Writing for YA
Getting Unstuck: Finding Inspiration in the Classics
It happens to us all at one time or another. Words won’t come and dread of facing the blank…
February 26, 2026-
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Kids LitA Troop? Swarm? Gaggle? What do you call a group of Editors?
Whether you are starting or multi-published, there are editors in your life. Some are most helpful before submission, and…
February 6, 2026 -
Writing for YA
Lessons Learned to Last All Year
January arrives full of possibility, and the fresh, new year tinges the air with energy and hope. This always…
January 27, 2026 -
Kids Lit
Post Launch
On September 2, 2025, my Christmas book, Just Enough Room for Christmas, was published. That means on December 26,…
January 8, 2026 -
Writing for YA
When (and What) to Quit
The season for evaluating and organizing our lives and our work is upon us, but the idea of filling…
December 29, 2025 -
Kids Lit
The Christmas Read-Aloud Crowd
A torrent of new books comes out each holiday season, celebrating Christmas, both religious and secular. Some, sold to…
December 8, 2025 -
Romancing Your StoryFrom Rings to Rainstorms: Using Symbols and Motifs to Deepen Your Story
It’s a myth that symbolism and motifs are the sole property of literary writers. They are important tools in…
November 23, 2025 -
Kids Lit
Peeking over the Artist’s Shoulder
This month, I interviewed an artist friend about how his mind works! Welcome, Jack Foster. Jack and I met…
November 8, 2025 -
Writing for YA
Guest Post by YA Author Melissa Knight: Thoughts on AI
Melissa Knight is the author of two series, and a devotional for teens. She writes contemporary novels for teens…
October 27, 2025 -
Kids Lit
Just BLOGGING Along! Happy 30 years to the BLOG!
Though not named BLOG until several years later, the practice of sharing personal writing and opinions online dates back…
October 8, 2025 -
Writing for YA
Four Tips for Creating a Teen Detective
Since 2018, I’ve spent every day with my teen detective Rae Riley. She’s had a cameo in one short…
September 28, 2025 -
Kids Lit
Into the Bottomless Pit…
This is THE month – the month my latest book, Just Enough Room for Christmas, launches out into the…
September 8, 2025 -
Writing for YA
Seven Ways Young Adult Novels Miss the Mark (and How to Fix Them)
Do you struggle to create a teen protagonist that resonates with young adult readers? Is something off in the…
August 27, 2025 -
Writing Romance
The Act-Three Break-Up: Required or Suggested?
Thanks to a nasty virus, I’ve spent a good amount of the last few weeks on the couch with…
August 24, 2025 -
Kids Lit
Objects in the Rear-view Mirror…
I wrote this totally CUTE board book featuring CUTE dinosaurs, and it has the CUTEST art ever. During the…
August 8, 2025 -
Writing for YA
Interview with YA Author Miriam Thor Part Two: Writing YA Contemporary
Today’s post is part two of my interview with Miriam Thor, author of the contemporary young adult novel Listening…
July 27, 2025 -
Kids Lit
From Blue to Aquamarine: Concept Books about Color
Concept books – in this case, books about colors – are not all that simple to write and sell.…
July 9, 2025 -
Writing for YA
My Road to Published: Queries, Going Indie, and the Carol Awards
It’s finally here. My contemporary young adult novel, Promise Me Tomorrow, released earlier this month. It’s been a long…
June 27, 2025 -
Kids Lit
Something Old is New Again!
On July 1, New York and most of publishing hang out a sign: See you in September! And many…
June 11, 2025 -
Writing for YA
Interview with YA Author Miriam Thor Part One: Writing About a Character with Hearing Loss
I’m talking today with Miriam Thor, author of the contemporary young adult novel Listening to the Rain. DJS: Why…
May 27, 2025 -
Kids Lit
Online Helps Out: Paid Writers’ Groups
In any genre, there are dozens of opportunities to get involved with online writing groups. Most of these groups…
May 15, 2025 -
Kids Lit
What do you do with GOOD NEWS?
Write, revise. Critique, revise. Submit, revise. And then one day: submit, interest, offer, contract! For every five years of…
April 8, 2025 -
Writing for YA
Becoming a Productive Writer Interview with YA Author Melody Personette
I’ve been following YA author Melody Personette for a while, and admire her tenacity and ability to keep producing.…
March 28, 2025 -
Kids Lit
7 FREE Ways to Keep Gifting into the New Year!
Here’s 2025 all fresh and shiny, full of hope and all the little calendar boxes ready to fill! While…
March 6, 2025 -
Writing for YA
Fairy Tale Retellings: Interview with YA Author Rachel Kovaciny
Young adult author Rachel Kovaciny recently released her eighth book, A Nobel Companion, a retelling of the ugly duckling…
February 26, 2025
