The new kitten People always ask writers, "Where do you get your ideas?" (Okay, not many people have asked me that yet, but once I have more titles to my credit, they'll start asking.) Really good ideas for a book - the sort of premises Michael Chricton is famous for - don't come along every day. But bad ideas… Continue reading Where do you get your Ideas?
Category: writing
Small Town Blues
There's a lot going on in the big cities these days when it comes to children's literature. I just received an invitation from the Canadian Children's Book Centre to attend the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award Celebration in Montreal on November 2nd. There are cocktails and hors d'oeuvres before the award ceremony, and coffee and dessert after. There's even… Continue reading Small Town Blues
Emerging Writer Opportunities
Knock knock. Who's there? Opportunity. Opportunity who? It's not a joke. Opportunity is walking away shaking its head right now. Here are a few timely contests for emerging Canadian writers bold enough to try their luck. The Writers' Union Short Prose Competition. Check it out here. It's open to all Canadian writers who do NOT have book-length publications. There… Continue reading Emerging Writer Opportunities
Exercise and Anglerfish
I intended to exercise this morning but my pets conspired against me. I haven't exercised for twelve days due to a bout of bronichiitis that shows no sign of improvement. I fear that all my weight-lifting gains are fading fast. Compare me twelve days ago (left) to me now (right): Notice how the glow is gone? Being under the… Continue reading Exercise and Anglerfish
Feast and Famine
In 2008, after several years of writing for children, I had the good fortune to sell two manuscripts in the same year: a picture book to Kids Can Press in the spring; and a middle-grade novel to Orca Book Publishers in the fall. I did not understand the bleak book market at that time and I had no idea how… Continue reading Feast and Famine
Catherine Austen 