This story about the new Young People’s Laureate in just confirms what I’ve always believed- that all the best stuff happens in Wales. But seriously, we can’t encourage young people enough to read and to write creatively and a young people’s laureate is just the thing. Childhood and the teen years is when lifelong reading habits … More Wales, writing and other negotiations

I don’t want to be a complainer, but well, here goes.  I got the copy edit of my book from Lorimer.  In general it was great. Because it’s a hi/lo book they had to go through it carefully to edit for clarity, change some words to simpler things etc. Most of their changes were absolutely … More He Said, She Said – When and How to Use Dialog Tags

Lisa Muzaffar Kusko tells it like it is here.  The old school arbitrary “rules” of English really stick in the mind. I still find myself as I write fiction, struggling over these. Even in my MFA a professor pointed out that “He runs like he’s being chased by the devil” should be “He runs as … More And You Never Forget the Lies Your English Teacher Told You

The 10 Types of Writers Block and How to Overcome Them. Charlie Jane Anders gives some excellent advice about coping with the different types of writer’s block.  It’s an interesting list to begin with, because some of the types I never face and some I always face. I’m sure it’s the same for all writers. … More The 10 Types of Writers Block, a.k.a. Welcome to my Nightmare

Thank you again, YAHighway for pointing me to this awesomely hilarious Random Title Generator. Here are a few choice titles it came up with for me: The Worlds of Nothing – clearly dystopian, possibly nihilistic sci-fi? Also slightly reminiscent of The Never-Ending Story Bare Bride – Christian erotica?  After all, a bride IS married. Blade … More Random Title Generator

how to judge a YA book by its cover. Just got word from Lorimer  that the title we’re probably going with for my YA sports  novel is “Wicket Season“. What do you think?  I kind of like it. It was one of my suggestions, and I love that it has a cricket term in it. … More how to judge a YA book by its cover

Tips for budding writers. Rayan Khan seems to have it all figured out here. I only wish someone had given ME these tips when I was young. Maybe Mrs Crooks did, I suppose; I probably wasn’t listening. Here are some less conventional tips for young writers, in no particular order: Get a computer. As romantic … More Tips for budding writers

Teacher, writer, broadcaster Sally Crooks dies at 84 – Saskatchewan – CBC News. Sally Crooks was my creative writing teacher in high school. Not my English teacher – I don’t remember any of their names – my creative writing teacher. I transferred  to her school because it was the only one in town that had … More The Eleventh Grade – Goodbye Ms. Crooks

Aaron Sorkin Breaks his Nose While Writing – The Hollywood Reporter. I’m saddened by the news of Aaron Sorkin’s violent brush with himself. What I wouldn’t give to clap eyes on the page of dialog he was reading when he felt the urge to headbutt his own reflection. Writing is a dangerous game. Don’t let … More The Dangers of Writing

HC defends “sexist” jacket | The Bookseller. Poor Polly Courtney. Clearly she thought her book was a more serious one than Harper Collins Avon thought. I’ll say this for her though: she knows how to get media.  The story of her “sacking” her publishers because she objected to the jacket of her new book It’s … More Covers, titles and other things beyond my control