Tales from the Rushmore Kid

Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton - Writing Tip of the Day

I have known Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton for many years and she is such a kick. Laurie is a prolific writer, illustrator and champion of the SCBWI. It has been a pleasure to hear her speak on the writer's life. Today she gives us a great Writing Tip of the Day.

Editor Steve Meltzer

I am one lucky author.  When my former editor left Dutton in 2006 I was assigned the wonderful Steve Meltzer.  Over the years Steve has become one of my good buddies as well as my outstanding editor.  Generous to a fault, he always takes my calls, was game to be interviewed for my blog tour and endures my requests for a Writing Tip of the Day every time I see him. Today's Tip is about submitting.

Valerie Hobbs-Writing Tip of the Day

I have known Valerie Hobbs for many years. I have enjoyed her wonderful stories and her marvelous master classes. I also produced a book trailer for her last novel, The Best Last Days of Summer. I cornered Val at the SCBWI Summer Conference and asked her to give us a Writing Tip of the Day.

Valerie Hobbs - Writing Tip of the Day

I have known award-winning author Valerie Hobbs for many years; at one point in my career, she was my teacher.  It was a great pleasure to share the stage with her at last week's Author-Go-Round in Santa Barbara.  Her new book, "Wolf," is the sequel to her California Reader winner, "Sheep."  She gives us a writing tip about writing animal characters.

Caroline Arnold - Writing Tip of the Day

I have known Caroline Arnold for many years. She's bright, funny and generous with her knowledge. I tracked her down at the Santa Barbara Author's Breakfast and asked her to give us a "Writing Tip of the Day."

Laurisa White Reyes - Writing Tip of the Day

Children's author Laurisa White Reyes gives us a Writing Tip of the Day.  No matter how often I have heard this tip, I can always hear it again.

Heather Tomlinson - Writing Tip of the Day

I have known Heather Tomlinson for many years.  She is one of my good buds who worked hard, honed her craft and now is the published author of three fantasy novels.  Heather left California, but I ran into her at the Winter conference and she gave me a tried and true Writing Tip of the Day that I feel we all need to hear again and again.

Tracy Barrett - Writing Tip of the Day

Prolific author, brainiac and all around great gal, Tracy Barrett has come up with an interesting way to write. I guarantee you haven't heard this one before.

Michele Corriel - Writing Tip of the Day

At my first SCBWI Winter Conference, I had the pleasure of meeting Montana RA Michele Corriel.  We immediately hit it off and became fast friends. Not only is Michele a talented writer, she is a blast to hang out with. I asked her to give us a Writing Tip of the Day, and she shares a really easy but helpful way to start a novel.

Ann Haywood Leal - Writing Tip of the Day

One of the best things about the SCBWI conferences is that I get to meet all sorts of interesting writiers that I have admired for years.  Ann Haywood Leal is one such writer.  Great at middle grade novels, she also gives us a great writing tip of the day.

Darcy Pattison - Blogging Tip Of The Day

Darcy Pattison is a force in the children's literature industry.  Novelist, teacher and promotion Guru, Darcy is always on the cutting edge.  I grabbed her at a recent conference to ask her to give my readers a Blogging Tip Of The Day.

Leslie Helakoski - Picture Book Tip of the Day

One of the great things about SCBWI conferences it the chance I get to video some wonderful authors. Illustrator/Author Leslie Helakoski gave me a great Picture Book Tip of the Day.

Ann Whitford Paul - Poetry Tip of the Day

In honor of National Poetry Month, it's time to celebrate poets!  The poet Ann Whitford Paul has been part of my SCBWI family for many years. Talented, generous and kind, Ann is inspiring to read and a joy to hang out with. I tracked her down at an SCBWI conference and had her give us a Poetry Tip of the Day.

Margret O'Hair - Writing Tip of the Day

Author Margret O'Hair is one of my Summer Conference buddies that I've enjoyed over the years. It is a long road to traditional publishing, and Margret gives a helpful Writing Tip of the Day to ease the journey.

Editor Steve Meltzer - Picture Book Tip of the Day.

Boy, do I love my editor, Steve Meltzer. Not only is he fun to work with, he is game for blog interviews. I recently saw him for a meeting at Dutton, and while the other publishers and editors scampered away when I brought out the video camera, he gladly sat down and gave me a bang-up tip.  I give you my editor, Steve Meltzer.

Jo S. Kittinger - Writing Tip of the Day

Jo S. Kittinger is an amazing author an exceptional RA and cheerleader for the SCBWI. I saw her in New York this year for the SCBWI Winter Conference. Her new picture book, The House On Dirty Third Street, has just been released, so I asked Jo to give us a Writing Tip of the Day. Here's what she had to say:

Look for the heart of your story. Readers want to connect with emotion. They want to feel something when they read your book. I seldom remember characters' names or plot details, even in books I've loved. But I always remember the way a good book made me feel.

Larry Dane Brimmer - Black & White

The author of more than 150 books, Larry Dane Brimmer is a legend in our business. I was delighted to find his new work, Black and White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor, in my mailbox from his publishers to review. I thought I had heard all the stories about the Civil Rights movement, but I had never heard this one, and Larry tells it masterfully. It is a gorgeously designed book that complements a powerful, can't-put-it-down true story.  I asked Larry to answer a few questions about the experience of writing this story.

Black & White is the true story of two men on different sides of the segregation issue during the Civil Rights movement. What inspired you to write it?

The simple answer is that the Civil Rights era fascinates me. I was a kid at the time and only vaguely recall news reports of the racial violence and tension in the South. I was busy being a kid. Researching Black & White was a way for me to inform myself about events that had sailed right by me in my youth.  More specifically, Black & White grew out of a previous book I did for Calkins Creek, Birmingham Sunday.

Hillary Homzie - Writing Tip of the Day

One of the best things about the SCBWI conference is meeting authors and illustrators.  Hillary Homzie is a prolific writer of chapter book series.  I managed to get her to give us a great Writing Tip of the Day.

Dianne de Las Casas - Storytelling Tip of the Day

I had heard of Dianne de Las Casas before I met her last summer at the SCBWI conference.  A well published author, she is also known for her amazing school visits. You can visit her at her site, Story Connection.  I grabbed her for a quick tip on storytelling.

Jim Averbeck - Writing Tip of the Day

I met author/illustrator Jim Averbeck years ago at a Kathleen Duey writing retreat and then again at the SCBWI Summer conference. He was an RA for SCBWI at the time and waiting for his first book to be released. It is always a pleasure to see Jim, and this year I got him to give us a Writing Tip of the Day.

Agent Jill Corcoran - Writing Tip of the Day

This is one story I LOVE to tell, about Jill Corcoran, a fellow blogger and buddy of mine for years. It was a hoot to see her at many SCBWI events, always curious, always learning her craft and always a blast to hang out with. A few years back Jill decided to become a Children's Literary agent for the Herman Agency in New York. This girl was born to do this job. Jill has sky rocketed to success with multi-book deals for many authors. We who "knew her when" are bursting with pride. I'm happy that my good friend and buddy Jill Corcoran agreed to give us a Writing Tip of the Day.

Erica Silverman - Writing Tip of the Day - Hanukkah Hop!

My good buddy, award winning children's author and librarian Erica Silverman, has come out with a great Hanukkah book this year. Hanukkah Hop is a rollicking, fun story of a family celebrating Hanukkah. It's a great gift for the holidays! Erica agreed to give us the Writing Tip of the Day, using Hanukkah Hop to demonstrate the use of repetition.

Bruce Coville - Writing Tip of the Day

I love Bruce Coville. I have heard him speak at many SCBWI events over the years.  He is funny, enertaining and generous. After giving the Keynote at last summer's SCBWI conference, I jumped him in the lobby and asked for a writing tip. He graciously agreed. I give you the wonderful Bruce Coville.

 

Alexis O'Neill - Writing Tip of the Day

My good buddy, author Alexis O'Neill, is not only a great writer, she has an amazing blog, School Visits Experts, where she writes about everything you need to know about school visits, from great openings to how to choose a volunteer. Today Alexis gives us an interesting Writing Tip of the Day.

Katherine House - Writing Tip of the Day

Katherine House has written a great nonfiction book, Lighthouses for Kids, which includes stories about many U.S. lighthouses, fun facts and activities such as tying a bowline. It is a wonderful book for kids. I've asked Katherine to give us a Writing Tip of the Day.

A Nugget from One Writer’s Beginnings - Barbara Jean Hicks

from the bookshelf of
Barbara Jean Hicks

The marvelous writing memoir of southern novelist and short story author Eudora Welty (1909-2001), published in 1984 by Harvard University Press, is a treasure trove for a working writer.

One Writer’s Beginnings is based on a set of lectures Welty delivered at Harvard in 1983, ten years after winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel The Optimist’s Daughter. Here’s one passage I especially resonated with:

Janet Buell - Writing Tip of the Day

Janet Buell is another author I met this year at the SCBWI Santa Barbara Mission Retreat. Janet gives us a quick Writing Tip of the Day.

Kate Hovey - Writing Tip of the Day

I have known Kate Hovey for many years and have always admired her in-depth books about Greek mythology.  I saw her again at the SCBWI Santa Barbara Retreat this year and asked her to give us a Writing Tip of the Day.

Editor Deborah Halverson - Writing Tip of the Day

I met editor/author Deborah Halverson last summer when I was on the faculty of the SCBWI summer conference. She has written a number of teen novels and  just completed her book "Writing YA for Dummies," scheduled for release in June 2011. Based on the great revision tip she gives us here, I'd say if you are writing YA, buy her "Dummies" book!

Suzanne Morgan Williams - Writing Tip of the Day

I met Suzanne Morgan Williams many years ago at the SCBWI Summer Conference.  She is RA of Nevada and a champion of the SCBWI.  I love her YA novel, Bull Rider, and I was so pleased that she has given us a seemingly obvious but somewhat overlooked Writing Tip of the Day.

Joan Bransfield Graham - Poetry Tip of the Day

Poet/photographer Joan Bransfield Graham is one of the first authors I met back in 1994 when I first joined the SCBWI.  Not only is beautiful Joan talented and a champion of the SCBWI, she is kind and funny.  Over the years, at many workshops, I have listened to her poetry, like music to my ears. Joan has published several books and is in one of the poets featured in Lee Bennett Hopkins' anthologies.  In honor of National Poetry Month, Joan has given us the Poetry Tip of the Day.

Gretchen Woelfle - Writing Tip of the Day

Gretchen Woelfle has been around the SCBWI for years, receiving awards and accolades for many of her fiction and non-ficiton books. At the January retreat, Gretchen gave us a research tip of the day.

Vicki León - Tasty Nonfiction Workshop

A big thank you to nonfiction author Vicki León for her recent SCBWI regional workshop, “Dishing Up: The Fine Art of Creating Tasty Nonfiction.”  I met Vicki two years ago at a Cyber retreat and was anxious to hear her speak. She charmed us with her stories and helpful tips about resources, documentation and filing. At one point she passed around Roman coins to demonstrate "tangible research."  Also in that mix we saw Roman toilet paper and frankincense & myrrh, and had to guess what some giant spikes might be (replicas of crucifixion nails). Also a shout-out to our county coordinator, Jody Fickes Shapiro, for organizing the event and providing plenty of munchies for the fun day!

Jay Asher - Writing Tip of the Day

I knew Jay Asher long before he was published.  As a member of my regional SCBWI, I saw Jay win writing contests year after year, work on his craft and attend many SCBWI events.  Finally, through hard work and perseverance, Jay published his first book back in 2007.  Thirteen Reasons Why became an enormous success world wide. I asked Jay if he could give us a Writing Tip of the Day.

Deborah Heiligman - Writing Tip of the Day

 At the summer SCBWI Conference I was fortunate to meet Deborah Heiligman, the National Book Award finalist for her book about Charles Darwin and his wife Emma, Charles and Emma: The Darwin's Leap of Faith. I am so pleased that Deborah agreed to give us a quick Writing Tip of the Day. (Please excuse the background noise--there were hundreds of people in this room!)

Kathleen Duey - Writing Tip of the Day

I have known Kathleen Duey for many years.  She is a great speaker, a wonderful critiquer and a hard core supporter of the SCBWI.  The first book in her Skin Hunger Trilogy was a National Book Award Finalist.  She is immensely talented and generous. At the SCBWI summer conference Kathleen agreed to give us a very helpful Writing Tip of the Day.

Elizabeth Partridge - Research Tip of the Day

I have heard the remarkable Elizabeth Partridge speak on many occasions about her process. A self-proclaimed archive rat, Elizabeth has penned many non-fiction books. At the summer SCBWI conference in L.A.,  I asked Elizabeth to give us a Research Tip of the Day.

Writing Tip of the Day-Ann Whitford Paul & Alexis O'Neill

I recently attended a luncheon with five children's authors. Ann Whitford Paul and Alexis O'Neill were on their way home from a weekend away just writing. Not surprising, their writing tip of the day had something to do with that.

Anne Broyles - Revision Tip of the Day

I have known of Anne Broyles for years and recently had the pleasure of meeting her. She is a prolific author and great supporter of the SCBWI. After lunch, I asked her to give us a Revision Tip of The Day.

Janet Fox - Book Summary & Writing Tip of the Day

I met Janet Fox through the Class of 2K10. She is an active RA in the SCBWI, and she is funny and kind. At the Winter Conference in New York I asked Janet to tell us about her new novel and give us a Writing Tip of the Day.

Barbara Bietz - Writing Tip of the Day

Barbara Bietz is my long time writing partner, chairperson of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards and a writing teacher. Barbara also has a popular kidlit blog, Jewish Books for Children. At a recent Barnes & Noble event, I asked Barbara to give us the Writing Tip of the Day.