Writing and Reading Links
First! A huge congratulations to authors Laurel Goodluck and Christine Day for their American Library Association wins last month. Both Laurel and Christine won American Indian Youth Literature Awards, which are awarded biennially and “honor the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America.”
Laurie won three times over! FOREVER COUSINS won the Picture Book Award (read our interview here), ROCK YOUR MOCS won a Picture Book Honor, and SHE PERSISTED: DEB HAALAND won a Middle-Grade Honor.
Christine won two times over! WE STILL BELONG won the Middle-Grade Award (read our interview here), and SHE PERSISTED: MARIA TALLCHIEF won a Middle-Grade Honor.
Well done, Laurie and Christine!
Kate Dopirak was a shining light in the kidlit community. It’s wonderful there’s now an award honoring her memory. Children’s authors interested in attending SCBWI’s Summer Conference for free AND getting a consult with agent Tracey Adams and editor Andrea Welch of Beach Lane Books, sign up!
Good stuff. “…writer’s block is an ‘umbrella term for a series of very different pains.’”
Writer’s block is trying to tell you something :: Austin Kleon
“Writing good sentences is key to telling a good story. However, before we jump into sentence craft, I want to caution you: it’s not the first issue to tackle in revisions. First, finish your draft. Second, step away from your manuscript, preferably for a month or more. Third, edit macro issues such as plot holes, character development, and story arc. Don’t fret about sentence craft until the bones of the story are in place and working well.”
Writing Good Sentences :: Good Story Company
“What does the first line of a book convey to its reader? And can you, by examining such lines in books granted the very highest of literary awards to children’s books, glean some kind of insight or wisdom by reading through them, one by one?”
First Lines of the Last 30 Newbery Award Winners :: Betsy Bird for School Library Journal
“When I finally finished a first draft, nothing had changed other than the fact that I refused to let myself quit. I still wasn’t truly ready to write a novel. I had no clue what I was doing. I could have used more experience under my belt. But that’s the thing with experience: you only earn it by putting in the work. You become experienced by doing the thing.”
You’re Never Truly Ready :: Erin Bowman
And finally…
Thanks, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, for including Jasper on your Winter Wonderland list!