Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 29

Author’s Copies and Choosing the Books I Write

Yesterday when the mail arrived, I thought the packages were the clothes someone ordered for an upcoming business trip. But, no! I had two pouches of author’s copies. Inside were copies of three different books. I’m sure you’ve already noted that two of them, Droughts and Tornadoes, are about natural disasters. I suspect that the … Continue reading Author’s Copies and Choosing the Books I Write →

Why We Get Rejection Letters

Okay, first of all, let’s meet on common ground. We are going to assume that you have written an amazing manuscript. It is truly publishable. Why then do you keep getting rejections? (1) Publishing Is a Numbers Game Like it or not, publishing is a numbers game. When an editor looks at your manuscript, if … Continue reading Why We Get Rejection Letters →

Interview with Nancy Thornton Navarro and Adriana Thornton-Cornejo: Authors of The Merchant of Venus

On August 26, I reviewed The Merchant of Venus. Today the authors are joining me for an interview. Let’s jump right into the questions because Nancy, who acted as spokesperson, has some really interesting experiences to share. SueBE: You started researching your father’s life to find out about a mysterious photo. When did this turn … Continue reading Interview with Nancy Thornton Navarro and Adriana Thornton-Cornejo: Authors of The Merchant of Venus →

Responding to Feedback

Way back in the Dark Ages when I was a fairly new writer, I was invited to join a friend’s critique group. But the invitation came with a warning. One of the women had several best sellers and it was something she brought up whenever she critiqued. As in, sit down and do what you’re … Continue reading Responding to Feedback →

Planning Your Submission Package

I’ve been contemplating putting together a series proposal for a publisher that I really want to work with. I’m still narrowing down what I want to write about but I know I want it to be STEM. And I know what needs to go into the proposal. Or so I thought. Last night I popped … Continue reading Planning Your Submission Package →

Reading Level: Test It Then Make It Right

One of the things that I have to tinker with when I’m revising a manuscript is the reading level. You see when I am writing for the school library market the reading level is always on the spec sheet. This time I’m supposed to be fitting it between 8.82 and 9.5. If you aren’t used … Continue reading Reading Level: Test It Then Make It Right →

Revision: As Easy as 1-2-3

Ideally, the week before I turn in a manuscript, I do three things. Once this is done, I print the full manuscript out. My husband reads over it and marks the places that don’t quite work or the typos I’ve missed. Then I take the print out into the dining room to work. I sit … Continue reading Revision: As Easy as 1-2-3 →

The Merchant of Venus: Book Review

When I agreed to review The Merchant of Venus as part of a blog tour, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It isn’t a memoir exactly. It is a book about their father’s life. But they also tell about why they began the search and what this search entailed. Christmas 2004 brought all six of … Continue reading The Merchant of Venus: Book Review →

When the Author and Main Character Share Too Much

Earlier this week, I got together with two of my writing friends. We were on Zoom because Kelly lives in Australia. We’d love to get together face-to-face but that’s not feasible in the middle of the week when we’re having cruddy days and need a little support. Renee is marketing a novel about a true … Continue reading When the Author and Main Character Share Too Much →

Keep It Simple

The other day I was watching a recorded session from the SCBWI LA conference and the speaker was talking about the Freytag pyramid. And I thought, “Oh, I miss that. It’s so simple and straightforward.” Then she talked about Martha Alderson’s plot points. “I really miss Martha.” I’m about to admit something that probably won’t … Continue reading Keep It Simple →