Writing is a solitary occupation. Many hours are spent listening to characters speak in your mind, choosing the right words, and analyzing everything that goes down on paper or a Word document. A critique group is a group of writers who can make the job a little less lonely and help you polish your manuscript. Being part of one provides a network of people who understand the world of a writer. Their experiences, knowledge, and [...]
As part of her launch of WE DREAM OF SPACE, the Mojo have been featuring Erin Entrada Kelly with her The Mojo Minute and now we are lucky to have her "sit" down with us and answer a few questions. Middle Grade Mojo: We all have different paths to publishing. For me, I didn't know I wanted to write books until I was downsized about a decade ago. When did discover that you wanted to [...]
Learning online isn’t just for kids. You could be too! I’ve been amazed at the online learning opportunities that have popped up in the last few weeks for writers. The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) has free seminars through April. You do have to be a member to register, but if you’re interested in writing children’s books, being a member of SCBWI is something you should do anyway. Check out their digital [...]
We've tried to bring all aspects of writing onto our site. We've had agents, editors, illustrators, and authors. Today, we are lucky enough to have an award winning (The Agony House, 2019 Earphones Award Winner) voiceover talent Jesse Vilinsky. With a degree in Theater from University of Southern California, Jesse's voice has been showcased on TV, film, video games, and audiobooks. She took some time away from the microphone to answer a few questions. Middle Grade [...]
Are you and your books stuck on the school bus like bubble gum under a seat, riding around in circles? If the royalties you earn barely cover a daily cup of coffee, I have a solution that can help. I’m here to tell you how to un-stick yourself by getting into the schools as part of your marketing campaign to sell books. What many people don’t know is that writers who are able to earn [...]
Make your writing the best it can be by working backwards! Forget first lines and elevator pitches. Do you have an ending that works? Does it mirror your beginning? Can you trace your plot backwards? Does your main character undergo a transformation? Remember plot is the series of events a character is involved in or impacted by. Story is the transformation of the main character. The best endings tie plot and story together in a [...]
We are proud to bring you a visiting author guest post by best-seller Liesl Shurtliff. We have enjoyed her take on classic fairy tales (RUMP: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin being my personal favorite), as well as her TIME CASTAWAYS series. During this visit, Liesl shares her thoughts on finding inspiration in writing what you wish! *** When I was growing up, my family didn’t travel much. We had a lot of kids and money was tight, so the [...]
Shake up your New Year’s writing resolutions by reading The Writer’s Field Guide to the Craft of Fiction by Michael Noll. You will be tempted to read through this one in a hurry, but in order to maximize its lessons, don’t. Noll breaks down pages from the works of 40 of today’s well-respected writers and examines them to see what works. The main takeaway of this exercise is that while each writer’s style may be [...]
What makes writing irresistible to literary agents? Dr. Sandra O’ Donnell, founding member of RO Literary and book coach spills secrets from the other side of the slush pile in Your First Fifteen Pages: An agent's guide to writing a book agents will champion, editors will publish and readers will buy! This is a straightforward guide to better querying, revising and just plain storytelling. It’s perfect for all writers. It’s even great for critique groups [...]
What writer couldn't use some help with PLOTTING? I know I always appreciate advice on how to make the process go smoother. Christina Farley is the author of the bestselling Gilded series and THE PRINCESS AND THE PAGE. Prior to that, she worked as an international teacher and at a top-secret job for Disney where she was known to scatter pixie dust before the sun rose. She and some of her author friends put together the following video. [...]
