Creative Writing
Posted on October 2, 2020 by Catherine Austen
Featuring guest authors Cary Fagan, Philippa Dowding, Raquel Rivera, Ishta Mercurio, and Kari-Lynn Winters, talking about plotting—how and when they plot, how they feel about tormenting characters with obstacles, and what they recommend to those who want to improve their own plotting. Check out… Continue Reading “Author Interviews about Plotting (Episode 4.5)”
Category: authors, children's books, podcast, writing, writing proces, young writersTags: cary fagan, children's books, children's literature, children's novels, children's writing, creative process, creative writing, ishta mercurio, kari lynn winters, middle grade novel, novels, philippa dowding, picture book process, picture books, plot, plots, plotting, raquel rivera, young adult novel
Posted on August 21, 2020 by Catherine Austen
Welcome to Cabin Tales: Spooky Stories for Young Writers. This is Episode Two: Nasty People meet Nasty Ends. It’s a long one at 50 minutes. I’m Catherine Austen. And my guests today are great Canadian writers Karen Krossing, Monique Polak, and Tim Wynne-Jones. Today… Continue Reading “Nasty People Meet Nasty Ends (Episode 2: Characters)”
Category: podcast, writingTags: bad beginning, books, Canadian writers, canlit, character exercises, children's books, children's novels, creative process, creative writing, dracula, fictional characters, fictional villains, introducing characters, karen krossing, monique polak, novels, reading, short fiction, short stories, tim wynne-jones, universe versus alex woods, writers, writing workshops, young writers, youth writing
Posted on May 1, 2020 by Catherine Austen
To all the young writers whom I’d hoped to meet at a workshop this spring or summer (cancelled due to Covid-19)… If you’re stuck at home with a pen handy, why not start a story or ten? Don’t know how to begin? I’ll take… Continue Reading “Young Writers Workshop: Know your Character”
Category: author talks, friday form, school visits, writing proces, writing workshops, young writersTags: author visits, characters, cinderella, creating characters, creative process, creative writing, creative writing exercise, fiction writing, fictional characters, inspiration, short fiction, short stories, writers, writing, writing exercise, writing workshops, youth writing
Posted on December 5, 2019 by Catherine Austen
There’s a new source of funding for author visits to English-language Quebec schools: ArtistsInspire. The program administers federal funding for minority language education. Through ArtistsInspire, schools receive full funding to invite authors, artists, or other culture creators to engage their students in the arts.… Continue Reading “Writing Workshops”
Posted on September 11, 2019 by Catherine Austen
August 2021 Update: When the Squirrels Stole my Sister is in the Fall 2021 catalogue of Fitzhenry & Whiteside, for publication this September. Cover image to come soon! [older post…] Years ago, I wrote a story about a clever squirrel who grew tired of waiting… Continue Reading “Thieving Squirrels in Fall 2021”
Category: books, children's books, illustration, picture book, picture books, squirrels, What's New, writing, writing procesTags: authors and illustrators, book development, books, Canadian writers, canlit, children's books, creative process, creative writng, delays, editing, fitzhenry and whiteside, grey squirrels, illustrations, inspiration, patience, picture book layout, picture book process, picture books, publishing, revising, sean cassidy, squirrel books, squirrels, squirrels stole my sister, writers, writing