the team-building site of middle grade author Jackie Yeager
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
Books are never one size fits all. Even the most globally popular books don’t appeal to every reader. We like what we like, and just because everyone else is obsessed with a story, doesn’t mean we will be also. Likewise, just because we can’t stop raving about a book to every person who will listen,… Continue reading Creating a Bookshelf that’s YOU
Could it really be the last day of February? Don’t mind me while I break out my pom poms and revert to my college cheerleading days. It’s not like I have anything against the month itself, but since I live in Upstate New York, I associate February with cold, snow, and isolation. I may be… Continue reading Strong Writing Habits lead to Strong Progress
As someone who prides herself on encouraging others to chase their dreams, I often wonder if any of my cheering really ever hits the mark. Do my words matter to anyone? I began writing this post today full of enthusiasm and energy. I had this feeling that someone needed encouragement and I was excited to… Continue reading Communicator Between Two Worlds
As much as many writers working toward publication would love to quit their day jobs so they can work on their own writing full time, for most that’s not financially possible. And for some, working at another job is something they want to do anyway. Either way, if you work at another job or are… Continue reading Writing Jobs for Writers