So, we’ve arrived at the topic of conclusions. Endings are hard. Let me say that again: ENDINGS ARE HARD!   

Last week I wrote the ending of my newest middle grade novel.  Observe the writer at work: she’s fidgety, she’s irritable, her brain feels incapable of functioning. She paces, she eats (no, not fruit and veggies), and if Read more »

Second Installment

Okay, so your students have come to recognize that, yes, story often begins with a character who wants something. Does this mean the character gets what he or she wants right off the bat? No way! (Not unless the character, like King Midas, is meant to learn to Read more »

Allow me to model my writing process for a moment. Every time I begin a new piece, I ask myself two questions:

1. What do I want to write about? 2. How am I going to organize my writing?

Once I know the answer to these two questions, I can go confidently Read more »