writing tips – girl and duck

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…

Three ways to make yourself write

By: girlandduck May 29, 2018

Uncategorizedcreative writing, creativity, inspiration, lynda barry, personal development, picture books, procrastination, writers' block, writing, writing advice, writing fiction, writing tips3 Comments

Excuses not to write or create. We’ve all got truckloads. Snoresville. Don’t waste mental and emotional energy trying to push through or fight with your excuses. Don’t try to rationalise them, either. Don’t take them out, hold them to light, polish and stroke them. And don’t try tossing out your everyday life in the name…

Story arcs made simple! Plus, how I wrote my first book.

Here at HQ (aka The Palace) I’ve been thinking about narrative arcs. Story arcs. Those things what you hang a story on… Pesky, aren’t they? Exposition Rising action Climax Falling action Resolution My friend refers to stories with saggy arcs as ‘souffle stories’. They sink in the middle. Nice! Here’s my simile: Writing fiction is like skiing. The…

A quick announcement

By: girlandduck January 11, 2018January 15, 2018

Uncategorizedcreativity, girl and duck videos, illustrating children's books, inspiration, kid lit, personal development, picture books, Q&Q Friday, writing advice, writing fiction, writing for children, writing tipsLeave a Comment

Happy 2018 from girl and duck! This is not an official ‘blog post’. It’s just a quick note to let you know Questions and Quacks begins again tomorrow morning! Questions and Quacks, (or Q & Q Friday as we like to call it) is your one stop, kid lit, video wonderland. No exaggeration! It’s where…

Why NaNoWriMo Would Never Work For Me

By: girlandduck November 15, 2017

Uncategorizedcreative writing, creativity, HarperCollins Publishers, how to write books, how to write fiction, how to write from your heart, Lucinda Gifford, NaNoWriMo, procrastination, The Fourteenth Summer of Angus Jack, writing fiction, writing tips5 Comments

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…

Finish your freakin’ novel. Here’s why

By: girlandduck October 29, 2017

Uncategorizedcreative writing, creativity, finishing novels, how to write a novel, how to write books, inspiration, learning to write, staying motivated, submitting a manuscript, submitting to publishers, writing, writing advice, writing endings, writing fiction, writing tips4 Comments

I’ve often been asked by aspiring authors if they should send three sample chapters to a publisher and try to get a contract that way. Alarm bells. If that’s what the publisher is asking for, by all means send them sample chapters. Always give them exactly what they want. That’s, ‘How to be an Author, 101’.…

Chick lit for tweenies. Ten tips to get you started

Generally speaking, tweenies are kids in the 8 -12 age group. But in the world of children’s books, the category is tighter. Somewhere along the line, astute marketing execs identified a subset. These are kids aged about 10 -12, and their needs and interests are complex, often contradictory. As most parents will tell you, a couple of…

Want to be a writer? Six reasons you should stop reading

By: girlandduck September 24, 2017September 24, 2017

Uncategorizedcreative writing, creativity, finding your voice, how to write fiction, inspiration, learning to write, procrastination, refining your voice, storytelling, writing advice, writing fiction, writing for children, writing stories, writing tips2 Comments

Okay. I’m in badass mode. Advice to aspiring authors, 101: 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…

Here’s why minor characters are important

By: girlandduck September 10, 2017April 9, 2018

Uncategorizedbuilding your world, creative writing, creativity, developing characters, how to make your story world more real, how to write a kids' book, how to write fiction, inspiration, storytelling, Tensy Farlow and the Home for Mislaid Children, The Accidental Princess, The Fourteenth Summer of Angus Jack, writing advice, writing fiction, writing tipsLeave a Comment

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…

How to stay happy, productive and vaguely sane in the publishing industry

By: girlandduck September 4, 2017September 4, 2017

Uncategorizedcreative writing, creative writing advice, heart centred business, Heartburn, inspiration, Meryl Streep, Movies 1980s, nostalgia, online business for women, personal development, the publishing industry, writing advice, writing fiction, writing tips8 Comments

One of my favourite moofies from the 1980s was Heartburn with Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. I’m not sure why I loved it so. I’ve always been gaga for Streep. Also, she wore some snazzy (1980s) outfits in that film. Good beads. Capacious shoulder-bags. New York boho actress/writer/intellectual look. That was a look, right? And…