I touched on this topic once before, as part of a post on timing, and I want to emphasize the distinction between stopping and finishing. I think these are two different things. You can just stop because you’re discouraged or you can finish, leaving no stone unturned. Here are some things to consider if you’re…
YA Review: IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi
Eventually I’ll get back to middle grade, but there have been a string of YA books in series I’m already reading that have come out in the last few weeks, and I have another one today. I originally picked up SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi because of Twitter buzz. Although I didn’t fall in love…
How I Tackle Revisions: An Evolving Process
It’s been two months since I blogged about the first two steps in my revision process. Usually I would be at step four or five by now, but life has forced me to slooow down with this work-in-progress, and also to take another look at my process. Patience and flexibility are both a struggle for…
YA Review: CRESS by Marissa Meyer
Have you ever read a book where you’re anxious to get to the end and so want to read it as quickly as possible, but at the same time you want to linger? That’s how I felt about CRESS by Marissa Meyer. I think the temptation to linger was enhanced by the knowledge that there…
YA Review & Giveaway: SUITE SCARLETT by Maureen Johnson
I know many of my middle grade friends drop by here to check for an MMGM on Mondays. Today I have a young adult review instead, and it comes with a giveaway, thanks to the Scholastic Warehouse Sale. I’ve really enjoyed Maureen Johnson’s Shades of London series, so when I saw another of her books…
Making Our Characters’ Crazy Actions Believable
Have you ever received the following critique? “I just don’t believe [character] would do that.” I know I have! (Actually, just this week on my WIP :)). And I’ve said it myself, too. It’s not about a character doing a crazy thing. I’m fine with that–as long as the writer makes me believe they would…
Querying Is Not A Science
I never really liked science in school, but I still did well in it because it follows rules. If you use the right ingredients and follow the steps exactly, you get the expected outcome. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a set formula for landing an agent? Actually, strike that. There is a formula:…
MMGM: FAIREST OF ALL and IF THE SHOE FITS by Sarah Mlynowski
I love it when agents give away books on Twitter–especially when I win! A few weeks ago I won Tamar Rydzinski’s contest for the first two books in Sarah Mlynowski’s middle grade Whatever After series. Often when I win a book (or books) I will pass them along to my readers, but my three and…
How I Tackle Revisions: Getting Inside Secondary Characters’ Heads
Last month I posted about the first two steps of my revision process and said my next step was to write a few scenes from non-main character viewpoints. I’d never done this before, and I don’t know why. I think it just never occurred to me. Well, now that I have, I will definitely be…
YA Series Recommendation: The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker
First of all, happy birthday to my husband, Greg! We’re out celebrating today, but I promised to announce the winner today of the paperback copy of I SO DON’T DO MYSTERIES by Barrie Summy. And the winner is … Julie Deguia! Congratulations, Julie! I’ll be in touch to get your info. I also have a…
MMGM: I SO DON’T DO MYSTERIES by Barrie Summy with a giveaway!
I promised you all that I would do my first giveaway from my Scholastic Warehouse Sale haul in the New Year, so I’m excited to kick off my first MMGM of 2014 with exactly that. The details are at the bottom of the post. I picked up I SO DON’T DO MYSTERIES by Barrie Summy…
Remembering My Grandma: Life Goals Accomplished
Between the holidays, sick kids, and snow days, it’s been a crazy few weeks. In the midst of that, my grandma went into the hospital, and after a week of trying several different treatments, she passed away peacefully on Saturday. I’ve spent the last several days working on a movie filled with pictures of her…
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