StoryStorm 2024

 

Excited to kick off the new year with a month full of inspiration and motivation. Thank you, Tara Lazar, for helping me start off the new year in good fashion. 30 ideas in 31days!

7 Seasonal Sentences

I shared seven seasonal sentences over at #SeasonsOfKidLit.com. Such a fun holiday activity! Thank you, Lynne Marie and Heather Macht.

National Authors Day

 

Today marks a relatively unknown day of recognition for authors. It is National Authors Day today. What a concept...celebrating authors and the art of writing!

I read this day was originally established in 1928 as a way to recognize and celebrate American authors and their literary works. 

I hope this day becomes better known as a means to foster a love of reading and writing in everyone but especially in children as too many today get caught up in technology and don't simply cuddle up and enjoy the worlds within the pages of all the amazing books that exist. I could do so day in and day out!

Who are your favorite authors and/or fav books? 

Taking a Time Out

My brain is cluttered and chaotic, and I don't function well in clutter of any nature:) All for good reasons, namely preparing for my oldest daughter's wedding in a few short weeks as well as a recent return to work. I am, therefore, taking a bit of a time out to focus on all that is most important in the next weeks to month. Thereafter, I will back and aim for more regular posting and interaction. Be well!

God Bless America

 

                                              Always remember, never forget!

Calling All Book Lovers

 

Today, August 9th, is National Book Lovers Day. Put down your phones, laptops, ipads, or any other technological device and pick up a book. You don't have to tell me twice!

Hit your favorite book store or local library and enjoy some time just simply reading. Whether a novel, an autobiography, a chapter book or a picture book, find something to read and lose yourself in the story for a little while. What a terrific way, and day, to celebrate the written word!

Should you be so inclined, I would love to hear what you are reading.

Pruning the Weeds

 

I started reading this book today after it was recommended in a recent webinar I watched. I've no idea why I've not done so before as I have heard of it and William Zinsser. That said, while I am only a few chapters in thus far, I will certainly be finishing it and in quick fashion.

I've been working on the concept of de-cluttering this summer though more in terms of my closet, cupboards, basement piles, etc. I hadn't thought of the idea of clutter as it relates to writing until picking up this book. 

Zinsser discusses the idea that, "the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components," and, in doing so, we must, "clear our heads of clutter. Clear thinking becomes clear writing."

While I know some writers edit as they go, I love the idea of free writing and knocking out a rough draft without too much editing along the way; however, I wholeheartedly agree with Zinsser that fluency does not necessarily mean good writing and, "the essence of writing is re-writing."

Writing is hard work, plain and simple. We must sit butt-in-chair and put in the work. For me, that typically means writing the first draft and then going back to edit, modify, and prune words in an effort to tighten and strengthen the story as, in Zinsser's words, "writing improves in direct ratio to the number of things we can keep out of it that shouldn't be there." 

So de-clutter those stories. Prune the weeds. Every word counts.

Per Zinsser, "clutter is the enemy." He gives some concrete examples of using shorter rather than longer words in an effort to simplify (e.g., assistance/help). I have found this book quite helpful thus far and recommend you check it out if you haven't already.

He further says, "Examine every word you put on paper. You'll find a surprising number that don't serve any purpose."

As a picture book author, this is advice I will, and must, heed as every word counts and must drive the story forward.

Looking forward to pruning and weeding my words in the process. I'd love to hear your process for doing so should you want to share.