Writing

Most of my ruminations on writing and literature appear on my blog, but here are some quick links to a few more popular posts:

Whininess is the Kiss of Death

It’s All Homer’s Fault

Literary Coincidences

Here’s a guest post I did on researching CHRONAL ENGINE for the ALSC blog: It Started with a Picture Book

Here’s a guest post I did on the Story Sleuths blog about “The Wrath of Dawn,” the short story Cyn and I co-wrote for the GEEKTASTIC anthology: The Making of “The Wrath of Dawn.”

Here’s an article I did for Hunger Mountain, the literary journal of the Vermont College of Fine Arts: The Improbable, the Impossible, and the Willing Suspension of Disbelief in Science Fiction and Fantasy.

For those who are interested in the craft and business of writing for children and young adults, here are some resources:

Business and Craft

Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Children’s Literature Resources.  One of the best, most comprehensive sites around, from New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Leitich Smith (And, yes, I’m married to the proprietress).  It has many resources on craft and the business, as well as much on her own books.  Which y’all should read.  And on a daily basis, you should read Cyn’s blog, Cynsations.

The Purple Crayon.  An extensive web site by editor Harold Underdown, who is also the author of the The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books.  Highlights of the site include Who’s Moving Where, news about staff changes at children’s publishers.

Handy Guide to Who Owns Whom.  A post on my blog that I put together, just because.

Writing Organizations

Austin SCBWI.  That is, the Austin Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Writers League of Texas.  Offers programming for writers of just about everything under the sun.

Book Festivals

Texas Book Festival.  An absolutely amazing celebration of literature, literacy, and a fund-raiser for Texas libraries, as well.  It’s on the State Capitol grounds, with a lot of the author programming in the House and Senate conference rooms.  And many readings are in the House and Senate Chambers.  Here are some of my recap posts: 2012201120102009.  The 2013 festival is scheduled for October 26 and 27.

National Book Festival.  Programming is on the National Mall, with tremendous views of the Capitol and Washington Monument.  And the Smithsonian.  Cynthia was a speaker at the 2002 and 2007 National Book Festivals.  Here are my recap posts from 2007: Part IPart IIPart III.

Greater Houston Teen Book Convention.  A fun, annual Houston event, held at Alief Taylor High School.  Here’s my write-up of the 2010 edition.

Austin Teen Book Festival.  In its third year, it took over the Palmer Events Center.  See my wrap-up of the 2011 edition here and the 2012 edition here.

Tweens Read Book Festival.  Here’s my write-up of the 2012 festival.

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