Category: Uncategorized
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In Celebration of Agent Appreciation Day
I found out this morning that today is Agent Appreciation Day. I feel truly blessed to be represented by Erin Murphy, who is kind, frank, thoughtful, accessible and funny. Below, I’m pasting in the email that I sent out to writer friends after my unexpected pitch session with her: So I walked into the SCBWI conference this morning…
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Dreaming of Egypt
Today, fifty mile an hour winds whipped the snow past my windows. But a year ago this week, I was in Egypt to research a possible sequel to SAVING THE GRIFFIN. The wheels of publishing often turn more slowly than the wheels of justice for many writers like me, so I’m patiently waiting for word…
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Researching Contemporary Fiction
On my instructor’s brochure for the Institute of Children’s Literature, I have the following quote: “Don’t just write what you know. Write what you care about. Pursue the subjects that fascinate you, and your passion will shine through to the reader.” Yeah. This recommendation does sound a bit highflown, but I believe in it completely. I…
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Recasting Scenes
No, recasting a scene doesn’t mean trying it again with different personnel. It’s about change the shape of events. Stories aren’t “cast in stone” until they’re sent to the printers. My editor suggested that I recast some of the events of the third chapter of my YA novel with respect to interactions and emotions. And…
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Referring to Parents
One of the things that all writers struggle with is figuring out exactly what to call the main character’s parents. I usually go with Mom and Dad unless I’m writing a fantasy and then I go with the local equivalent. But I recently ran across a great explanation on Orson Scott Card’s website on exactly why…
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I Second that Emotion
“Feel what your characters are feeling, Kristin! Don’t treat them like marionettes.”
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Practice Swings
When I stepped up to home plate last Sunday night for a friendly game of softball, I was a bit worried. It had been almost six years since I’d faced an opposing pitcher. Most of my practice swings since that time had come during various school visits around Michigan. During one of my talks, I share…
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Peachtree Publishers: People Who Share Books
I’ve never liked selling things. In fact, I could hardly sell Girl Scout Cookies. I did try, but I usually felt physically sick as I climbed the steps to press someone’s doorbell. As a writer, I have to sell my words. But one lovely aspect of this, is that I typically don’t have to make a…
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Letting Go For Awhile
I’ve been struggling with a new first chapter for a novel revision. It’s been a process of arranging and rearranging words instead of adding to the plot. But it can be really difficult to draw the reader into the world of your character especially if it’s a fantasy. It’s important to throw out clues about…
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Writers’ Anonymous
My name is Kristin, and I haven’t written any fiction in two weeks…. Instead of murmuring approval, fellow members of Writers’ Anonymous are likely to offer advice of how to start writing again. They might ask things like ‘Why has it been so long?’ Well, my daughter graduated from high school at the end of May, and…
Kristin Wolden Nitz 