Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 53

3 Query Letter Tips

I was recently chatting about querying with a group of friends, noting trends, and truths and just things that could make our querying easier. Here are 3 tips that I gleaned from the conversation. Be Honest One editor that we are all considering wants a 6 month exclusive. “I just let them assume it’s an … Continue reading 3 Query Letter Tips →

Inktober & Artober: Writers, Time to Stretch!

Push your limits creatively.  I give this advice to other people all the time so I do try to periodically take it myself. Because of this I’m taking part in Inktober. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Inktober, it is a challenge designed to encourage artists to improve their style/technique/talent and develop a … Continue reading Inktober & Artober: Writers, Time to Stretch! →

Don’t Fall Prey to Your To-Do List

Every week, the members of my accountability group (Hi, Ladies!) post what they plan to work on that week and what they accomplished last week. We also post monthly goals. Early in the year, we generally accomplished what we set out to do. I don’t think we were being more productive, but I do think … Continue reading Don’t Fall Prey to Your To-Do List →

A Free Presentation for National Banned Book Week

Usually we celebrate literary freedom for National Banned Book Week. But I honestly am having trouble celebrating this week. I’m definitely grateful for all of the amazing books out there. But I’m sorrowed by the many book bans. It seems like every time we turn around there’s another one or a new law. It is … Continue reading A Free Presentation for National Banned Book Week →

Guest Post: Fostering Empathy One Book at a Time by Rebecca Wenrich Wheeler

I’m taking part in a blog tour for Rebecca Wenrich Wheeler’s picture book, When Mama Grow’s With Me. As part of this tour, Rebecca has written today’s blog post (see below). Below the blog post is the schedule for the tour. Come back on Saturday (10/9) for my review of her book. Now I’ll hand things off … Continue reading Guest Post: Fostering Empathy One Book at a Time by Rebecca Wenrich Wheeler →

What? You Had Plans?

I had every intention of getting so much done yesterday. I knew I had to write the backmatter for the book that is due today. And I had to do a hard copy revision and enter the changes which need to include increasing the reading level. I had hoped to get a chapter or three … Continue reading What? You Had Plans? →

Revising Is Like Feeding Toddlers

It just hit me this week that revising is exactly like trying to feed a picky eater. Or ten picky eaters! If I do X, then that won’t work. If I do Y, then this will be wrong. Z is just a bad idea! At first, I thought that this was only the case when … Continue reading Revising Is Like Feeding Toddlers →

5 Elements Every Mystery Needs

Yesterday I was reading an email that discussed mystery novels, and it used a term that I had never seen before. It referred to a certain group of mysteries as how-done-its. You know who they killer is, or you think you do, but you don’t know how they pulled it off. Noodling that one over, … Continue reading 5 Elements Every Mystery Needs →

Surprise! Make Sure Your Readers Know What to Expect

I request a lot of library books. No, really. I have approximately 50 items on request right this moment. Some are for work. Some are for fun. Some are books that aren’t even out yet. There’s some music. But what it means is that by the time I get book, I often don’t remember who … Continue reading Surprise! Make Sure Your Readers Know What to Expect →

What Happened to You? A Top-Notch Picture Book

Joe is playing at the park when a little girl comes up to him. She immediately points out that he only has one leg. Joe’s response is a little terse and right away you know this is a conversation that he does not want to have for the umpteenth time. Soon he is standing amid … Continue reading What Happened to You? A Top-Notch Picture Book →