The R Word

Need a new way to handle rejection? Barb Davis-Pyles’s latest post on The Mind’s Elbow has got you covered!!! Check out this inspiring post here. 


Thanks Barb!! Awesome post!

The Difference Between MG and Chapter Books

Here's a great article on Operation Awesome (a wonderful resource for writers!) about the difference between writing chapter books and middle grade fiction. The article is written by Author Kurtis Scaletta and is a great one to check out!! Thanks to Laurie for sending the article!!

Book Review & Giveaway!!!

Fellow SCBWI WWA member Dorine White has recently reviewed THE LOST CODE, a new YA book written by fellow SCBWI WWA member Kevin Emerson!!!  Not only can you check out the review, but you can sign up to try and win a signed copy! Head over to The Write Path for more information.    

Cinderella Smith Review

Did you make it to fellow SCBWI WWA member Stephanie Barden's book launch Saturday at Mockingbird Books? Stephanie released her second book in her CINDERELLA SMITH series, CINDERELLA SMITH, THE MORE THE MERRIER. If you didn't make it you can check out a review by fellow SCBWI WWA member Dorine White on her blog, The Write Path.

Dorine is a great supporter of fellow SCBWI members and always has fun giveaways too! She has one today for THE WICKED AND THE JUST, so check it out!!! 

Barb Davis-Pyles' New Blog

Barb Davis-Pyles, former psychologist, SCBWI member, and writer for the education market, has launched The Mind’s Elbow – a blog created to jumpstart writers, artists, and people who breathe.

Join the fun and check it out here!

New Blog to Check Out!!!

Fellow SCBWI WWA members Julie Paschkis, Julie Larios, Laura Kvasnosky and Margaret Chodos-Irvine recently started a group blog to talk about their work (they are all in a children’s book-critique group together) and their thoughts about their work.

They plan to post weekly taking turns. Please visit the blog here. And help them get the word out!

Blogoversary with Cool Prizes!!

Happy 4th Blogoversary to The Bookshelf Muse blog! What celebration isn't complete without presents and The Bookshelf Muse has a few for lucky contest winners!!

One of the prizes is a chance to have a character named after you in fellow SCBWI WWA member Marilee Brother's final book, MIDNIGHT MOON, in her UNBIDDEN MAGIC series. Not only that, you get to choose if your character will be good or bad.

Marilee did this before for her book, SHADOW MOON and the winner, Angela Ackerman (who by the way, chose to be bad and is an SCBWI member) happens to be one of the ladies behind the Bookshelf Muse!! A great idea in how we can support one another as fellow artists. For more information on Marilee, and her work, you can check out her website.

Good News for Grier Jewell

Good News and WOHOO for fellow SCBWI WWA member Grier Jewell! Her story, MOVE OVER. SCROOGE, is online at the LA Times Kids' Reading Room? Here's the link: (it was in the 12/18 issue). The above picture is the illustration by Laura-Susan Thomas.

You can also visit Grier's blog, Fizzwhizzing Flushbunker (love that name!) to see her Views and Reviews on Children's Literature.

Good News for Dana Sullivan

Good News and a Big WAHOO for our own Dana Sullivan! Dana has just received a contract from Sleeping Bear Press for OZZIE AND THE ART CONTEST!!!

You can see the story of his Good News at Dana's amazing and always entertaining blog.

Retreat Roundup

If you weren't able to join us for the Fall 2011 Weekend on the Water Retreat (or even if you were), here are some retreat wrap-up blog posts we wanted to share!

From Laurie Thompson: Lessons learned at the 2011 SCBWI WWA retreat

From Sperry Hung: Weekend on the Water 2011

From Tina Hoggatt: arthur levine & linda sue park: WOW | big ideas

No More Writer's Block

A big huge thanks to Laurie for sending this link to a great blog post on Joanne Rocklin's "Anti-block" blog. It's titled 180 WAYS TO CONQUER WRITER'S BLOCK: for writers of all ages and genres. There are daily tips for writers and is a great resource to get those creative juices flowing!

Here's a little bit from Tip #9

WRITE LIKE ERNEST HEMINGWAY:
Not what you think...
One of the best tips I know is his: he used to stop his writing for the day just when things were going well. The next day he'd just pick up at that point and not have to wonder what to write. After that, the writing flowed.

Check it out! There are some great ideas and we all can use great ideas!! Happy Writing!

Fellow Member Lending a Hand

Fellow SCBWI member Dorine White is lending a helping hand to spread the word about Kevin Emerson's self published OLIVER NOCTURNE #6, THE TRIAD OF FINITY book release. It's Kevin Emerson week on her blog! There's a signed book giveaway, information about Kevin's book launch, writing help, and more! Check it out and help support Kevin!

Show, Don't Tell!

When I first started getting feedback on my WIP (work in progress) I kept hearing "Show, don't tell" and honestly it was driving me nuts! It's a phrase that's thrown around in writing circles without too much explanation for beginning writers. Through time and practice I slowly started understanding what that means and my stories started taking on a whole new life (and I received other critique notes instead).

I found this post on the Courage 2 Create blog on a practical way to understand what the phrase "Show don't tell" means & how to really learn the right way to view it from a writing standpoint (wish I had found it earlier). Worth a read as a good reminder & also a practical writing exercise.

Finding the MUSE with Professor Watermelon

Professor Watermelon (Chadwick Gillenwater) has officially launched his blog. The blog is geared toward teachers and young writers, but all writers are sure to enjoy his weekly IMAGINATION CHRONICLES. These are sure to help you and the young authors in your life find JOY in writing.

So grab a cup of hot cocoa, and come on by. The professor looks forward to helping you find the MUSE!

Writing Tools for Your Head: Nina Laden's 4 R's

Author/Illustrator Nina Laden (and fellow SCBWI WWA member) had a recent post on her blog called Writing Tools for Your Head: My 4 R's.

Here's a little tidbit from the post-

We writers are all guilty of this at some point or another: we write something and we are so excited that we send it off to our agent or to our editor, or to a reader friend- and then three days later we think of a better ending- or we realize we left out an important transition. Let your work REST! If you still like it a month or so later- then send it out to see if it is worthy of publication.

Some good reminders & advice! Thanks to fabulous Wendy Wahman for sharing the link!

Great Blog Post on Writing Prompts

It's so wonderful to be part of SCBWI! We have so many great members nationally & of course in our own fabulous region! Fellow SCBWI WWA member Helen Landalf just wrote a great blog post on "The Joy of...Writing Prompts". It's a fantastic post to check out (and she mentions one of my favorite writing prompts "Monday Moments" from Jolie Steckly's blog, Cuppa Jolie). You can find out more about Helen, and her work (including her blog) on her website. I found Helen's blog post through following her on Twitter (another great way to connect with members).

Authors & Ebooks: 11 Points to Ponder

Thanks to Laurie for sending this post from I.N.K. (Interesting Nonfiction for Kids) called Authors & ebooks: 11 points to ponder (written by Loreen Leedy). Here's a preview of the article:

#11 Business as usual?
If ebooks are priced lower, they may undermine the sales of traditional books, a huge problem for most publishers (and naturally authors.) The impact on libraries and bookstores, how schools will utilize ebooks, the affect on textbooks, the split authors get versus the various middlemen, how ebooks will be reviewed, the rise of indie publishing... whew, must stop now.

I.N.K. is another great blog to follow (especially for nonfiction writers!).

Writing Vs. Storytelling

Thanks to Liz Mills for sending this post written by Nathan Bransford (author and ex-literary agent) on Writing vs. Storytelling. Here's a little preview of the post:

And let's also get one thing clear up front: there absolutely has to be a certain level of writing for a book to work, and I personally think the degree of writing quality in bestselling books is underestimated by many aspiring writers. I host page critiques because smooth and polished prose aids storytelling and in today's publishing world you need an extremely high degree of craft in order to be published.

You can read more on Nathan's blog (it's a great blog to regularly follow).

Difference Between Illustrating Picture Books and Chapter Books

Here's a wonderful post written by Illustrator Patrice Barton on the difference between illustrating picture books, and chapter books. Patrice wrote her blog on Cynthia Leitich Smith's wonderful and incredibly useful blog CYNSATIONS (a good one to regularly read). Here's an preview of the article:

Just like illustrations in chapter books, picture book illustrations need to engage the reader. But instead of playing a supporting role, picture book illustrations take center stage. They must move the story forward and compel the reader to turn that page and the next and the next.

You can check out more on Patrice at her website.

Worth Repeating: Critique Guidelines & Tips

Are you part of a critique group? If not, you can be! SCBWI has a wonderful Critique Coordinator, Kerri Kokias, who can help you join or start a group (Kerri and I were in a critique group that I started in West Seattle).

I can't emphasize what being part of a critique group has done for my writing! Having other writers look at your work objectively can really help you to improve as a writer, reader, and critique group member (and make some wonderful author/illustrator friends as well). Being part of a group was so important for me as a writer, that when I moved I worked with SCBWI to find members nearby, and I'm now part of another wonderful group!!

Here's a great blog post (sent to me by Laurie) written by Donna Bowman Bratton's called: Worth Repeating: Critique Guidelines & Tips. It gives some solid lists, guidelines, and tips for your critique group. Here's a highlight:

What is a critique? A critique is an honest evaluation of a manuscript or work-in-progress, offering constructive criticism and helpful suggestions, framed with positive reinforcement.

Why a critique group? The ultimate goal of any critique group is to help each other hone the skills necessary to produce publishable manuscripts, while offering emotional and professional support during the arduous journey toward publication. As a critique group member, you will at times be a partner, a therapist, a sounding board, an impartial reader, an editor, and a cheerleader. Not only will critique of your own work offer fresh perspectives to help improve your personal writing, but by analyzing the works of others you begin to read like an editor.

There's much more to read on the post! Now that you're ready to be part of a critique group, you can contact Kerri through the SCBWI WWA contact information page.