While I’m away from my desk this week, I want to share with you some “gems” I’ve gathered in recent weeks from the Web.

I hope you will take time to read and/or print out both things listed today. You’ll be glad you did!

 

Gem#1

So You Want to Write Books for Children? Is writing for children on your long-term bucket list, or did you just recently acquire the itch? Either way, these seven crucial tips from guest author Mary Hertz Scarbrough will help you get started on the path to becoming a children’s writer. See both Part 1 and Part 2. (Mary Hertz Scarbrough is the author of two dozen children’s books. Her book, Heroes of the American Revolution, was a top pick of the Junior Library Guild in September 2012.)

Gem #2

Do you want help with a novel that is giving you fits? Then do like my much published and award-winning, recent MFA-grad writer friend Sherryl Clark does, and “write around it.” I asked her to explain that technique to me this week in a Skype discussion we had, and she pointed me to a page on “writing around the novel” where I could download a whole 30-day program. I printed it out ASAP!

I know you’ll enjoy all this free writing help today, but I hope you also print it out, mull it over, think about “school starting” soon, and decide to dig in and learn!