Alphabetical List of My Blog Posts
The above list is aimed at writers, illustrators, kidlit creators, and does not include the book recommendations or quotes. Subscribing below will send emails to notify you of all new posts.
Some of My Articles from Elsewhere
- 11 Reasons Why You Can’t Write the End of the Story (Institute for Writers Blog, May 30, 2023)
- Don’t Get Bogged Down with Backstory (Institute for Writers Blog, May 2, 2023)
- From Real Life to the Written Page: Inspired by People You Know or Have Met (Institute for Writers Blog, June 25, 2019)
- From Real Life to the Written Page: Using Others’ Experiences Along With Your Own (Institute for Writers Blog, June 11, 2019)
- From Real Life to the Written Page: Using Where You’ve Lived (Institute for Writers Blog, June 4, 2019)
- From Real Life to the Written Page: Using Your Emotions and Beliefs (Institute for Writers Blog, June 18, 2019)
- Speed Bumps to Avoid in Your Story (Institute for Writers Blog, May 16, 2023)
My Favorite Facebook Pages
Writing Blogs and Newsletters
- Institute of Children’s Literature Blog – there’s also a podcast.
- Bruce Hale‘s Writing Tips
- DearEditor.com – where you can ask questions and get answers from editor Deborah Halverson!
- Greg Pattridge‘s Always in the Middle… – featuring Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
- Kathy Temean‘s Writing and Illustrating Blog – daily posts
- Mary Kole‘s Kidlit Blog
- Susannah Leonard Hill’s Blog – Debut Tuesdays and Perfect Picture Book Fridays
- Tara Lazar‘s Blog: Writing for Kids (While Raising Them), includes Storystorm every January!
Grammar Resources
- Active/Passive Voice Practice Test
- Future in the Past
- The Misplaced Modifier
- Run-on Sentences
- Run-on Sentences, Comma Splices
Idea Generation
- 500 Things Kids Like by Tara Lazar
- Storystorm – an annual event each January by Tara Lazar
- Ten Ways to Generate Story Ideas
- Top 100 Short Story Ideas
Marketing Published Books
- 10 Tips for Marketing Your Children’s Book
- Getting Started Guide for co-marketing groups – sign up for newsletter to receive the guide
School Visit Resources
Publishers and Agents
Market Books for Writers
Helpful Posts from Other Bloggers
- 6-Point Story Checklist for Powerful Scenes by Laurence MacNaughton
- 12 Ways to End a Chapter by John Fox (aimed at adult novelists but still very practical)
- Naming Your Characters by Julie Sullivan
- Use Theme to Determine Subplots, Supporting Characters, and Tension by Amanda Rawson Hill
- Picture Book Builders is a group of picture book writers and illustrators blogging about picture books
Writing Books
- Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine – especially good for the beginning novelist or someone having trouble getting “going”
- The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface by Donald Maas
Other Resources
- Find the word count in a published book at Word Counters (doesn’t work well for picture books)
- Another option to find word counts – Accelerated Reader Bookfinder – search for the book and if found, click on title and more info will pop up.
- Children’s book categories
- The best children’s writing organization in the world – The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Links Especially for Illustrators
- Temple of the Seven Golden Camels by Mark Kennedy
- Blackwing Diaries by Jenny Lerew – be sure and check out the sketchbook, too.
- Debbie Ridpath Ohi – writer and illustrator – love her cartoons and daily doodles!
- The Sketchables