the site of middle grade author Jackie Yeager
If you’re a big dreamer like I am, sometimes it’s hard to see small wins or milestones for what they are: a big deal. We sometimes get so hyper-focused on the end game—our ultimate, long-term goals, that we forget to see the in-between, smaller achievements as a huge deal too. I used to be like… Continue reading Celebrate the Middle
Hello from sunny Florida! I you’re having a great week. I’m spending mine on a mini vacation with my daughter. After a fantastic long weekend in South Florida with my sister-in-law and her kids, yesterday we took the train up to Orlando… Disney to be specific. But we’re not doing the traditional Disney thing. We’re… Continue reading Seeking Magical Inspiration
Since we’re well into Spring, I think we better talk about spring cleaning our manuscripts. Do you have Spring Fever too? Cleaning our manuscripts? Yes! It’s time to get rid of all those dirty words. You know the ones. Filler words. Words like: that, just, really, and very. They weaken your writing and bog down… Continue reading Spring Cleaning your Manuscript
Hi there! Thanks for stopping back for the final installment of Publishing Expectations vs Reality! In case you missed them, you can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here. As always, please keep in mind these are my experiences, and those of many other authors, but certainly not indicative of every author’s experiences. Got it? Okay…… Continue reading Publishing Expectations vs Reality: Part 3
Hey there! I hope you caught Part 1 of this blog series last week. If not, scroll back. You’ll find my first three Publishing Expectations vs Reality thoughts there with an explanation of how this blog topic came to be. Moving on… Expectation 4: My book will be stocked in every bookstore and library everywhere. Reality: Maybe… Continue reading Publishing Expectations vs Reality: Part 2
Last week, I gave a presentation to my local writers groups with author, Marsha Hayles. The Rochester Area Children’s Writers and Illustrators group is a subgroup of SCBWI- such a great bunch of people! I became a member almost 15 years ago around the time I began working towards publication. Back then, I didn’t know… Continue reading Publishing Expectations vs Reality: Part 1
Hey there! Happy Easter, y’all! I’m always so curious about other people’s family traditions. Every holiday I wonder, how others are celebrating. Maybe it's fear of missing out. Maybe I'm just nosy! Growing up, Easter was different for us every year. It always included church and the hunt for Easter baskets but sometimes we were home… Continue reading Traditionally Speaking
Goodbye, March. I’m not sad to see you go! Not because spring is coming. Although that’s a huge plus! It’s because at the end of each quarter, I like to evaluate where I am in relation to where I had hoped to be. I like to do a goal check-up. Why? Well, I’ve never been… Continue reading Goal Check: First Quarter
Reading goals are meant to be motivational, not a burden. That’s the way I’m looking at mine this year. I’ve committed to read 25 books in 2023. So, how am I doing? So far so good! But it hasn’t been easy to stay on track this quarter. Between querying and reading college admissions applications, I’ve… Continue reading First Quarter Reading Roundup
There’s nothing like getting your character names right. But assigning the right names can be tricky. When done well, they’ll fit each character like a cashmere sweater or a favorite pair of jeans. When done not so well, they’ll feel forced or like an afterthought—and no one wants their brainchild to feel like an afterthought.… Continue reading Name Your Characters with Intention
swirl and spark 