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I've been catching up on my blog reading (much neglected of late in the midst of a very busy couple of months) and have found some real gems to share with you. On Submitting Your Work: Jane Friedman talks about the dos and don'ts of writing a bio to go with your query, while Nicola Morgan makes an excellent point about obsessing (or not) about cover letters. Well said, Nicola. On/For

There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. W. Somerset Maugham    Not sure I need to comment on this one. It made me smile. And if anyone figures out those three rules, do let me know.

The best children's book writers are not people who have kids, but people who write from the child within themselves. Andrea Brown Of course, as a mother of six kids, I often say that having kids helps me as a writer for children, but I agree - it's not just about having kids, or being around kids, but being  a kid, somewhere inside. And it is that inner child that guides the writer. Have a

There’s nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein. Walter Wellesley (Red) Smith Okay, so the imagery is a bit gruesome, especially for a blog about writing for children, but anyone who has written for a living will relate to the idea - writing is hard hard hard work - and takes every bit of your energy, your enthusiasm, your passion, your life blood. But hey,

A manuscript: something submitted in haste and returned at leisure. Oliver Hereford This morning I commiserated with a writer friend over a rejection - but agreed with her that "at least it only took three months" for the publisher to respond.  So, when I was looking for a writing quote for today, the 'returned at leisure' part of this quote spoke to me (I am not for a second suggesting that my

You have to write whichever book it is that wants to be written. And then, if it’s going to be too difficult for grownups, you write it for children. (Madeleine L’Engle)

Do not put statements in the negative form. And don't start sentences with a conjunction. If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing. Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do. Unqualified superlatives are the worst of all. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is. Last, but not

This week's quote is another which needs no comment from me. Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. (William Wordsworth ) Lovely.

This week's quote of the week is brief - but it should make you think. A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people. (Thomas Mann ) People often say 'I wish I could write', presuming it is something that comes naturally. They don't see that writing and getting published is the result of a little bit of talent, and a whole lot of hard work - writing,

In my discussion of last week's Writing Quote of the Week I touched on  the fact that writing is not often a lucrative career, financially. So, when searching for a quote for this week, this one spoke to me as following on well: If you have other things in your life - family, friends, good productive day work - these can interact with your writing and the sum will be all the richer. (David Brin)

It's been a little while since my last quote of the week (and yes, I do know that it should be weekly to be thus called, but hey, I'm a writer, so am using cretaive license as my excuse). Anyway, without further ado, here is this week's writing quote, for all who struggle with whether or not they are 'real' writers: How do you know if you're a writer? Write something everyday for two weeks,

You must write for children in the same way you do for adults, only better. (Maxim Gorky)

You have to write whichever book it is that wants to be written. And then, if it's going to be too difficult for grown-ups, you write it for children.(Madeleine L'Engle)

The only reason for being a professional writer is that you just can't help it.(Leo Rosten)

The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon. You can always do it better, find the exact word, the apt phrase, the leaping simile.(Robert Cormier)

Writing is an occupation in which you have to keep proving your talent to those who have none. Jules Renard

When I am dead, I hope it may be said:'His sins were scarlet, but his books were read.' Hilaire Belloc