Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 77

Characterization: Ramp It Up with Secrets

You know the basics of creating a solid character. Your good guy can’t be 100% good. Your bad guy can’t be irredeemably awful. Your character needs to grow and change. You know these things. But something just isn’t working. Your character feels flat. What more can you do? Find your characters secretes. And don’t quit … Continue reading Characterization: Ramp It Up with Secrets →

One Step . . . No Steps. When You Don’t Manage to Write.

I had great plans to get some work done this weekend, but Mother Nature had other plans. Just as I was waking up, I heard a loud hum and then a BANG. One of the transformers in the neighborhood had gone out. Then the local wifi went down. We decided to spend the day outside … Continue reading One Step . . . No Steps. When You Don’t Manage to Write. →

Guard Your Writing Time

It is good to be busy. People tell me it is better than being bored. I have no idea. And I’m not just being cheeky, I haven’t been bored for a long time. One of my editors got back to me on a project. I just signed a contract for another book. And I have … Continue reading Guard Your Writing Time →

It Is OK to Say “NO.” “Maybe” and “Yes” Are Also Solid Options.

Recently I completed an editing job that I do a couple of times a year. I am responsible for collecting articles and doing the editing. Someone else, thankfully, does the layout. But invariably when I put out my call for articles, there are several people who simply never respond. I get it. This request could … Continue reading It Is OK to Say “NO.” “Maybe” and “Yes” Are Also Solid Options. →

3 Things an Agent Needs

Recently one of my writer friends got a message from an agent. This agent had seen her work on a Twitter pitch event and wanted to consider publishing it. My friend sent me the agents name and wanted to know what I thought. So I did a quick Google search. Sadly, I did not like … Continue reading 3 Things an Agent Needs →

Creating a Setting

Last week, Evelyn commented on “Do I Need to Do Research?” In part, she said “…If you set your story in a real place, you may need to look at a street map. The MG novel I’m writing is set in summer of 1968, so that required a lot of background research.” Creating a setting … Continue reading Creating a Setting →

Banned Books and Halloween

We went to a costume birthday party yesterday. My Halloween costume this year? I am among the most terrifying of modern monsters – a school librarian (optional banned books included). For those of you who can’t read the covers, I’ve got Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray … Continue reading Banned Books and Halloween →

Do I Need to Do Research?

Nine times out of ten, when I meet a new writer they tell me that they are writing some kind of fiction. “Oh, I write nonfiction.” “Not me. I don’t want to have to do the research.” Hmm. Really? Because I do research when I write fiction too. I may not do as much and … Continue reading Do I Need to Do Research? →

Literary Snobbery and Trying to Build a Reading List

The other night I almost lost it. Over a year ago, my book club read The Unwanted: Stories of Syrian Refugees by Don Brown. Only three of us had ever read a graphic novel so when time came to recommend new books, I put this one out there. If you don’t know The Unwanted, the … Continue reading Literary Snobbery and Trying to Build a Reading List →

Brainstorming: How to Go Beyond the Obvious

I recently spent some time poking around my library’s catalog, I wanted to see some of the more recent Halloween picture books. The fact of the matter is that most holidays, Halloween included, have been done and done again. If you are going to write and sell a manuscript, it is going to have to … Continue reading Brainstorming: How to Go Beyond the Obvious →