Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 77

Keep It Simple

Today I’m not so worried about overwriting or choosing the wrong word. After all, today I am finishing the last chapter of the book that is due Friday. When I rough a chapter, I just slap it down. I don’t worry all that much about vocabulary or reading level. That said, when left alone, I … Continue reading Keep It Simple →

Adding Depth to a Picture Book

Writing picture book text requires a tricky balance. You need to add enough depth to hold reader interest through multiple readings. But you can’t make it so convoluted that it outgrows the form and format. I’d love to say that the latter isn’t a problem for me but it is. A great example of how … Continue reading Adding Depth to a Picture Book →

Finding Inspiration: Guest Post by Barbara Barth

Today we have a guest post by Barbara Barth, the author of A Wingman for Christmas. Check out the other stops in the blog tour by checking the graphic below, but for now here is Barbara to speak to us about inspiration! From Barbara Barth: Most of my inspiration for writing comes from my personal … Continue reading Finding Inspiration: Guest Post by Barbara Barth →

How Louise Penny Pulls Her Readers In

If you don’t read Louise Penny, you are missing a real treat. Of course, if you have a deadline, wait to pick this book up. And that might need to include Christmas. I got almost nothing done for three days until I finished this book! Penny is the author of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache … Continue reading How Louise Penny Pulls Her Readers In →

Questions to Ask Potential Agents

When you receive an offer for representation, it is tempting to say YES. But before you do, you should have a list of questions ready to ask potential agents. Here are a few of mine to get you started. Questions about Your Manuscript Questions about Your Career Questions about the Agent Questions about the Agency … Continue reading Questions to Ask Potential Agents →

From Promising to Published by Melanie Faith

Write every day. Find a critique group. Blah blah blah. It seems like 90% of the advice that I find for writers is the same old same old. If that’s what you’re after, then step away from this book. It isn’t the one for you. I first “met” Melanie when I signed up for her … Continue reading From Promising to Published by Melanie Faith →

Interview with Sharon Shinn, author of Shadows of the Past

Today we have a special treat. Writing friend Sharon Shinn agreed to answer questions about her COLLECTION Shadows of the Past. I capitalized that as I’m trying to correct myself on terminology. An anthology is a book of short pieces by multiple authors. A collection is a book of short stores by a single author. … Continue reading Interview with Sharon Shinn, author of Shadows of the Past →

Story Starts . . . And Story Stops

I have to admit that I cringed when a fellow writer told me about cleaning out all of his writing files. Novels drafts. Stories that never got beyond the mid-point. Chapters that never when anywhere. He had sorted through all his files and the pieces that didn’t become his six or seven finished novels? Into … Continue reading Story Starts . . . And Story Stops →

Call Yourself a Writer

When someone asks what you do, how do you identify yourself? This is one of those conversations that I often have with new writers. Some of them are just drafting their first manuscript. Some have drafted multiple manuscripts but have yet to sell anything. So I remind them – call yourself a writer. This is … Continue reading Call Yourself a Writer →

Source Bias

One of the topics I discuss with my students is source bias. I’m almost always doing research and some topics turn up a lot more bias than others. One heavily biased news story was about Omaha activist Nathan Phillips and a group of students from Covington Catholic High School. One narrative has a group of … Continue reading Source Bias →