creative writing | creative life
In the world of girl and duck, I get this often: Jen, I feel like I've known you for years. I always feel like you're talking to me, personally. This doesn't happen by accident. When I decided to take girl and duck online, I knew I had a lot to learn. Especially about marketing. I …
Sometimes, weird shit happens when you write books and stories. Actually. Scrub that. Replace sometimes with all the time. When we write stories we tap into our subconscious. But, I believe we also tap into the collective unconscious. In my opinion, the collective unconscious informs and fuels the imagination. I see the imagination as a …
All career authors need to know how to write. Well, der, you didn’t pay good money to hear me say that. But wait, let's look more closely. You need to know how to speak in public. You need to know how to work a Twitter account or a Facebook account or an Insta account or …
Continue reading "The most important skill you’ll need as a career author"
I run a private Facebook group for aspiring authors and illustrators. You might have heard of it (ahem). It’s called The Duck Pond. Hop on my mailing list if you'd like to join. I also run a private Facebook group for those who are doing my online course, Scribbles. I love both groups equally …
News flash Some people think I'm arrogant. They think, where does she get off, dishin' out all this advice about creative writing? She doesn't know everything. Shocking, I know. But it's probably true.  There is a slim chance I don't know everything. Not every little thing But I can tell you when it comes to creative writing there's not much …
Okay. I'm in badass mode. Advice to aspiring authors, 101:Â Read, read, read! Over and over, that's what I hear published authors hollering. They say read voraciously, read widely, read like your life depends on it. Great advice. Fantastic advice. Up to a point. If you're an aspiring author, I would add, please, please, please, don't …
Continue reading "Want to be a writer? Six reasons you should stop reading"
I remember reading one time, that the difference between secondary characters and minor characters  is  that minor characters don't speak. Sometimes they don't even have names. This definition confused me. All my stories have minor characters who speak. Sometimes they have quite a lot to say. Does that make them secondary characters? Is that how they …
Continue reading "Here’s why minor characters are important"
People are always asking me, Jen, how do I make my writing shine? Jen, what will make my manuscript pop? Jen, what’s the one, single, best, top of the charts, CRACKERJACK thing that will make my stories sparkle? Weeeeell… Maybe it’s voice. Maybe it’s character. Maybe it’s originality, verve, heart. The list is like …
Universalities. Those little pearls of wisdom… In literature, universalities are statements that apply to everyone or to the human condition. Sometimes they're accurate, insightful and give readers, young and old, a lovely ah-ha moment. Sometimes they're grossly inaccurate. Famous universalities in literature include: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a …
Continue reading "Want readers to sigh over your work? Try this"
I've read loads of manuscripts that start out funny or entertaining or full of potential. Then the dialogue kicks in and, quite frankly, it's a birdy's breakfast. Nothing will baffle an editor faster than poorly tagged dialogue. Do not overlook this if you want your manuscript to win friends and influence people. If you want editors and publishers …
Continue reading "Who said what? The importance of tagging dialogue in kid lit"
