Reading and Writing Links

“How to find the joy again when you’re feeling like a ‘failure’”
Remember When Writing Was Fun? :: Erin Bowman

“In the vast world of fiction, characters are the lifeblood of every story. Whether you’re writing a short story or embarking on an epic novel, crafting compelling characters is essential for drawing readers into your world. Among the myriad elements that make up a character’s identity, motivation stands at the forefront. Character motivation serves as the driving force behind actions, decisions, and evolution throughout your narrative.”
7 Tips to Craft Compelling Character Motivation in Fiction :: Helping Writers Become Authors

This is an excellent post comparing a picture book draft to the published book. Great “tips for tightening up, reducing word count and producing the best picture book manuscript you can.
Editing your PICTURE book manuscript: making every word count by Juliet Clare Bell :: Picture Book Den

I’m twelve years into “published authorhood” and have found pivoting to be a key component of the whole experience.
Pivot! :: Writer Unboxed

Check out Juniper Books to see familiar book collections that when grouped together create beautiful pictures along the spines. Buy books and jackets — or if you already own a collection, buy the jackets alone. This Chronicles of Narnia collection is especially pretty.

What a delight to find all four of my novels here!
Historical Fiction Books for Middle School :: Some the Wiser