Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 89

When You Critique, Read like a Writer

Recently I got a critique back from one of my writing buddies. She apologized for how long it had taken her to get back to me but the reality is this – preparing a really good critique takes time. This is because to critique you have to read like a writer. How does a writer … Continue reading When You Critique, Read like a Writer →

World Building: Build It Like an Onion

Earlier this week I was listening to an interview that Gabriela Pereira did with author Dana Alison Levy. Pereira mentioned that world building needed to center on the character. As she talked, she discussed that if you worked out from your character, you will layer your world building like an onion, adding scenes and details. … Continue reading World Building: Build It Like an Onion →

You Have to Be Visible

Yesterday I read a post on Janet Reid’s blog where she talked about whether or not you need to be on social media. A reader commented that they did not want to Tweet or blog because they want to keep their thoughts to themselves. They are a very private person. If you want to publish … Continue reading You Have to Be Visible →

Narrowing Your Cast of Characters

Last week I attended a webinar on writing fiction. One of the things that she mentioned is that having massive casts of characters is old fashioned and not something you see in modern books for young readers. Wait! Wait! I can hear your objections already. What about Harry Potter and the Hunger Games? There are … Continue reading Narrowing Your Cast of Characters →

Where to Go with a Rebellious Character

From picture books to novels, we know one thing. Our characters need to grow and change. So what do you do when you start a story with a rebellious character? This question came up during a webinar I attended last week. The writer had created a middle grade character for a historical novel. The girl … Continue reading Where to Go with a Rebellious Character →

Fact and Fiction in Picture Book Form

If picture books are your form, take a moment to read Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang. There are other children in the play room but Luli always plays alone. Each child sits in isolation because none of them speak the same language. Their parents are in an ESL class and the … Continue reading Fact and Fiction in Picture Book Form →

Research Is More Than Gathering Sources

Earlier this week, I blogged about researching both fiction and nonfiction and just how much research is necessary. When you are doing your research, you need to remember that not all sources are created equally. Last Sunday, I started doing research on Kenya. This isn’t for a writing project although if I keep reading ideas … Continue reading Research Is More Than Gathering Sources →

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? →

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 →

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 →