Kristin Wolden Nitz

Author: Kristin Wolden Nitz

  • Finding the Way Back into a Novel II

    —

    by

    Kristin Wolden Nitz
    in

    During my family’s spring break to the Smokies, I had plenty of time to meditate on Calyn’s story.  I climbed steep trails and hiked through gaps that led from one valley to another.  I had a good feel for the way the mountains took ragged chunks out of the sky.  I was ready to get…

  • Back to Back Writing Retreats

    —

    by

    Kristin Wolden Nitz
    in ,

    Ordinarily, I wouldn’t plan on abandoning my family for writing retreats on back to back weekends.  But this was a special case.  I committed to the Missouri SCBWI retreat last summer as one of their presenters.  Then word came down that my agent’s retreat would be in Chicago this year.  I knew it would take about…

  • An Attolia Alert!

    —

    by

    Kristin Wolden Nitz
    in ,

    I was wandering through the Publishers’ Weekly website when I ran across an interview with Megan Whalen Turner.  I smiled when I discovered that Ms. Turner has the same advice for potential readers that I always give.  She recommends reading them in order and avoiding the merest glance at the flap copy of the later…

  • Retreat!

    —

    by

    Kristin Wolden Nitz
    in

    I spent last weekend at a revision retreat sponsored by the Missouri SCBWI (Society of Book Writers and Illustrators) at the YMCA’s Trout Lodge.  Randi Rivers of Charlesbridge was the guest editor.  An incredibly nice aspect of this retreat was that she met with each participant twice.  Writers sent in a manuscript back in February. Randi…

  • The Copy Editor

    —

    by

    Kristin Wolden Nitz
    in

    Copy editors check over a manuscript for grammar and punctuation.  But they’re also the last line of defense when it comes to continuity and clarity.  Since so many books cross their desks, they can tell when things aren’t working.  I really feel like I’ve emerged with a stronger manuscript after two weeks of hard work. …

  • Word Wrangling with the Bounce Queen

    —

    by

    Kristin Wolden Nitz
    in

    I’ve given my students and other fellow writers plenty of advice through the years on how to make a poem “scan” correctly.  And I’ve always felt like a bit of a fraud when I’ve done it because I hadn’t ever sold a poem.  Still, twelve years of piano lessons and a good working relationship with mathematics…

  • The 100 Best Chapter Books?

    —

    by

    Kristin Wolden Nitz
    in

    Betsy Bird admitted at the very beginning that her poll on the 100 best chapter books was not scientific.  But she did take a few wise steps.  Since some teachers required their classes to take part, she insisted that each book to make the final list needed to have two adults vote for it.   You can find…

  • Copy edits for SUSPECT

    —

    by

    Kristin Wolden Nitz
    in ,

    The copy edits for SUSPECT are flooding my mailbox.  What a great thing to come home to.  It definitely beats a wet basement.  I got peek at the final art for the jacket.  Very fun!  If I can figure out how to upload it, I will.

  • In the Gap

    —

    by

    Kristin Wolden Nitz
    in

    Calyn’s story, my work-in-progress, is set in the mountains.  So I’m getting excited for our trip to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.    Since I often like to work from pictures when I’m moving my characters, I know that photos of its old growth timber and second growth forests will be extremely helpful.

  • The Westing Game

    —

    by

    Kristin Wolden Nitz
    in ,

    THE WESTING GAME came in at #11 on the Fuse  #8  countdown of the top 100 Chapter books.   Whenever any of my writing students express an interest in mysteries, this is one of the two or three books that I suggest.  Usually, I like to stick to books published in the 21st century when I make recommendations because this…