tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post6858919826931147955..comments2024-03-17T12:30:03.009-05:00Comments on Teaching Authors--6 Children's Authors Who Also Teach Writing: Wednesday Writing Workout: Keeping it Real plus a Two-Book Giveaway!Carmela Martinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543808551988338496noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-16946699674491647052016-12-05T04:43:22.167-06:002016-12-05T04:43:22.167-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589426621654194958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-52454240491849071322016-12-03T19:45:07.756-06:002016-12-03T19:45:07.756-06:00Congratulations, Danielle H. I'll be happy to ...Congratulations, Danielle H. I'll be happy to get your books to you as soon as I receive your information from JoAnn and the other authors. I hope you'll enjoy both books enough to want to read the third/final next year. Sandy Brehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02073122273951186418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-66333142853425564492016-12-03T19:42:22.761-06:002016-12-03T19:42:22.761-06:00Mary, it's wonderful to think this will be hel...Mary, it's wonderful to think this will be helpful for you, but keep in mind, your opinion matters, too, I've found the more I push android and negotiate with a character, the more fully developed s/he becomes. That was true for secondary characters, too, and most often the final text was a balance of my intentions and their needs. Just don't leave Debbie out of the decisions!<br /><br />Sandy Brehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02073122273951186418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-12754323030189703312016-11-30T07:51:13.291-06:002016-11-30T07:51:13.291-06:00Thank you for this post Sandy. I'd like to try...Thank you for this post Sandy. I'd like to try asking my character Debbie her opinions but she's likely to disagree with me. Now that you've put this in my head I'm certain I'll decide Debbie knows best. maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101072228537792281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-84655953720821386292016-11-28T22:05:26.219-06:002016-11-28T22:05:26.219-06:00Good to know that mantra will guide you, Nina. I h...Good to know that mantra will guide you, Nina. I have countless sections, passages, even whole chapters that were genuinely fun to write, felt like they were "meant to be" in this book and the final. Then, when I stepped back to see if they were the best choice for Mari, I had to let them go. Among my critique group we've been able to see what amounts to self-indulgent choices. That's not to say those sections might not turn out to be useful in some other context or purpose, they just don't make the cut. <br />It can be helpful for students, too, to physically print out or cut out those "cuts" and add them to a WIP folder, or "Scrapbook of good writing", as a reminder that revision isn't about something being "good" or "bad", it's more a question of what it working and what isn't.They build a bank of scenes and passages that might inspire an entirely different piece of writing.Sandy Brehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02073122273951186418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-75620873275393807262016-11-28T06:39:27.916-06:002016-11-28T06:39:27.916-06:00The MUST HAVE, MAYBE, DUMP idea really settled int...The MUST HAVE, MAYBE, DUMP idea really settled into my head. I like it and will use it. Thanks Sandy. So helpful!<br />NinaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15046550996410828639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-48400107958277000012016-11-21T17:29:53.962-06:002016-11-21T17:29:53.962-06:00I'm tickled to see how many readers enjoyed Sa...I'm tickled to see how many readers enjoyed Sandy's helpful process. I must add Kate Messner's book to my list, too. Thanks again, Sandy!JoAnn Early Mackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17812079420917080829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-47345858234656562202016-11-20T20:39:33.039-06:002016-11-20T20:39:33.039-06:00This was a most helpful posting about writing proc...This was a most helpful posting about writing process. Allowing the character to lead is a leap of faith, but one that I need to keep working on. Thanks for the encouragement. Karen Eastlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778112838401454642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-22680781925685488672016-11-17T19:54:57.463-06:002016-11-17T19:54:57.463-06:00Bjorn’s Gift sounds like my kind of book! I love h...Bjorn’s Gift sounds like my kind of book! I love historical fiction. A wonderful interview. Thank you for your thoughts on research and getting into your character's head. Linda Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00833034575304594924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-77928577476796287382016-11-17T16:38:34.987-06:002016-11-17T16:38:34.987-06:00A very interesting and useful post - thank you.
g...A very interesting and useful post - thank you.<br /><br />gramswisewords.blogspot.comgrams ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15627561019772248870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-133540742911231532016-11-17T15:54:23.356-06:002016-11-17T15:54:23.356-06:00Carmela and Kathy, it's great to read that the...Carmela and Kathy, it's great to read that these tips might support your historical novel writing. <br />Sarah, isn't it amazing the way each return to BIRD BY BIRD reveals something new, even though we know the words on the page are exactly the same as the last time we read them? <br />I saw an interview with Jack Prelutsky who said he interviews the subjects of his poems- even skinless chicken- trying to become fully aware of every aspect of the "character"s needs, wants, personality. <br />Marilyn, you can't go wrong with Kate Messner's book Once you get your hands on it I suspect you might buy a second copy tso you can loan it out to other teachers but never be without one at your fingertips. Danielle, I hope something here will be helpful in your own writing and teaching journeys.<br />And JoAnn, it's such a privilege to be welcomed here to the Teaching Authors again. I learn so much from all of you and from the comments of your readers. Sandy Brehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02073122273951186418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-63801503726078836562016-11-17T12:09:36.546-06:002016-11-17T12:09:36.546-06:00Thanks for the recommendations and tips. I appreci...Thanks for the recommendations and tips. I appreciate them very much.Danielle H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11079935240201178744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-6499639049838337062016-11-17T07:17:55.393-06:002016-11-17T07:17:55.393-06:00This is a great post, so helpful at understanding ...This is a great post, so helpful at understanding just how much goes into character development AND how to actually achieve it. I am going to put Kate Messner's book on my list of must-have books right away. Maybe Santa will be kind. :) Thanks!Marilyn Garciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06366045562848736672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-84684360475664089392016-11-17T07:12:42.905-06:002016-11-17T07:12:42.905-06:00Sandy, this post is so timely for me right now as ...Sandy, this post is so timely for me right now as I draft my first attempt of a historical fiction MG. I, too, have struggled for two years to get this story "right" and to find it's voice. I am finally channeling my MC, but these exercises wi come in very handy when I feel I am done. Bravo for your two books out in the world. I would love to read them.Kathy Halseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11600954824509054774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-54018241546248063382016-11-17T03:04:53.039-06:002016-11-17T03:04:53.039-06:00My current read is Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird....My current read is Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird. She talks so much about listening to your character, letting them do their own talking, and getting out of their way. A very timely article for me to read, indeed! I am primarily a poet and short memoir writer. This idea of getting into a character's head, someone that's not me, is still rather new to me. Thanks for sharing your process!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814683310277314981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934041490878801751.post-73638308743095000372016-11-16T09:58:55.268-06:002016-11-16T09:58:55.268-06:00Thanks for sharing your process, Sandy, and for th...Thanks for sharing your process, Sandy, and for this great Writing Workout. I'm currently revising a YA historical that I hadn't read in awhile. That distance is really helping me see that some of the material I originally thought was indispensable doesn't really serve the story.Carmela Martinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15543808551988338496noreply@blogger.com