ivy + bean: week 5
Have you picked up an Ivy + Bean book yet? Around my house we are devouring them. Andy even read one so he wouldn’t be left out of the dinner… Read more ivy + bean: week 5 →
discovering a new character
Today’s #TeachersWrite quick write challenge is to put a character in the media center of a school. I love quick writes, because there is always something lurking just beyond the… Read more discovering a new character →
hot rod grandma
I was on my way to a meeting this morning when I pulled up to a stoplight behind a shiny black corvette. Around the license plate was a sign declaring: Mamaw’s Hot Rod I was dying to get a glimpse of the driver, but the windows were tinted and the car was fast. Still, it made me think of writing and character development. I wondered about the character that is beginning to take root in my notebook (and maybe in my heart too). Would her grandma drive a hot rod?… Read more hot rod grandma →
unexpected inspiration
I have some new characters tumbling around in my mind. (This may be the last thing I need right now with the end of the school year, trying to finish… Read more unexpected inspiration →
{discover.play.build.} take a walk.
This week I was out walking and a character popped into my mind. I walk past this farm many times each week. It’s been showing up in my notebook a lot lately, and I’ve been thinking about the kinds of people who could live on a farm like the one I walk past. I’ve been asking myself What if…What if…What if… So I began to dream about the kinds of people who may live there. I walked and thought. Walked some more and said What if…some more. When I returned… Read more {discover.play.build.} take a walk. →
teens — a notebook entry (soLs)
Every week there’s a group of high school kids that hang out at our house. I make a dessert and they eat it and talk. It’s the best. One of the reasons I like it is because I get material for YA books. I love to listen to them talk and watch their mannerisms. Mostly, though, I love how they make me laugh. So here’s a quick list of things I noticed that may (or may not) influence my writing. “She’s in hot water because she posted about the play on… Read more teens — a notebook entry (soLs) →
notebook #4 for my current wip
I’ve been playing with characters for a new YA story since April. About six weeks ago, I started to play with a draft. Last month at writing group, Ruth helped… Read more notebook #4 for my current wip →
{discover.play.build.} character wants
Just like real people, fictional characters are driven by their wants. And just like real life, if I can figure out what people want, it’s a lot easier to understand… Read more {discover.play.build.} character wants →
{discover.play.build.} bone map
Getting to know a character bymaking a bone map. I like forcing myself to think about characters and their lives by making different kinds of lists and maps in my… Read more {discover.play.build.} bone map →