I've been researching nursery rhymes for a silly early reader. I've discovered long-winded versions of many short familiar rhymes. The famous little star twinkles through five verses; children go round the mulberry bush half a dozen times; Jack and Jill go home and get whipped by their mother; the girl with the curl stands on her head and bangs her heels against the window.… Continue reading Rewards of Research
Category: writing
Stupid Procrastination Attempts
Did your need to procrastinate ever lead you to a really dumb decision? In the middle of writing a key scene in my novel this morning, I decided I needed a haircut. Of course this was simply a ploy from some twisted part of me to stay away a while longer from my computer. I really dread writing this… Continue reading Stupid Procrastination Attempts
Too Many Books to Write
I'm not the only writer with 18 books in progress, am I? I love a story when it's still in the bud and bursting with potential. I most often write picture books, which are very short and take up little file space. A few of my PBs-in-progress are first drafts, but most are mere outlines and premises, some with research notes or character sketches,… Continue reading Too Many Books to Write
Wonderful Book Review
I know I said I wasn't going to read any more Walking Backward book reviews, but fellow author Kate Jaimet sent me an email this weekend congratulating me on my review in the Globe & Mail, so I just had to check it out. (I was wary of opening the page, but Kate's congratulations spurred me on.)… Continue reading Wonderful Book Review
New Discouragements and New Motivations
A friend of a friend has gone into the same large bookstore three times to request my book, without any luck. The store had two copies in October--each store in the chain seemed to receive two copies of my book--but when those were quickly sold, they didn't order more. The clerk who received this woman's third request for Walking Backward responded with,… Continue reading New Discouragements and New Motivations
