Posted in Uncategorized, Writing

Writing a Picture Book for Kids: Is it For You?

It seems that anyone who writes has likely considered writing a short book for kids at one point or another. Most of them never move in that direction because writing a children’s picture book isn’t at all like writing a book for adults.

Last year, I had the privilege of editing and publishing Moonlight Press’s first children’s book, “Muddy Makes Music” by Newfoundland storyteller Carl Hutton.

That process used many of the skills I already had in the area of writing and editing adult nonfiction and fiction, but it also taught me more than a few things throughout the process. I wanted to share a few of those things with anyone who’s been considering writing a book for kids—even their own children or grandchildren.

It’s a myth that children’s picture books are easy to write. Just because they’re short doesn’t make it easy to get them right. However, if you have a story to tell, I might have a few ideas that could smooth your way. In this week’s episode of WRITE. FIX. REPEAT., I’m sharing five tips on writing and publishing a children’s picture book.

Posted in Uncategorized

How’s Your Pacing?

Anyone who writes fiction or narrative nonfiction knows that pacing is essential. However, not every writer knows what it is and how to make it work in a story. Sometimes, it’s hard to know exactly what story pacing is, but when a writer gets it right, a reader just feels it.

Of course, narrative pacing is the rhythm and speed at which a story unfolds. It’s a crucial element that can make or break your writing. It determines how readers experience your story, affecting their emotional engagement and overall satisfaction. Many writers have an innate sense of pacing within their genres. Even then, however, it’s important to be mindful about how it’s playing out.

In this episode of WRITE. FIX. REPEAT. I’m sharing tips on how to get that pacing just right so that your story unfolds as you want it to.

Posted in Backstory, Book launches, Book trailers, Fiction Writing, Uncategorized

Launching a new book: It never gets tired!

Anyone who knows me personally or knows my work also knows that I’ve been writing nonfiction for over thirty years. I started my career as a health and medical writer. After moving into medical communication and working as an academic and consultant, my writing focused on communications. I occasionally was able to mesh health and communication in my writing. Some of you still use my textbooks – I know this because I still get royalty cheques!

Now, as a recovering academic, I spend the bulk of my writing time writing fiction. Today, I launch my latest novel, “The Inscrutable Life of Frannie Phillips.”

I never really intended to write this book. In fact, when I finished The Year I Made 12 Dresses that launched six months into the pandemic, I thought I was finished with the main character, Charlotte (Charlie) Hudson. Not so much. Have you ever had a character whisper into your ear? Keep talking in your head? Generally, bug you until you had to write about her again? That’s where Kat’s Kosmic Blues came in. But it seemed she wasn’t finished there.

So, today, I launch The Inscrutable Life of Frannie Phillips and here’s my little launch party where I tell you about writing this book…

And here’s more info…

I’ll now return to my usual blogging: sharing my writing tips, advice and general journey. You might even enjoy reading this book.

Care about people’s approval, and you will be their prisoner.

Lao Tzu