Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 9

Folk and Fairy Tales: Adapting Age Old Stories

Have you ever written a story inspired by a folk or fairy tale?  I’ve been considering trying something like this after reading the Writer’s Digest post “4 Top Tips for Writers Wanting to Reimagine Classic Myths and Legends.” These age-old stories can be great sources for story ideas. How you alter the story may depend … Continue reading Folk and Fairy Tales: Adapting Age Old Stories →

Dialogue: It Isn’t a Tennis Match

Have you ever read a manuscript (maybe your own) where the dialogue looks like a tennis match? Character 1 asks a question.  Character 2 answers without holding anything back.  Character 1 asks another question. Or maybe a comment. Character 2 responds to what Character 1 said. Back and forth.  Its like watching tennis.  Right.  Left. … Continue reading Dialogue: It Isn’t a Tennis Match →

Office Organization and the Reason Why

We did a thing that has forced me to dive into some much need office organization. And Office Mate #1 is not especially happy. We adopted Office Mate #2. She was abandoned during end of the semester move-out in the college town where my niece lives. Office Mate #1 is Newton because he is a … Continue reading Office Organization and the Reason Why →

Nonfiction Series for Kids: No Two Books Are Quite Alike

Two of my new book covers just dropped. The cover for South Africa really captures the geography. Coastal South Africa is a narrow lowland band bordering the sea. The interior is either mountainous or an upland. It is quite dramatic. Speaking of dramatic, can you imagine approaching that Maori carving on the New Zealand book … Continue reading Nonfiction Series for Kids: No Two Books Are Quite Alike →

Meditative Exercise: Freeing My Brain to Problem Solve

Being a nonfiction writer means spending scads of time trying to figure out how to explain at a preschool level how a jackrabbit stays cool. Or how a sunflower tracks the movement of the sun. Or the volume of poop created by your average horse. No, really. I’ve had to figure all of those things … Continue reading Meditative Exercise: Freeing My Brain to Problem Solve →

Funny Picture Books

I don’t remember where I heard about Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat. But I didn’t even hesitate to request it. Dan Santat! He is a master at funny! Mammals produce milk to feed their young. Reptiles have scales. If something has feathers, it is a bird. Fish? Fish don’t follow … Continue reading Funny Picture Books →

Character Growth

The other day I read a Writer’s Digest article. In it, the author discussed the importance of the character’s emotional arc. While many of us spend hours or even weeks mapping out our plots, we spend a lot less time on our character’s emotional arc. That’s a mistake because readers fall in love with characters. … Continue reading Character Growth →

Repurposing Your Work

I have some gorgeous bookends, but not all of them are heavy enough. The light ones are in danger of being thrown to the floor if a book tips and the shelf “self clears.” This sometimes happens with even a few of the stone bookends. Look what my husband found for me! I mentioned to … Continue reading Repurposing Your Work →

Inspiration Happens When Your Eyes Are Open

In Wayne County, Missouri last weekend, we saw two luna moths. I tried to be appreciative when we saw the first but it was fluttering around in the dark as we tried to unlock the front door. “I’m a gigantic thing upside your head!” No, they aren’t really gigantic but it does feel that way … Continue reading Inspiration Happens When Your Eyes Are Open →

Beware Mislabeled Photos and More

We were down in Wayne County, Missouri last weekend so we visited a favorite flea market. Country Pickins is in a building that once housed a grocery store. You aren’t going to find a lot of really nice china or large antiques, but I like to visit because I’ve found yarn here (mohair). This time … Continue reading Beware Mislabeled Photos and More →