Thursday, June 11, 2015

confession from a middle grade writer




Maybe it’s because I have a three year old, but I’ve been thinking a lot about pretend play. As a writer, it’s my job to pretend. Day after day, sitting at my desk, I pretend my characters are real.

I also pretend my writer self does not exist.

Instead of a writer, I think of myself as an actress. I live in the skin of my protagonist. I dress like her. I eat like her. I talk in her voice. I keep a journal as if it were hers.

After that, I pick up a new profession. I’m a gardener and I tend to my words with patience and care. I trim the story where my garden has overgrown. I pull out weeds and I keep planting new things.

Then, with a first draft in hand, I turn into a surgeon. I cut open the manuscript with precision and confidence. I use my tools. I ask for help from other professionals. I remain calm. I finish the job.


Finally, when the writing day is done, I take a bow, dust off my hands, hang up my white coat, and go back to calling myself a writer.


Monday, June 8, 2015

books to read


Excited about my 
newest stack of
books to read.


Codename Zero
Life After Life
Lessons I Never Learned at Meadowbrook Academy
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
The Great Greene Heist


Sunday, June 7, 2015

word of the week


Our Word of the Week


that I added to the fish bowl on my desk


is...


ragamuffin (noun) 1. a grimy dirty little urchin or waif with ratted greasy hair