I always look forward to my regional SCBWI conference. This year it's especially exciting because I'll be giving a workshop myself. My topic: revision. I used to dread revisions. I loved drafting; I loved polishing; but I loathed the grunt work in between the two. I spent the past year revising a middle-grade animal adventure… Continue reading The Art of Story: SCBWI Canada East Conference
Category: writing
Awesome Young Authors in Ottawa
Yes, it's on! The Ottawa Public Library is holding its annual Awesome Authors Contest for youth aged 9-17. If you're a young person in Ottawa with something to say, get to work on saying it well. (BTW, the 9-year-olds don't have to compete with the high-schoolers. The contest is divided into three age categories: 9-11;… Continue reading Awesome Young Authors in Ottawa
Good Reading
I just received my copies of the latest Pot-Pourri -- that's the annual volume of youth writing published by the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association (FOPLA). This lovely book contains all the winning poems and stories from last year's Awesome Authors Contest, a youth writing competition held every winter by the Ottawa Public Library.… Continue reading Good Reading
My Latest Story (Not for Children)
My latest short story, "Mr. Boots," has just come out in the Summer 2017 issue of The Fiddlehead. (Yes, that's me peeking inside the magazine at left, and yes, I could use some eye drops and a mascara wand. What can I say? I've been up late writing.) The Fiddlehead is one of Canada's most… Continue reading My Latest Story (Not for Children)
A Celebration of Reading
My home town, Gatineau, is one of this year's hosts of Canada's largest festival of reading. We're an official "Reading Town" this month, with events and presentations that come to a close tomorrow. It's all part of the National Reading Campaign's mission to make reading a national priority. I'm doing my bit to celebrate. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll… Continue reading A Celebration of Reading
Catherine Austen 