction writing. Today, we’re going to discuss nonfiction. There are a variety of reasons that I get stuck when I’m writing nonfiction. Generally, it has something to do with getting overwhelmed by my research. Either the topic feels […]
April 22, 2015
Writer’s Block: How to Start Writing when You’re Stuck Part 1
Whether you write fiction or nonfiction or a little bit of both, there are days when the writing just won’t flow. It might have been going great yesterday or you might be at the beginning of a new piece, but right now nothing is happening. The words are stuck. You need to get them going […]
April 21, 2015
Goodreads Author: Join the Author Program to Promote Your Books
If you have a book that is listed on Goodreads, market it by joining the Goodread Author Program. If you have an author listing, a reader who clicks on your by-line will find a list of all of your books. You can post events and videos and even quizes on your topic as well as […]
April 20, 2015
Banned books: ALA puts out list of 2014 most challenged books
I’m not sure what it says about me but I probably get more excited about the ALA banned books list than I do about the Newbery Awards. Maybe it’s just that with my sense of humor and personality, I could one day have a banned book. The Newbery feels must more remote. Anyway, the ALA […]
April 19, 2015
Possible markets: Publishers seeking manuscripts
Here are two opportunities that you might want to examine. MeeGenius is an app for iPad, Android, and other mobile devices. The stories are for readers ages 2-8 and combine a reader reading the text, illustration and sound. The Acquisition editor, Ashley Fedor, formerly worked at Penguin Books. MeeGenius is looking for stories that are 15-20 pages […]
April 16, 2015
Free Books from the Metropolitan Museum of Art
I love to research my latest and greatest book topic. Ferreting out treasures is a treat but it is a treat that can get expensive fast. Fortunately, if my topic involves art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has made 422 of their books available for free download here at MetPublications. Yes, you can still buy […]
April 15, 2015
Word Count: One Key to Professionalism
Knowing your way around word count is one of the key ways to look like a professional in the writing world. First things first, it is important to know the length of the typical book in your category. Submit a 1500 word preschool picture book and the editor reading your manuscript will know she’s dealing […]
April 14, 2015
Empathy: One of the Best Ways to Hook Your Reader
Don’t you hate it when you pick up a book and just can’t get into it? The main character is whiney. Her problem is trivial. You simply can’t wait to get back to cleaning the house. When that happens, the author has failed to generate reader empathy. Empathy is one of the best ways to […]
April 13, 2015
Promotional Items
I hadn’t intended to write about promotional items this week but I saw a blog post about the most creative business cards and WOW some of these things are amazing. You can see the entire line-up in the video below. That said, I turned off the annoying sound track. Still some of the business cards […]
April 12, 2015
Writing Position: Writer-in-Residence
If you’re a writer living in the Boston area, you’re in luck. The Boston Public Library (BPL) has announced the 2015-2016 Children’s Writer-in-Residence program. The nine-month program will give the writer who fills the position: A $20,000 stipend. Office space at BPL’s Central Library. The time and space to complete one piece of writing for […]
