This week in the Duck Pond, on my first live call for 2022, we will be chatting about our word of the year. Choosing a word of the year is like selecting your own little guiding star, a bright point to guide you through the travails of the coming year. Choosing a word makes me …
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. …
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Three common mistakes picture book authors make with voice
Three common mistakes picture book authors make. How to write a picture book.
The Scribbles Creative Writing Awards Shortlist!
Hello, dear reader! Today is Shortlist Day! So, what’s the big deal about a shortlist? Lordy lord! A shortlist groups together the best. It acknowledges the most accomplished in a huge collection of entries. It’s how we make literary awards (such as the Scribbles Creative Writing Awards), manageable — both for the judges and …
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Word counts! Let’s nail ’em!
Hey sugar! Missed Q and Q Friday last week? Doh! We talked about loads of stuff from hand-lettering in picture books (divine and tricky!), to the submission quirks of some publishers, to how long is a middle grade novel? No. Really. How long??? Plus, I had me a little rant. I want as many kidlit …
Author or Businesswoman? The Story Behind Girl and Duck
This week at girl and duck, we opened The Scribbles Academy. It's been super exciting and lots of people have jumped on board. Thank you!!!! I know you're going to love your Scribbly experience! But how did this all begin? What's the real story behind girl and duck? I wrote about this a couple of …
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Part Three. My Year in Review: Work and biz, the flops and the favourites
Here's Part Three of the trilogy, my love! Talk about a saga. Let's start with This Writing Life. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly! The Good Truly Tan: Baffled! (that's book seven) came out in October (in paperback and in audio). The series continues to delight old fans and gather new recruits. This year …
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Creative writers: Two things you must have that I can’t give you
I've been thinking about teaching. I think about it a lot. You see, I've been gathering notes for another tutorial to add to the girl & duck Institute. This one's about voice. Voice is one of my FAVOURITE topics. It should be every author's favourite topic. Well. Top five at least. By the way... Do …
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Creative Writing Awards and a fantastic FLASH sale! (Plus Elsie’s ongoing makeover.)
Okay. So. I'm writing this while someone drills the outside walls of the studio. Not sure what they're doing. It's like there's a giant dentist outside trying to break in. A painting just fell off the wall, knocked a cup of tea flying and tipped over a Peace Lily. Aside from that, it's business as …
Institute Opening Sale! Be quick!
Hello, dear reader. Do you remember the Ponds Institute? Here at girl and duck HQ, I desperately wanted to call our new school, The Pond Institute. In loving memory, of course. And so I could justify a lab coat. But. I didn't want to get sued. So, we have opened the girl and duck …