by Amarden | Feb 21, 2017 | Writing Craft
I was so excited to attend the Association of Writers & Writing Programs 2017 conference in Washington, D.C. a few weeks ago (#AWP17 to see tweets from the conference). I darted out of my hotel room Thursday morning, fueled by coffee and a thirst for knowledge....
by Amarden | Jan 21, 2017 | Writing Craft
Like the center of the Earth, the query letter is something of a mystery to me. I have probably spent more time writing and rewriting and editing that letter–and the elusive, all-important second paragraph–than I spent on chapters of my book. Well,...
by Amarden | Nov 12, 2016 | Writing Craft
I devour middle grade books. I don’t remember the last time I read a book for adults. I write middle grade fiction, so like any serious writer, I read my market. In case you’re not familiar with middle grade, all the rules that apply to writing for adults...
by Amarden | Oct 28, 2016 | Writing Craft
Perhaps there is a parallel universe where storytellers need only imagine characters and plots and premises and themes, and those threads of imagination take it from there. The threads sit themselves down in front of the laptop and hammer out the first, second, fifth,...
by Amarden | Sep 8, 2016 | Writing Craft
I am currently reading Catherynne M. Valente’s deliciously delightful middle grade adventure book, The Boy Who Lost Fairyland. It’s the fourth in the series but the first one I have read (don’t ask me why I started with #4 because I don’t...
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