Category: Inspiration

yellow flower in a wall of rocks
Posted in Craft, Inspiration, The Nitty Gritty of Children's Writing, Writing Life

About Writing, Quotes from YA Authors

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

The following are from authors I’ve met, heard speak, followed on social media, and/or read their books.

Challenge Yourself

“Don’t be afraid to engage with the difficult parts of yourself.” – Meg Rosoff

“Generating new material feels like running a marathon. I just want to get to the end, and every step feels painful. Each chapter feels like a mountain I don’t want to climb.” – Dhonielle Clayton

“All you have to do is be brave today, for the next hour, the next day.” – Laurie Halse Anderson

“Okay, so here’s how I write something new: I make a list of things I like to read/watch, plot-wise or character-wise, then try to cram them together for a story.” – Kurt Dinan

Be Persistent

“Before I had an agent and was published, I used to think there was this hidden code that I just couldn’t crack that would enable me to be a writer. Spoiler alert: it’s a business, just be professional and keep trying.” – Beth Revis

“I feel like this novel has been rattling around my head forever.” – Gordon Korman

“Being published is not a necessary validation or a path everyone wants to take with their work. Writing—and finishing—a novel is a great thing in itself, whether or not the book is published, or becomes widely-read or not.” – Garth Nix

“Writing is an extremely rewarding and humbling process, and I’ve learned to go with it, that even if it feels absolutely impossible, I will find a way to tell the next story.” – Marie Lu

Craft Tips

“Characters get themselves out of an alien situation by the truths within them.” – April Henry

“If you think you made a wrong turn but you’re not sure where, think back to the last place you were certain about the story and judge every decision from there.” – Jodi Meadows

“I tend not to attempt to describe pain. I don’t feel I can comprehend or re-create the personal suffering of others, so I simply try to tell what happened, or what I imagine happened. I also think it helps to let the reader fill in a lot of the blanks.” – Elizabeth Wein

“I think the best fictional tales come from a grain of truth.” – Shea Ernshaw

How Others Work

“I find things in the real world and hammer them into my stories.” – Maggie Stiefvater

“Writing isn’t just about sitting at the desk and typing into the laptop. For me, most of the plotting, and dilemma solving, happens walking on the trail. It’s my secret weapon against writer’s block.” – Stacey Lee

“Sometimes visiting a place is just what’s needed to add authenticity and depth to your text.” – Suzanne Morgan Williams

“I still keep thinking someone will penetrate my guilty secret – that I have been masquerading as a writer all these years while all I was really doing was enjoying myself, pursuing my passion.” – Geraldine McCaughrean

image of a group of people around a table
Posted in Inspiration, The Nitty Gritty of Children's Writing, Tools, Writing Life, You Are Not Alone

Types of Writers’ Groups

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

When I moved to a new town—almost five years ago–I joined a writer’s group in formation. We discussed what the attendees would like to see in a meeting. The conclusion was critiques, but we didn’t last long since the pandemic hit shortly thereafter.

Here are my categories of groups:
Critique – feedback on your own and other’s writing
Discussion – may be on a specific book, topic, or writing in general
Lecture/Talk – usually craft focused or inspirational
Write In – a time to work on your own writing
Workshop – craft or marketing focused with some hands-on activity

Both face-to-face groups and online groups can provide any of these services. All can be useful, but it depends what you are looking for. For me a variety of these types of groups have worked over the years. I find the writing community invaluable.

I love the chance to learn through lectures and workshops. It’s so great when some piece of craft advice clicks. Or when the “so that how that’s done” aha moment happens. These events often inspire me, whether it is simply to press on, or with a specific piece of inspiration that makes me avid to jump back into my own work. No matter how many I’ve done, I usually discover new tidbits each time I participate.

Before the pandemic, I’d mostly gone to in person sessions. But these days more and more webinars are available from the comfort of our own homes. I do miss the bigger gatherings that are slowly starting back up, however I love the worldwide opportunities of virtual sessions.

I’ve found write ins to be very practical. I’ve participated in them in coffee shops, libraries, retreats, etc. Each writer focuses on their own project. Just the fact that others are working around me helps me keep my butt in the chair and my hands on the keyboard. I’ve done weekly schedules in a public place where headphones eliminate distracting conversations. Mostly I’ve formed these with likeminded writers, but sometimes organizations will schedule them too. Most often now, I do these at private retreats with my critique group.

Discussion can be fun, especially if it is focused. I’ve been in groups where we shared favorite books by genre, or good first lines, or marketing tips, etc. Having a theme makes the discussion more practical. I’ve found an unfocused group can end up being a gripe session, or can wander completely off writing.

SCBWI has Discussions Boards with a variety of topics. Check it out here. Some areas are only for SCBWI members. Others are open to anyone.

Facebook discussion groups on writing that I enjoy:
Kidlit411
Sub It Club
Work-for-Hire Author Support Group

Others I’ve come across:
Childrens Book Hub
The Manuscript Academy’s Ten Minutes with an Expert Chat

But for me probably the most important group is a critique group. I’ve learned so much by what others say about my work (the good and bad) and what see in their writing, too. We encourage each other to press on. We inspire one another. Our meetings provide a deadline to have pages ready. Not only have we helped improve our writing by consistent meetings, but we’ve become close friends because of the time spent together.

How do you find a writer’s group? I found most of mine through SCBWI.org. You may also want to check with your local library or search online for writer’s groups in your area. Join writer listserves which often announce events or groups forming. If you’re on Facebook, you can find groups there, too. Both Kidlit411 and Sub It Club have critique matchup groups. Kidlit411 has one for illustrators as well.

Here are some helpful resources, especially if a critique group doesn’t have established guidelines:
“The 4 Hidden Dangers of Writing Groups” by Jennie Nash
“Ground Rules for Critique Groups” by Pamela Smith Hill
“How to Find a Writing Group, Because Every Aspiring Author Needs a Support Group” by Sadie Trombetta
“Knowing When to Fly: Leaving Your Critique Group” by Lisa Bubert
“The Value of Feedback for Writers” by Jan Fields
The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide: How to Make Revisions, Self-Edit, and Give and Receive Feedback by Becky Levine

image of galloping horse
Posted in Inspiration, The Nitty Gritty of Children's Writing

STORY IDEAS FOR YOUNG WRITERS

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

            So you need to write a story. The subject matter? It’s easy. Or so it sounds. “You can write about anything you want,” your teacher says. You pull out a sheet of blank paper. Find your favorite pen or sharpen your dull pencil. Stare at the paper. Nothing comes to mind. You don’t know where to begin. Where do story ideas come from, anyway?

            First look at yourself. Is there something you do that’s funny? Or unusual? Or is there something you do that everybody does? I wrote one story because of an itch in the middle of my back. I tried to reach it with one hand. Then the other. But I couldn’t quite reach the spot. So I took the “something I do” and wrote about a boy with the same problem. How he solved it got other people itching, too, including people who have read the story.

            Think about your past. Is there something that scared you? Made you happy or mad? Something you’re proud of? Write a story about someone who experiences what you did. Maybe you can make your readers feel what you felt. But remember, this is fiction. Your character won’t do or say exactly what you did or said.

            Think about things you wish had happened. Instead of third in the race, what if you’d been first? What if that shiny rock you found had really been gold? What if it snowed so much there was no school for three months? Author/illustrator Brenda Guiberson,Turtle People and Cactus Hotel, has said she writes about what she wishes had happened to her. You can do it, too.

            Think about what you’d like to have happen. Do you want to find a map leading to hidden treasure? Do you hope a certain boy will talk to you? Do you wish you could win a contest? What if you got your wish? What would happen next? Keep asking yourself questions and soon you’ll find an idea for a story.

            What about other people? Can you get story ideas from them? You bet! Did a friend say something funny? Has your grandpa told you what it was like when he was a kid? Does your big sister have an interesting hobby? Once a friend of mine said, “That cat needs counseling.” Immediately a picture formed in my mind. I saw a cat going to a psychiatrist. I wondered what the cat’s problem was. Was he afraid of mice? Didn’t like to climb trees? Take what someone else said or did and use your imagination.

            Is it cheating to get ideas from things you read? As long as you are not copying a story, no. What if you read the title The Fourth Grade Wizards and think the story is about wizards who just can’t quite succeed at wizardry? Barthe DeClements’ story isn’t about real wizards at all, but your story could be. Pick up a magazine or a newspaper or read a bulletin board. Does something catch your eye? I once saw an ad which said, “Quarterhorse for sale. Likes to chase cows.” Now, doesn’t that make you wonder? What does the horse do with the cows when he catches them? I don’t know either, but I could make something up.

            Maybe you had a dream you could turn into a story. Or maybe you’d like to write a story about the person in the picture on the wall. Why do they look the way they do? What do they care about? Or maybe your dog does something unusual. Write about it.

            What if your favorite stories are make believe? Can you, too, write about things that aren’t real? Sure you can! You could make up a place that isn’t real as C.S. Lewis did for his Narnia Chronicles. Or you could write about alien beings as many science fiction authors do. Or perhaps you’d like a person to be able to understand animals a la Charlotte’s Web. Pick one thing and think about what would happen if it was true.

            Play the “What If” game. What if you put a ballerina on the moon? What if your teacher is really a spy in disguise? What would be the problems? How would the person in your story solve the problems?

            Excited now about writing your story? I hope so. As for myself, I think I need to do some more thinking about that cow chasing horse.

gif of a squirrel
Posted in Contest, Craft, Inspiration, The Nitty Gritty of Children's Writing

Springflingkidlit 2023

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

It’s a contest–read about it here for spring-inspired stories under 150 words! The organizers are author Ciara O’Neal and agent Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez. There are prizes to be won and a short window to submit: April 1st thru 3rd. And it’s free to enter.

This year I thought it might be fun to participate. It’s one way to get my writing out there. So the image above is a gif* that is required to go with the story.

I’m not comfortable pasting my whole story here, but will paste the opening:

A Squirrel Did It

“Noah, did you leave the bamboo gate open?” Mama asked.
“I think a squirrel did it.”
“Noah, did you dig a hole in the gravel path?” Mama asked.
“No, a squirrel did it.”
“Noah, did you put leaves in the fountain?” Mama asked.
“I bet a squirrel did it.”

The story in total is 107 words. (For the contest entry, the judges will get to see the whole story.)

Why do we want to write short? There’s always room for shorter stories, whether in magazines or in picture books. I like what the Arapahoe Library says on their “Children’s Books with Few Words” page: “Your child can feel successful when reading these books that have very few words.” The page has links to staff chosen books.

But it’s not just for those learning to read. Parents often like a few short choices. Some kids have short attention spans. But also sometimes “less is more”–fewer words can have a stronger and lasting impact.

Short can be moving, hilarious, quiet, and more.

Here are some short picture books I love:

Caring for Your Lion by Tammi Sauer (261 words)
From Here to There by Sue Fliess (287 words)
Ghost Cat by Kevan Atteberry (200 words)
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld (296)
When Pencil Met the Markers by Karen Kilpatrick (223 words)

(You can find the word count of many books at Accelerated Reader Bookfinder.)

So, I challenge you to try writing short. You might like it.

*Gif found at gifer.com

drawing of a little girl reading
Posted in Inspiration, Market Prep, PB, So Many Good Books, The Nitty Gritty of Children's Writing

Keeping Up with Picture Books

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

It could become a full-time job keeping up with all the new picture books coming out. And especially with libraries and many bookstores still being closed, it’s harder to do than ever. This is where I’m grateful for a number of blogs that help me stay in tune.

One site I’ve not shared before is Picture Book Builders. Formed by a group of well-published authors or author/illustrators, their goal is to explore“how one element of a picture book’s story or art manages to grab us or wow us or strike an emotional chord.” They take turns blogging about picture books. It may be an interview with a new author or illustrator about a book, or a recommendation of a new picture book, or maybe even a giveaway. The blog started in 2014, but I only discovered it last year. I subscribe—there are about 8 posts a month—so the info comes right into my inbox. A recent book from this site that I want to read is FIVE MINUTES (That’s a lot of time) (No, it’s not) (Yes, it is) (Putnam, 2019) written by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick and illustrated by Olivier Tallec.

I think I’ve talked about Susannah Hill Leonard’s blog before. I’m interested in her “Tuesday debuts” and “Perfect Picture Book Friday” posts. For the latter, anyone can add picture books they are reviewing or recommending, too. Susannah’s shared books on Fridays aren’t always the newest books, so there’s a nice mix of old and new. One of her recent posts is a book I’d already discovered, but love so much I’M A HARE, SO THERE (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021) by Julie Rowan-Zoch. Susannah posts about 3 times a week. Again, I subscribe.

And if you’re familiar with Storystorm, you probably already know about Tara Lazar’s Writing for Kids (While Raising Them). It’s not just a January idea month blog. Posts are often written by other authors sharing their inspiration for a book, a cover reveal, success stories, etc. Here’s a book birthday post I recently enjoyed: BIRDS OF A FEATHER! (Philomel Books, 2021) by Sita Singh and illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman. Except in January when posts are daily, posts vary but usually there are several per week. Again, I subscribe to get them in my inbox.

And the final blog I depend on is Kathy Temean’s Writing and Illustrating. Among her variety of posts there are always book giveaways—they aren’t always picture books, but I love the interviews and insights into these books. One that caught my attention recently was LITTLE EWE: The Story of One Lost Sheep (Beaming Books, 2021) by Laura Sassi illustrated by Tommy Doyle. Posts are daily! And, yes, I subscribe.

Do I look at these posts every day? No. Instead I take a few hours a few times a month and look at a batch of posts. Sometimes that means I miss out on giveaways from all of these sites, but since my main purpose is to get my eyes on picture books, that’s okay, too.

Do I like every book they share? Of course not. Books are very subjective. But I definitely find books I want to read. My library doesn’t always have them, but that doesn’t stop me from requesting they order the picture books!