Winter is Coming... Knitting!Painting!Drawing!Writing stories!Winter is my favourite time of the year to snuggle in and get creative.This Creative Winter (It's coming. Nearly there! Brrr!)Better to show you pictures, right?I know you love pictures because, hello, you LOVE children's literature and that's why you're here.With me.Readin' this... Not only Writing Books for Children HERE'S WHAT I'M …
How to become a better writer
I wrote my first picture book in the 1980s. It was about a teddy bear. Mr Bear spent several hours dangling from a clothesline. Gripping stuff. I popped my story in an envelope and sent it to a publisher. Six months later when the rejection slip arrived, I stuck it to the wall above my typewriter. …
How to fix the start of your story
It was a dark and stormy night. Your story starts… now! Authors, all levels of experience and skill, often drag their feet (or their pen) at the start of a story. Sometimes they’re trying to say too much, trying to give the reader too much detail up front. Watch out for this! Other times, the author …
The Q & Q Files: Shining on the Slush Pile
Hey there, sunshine! Everyone wants their work to pop, right? Here's another bundle of goodness (and shiny tips) from the Q & Q Friday files—yours to enjoy in whatever form takes your fancy. You can watch the video here: Click below to listen to the audio: or visit the Girl and Duck Podcast on iTunes where you can subscribe and listen on …
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