Justine Larbalestier, author of LIAR, HOW TO DITCH YOUR FAIRY, and other novels, posted this weekend about the issues that arise when you're white and you write about a character who isn't. She has good advice on why you might do this and how to handle the inevitable criticism.Every single book I’ve published has displeased... Continue Reading →
Will Your YA Be Read in Braille?
Corey Doctorow posts here about his own YA novel, Little Brother, being published under a Creative Commons License, which allowed Patti Smith, a teacher of visually impaired kids in Detroit, to download the book version and convert it to Braille for her young readers.As Corey points out, it's legal to convert any book to Braille... Continue Reading →
Novel Writing: The Elementals
Here's a workshop for novel writers: What: Need help starting or finishing your novel? In this workshop, we'll take the elemental approach by focusing on setting, character, structure, and the writing practice. Through the alchemy of short writing exercises, discussion, and lecture, you will gain new confidence and skills to write your novel. This workshop... Continue Reading →
Good advice on length of MG/YA novels
This comes from Kristin Nelson's blog:When I was at RWA, I did a workshop with my client Ally Carter. We were the only workshop at that conference that addressed anything in the Children’s realm. Let me tell you, the session was packed (to my surprise).Anyway, the point of our workshop was this: people who want... Continue Reading →
YALSA’s YA Lit Symposium
YALSA's next Young Adult Literature Symposium will take place Nov. 5-7, 2010 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There is an opportunity for authors to speak.The 2010 symposium theme is Beyond Good Intentions: Diversity, Literature, and Teens. Today's generation of teens is the most diverse ever. Does today's young adult literature reflect the many different faces, beliefs... Continue Reading →
Attention Deb Caletti fans
The wonderful author of WILD ROSES and other fabulous books now has a Facebook fan page.
Create your own YA cover
From @kimberlycbaker's Twitter feed: Follow the steps to create a fake cover for your YA novel.
YA scene from the headlines
From MSNBC: We all know that walking and texting is a tough combination -- but a Staten Island teen learned the hard way when she fell into an uncovered sewer manhole while trying to send a message. Oops.
How to Write a Novel
By Justine Larbalestier, author of five novels:First of all you need a computer. (Yeah, yeah, I know in the olden days they made do with quill, ink and paper, and typewriters—aargh! don’t get me started on how creepy and scary typewriters are—plus, whatever, this is not the olden days.)More secrets revealed on her blog (including... Continue Reading →
Research Geekery from Kirby Larson
The author of HATTIE BIG SKY finds her facts in the most interesting places, including old travel guides. Read more about it here.