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Link: Stacy Curtis' blog.

Link: Stacy Curtis' blog

Link: Stacy Curtis' blog

Link: Stacy Curtis' blog

Link: Stacy Curtis' blog.

Link: Stacy Curtis' blog.

Link: Stacy Curtis' blog.

Link: Stacy Curtis' blog

Link: The addictive Angry Birds game.

Link: Stacy Curtis' blog.

"The 7 Habits of Happy Kids," a picture book I illustrated launches today! The book was written by the great and wonderful Sean Covey. It was published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. Synopsis: For the Seven Oaks friends, there is always something to do. Whether they're singing along with Pokey Porcupine's harmonica or playing soccer with Jumper Rabbit, everyone is having fun and

Created using: Cintiq + Sketchbook Pro

The first book of the new Raymond and Graham series is out! It's called "Raymond and Graham Rule the School" written by the hilarious Mike Knudson and Steve Wilkinson, illustrated by myself and published by Viking (Penguin Group). About "Raymond and Graham Rule the School" (from Amazon.com): A hilarious new series for middlegrade boys! Best friends Raymond and Graham have waited their whole

I illustrated an educational book hitting bookstores March 1st. It's called "Phonics Comics: The Fix-It Crew," written by Lara Bergen and published by Innovative Kids. Innovative Kids does a terrific job with this line of books. If these were available when I was a kid, I would have raced to the bookstore to buy them. I love comics and I love children's books. It's a great concept to help

Martine Leavitt gave an interesting workshop outlining specific questions to help you strengthen your plot. She was such a kind, soft-spoken lady full of brilliance. Don't forget to check out my review of her book, Keturah and Lord Death over at cleanreads!

AFTER you have a rough draft, ask yourself these 8 questions.

1. WHAT DOES YOUR CHARACTER WANT? Desire drives them with a small object of desire to represent it. Example: Want a dress to get a boy.

2. WHY CAN'T S/HE HAVE IT? Must be a huge problem. What did Ariel of The Little Mermaid want? To live with Eric on land. Why can't she have it? She's a fish. A seemingly impossible thing to overcome.

3. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF S/HE DOESN'T GET WHAT S/HE WANTS? In Keturah and Lord Death, Keturah will die if she doesn't find true love in one day. In Little Mermaid, Ariel will be miserable for the rest of her life.

4. HOW DOES YOUR CHARACTER STRUGGLE TO GET WHAT S/HE WANTS? Most of your story happens here. 3 tries and failures.

5. WHAT ADDITIONAL HARDSHIPS DOES THE MAIN CHARACTER FACE? Creat a character you love. Chase her up a tree and throw rocks at her.

6. WHEN IS IT HOPELESS? Whe you can't close the book, wouldn't leave the movie for popcorn. When Ariel can't swim to the boat and Eric and the Sea Witch are about to get married.

7. WHEN IS THE TENSION RELIEVED? How do they get what they want?

8. WHAT IS SURPRISING ABOUT THE ENDING? (Optional but satisfying.)


Ask these questions for you MC, then all the rest of the characters. Their struggles, though, must be related to MC's. Any part of the story that doesn't help answer these questions should be cut.