As Ellen Jackson said, success as a writer or illustrator depends depends more on intelligent persistence than raw talent. Excerpt from Ellen’s excellent advice: “By ‘intelligent persistence’ I mean the ability to learn from mistakes, to figure out what you’re doing wrong, and then to change it. I know a . . .
Thanks to all who responded to my most recent poll, which asked “While you’re reading a book, have you EVER skipped ahead to read the ending?“ Out of 126 respondents, 60% (or rather 59.52, rounded up) of you replied YES, with the remaining 40% saying NO. Why did you skip . . .
I keep reminding myself of the above as I’m working on the first draft of my middle grade novel. If you like the image above, I’ve made it available as a free print-ready PDF in my For The Love Of Reading resource (where you can find lots of other print-ready posters and activity sheets).
A quickie anonymou survey: Have you ever skipped ahead in a book to read the ending? If you’d like your answers including in the final tally, please answer Yes/No in this survey link.
At the Ontario Library Association Super Conference, the OLA Best Bets Committee said that Kevin Sylvester‘s middle grade non-fiction book BASEBALLOGY: SUPERCOOL FACTS YOU NEVER KNEW (Annick Press) was a fascinating read, whether or not you’re a fan of baseball. “…This book pulls you in as it shares a wealth of historical facts, scientific explanations, and . . .
Some days I wish I hadn’t read the Harry Potter books already just so I could read them again for the first time.
To writers out there who never have trouble finding time to write or revise: pls ignore the rest of this post. To those who are always putting their own projects on the back burner because of bill-paying work taking priority, family obligations, favors for other people, insecurity or fear, procrastination . . .
Megan Maynor is a former advertising copywriter and author of picture books ELLA AND PENGUIN STICK TOGETHER and ELLA AND PENGUIN: A PERFECT MATCH (coming 2017), both from HarperCollins Children’s Books. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and three children. ELLA AND PENGUIN is a new picture book written by Megan Maynor, . . .