When we have goals, delicious goals we care deeply about, we're more inclined to go out there and seek the guidance, support and knowledge that will help us achieve those goals.
How to flip your goals and love your life more!
One thing that’s often missing in children’s stories
Never forget how important freedom is to children. As a kidlit author you must consider this every time you write.
My Slow Living Experiment
Slow living, how it worked for me. Planning my days, running my biz, writing books.
Here’s what I bought!
Years ago when I had my much loved, rather topsy turvy blog, Baxter Street, I would occasionally write about what I'd bought while out and about. The segment was called Shopping With Mother and was inspired by my Ladybird reader of the same name.Meantime, in a recent g&d Live Call we were chatting about the Artist Date. This is a …
How to handle rejection. Or here’s what Jane Godwin said…
How successful authors handle rejection.
How to write a picture book, a novel, a blog post or something else that’s cool.
A few years ago, my friend, muse and partner in crime, Mitch Vane, said, 'Jen, you should write and illustrate your own picture book.' Me? Illustrate? Scoff. Splutter. Blush. I have NO QUALIFICATIONS. I'm not a REAL illustrator. I failed art. (Mostly because I never turned up...) I haven't done 5000 hours of life drawing. …
Continue reading "How to write a picture book, a novel, a blog post or something else that’s cool."
I’m Boring and I Like It!
Have you seen The Shining? Holy hotel in the snow. It’s feckin’ scary, right? When Shelley Duvall discovers what her husband has really been writing, over and over and over for the past however long, what he’s really been bashing out on that typewriter for WEEKS, we (the audience) know without a doubt that the …
Compelling characters. Imposter Syndrome. Make a Million in Menopause.
Creating great characters in fiction, flourishing in menopause, dealing with imposter syndrome.
Three common mistakes picture book authors make with voice
Three common mistakes picture book authors make. How to write a picture book.
Dressing your Characters. Why Clothes Matter!
How you dress your characters makes a huge difference to your story-world.