Awesome Blog Post for MG Writers

Anyone else a MG writer? If so, check out this brilliant post on the DG Literary Management blog...

Everything you ever wanted to know about middle grade…and were willing to ask

I especially like this line...

"...you can always rein an idea in later, but too much of the middle grade that crosses my desk in submission feels like it never got a chance to be as creative as it maybe could have been."

Oh, and this...


"...memorable is important. I think about middle grade being the time when a lot of readers discover “that book”—the one that turns them into a lifelong reader, or explodes their world open with new ideas, or shares exactly the right truth at exactly the right moment in a way they’ll never forget. You know, any time I tell people at a social event like a wedding or a party what I do for a living, there’s an odd compulsion—people simply HAVE to tell me what their favorite book was as a kid. And as an editor, those are the kind of books I want to publish—the ones that a reader of today will recall decades from now as being “that book.”

Yeah, I needed all of that. Really really great stuff.  

Random Bits & Pieces

#1: For those who wanted the t-shirt leggings tutorial....I'm still planning on doing it. I've been working on making some. I just need to finish them up and write about it.  Sorry!

#2: I received some exciting news last week (in case you didn't see me post about it on facebook)....I got an email from an editor at Family Fun. They want to buy one of my craft ideas and they're sending a contract! Awesome, right? I'm quite excited about that. And they pay really really good. So, if you're crafty you should look into submitting ideas to them. 

#3: I'm off to St. George today to shop and talk and laugh and eat lunch with my Mom who is the most amazing and best mom in the whole universe. I am Really Excited.

#4: I'm thinking of signing up for the Butch Cassidy 5k Fun Run near Zion National Park next month. I don't know. I want to. But I don't want to wake up super early to get over there in time to do it. I am Not a morning person.

#5: Saturday night, while watching a Dr. Who rerun and the beginning of a 70's show called The Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, I ran 3 1/4 miles. Wow, right? I still can't believe I did that. And it felt so good! But it's on a treadmill. I need to try running outside and see how far I can go. That will be harder. blech.

 

I love Dr. Who. Love it. With the fire of a million flames. 

As for The Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Well, it wasn't AS enjoyable. But I did love that it was a very Serious show with Serious problems and the characters said things like, "It is just a stepping stone toward their goal of World Domination." ha! So great. 

#6: I'm thinking of doing some giveaways on my blog. Maybe some books? Or some crafty stuff? Hmmmm, I don't know. Stay tuned. 

#7: I want this skirt.... 

 

#8: My kids have been enjoying Robert Sabuda's site and his free printables to make your own pop-up cards. So cool, right? 

#9: We watched Rio the other night and loved it. Although I wish they hadn't put the chickadee and her beau in the scanty carnival outfit there at the end. BUT the show made me want to visit Rio someday. And I wonder if the Rio Tourist Industry helped fund the movie? If so, smart move.

#10: My cute friend, Sundi has been having loads of fun with spray paint. And she even posted a tutorial for spray painting shoes.  Ack! These shoes are the cutest things! (and check out that skirt and the t-shirt leggings, too!) That is one talented chickadee. 

#11: I just bought these patterns from ebay for My Friend dolls. Did anyone else play with those as a little girl? I loved mine! And still have them.  I'm thinking about giving one to Zoe for Christmas? Maybe her next birthday? And making loads of clothes. Now if I can just figure out where I misplaced all the extra time I'll need....

#12: I have a confession to make. I broke my Fabric Block. Yep. There was a rummage sale at the Presbyterian church. And I bought a whole slew of knit shirts for upcycling. *sigh* I'm so weak.

Have a Happy Monday! 

I'm off to shop 'til my wee girls drop!

How to Get Rid of Things like Oil, Acne and Zombies...

Meet Pinky.

Pinky was a Christmas gift for Zoe when she was 2. And she has been well-loved.

But you may notice, that Pinky is having some struggles.

First Zoe picked Pinky's nose a bit too vigorously.

Then Zoe decided to share her oily lip balm with Pinky.

Finally, as Zoe helped Pinky into her jammies, Pinky's arm was brutally ripped from her body.

To make matters worse, Pinky was then hidden away in a dark corner under the bed. Yes, Zoe was trying to hide her crime.

So, yesterday, Pinky's arm was reattached.

Pinky  got a new nose.

And after some on-line research about removing oil from cotton, a very informative site called How To Get Rid of Things was found.

Not only can one learn how to get rid of oil stains there  (regular 'ole dish soap does the trick), but also how to get rid of back hair and zombies. Apparently we'll need to invest in a tiger pit and wood chipper if the Zombie Apocalypse occurs. Except I wonder if there would be a run on those? Maybe those are things one needs to purchase now? Hmmm, much to ponder.

Pinky's face was then scrubbed with (pink...ha!) dish soap and she now has an oil free smile.

Pinky! You look as good as*new!

And Zoe has plans to take extra-special care of her.

Next thing we'll need to work on is some new clothes for Pinky. She used to have quite the wardrobe...skirt, shirt, dress and coat. But, sadly, most of those are lost. Poor thing has to go out in public in her jammies. So so sad.




*Well, almost. Pinky's forehead has a permanent yellowish hue from face oils left behind by her owner during night-time snuggling.

How to {Tuesday} Keep Track of Everything You Ever Want to Do or Make or Wear or Bake or...

Hello I'm Erin Shakespear and I'm a Pinterestaholic.

Yep. I've gotten a bit distracted these days.  Sure I've been busy with Sam's birthday and my husband's birthday and getting ready for Zoe's birthday (squee! My husband and I are combining our talents and making her something really really cool! Ack! She is going to be SO EXCITED!) and I've done a smattering of writing as well as some Cub Scout stuff, not to mention that summer is here and all my monkeys are swinging around the trees, I mean, our house, like a bunch of hopped-up, well, monkeys.

But what seems to be eating up most of my free time is Pinterest.  Yes, everyone and their pet llama knew about it before me...yep, I like to arrive fashionable late to parties.  Or, my husband would just call it "really late". BUT now that I'm there, I can't stop pinning! I LOVE it.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!. 

I even have a board dedicated to my middle grade novel book. It's called Jasper and I pin everything and anything onto it that I feel is inspiring for different scenes in my book.  I kind of wish there was a way to make a private board though and then I would type up all sorts of notes to myself with the pins.  But as it is I don't quite want to bare the Crazy-Writer Me to just anyone.  Only a select few get to see that chickadee.  Aren't they so lucky? Yep. Don't be jealous.

If  you'd like to follow me, you can find me Here.  And if you are like me and are late to the Pinterest party (dang those pet llamas that are cooler than us.) then let me know, send me your email and I'll get an invite sent to you (yeah, I'm awesome like that.)

link love

*This is a great article called 7 Writing Habits of Amazing Writers. Really Stephen King? Every day? Even Holidays? Wow.

*I've been thinking about humor, specifically how to capture it on the page. I found this article by Dave Barry.

*Recently I fell in love with The Plot Whisperer. Have you all heard of this rockin' awesome chickadee and her fabulous YouTube videos? I have learned loads from her. LOADS! She's made me see my middle grade novel in a completely different way...even old picture books I've written! You can see her first video Here.

*I adore this Belle dress-up tutorial.  Oh, and this Snow White one...sooooo cute, right? Hmmmm, I might have to make these for Zoe for her birthday.

*I haven't crocheted anything for a super long time. But THIS makes me want to take it up again. Ack! It's so cute!