Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 87
June 21, 2022
When Opportunity Knocks, Should You Say Yes?
Recently the opportunity to enter a contest fell into my lap. To enter, you have to be an unpublished novelist. All that is required is 10 manuscript pages. There isn’t even an entry fee. My first response was “I should enter this.” After all, I think I’d stand a pretty good chance of winning. I … Continue reading When Opportunity Knocks, Should You Say Yes? →
June 20, 2022
Research: Vital for Both Nonfiction and Fiction
One of my writing pals and I joke about our research. Her summer reading pile is stacked around the television on her credenza. She has books on angels and demons, bigfoot, black-eyed children, Ouija boards, sleep paralysis, cannibalism, Gobekli Tepe, Akan funeral dirges, witchcraft in Ghana, fairies, and poltergeists. Next to her, I look like … Continue reading Research: Vital for Both Nonfiction and Fiction →
June 19, 2022
Listening to Books
June is Audiobook Appreciation Month, and I’ve been listening to a top-notch audiobook. Portrait of a Thief is a novel by Grace D. Li, about a group of Chinese American college students who rob museums of looted Chinese art to return it to China. It isn’t political in the sense that so many books are … Continue reading Listening to Books →
June 16, 2022
How to Create a Picture Book Dummy
Snip, tape, edit and sketch. Yesterday I dummied a picture book. If you write picture books but have never dummies your work before, you really should. I dummy allows you to test out your work. You check to see if you have enough story to fill every spread. You may also discover that you story … Continue reading How to Create a Picture Book Dummy →
June 15, 2022
How to Write When the World Fails to Cooperate
Yesterday I had my first occupations therapy appointment. No worries. It was at 7:15 in the morning. I’d still work in time to write! After my appointment I had to buy a wrist brace. By the time I got home I had a headache. I took something and took a short nap. After lunch, while … Continue reading How to Write When the World Fails to Cooperate →
June 14, 2022
Gestures, Movements, and Pointless Beats
Don’t use dialogue tags. Instead, use beats of action. This was the common wisdom when I entered the world of writing. Dialogue tags were unnecessary and cluttered up the narrative. Instead, include beats of action, movement, and expressions. I’d love to say that I nailed this but it is probably a really good thing that … Continue reading Gestures, Movements, and Pointless Beats →
June 13, 2022
Beginning at the End
Last week, I roughed out a new picture book manuscript. Before I started actually writing, I knew the main character inside and out. I also knew the last two lines of the manuscript. They are so fun that they are actually what drove me to move this up my to-do list and get it drafted. … Continue reading Beginning at the End →
June 12, 2022
Four Worlds to Include in Your Story
I hope you are already reading K.M. Weiland’s blog, Helping Writers Become Authors. Often I read one of her posts and realize that she is talking about something I have been working on articulating but hadn’t quite gotten there on my own. Most recently this happened when I read her post “Understanding the Normal World … Continue reading Four Worlds to Include in Your Story →
June 9, 2022
How Many Is too Many? When to Stop Querying
Querying is a drag. Oh, I’m not talking about writing the letter. A lot may ride on it but it is just a letter through which you hope to persuade an agent or editor to take a look at your work. The hard part comes when you send it out and wait. And wait. And … Continue reading How Many Is too Many? When to Stop Querying →
It’s Time to Learn a New Skill
In my attempts to write novel-length fiction, I’ve made a discovery. I may be good at creating a setting and writing dialogue. I can balance narration, action, and description. But plotting is not my strength. Sure, I can come up with the broad strokes. I know how things start. I know how they end. I … Continue reading It’s Time to Learn a New Skill →
