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Suzanne Lieurance is an author, freelance writer, writing coach, speaker and workshop presenter. She is a former classroom teacher and was an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature for over 8 years.
Lieurance has written over two dozen published books and her articles and stories have appeared in various magazines, newsletters, and newspapers, such as Family Fun, Instructor, New Moon for Girls, KC Weddings, The Journal of Reading, and Children’s Writer to name a few. She offers a variety of coaching programs via private phone calls, teleclasses, listserv, and private email for writers who want to turn their love of writing (for children and/or adults) into a part-time or full-time career.
Listen to an interview with Suzanne about another of her historical fiction books, The Lucky Baseball:
New Books Internet Radio with
Suzanne on BlogTalkRadio
Guest post by Suzanne Lieurance, the Working Writers Coach
It's tough being a writer, especially if you're just starting out. Rejection can easily tear down what little self-confidence you have, so here are a dozen ways to build your confidence as a writer:
1. Do Something First Thing Every Morning That Makes You Feel Good About Yourself.
It might even make you feel powerful. Go for a jog,
The National Writing for Children Center is sponsoring a virtual tour all this week for Suzanne Lieurance’s book, The Locket.
Here are the stops on this tour:
Day1 – Monday, April 21, 2014
Mayra’s Secret Bookcase
Suzanne Lieurance is an author, freelance writer, writing coach, speaker and workshop presenter. She is a former classroom teacher and was an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature for over 8 years.
Lieurance has written over two dozen published books and her articles and stories have appeared in various magazines, newsletters, and newspapers, such as Family Fun, Instructor, New Moon for Girls, KC Weddings, The Journal of Reading, and Children’s Writer to name a few. She offers a variety of coaching programs via private phone calls, teleclasses, listserv, and private email for writers who want to turn their love of writing (for children and/or adults) into a part-time or full-time career.
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I’ve talked these past two weeks about various aspects of writing. For those who still feel adrift because they just came into the field, I’m going to use this opportunity to provide a few paths to explore. These are ones I’ve found especially helpful over the past few years.
Wherever a writer goes or whoever she talks to in the field, she will always find help and guidance along the way. David Farland, the best-selling author and teacher, says, “Nobody makes it alone. We each build on one another.” Farland should know. He’s well-known in two genres and still teaches.
Take small opportunities to grow as a writer. If you swing it, attend a two-day event or conference in your area. You’re not any less a writer if you don’t have the cash for hotel expenses. If you can drive to the event each day and be home at night, so be it. The important thing is to meet and mingle with the writers who are there to talk about words, their use, and how you fit into that picture.
Many online opportunities recur each year.WriteOnCon is a free online writer’s conference with plenty of firepower to begin on the writing track. This year’s conference will take place on August 14 and 15, with the theme “Back to Basics.” The only thing you’ll spend on this one is your time and effort.
If you have the ability to pay a bit for instruction, but have family duties and a family; take a course, either on-line or at a local college. Many courses and workshops are available for varying costs. Currently there are a double handful of free online writing classes from major universities across the country. Their subjects range on everything from poetry reading and writing basics to academic and research writing, along with levels of editing prowess and technical work.
Several major writers offer workshops and classes as well. David Farland has several classes that will work for all levels of writing experience. He also puts out a free newsletter called “Daily Kick in the Pants” for jump starting a person’s writing day. This one is a real winner.
Learn how the business operates. For those who still think that being a writer is nothing more than putting some words on paper, handing it in to an editor, and sitting back to wait for royalty checks to roll in, get a grip on the nearest heavy support. Reality is about to slap you hard and send you reeling.
If your budget simply won’t stretch to include any kind of off-site conference or workshop, hop over to Suzanne Lieurance’s website. Suzanne knows this business inside and out and is one of the best writing coaches around. Her Working Writer’s Club was developed to help guide and encourage those who’re serious about writing. She also has a free newsletter that outlines everything that’s available for free or for members only. Check it out. You won’t regret it.
Writers and Editors Network also takes the business seriously. Check out its offerings, newsletter, and help. There are competitions and insider news as well.
Writer’s Digest also offers a free newsletter and free writing tutorials. Take the opportunity to see what’s offered and what will work for you. Julie Oblander is the Online Education Manager, who provides so much for the stu
Today is Part 3 of Suzanne Lieurance's article explaining simple ways to get the most out of writing workshops, classes, and the same techniques hold true for webinars also. She sure knows her writing stuff.
This final part of the article gives you some insights into how some other successful children's writers prepare for and take advantage of writing workshops, and other writing instruction events.
Six Simple Ways to Make the Most of Any Writing Workshop or Writing Class Part3By Suzanne LieuranceThese successful children’s writers offer additional tips:
Cynthia Leitich Smith, award-winning author of JINGLE DANCER (Morrow, 2000)(ages 4-up), RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME (Harper, 2001)(Listening Library, 2001)(ages 10-up), and INDIAN SHOES (Harper, 2002)(ages 7-up), and other works, says:
“Be brave. Participate. Put yourself out there. Don’t defend or explain away your work. Don’t think of the other students as competition. And don’t worry if you’re not ‘the star.’ Your focus should be on improving your craft–period.”
Pat McCarthy, an Instructor with the Institute of Children’s Literature, and author of 5 YA biographies and 5 nonfiction books for children suggests:
“Don’t write something different from what is assigned because you like to do it your way. Do use the manuscript format – double spaced, etc.”
Susan Wright, another instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature, and author of the DEAD END ROAD MYSTERIES (for ages 10 & up) advises:
“Pay attention when others’ work is being read and critiqued–it’s not just common courtesy, but we can often learn a lot from it. Resist the temptation to go off on personal conversational tangents until after the session. Workshop or class time is limited and valuable.”
L.D. Harkrader, author of 9 nonfiction books for children, and the middle grade novel, AIRBALL: MY LIFE IN BRIEFS (published by Roaring Book Press) says:
“When your instructor makes suggestions on how to improve your stories, don’t be afraid to revise, and don’t trick yourself into thinking revision is merely cosmetic work–a word or comma changed here or there. Consider what your instructor has suggested, give your stories a hard, honest look, then dig into your revision, ruthlessly cutting or changing anything that doesn’t work. Your stories deserve to be as strong and as publishable as possible, and the only way you can achieve that is to be brave and do the work.”
Okay. So now that you know how to make the most of that writing workshop or writing class you just signed up for – go get ready for it. And have a great time!
See you in print!
Suzanne Lieurance is an award-winning author and an experienced writing coach. Her club, The Working Writers Club, helps writers go from writing for a hobby or part time to writing as a career. Whether you are writing books or freelance writing, she has the know-how and motivational skills to help you move forward. Check it out at:
http://workingwritersclub.com~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Related Articles:Imagery and Your Story
2 Comments on 6 Tips to Make the Most Out of Writing Workshops Part3, last added: 3/2/2012
We're back today with Part 2 of Suzanne Lieurance's article. Part 1 covered Tips ONE though THREE and this post covers Tips FOUR through SIX.
Off we go with Part 2.
*****
Six Simple Ways to Make the Most of Any Writing Workshop or Writing Class Part2By Suzanne Lieurance4) Learn to research all sorts of topics. In other words, don’t depend on instructors, editors, publishers, or anyone else to provide you with ALL the information you need in order to become a published writer.
Your instructor will probably give you research tips and marketing information, of course. But most published writers are self-directed learners. By that I mean, when they don’t KNOW something, they figure out HOW and WHERE to get the needed information themselves (more about how to do this, next).
5) Find other writers to network with and even hang out with, and read publications for writers.
Join a local writers’ group or at least sign up for one online (at yahoogroups.com you’ll find all sorts of groups for writers). Try to find a group that includes at least a few published writers. Generally, writers like to be helpful. They will usually share marketing tips, writing resources, etc. and will help you to more fully understand what you learn in a writing workshop or writing class.
Also, talk to some of the other writers in these groups to find out how they write. Then use some of their tips to improve your own writing, writing habits, etc. Hang out with the published writers and you’ll soon learn that they probably do a LOT of rewriting before they sell any of their work.
Read publications for writers to gain current marketing news and tips, and to find out how other writers became successful.
All these things will help give you the confidence to keep writing (and to keep practicing what you learn in your writing workshop or writing course) until you manage to get something published.
6) Don’t expect writing to be easy, and don’t assume that if it isn’t it must mean you don’t have enough talent to succeed as a writer, so you might as well drop out of the workshop or writing class.
Actually, most successful writers will tell you that talent isn’t the most important quality for success. The ability to follow directions (which will eventually come from an editor or editors) and the willingness to continue writing and rewriting, until at least some of the many rejection letters you get in the mail turn into acceptance letters, are much more important qualities for success as a writer. If you realize this BEFORE you start any writing workshop or writing course, you will be more likely to stick with it, even when the work gets difficult.
Stop by next week to find out what other successful children's writers share! Suzanne Lieurance is an award-winning author and an experienced writing coach. Her club, The Working Writers Club, helps writers go from writing for a hobby or part time to writing as a career. Whether you are writing books or freelance writing, she has the know-how and motivational skills to help you move forward. Check it out at:
http://workingwritersclub.com~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Related Articles:Writing a Memoir: 5 Rules
Today I have a guest post by a successful writing and a great writing coach, Suzanne Lieuracne. She talks about it takes to 'write a story.'
How to Write a StoryBy Suzanne LieuranceDo you long to write stories but just can't seem to get started?
That's probably because you don't understand the elements needed for any good story. Learn these elements and the writing process will be much easier.
Every good story needs:1. An interesting main character with a problem to solve. Your main character needs to want something and want it so much he is willing to overcome all sorts of obstacles to get it. This character is your protagonist; the person readers will root for as he faces conflicts and complications.
2. An interesting setting. A good story needs to be set in a definite time and place and readers need to feel they are right there in this time and place with your characters. Use a variety of vivid sensory details to transport your readers to the time and place you've chosen as the setting for your story. But weave these details into the action as much as possible.
3. Conflict. Something or someone who gets in the way of the main character in his quest to get what he wants. The main character who creates this conflict is your antagonist. Keep in mind that this person shouldn't be ALL bad. He should be flawed, of course, but if he's all bad he won't seem like a real person, he'll be more like a carciature.
4. A series of complications. Things should keep getting worse and worse for the main character in his quest to get what he wants. These complications will create the dramatic tension and rising action for your story so readers will want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next.
5. A culminating event that creates change. Something dramatic needs to occur that will change everything for your main chararacter. This event is the climax of your story or the solution. Your main character will either finally get what he is after or he will understand why it is not possible to get what he wants and he will have to make some sort of peace with that. Either way, your main character will no longer be the same person he was at the beginning of the story. He will have changed or grown somehow as a result of the conflicts and complications he faced. This change (or changes) will lead to a natural resolution as the ending for your tale.
Now, before you get started writing your own story, take some time to examine a few simple stories more closely for each of these elements. Fairy tales are good stories to use for this purpose.
Suzanne Lieurance is an award-winning author and a writing coach. Her club, The Working Writers Club, helps writers go from writing for a hobby or part time to writing as a career. Whether you are writing books or freelance writing, she has the know-how and skills to help you move forward. Check it out at:
http://workingwritersclub.com~~~~~~~~~~~
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Writing Goals, Detours, and Opportunity CostIs Your Manuscript Ready for Submission?
4 Comments on How to Write a Story with Suzanne Lieurance, last added: 2/11/2012
Today, I have a guest post from author, freelance writer, and writing coach Suzanne Lieurance.3 Reasons Why Most People Who Say They Want to Write a Book Will Never Write OneBy Suzanne LieuranceAlmost everyone has dreams of writing a book some day. Yet, for most people this will never become more than a dream. And thousands of others who do manage to START writing their book will give up midway through and never finish writing it. As a published author and a writing coach, I've discovered there are basically 3 reasons most writers give up on their dream of one day writing a book:
1. Wanna be authors think their book has to be one of the best books ever written.This is a lot of pressure for any writer, much less a first time author. No one could measure up to this, so it's safer and easier to give up before ever starting. But the truth is, published authors simply try to write the very best book they can write. They don't worry about it being one of the best books ever written.
2
. Wanna be authors figure they really don't have anything new and different to say that hasn't already been written about before in other books.That old saying, "there is nothing new under the sun" is true. So published authors don't worry that someone else may have written a book about the same topic they wish to write about. Instead, they try to give their book a unique "spin" on the topic. That means they write about it in a somewhat unique way.
3. Wanna be authors think writing should be easy. If it isn't, that means they weren't meant to be a writer. When they start writing, and the writing becomes difficult, they figure they must not be cut out to be an author.
Writing is a craft and it is often just plain hard work even for the best of writers. In fact, good writing is usually good rewriting, so most of the well-known authors work hard at their writing. They write, then rewrite and rewrite until they get the work just right. If they stopped when the writing got difficult, they'd never publish anything either. As you can probably tell by now, each of these 3 reasons for giving up on writing a book is merely an excuse for not following through on a dream.
If you dream of writing a book someday, don't expect to write one of the best books ever written. Don't worry that you have nothing new to say. Just try to say it in a new way. And, most importantly, don't expect the writing to be so easy that there's nothing to it. Just keep plugging along and eventually you'll have a finished manuscript you can be proud of.
For instruction, tips, and advice to help you start and finish writing your book, join the The Working Writer's Club (
http://workingwritersclub.com).
Suzanne Lieurance is a fulltime freelance writer, the author of 22 (at last count) published books, and the Working Writer's Coach.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzanne_Lieurance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Related Writing Articles:Keep Your Writing Goals Front and CenterSuccessful Writing Strategy: Know Your In
Today I have the pleasure of featuring an interview by Donna McDine with Suzanne Lieurance, the Working Writer's Coach.Ready to start a freelance writing business but you don't know how?
Have you been looking online for someone or something that will help you?
Then find out more about the Working Writer's Club in this interview with the club's founder and president, Suzanne Lieurance, the Working Writer's Coach.
The Working Writer's Club might be just what you're searching for!
Q: Suzanne, as the founder and director of the Working Writer's Club what is the first thing you would like people to know when visiting www.workingwritersclub.com? A: I'd like visitors to know that our club is all about helping freelance writers learn to write better, make more money, and live the writer's life they've always dreamed of living.
Q: Having created your own successful freelance writing career you know what it takes to build momentum. What is one of the most critical steps a writer needs to take consistently to develop their own freelance writing career?A: The most critical step is to develop your goals - you have to KNOW what you want before you can figure out HOW to get there. Yet, this is the one thing that so many new writers don't take the time to do - or at least they don't take enough time to do it well. They may think that "write a novel this year" is a goal. But actually, I think of a goal as something even BIGGER than that. Writing a novel is an action step toward a goal rather than a goal itself. To get to the goal, consider WHY do you want to write a novel? What do you want this novel to do for you or your career? Your answer to that question is closer to your goal (or at least one of your major goals).
Q: What advice would you give to a newbie in freelance writing? And the intermediate freelance writer that has seen some success, but seems to be in a holding pattern at the moment?A: Whether you're a newbie or an intermediate freelance writer - or even a very experienced, successful writer - continue to learn from other successful writers.
Join our club or another organization for writers. Then take an active part in whatever group you join. Next, develop a focus for your writing and create no more than 3 major writing/career goals for yourself that you hope to attain within the next 12 months.
Also, constantly evaluate what you're doing to see if it's getting you closer to your goals. If it isn't, then change what you're doing.
Q: By becoming a member of the Working Writer's Club what can a freelancer expect?A: Well, for one thing, you can expect us to help you create a focus for your writing career or your writing business. And, we can help you create no more than 3 major goals - so you'll get really, really clear about WHAT you want, WHERE you're wanting to go, and then we'll help you stay focused so you take the steps to attain your goals and build your writing career and/or your writing business.
Q: With the wealth of freelance writing information available on the Internet what makes the Working Writer's Club unique?A: I think the one thing that makes the Working Writer's Club unique is that we're not out to get you into our club so we can sell you a bunch of other high priced programs or products. We just want people who love to write and want to build a business or a career around wr
As writers and authors, we may tend to compare ourselves to other writers and become disappointed in our progress. Well, don't do it.
And, especially, don't project negative thoughts or words about your abilities. Take focus, and move in the right direction!
Here's an article from writing coach, Suzanne Lieurance that gives some insight on this topic:
Don't Talk to Yourself Like That - Eliminate Negative Self Talk!By Suzanne Lieurance I'm sure you're very encouraging to your friends, your spouse, and your children (if you have kids).
When they tell you about some great new project they have planned, you probably fully support them and tell them they can do anything they want to do as long as they're willing to work hard at it.
You probably use words like - I KNOW you can do it! Go for it! Try your best!
You use positive words and phrases when you talk to THEM.
But how do you talk to yourself about your own dreams and projects?
Do you use words and phrases like - I KNOW I can do this! This is going to be GREAT! I'll BE successful at this, I just know it!
OR - do you say things like - I can't do this! It's too hard! I don't have enough experience, or enough money, or enough time to do this! I'm not good enough!
Sound familiar?
If it does - STOP talking to yourself like that!
Eliminate phrases like - I can't. I'm not good enough. I don't have enough experience or enough money. This is too difficult!
Right now (this very minute) make a list of positive words and phrases to tell yourself. Put that list next to your desk or carry it around with you in your purse or pocket. Catch yourself when you notice one of those old familiar negative words or phrases pop into your head when you're thinking about your dreams. Then look at your list and replace it with something positive.
What you think, feel, and tell yourself becomes your reality.
Create the life of your dreams by telling yourself you CAN do, be or have what you want!
Try it!
~~~~
Start every weekday morning with a few words of inspiration and motivation to help you reach your goals. Go to: http://www.morningnudge.comS
uzanne Lieurance is a speaker, the author of 22 (at last count) published books, and the Working Writer's Coach.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Other Articles You May Find Helpful
Aim for Writing SuccessWriting for Children: Ten Basic StepsDetermination and Perseverance~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This 34 page e-book is full of writing, publishing (traditional and self-publishing) and marketing information. Kind of a GPS for getting where you’re headed: published and selling books.
Click on the link for more details and a great review:
0 Comments on You can Write: First Eliminate Negative Talk as of 1/1/1900
Special Mother's Day Showcase - at a Special Price! The National Writing for Children Center is looking for children's books about mothers (and mothers and their children) for a special Mother's Day Showcase in May.
The center is offering a special price for this Mother's Day Showcase.
Get the details here!
Suzanne Lieurance has written over a dozen published books for children. She’s a full-time freelance writer and the Working Writer’s Coach.
Find out more about her books for children at www.suzannelieurance.com.
Reviewed by Carma Dutra
The Locket: Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire is a historical novel written for ages 9 to 12. It tells the story of Galena, an eleven-year-old Russian-Jewish immigrant who lives in New York City in 1911 with her family and works at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory with her older sister, Anya. The factory pays low wages, has horrendous working conditions and employs underage children like Galena.
In the early 1900s, joining the union is a dangerous thing to do, but Anya longs to improve working conditions for abused workers. Soon a horrible fire erupts and destroys the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and shatters a young girl’s dream.
Author Suzanne Lieurance weaves together the fictional and non-fictional aspects of this historical story with ease. By blending dramatic factual accounts of a historical event with realistic fictional characters, Lieurance brings the reader inside the ill-fated factory. Lieurance’s account is truly a step back in time to understand how a young Jewish immigrant girl uses the support of her Jewish traditions, family and friends for inspiration to fight for workers’ rights.
The Locket also has an educator’s guide available for teachers and parents. This guide is a fantastic supplement with additional reading suggestions, discussion questions and other activities.
Title: The Locket, Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Author: Suzanne Lieurance
Hardcover: 160 pages
Cover Illustration: Original Painting by Corey Wolfe
Ages: 9 – 12
Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
ISBN 13: 978-0-7660-2928-6
ISBN-10: 0-7660-2928-X
The Secret of My Success - An Interview With Children's Writer L D Harkrader
Interview by Suzanne Lieurance
Is there some secret for success as a children's writer? Inquiring minds (i.e., yours and mine) want to know, so I interviewed L.D. Harkrader whose first middle grade novel, Airball: My Life in Briefs, was recently released by Roaring Brook Press.
Harkrader doesn't seem to have any real secrets, but she does offer some insights into the writing process and a look at what an author needs to do to promote a book once it is published.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your writing background. What kinds of things did you write along the way to publication of your new middle grade novel, Airball: My Life in Briefs?
A: I've been writing seriously for thirteen or fourteen years. My first short story, "Prunella Thigpin," was published in Guideposts for Kids in 1994. Since then I've published over 200 short stories, poems, and articles in magazines and anthologies, as well as eight nonfiction books and three ghostwritten novels in the Animorphs series.
Q: How long did it take you to write Airball? What was the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
A: I started Airball in 1998, and it was published in 2005, which adds up to seven years. I'm a slow writer, it's true, but in my defense, I also wrote seven nonfiction books and three Animorphs books during that time! The most difficult part of writing the novel, besides all the stopping and starting between other projects, was maintaining confidence that I could actually finish it. First drafts are always the hardest part of any writing for me. I second-guess every word, sentence, comma, keystroke I make, which is something all the how-to-write experts tell you not to do, but something I can't seem to avoid. On top of that, I knew that this story walked a thin line between reality and fantasy, and I worried that I wouldn't be able to make it enough of either to be believable.
Q: Many writers stress the importance of a regular, daily writing schedule. Is that how you work? Why or why not?
A: Well, I certainly get more written when I maintain a regular, daily writing schedule. Unfortunately, it's not always possible. I also have to be the mom and chauffeur for my kids, as well as my son the sports addict's main cheering section. I'm a substitute teacher one or two days per week and also take on other writing and design projects occasionally just to pay the bills, so my time is not always (and sometimes not ever) my own. Plus there's that whole procrastination/avoidance problem I battle constantly. But work on my fiction definitely suffers when I don't write every day.
Q: What kinds of promotional activities has your publisher expected you to do to promote Airball? Have you found it helpful or necessary to do other promotional activities in addition to the ones the publisher sets up?
A: Roaring Brook has been great at promoting Airball. Their publicist has set up local booksignings and radio and newspaper interviews for me, which are things I probably wouldn't have been able to do (at least not as successfully) without them. My publisher also sent out review copies so that Airball has been reviewed in all the major children's book review sources, of course, and they also sent reviewers and book buyers a calendar that includes excerpts of all the books, including mine, they're publishing this year.
On my own I've
Thank you for joining me today for Day 5 of the 6-day virtual tour for my middle grade historical novel
The Lucky Baseball: My Story in a Japanese-American Internment Camp. This year I've noticed that many schools have very limited funds available to pay visiting authors. For that reason, I am now offering Authors Visits via Skpe, which are much less expensive than my in-person visits. I even offer 15-minute introductory Author visits for school and homeschooling organizations via Skype that are free. During these free sessions, I talk to students about the writer's life and answer any of their questions about my books (since these sessions are so short, I ask that teachers submit their students' questions to me in advance via email).
I love to talk with students, teachers, and other readers about The Lucky Baseball. It was one of my favorite books to write. I offer longer Author Visits - both through Skype and in-person - via my website at
www.suzannelieurance.com that focus on the book and I do charge for these visits. The time I have available for in-person Author visits is fairly limited right now since I am also a writing coach and the host of a radio show -
Book Bites for Kids - 3 afternoons a week. I try to book visits about 3 to 6 months in advance. I also like to speak at writer's conferences and I do that a few times each year.
I'm planning to travel to Italy next summer to present a week-long writing workshop called Have the Time of Your Life, Write the Book of Your Dreams. More information about this is available online at http://www.toscanaamericana.com/lieurancewriting.html
Right now, I'm spending most of my time working on two new books. Once I finish writing both of these books I'll probably do more author visits and speak at more conferences. I have another book that will come out next year (it is already written), and I hope to make more author visits and give presentations at conferences based on it.
Keep up with me and my writing at my author website at
www.suzannelieurance.com and also at my coaching site at
www.workingwriterscoach.com.
*****
I read
The Lucky Baseball and loved it. Providing historical information in the format of fiction stories for children is a great way to help children learn about and embrace history. Suzanne's
The Lucky Baseball is a wonderful story that brings the hardships endured by the Japanese Americans during WWII to light through the eyes of a boy who loves baseball.
And, be sure to stop by Terri Forehand –
http://terri-forehand.blogspot.com - fo
r the last stop on Suzanne's showcase, "Become a Facebook Fan."*****************
Suzanne Lieurance has written over a dozen published books for children. She’s a full-time freelance writer and the Working Writer’s Coach.
Find out more about her books for children at www.suzannelieurance.com.
Today is Day 1 of a 6-day virtual tour for The Lucky Baseball: My Story in a Japanese-American Internment Camp.
Click here to follow the virtual book tour. Leave a comment each day of the tour and you’ll be registered to win the Giftbox Giveaway. Here’s what this gift box contains:
Giveaway Giftbox
* A copy of Each Book Showcased This Month
* A package of Divine Dill Dip Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co.
* A Three Angels Gourmet Co. Soup/Coffee Mug
Today, I have a great guest article from Suzanne Lieurance, the Working Writer's Coach.
Use a Vision Board As a Writer's ToolBy Suzanne Lieurance
Typically, a vision board is a tool used to help clarify, concentrate and maintain focus on a specific life goal. Literally, a vision board is any sort of board used to display images that represent whatever you want to be, do or have in your life. But a vision board can also be used a little bit differently as a writer's tool.
I often build a vision board with images of the characters, settings, and other elements I wish to create in a new book or story. I'm a very visual person, and seeing my characters and settings in pictures helps me write about them in greater detail so I'm able to more fully bring them to life for my readers.
Before I start writing a new novel, I make a chapter by chapter outline of the plot. As I'm creating this outline,
I learn who my characters will be and where the action will take place (the setting). As I'm working on the outline, I also leaf through magazines for pictures of people and places that look like the characters and settings I've envisioned in my mind for the story. I also search for pictures of other objects that might belong to my main characters - a car, for example, or a beautiful house on the beach, or a run down apartment. I cut out these magazine pictures and put them in a project folder. Once I finish my outline, I tack up these photos on the bulletin board that hangs on the wall over the computer where I write each day. Sometimes I put the pictures up on the board in a particular order. For example, once I cut out pictures to represent each of the buildings on Main Street in the fictional town I created for a story. This way, as I was writing, I didn't have to remember if the bakery was next to the dry cleaner's. I just looked up at the vision board to see where everything was located.
As I write my story, I glance up at this vision board occasionally to remind myself of all that I know about my characters and the setting. When I'm writing about my main character, a look at my vision board reminds me that he drives a Mini Cooper, for example, and not just any old car.
A vision board also helps me get a "feel" for the setting I am writing about. When I write a scene that takes place on the beach, and I look up at a picture of the beach on my vision board, it's much easier to include a variety of sensory details to describe the beach in my story.
Creating a vision board for a novel can be both fun and productive. The trick is not to get so caught up looking for interesting pictures in magazines that you never get the novel written!
For more writing tips and other resources to help you build your freelance business, subscribe to the free twice weekly newsletter, Build Your Business Write at http://www.fearlessfreelancewriting.comSuzanne Lieurance is a full time freelance writer, the author of 22 (at last count) published books, and the Working Writer's Coach.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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2 Comments on Do You Need a Writer's Vision Board?, last added: 11/13/2010
This from Suzanne Lieurance, founder and director of the National Writing for Children Center...
This Week on Book Bites for Kids
Book Bites for Kids airs LIVE every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoon at 2:00 CDT on blogtalkradio.
Listen to the live show on blogtalkradio.com and call in during the broadcast to ask a question or just to make a comment at 1-646-716-9239.
If you can't make it to the LIVE show, visit the National Writing for Children Center to listen to the replay of any or all of the scheduled shows.
On Monday's show host, Suzanne Lieurance, will talk about what's new at the National Writing for Children Center, a showcase for children's book authors and illustrators.
Tuesday's Guest is L.D. Harkrader.
She'll talk about her new novel, Nocturne.
Thursday's Guest is Suzanne Davis Marion.
She'll talk about her new picture book Donner the Western Dragon.
Click here to learn more about each of these guests!
*****
5 Comments on Here's what's happening at the National Writing for Children Center this Week, last added: 10/27/2010
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Suzanne Lieurance is an author, freelance writer, writing coach, speaker and workshop presenter. She is a former classroom teacher and was an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature for over 8 years.
Since then, we’ve kept in touch and currently both belong to the 
Hi, what a great web blog. I usually spend hours on the net reading blogs on various subjects. And, I really would like to praise you for writing such a fabulous article. I honestly believe there is a skill to writing articles that only very few posses and yes you got it. This is really informative and I will for sure refer my friends the same. Thanks.
Thanks. It’s always good to hear that people enjoy my writing.
Claudsy
Thank you for sharing this wealth of information and resources! And thank you for the encouragment!
Thank you for stopping by for a look-see. Glad you found something you might be able to use. I’m always glad to encourage anyone in need of it.
Claudsy
“The most important piece of knowledge to remember throughout the process is that it takes time and practice to write well,” and the bit about “believing in ourselves,”…thank you for all of this!
’s to you my dear, Clauds.
You’re welcome, Hannah.