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Meet the Faculty: W.H. Beck and Joanne Levy
Two amazing Middle grade authors this time! W.H. Beck is the author of the humorous middle grade mystery MALCOLM AT MIDNIGHT, its upcoming sequel, MALCOLM UNDER THE STARS, and several nonfiction...
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Meet the Faculty: A. C. Gaughen and Ame Dyckman
We feel lucky to have met both of these authors through conferences also. If you’ve ever read A. C. Gaughen’s creative books based on the tales of Robin Hood, you’ll know to get excited about her post...
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Amy Fellner Dominy: Let Your Character Create Plot and GIVEAWAY
Plotting a book is one of those things that many writers struggle with—including me. As much as we might want to dive in to a book and just write, one of the first things we’ve got to do is plot,...
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Charlotte Bennardo: Just… Don’t Do It and GIVEAWAY
“Just write it.” That’s the advice given to aspiring writers. But what happens when you write yourself into a hole and you don’t know where the story goes? Or you have to reread your novel to get back...
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POP QUIZ WEEK 3
Now that Week 3 has come to a close, it’s time to review what you learned and take a Pop Quiz. We know you’re all going to nail it and will surely show off your plotting prowess! Take this quiz to see...
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POP QUIZ WEEK 4
Alright, are you ready to show off all that you have learned in our FINAL Pop Quiz? We know you’re all going to nail it and will surely show off your plotting prowess! Take this quiz to see what you...
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#KidlitSummerSchool Week 2 Begins Tomorrow!
Yay for Kidlit Summer School 2016! You did it! You made it though week one, and the fun isn’t over yet, not even close! Enjoy today relaxing and having fun in the sun (psst… it’s #nationalicecreamday...
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DON’T FORGET THE PET: A Tried and True Way to Imbue Your Story With Heart by...
Do I have a secret for pulling on heartstrings? You bet. It’s furry, or feathery, or scaly, and it’s often my favorite character in my story. I give my child hero a pet. First, a disclaimer—I’m a fan...
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Tipping The Scales Between Heart And Humor by @leezaworks and GIVEAWAY
Recently, I saw Penn & Teller live. It was a riveting show filled with mystical “ooohs,” enlightened “aaaahs,” and of course, plenty of laughs. The magician-entertainers are dubbed as a comedy duo...
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Don’t Be Afraid to Be Embarrassed by Jo Whittemore
When I was in elementary school, all the 4th-6th graders took part in a musical extravaganza called The Legend Train, where different narrators would ride around on this wooden train, pulled by the...
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Unexpected Character Traits Bring In The Funny by @lauriewallmark and GIVEAWAY
Whether your novel is humorous or serious, a bit of levity can add to a child’s reading enjoyment. Let your characters help you inject humor into the story, by giving them unexpected traits, such as:...
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Slapstick and Subtlety: Yes, Please by @cordellmatthew
One of the greatest misconceptions about children’s picture books is that these are books with pictures that are meant for children. This is simply not true. I would agree that, obviously, a...
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Finding a Shetland Pony in a Pile of Poop by @rcpjallen plus a #Giveaway
One of my grandma’s favorite sayings when an imminent disaster on our Indiana farm turned into a hilarious moment was, “Well, I just found a Shetland pony in that pile of poop.” Everyone would laugh....
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Writing with Heart and Soul by Kelly Starling Lyons
Before I became a children’s book author, I wrote newspaper and magazine articles. I looked forward to feedback from editors that would help my stories shine. But one day, I received a note that made...
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Go Big Or Go Home with The Funny by @jason_kirschner and #GIVEAWAY
Not too long ago, I was talking to a fellow author about a beautifully poetic manuscript that a friend had written. I commented that I could never have written something so lyrical. She turned to me...
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Does Your Story Need a Heart Transplant? by @BonnieAdamson and #GIVEAWAY
Three case histories Sometimes I have what I think is a great idea for a story. I plot it out, polish the text, start thumbnailing scenes and begin working on character design. And then I hit a wall....
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