When they’re over, will you be keeping the holidays in your heart? Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, and it’s Boxing Day (UK and Canada). Happy Kwanzaa to those who are celebrating. So, are you basking in the afterglow of yesterday? Still feeling the charm of Christmas all around you? Ahh. Or are you…
Don’t look now, but the holidays are right behind you. I hope you had a gratitude-and-family-filled Thanksgiving. If you enjoy online shopping, today’s your day. It’s Cyber Monday. In addition to Amazon, check out uncommongoods.com, live-inspired.com and basbleu.com Here are some gifts for kids and another for the writers in your life (you?). KIDS AGES…
Here’s the bottom line to today’s post. I want to give it to you upfront because I think this is so, so, so important. Here it is: Spend time with people at a big gathering who are pursuing the same hobbies you are. Or who have the same passions. Or who have the same issues….
I’m veering off course today. This post—dedicated to my sister and to all the women out there just living life—is intended for mature readers. Boo, and Happy Halloween! Halloween was my sister’s favorite holiday for as long as I can remember. She loved the costumes. It was always about the costumes for her. (Never the…
Since it’s still October, I’m going to stick with the “Scary” theme. What if I told you that you could be a writer? If that bores you, then you’re in the wrong room. But if that scares you or intrigues you, you’re in the right place. Follow along, too, if you just have fears on…
What You Can Expect and Even How to Write Your Own Middle Grade Horror Fiction Is anything inherently frightening? (Besides clowns? Or running out of coffee?) I think some things can’t help but be frightening: old houses, graveyards, deserted towns. But the best frights are things that seem innocent at first—like a faint scratching on…
Does September feel like a restart to you? To me, it’s even better than January 1 and the start of a new calendar year. September is sharpened pencils and blank notebooks, big hopes, new chances. Kids get new school supplies and, often, new clothes and maybe a new pair of shoes. Mostly what they get…
We can’t always go around bestowing sunshine and rainbows. Some days are just “blah,” and it can be hard to find the motivation or initiative to do much of anything. But doing nothing has NEVER been an inspiring activity. If you’re doing nothing, you can’t find the oomph to write or read or create. So!…
Today I have for you an interview with an author of graphic novels. It’s always so interesting for me to learn about the creative process of other writers. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I’m not generally a reader of graphic novels. Maybe that’s some of you too? Anyway, after talking with children’s librarians…
It’s back-to-school month for a lot of kids. I was just talking to a friend, and we decided we were lucky to have been part of the generation of kids who didn’t have to go back until after Labor Day. Far more civilized. Of course, we got our summer start later, but all that faded…
