Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 98

How to Reach The End

Three days ago, a friend dropped off a book. This is something she does periodically, leaving things on our front bench and then texting me to go outside and check. “I just knew this would inspire you.” I didn’t even have to read the back cover before I found myself jotting down an idea. Yesterday, … Continue reading How to Reach The End →

Humor: The Spoonful of Sugar

Yesterday while I was puttering along on the treadmill, I watched a brilliant TED Talk by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas – Why Great Leaders Take Humor Seriously. It isn’t hard to get someone to admit that they love to laugh and why is pretty obvious once you realize something that Aaker and Bagdonas point … Continue reading Humor: The Spoonful of Sugar →

Learning about Graphic Novel Design

Who knew studying books was so tricky!? Our first assignment for the graphic novel class is to list what you like and don’t about a favorite graphic novel. Not surprisingly, I got out The Way of the House Husband. I sat down and studied the panels on the first page. Then I went over the … Continue reading Learning about Graphic Novel Design →

The Importance of Who is Speaking

Last week, a friend of mine posted two stories about curriculum conflicts in his home town. He grew up in Monette, Missouri where a school has pulled the novel Dear Martin by Nic Stone. The book had been included on a 9th grade assignment list but it has now been replaced by . . . … Continue reading The Importance of Who is Speaking →

Keeping Track of What’s What: The Agent Search

Anyone who is searching for an agent knows that there is a lot of information involved. In addition to the agent’s name and the agency name, you’ve got what they represent, how they want the material, and so much more. Yes, this information is online. But there is finding it once and being able to … Continue reading Keeping Track of What’s What: The Agent Search →

3 Ways to Slow Things Down: Picture Book Pacing

Yesterday I read Tracy Marchini’s e-mail newsletter, The Quacktory. In it, she wrote about the function of picture book page turns. Marchini wrote about how page turns do three things. They indicate the passage of time (and then this happened). The allow for humor and surprise after the page turn. And they control pacing. You … Continue reading 3 Ways to Slow Things Down: Picture Book Pacing →

3 Tricks to Working from Home

I love working from home. I wear my pajamas to my desk in the morning. I change after coffee before I get on the treadmill, and I can read my morning e-mail on the treadmill! Yay. But as a lot of people have discovered as they’ve worked from home the past two years, there are … Continue reading 3 Tricks to Working from Home →

3 Things to Know about Writing a First Draft

To be a successful writer, you have to be a successful rewriter. Because, really? Most rough drafts are really rough. At least that is how I write. Some writers I know polish their first sentence. Then they rough and polish their second sentence. Eventually they have a first paragraph that is shiny and amazing. Me? … Continue reading 3 Things to Know about Writing a First Draft →

Evergreen Topics

Whether you write for magazines, online markets or books, there are topics that are evergreen. Fro those of you who don’t know this term, evergreen topics are those that editors always need depending on the season and market. For example, parenting markets look for pieces on child safety and raising confident children. In last summer, … Continue reading Evergreen Topics →

Keeping Track of Your Goals

For 3 years, I have belonged to an accountability group. We write. We talk about writing. We post our goals. And we ask each other about those goals. “How are you doing on…” I have to admit that I’m not super good at meeting these goals. I always get a lot done so I don’t … Continue reading Keeping Track of Your Goals →