The Gingerbread Man’s Top 5 Writing Tips

The Gingerbread Man gives his writing tips. Be sure to see the related post, Poor Gingerbread Man for funky cookie cutters.
Event Repeat
The story of the Gingerbread Man uses an event-repeat type plot. An event is repeated several times, with only a minor change. When the Gingerbread Man escapes and runs away, he [...]

Poor Gingerbread Man!

Just for fun, here’s the plight of the Gingerbread Man.

Poor Gingerbread Man #1

Poor Gingerbread Man #2
Who is the Gingerbread Man

Gingy’s Life Passes Before Him

2009 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market

Time to Market
It’s time to market those novels, nonfiction projects, picture books and magazine articles. And there’s solid help available in the 2009 Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market which just hit the bookshelves.
This market guide is like a big telephone directory of publishers, including contact information, how to query, what types of books each [...]

Back-to-School Lesson Plans

BACK TO SCHOOL with Great K-3 Literature — FREE Lesson Plans

Back to School With Literature Units That Integrate Other Subjects

Over 100 Student Activities for the Classroom
Teacher resources for study units in Literature, Writing Letters, Art, Science, Geography, Map Work, Social Studies, Math and more
FAQ by Children’s Book Author, Darcy Pattison about writing her picture [...]

Turning Life into Fiction

After an event-full month with lots of ups and downs, a month where only Friday Ideas kept me working, I’m wondering about using some of these events in fiction.
Life is NOT fiction, but. . .
Use emotions, not necessarily events. I know that life doesn’t equal fiction; yet the emotions of life can and should [...]

Q&A: How Do I Find an Editor’s Name for Submission?

DH sends this question about finding the name of a submissions editor:

Q: How Do I Find an Editor’s Name for Submission?
Q: I enjoyed reading the tips for writers listed on your webpage. You mention that is important to list the name of the submissions editor; however, I am finding this piece of information extremely [...]

When Life is Exciting

Sometimes, Life is Hard. But sometimes, Life is Exciting.
Welcome, Baby
I am a mother of a mother.
Our first grandchild arrived yesterday!

I’ll be out next week, playing with her. (We’ve already read a book together!)
Coming in August
Coming in August is 30 Days to a Stronger Picturebook
Do you have concerns, questions, worries about writing or revising [...]

Writer’s Toolbox Retreat

The deadline is fast approaching for registration for the Writer’s Toolbox Retreat.
Arkansas SCBWI Fall Retreat
The Writer’s Toolbox:Nonfiction, Fiction and Marketing Skills
September 19-21, 2008
The Lodge at Mount Magazine.
Space is limited. The Arkansas SCBWI Fall Retreat is an intensive weekend retreat that focuses on specific craft issues for experienced writers. This year’s retreat is open to [...]

When Life is Hard

When life is hard, how do you keep on working?
We got back from vacation to find our house had been broken into, our computers stolen.
That meant we had to do all the Identify Theft precautions, in addition to everything else.
Then, yesterday, in a sudden summer rainstorm, my son totaled out vehicle. He’s unharmed! (Life [...]

Events NOT Worthy of a Full Scene?

In writing or revising a novel, it’s always a balancing act, deciding which scenes to fully develop and which to skip, to skim, or to forget.
Events NOT worthy of a full scene?
Backstory:
Take, for instance, the story of the three little pigs. You could begin with the courtship of Mr. and Mrs. Pig, the birth [...]