 By Linda Skeers
You’ve been writing and revising until your brain cells are sizzling. It’s time for a short break to give yourself a chance to recharge. But what can you do? Curl up with a cold beverage, bowl of hot buttered popcorn, and watch a movie about… writers! Hey – peeking into the lives of other writers, their craft, and trials and tribulations are almost a kind of research, right? Here’s a list to get you started on your cinematic journey! FINDING FORRESTER (2000) – novelist William Forrester mentors a high school basketball player with a passion for writing. STRANGER THAN FICTION (2006) – how does a novelist kill off their main character when that character doesn’t want to die? AUTHORS ANONYMOUS (2014) – a hilarious look at a writer’s critique group. You’ve all been in a group with some of these characters… Writers with a touch of romance: ROMANCING THE STONE (1984) THE JEWEL OF THE NILE (sequel 1985) THE BOYFRIEND SCHOOL (1990) SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (1998) Writer’s block and ethical/moral dilemmas: DEATHTRAP (1982) WONDER BOYS (2000) ADAPTATION (2002) THE WORDS (2012) CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? (2018) Based on real writers IMPROMPTU (1991) FINDING NEVERLAND (2004) CAPOTE (2005) MISS POTTER (2006) BECOMING JANE (2007) TRUMBO (2015) On the spooky and suspenseful side: THE SHINING (1980) MISERY (1990) SECRET WINDOW (2004) THE GHOST WRITER (2010) Enjoy! Put your favorite movie about writing or writers in the comment section!
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 By Stephanie Bearce
Burnout is REAL!! I just finished some tight deadlines and got both good and bad publishing news. My brain was fried. I had no desire to write ANYTHING! EVER! Have you had days like this?? Where you question your writing career, wonder if you should give it all up and become a greeter at Walmart? Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your point of view) I've been in this place before. All the creative energy was gone and no idea of what to do next. This is when I know it's time for some fallow ground. Fallow ground is soil that is left unplanted to rest and regenerate. Farmers have used this technique for centuries to enrich and renew the earth. It's something we humans can emulate by leaving time to be fallow. To rest and rejuvenate. Creativity takes fertile soil. It needs to be rich in ideas and full of life-giving energy. If we keep working, the energy of our brain becomes as depleted as overused soil. We all need to have fallow time. For me, fallow time means reading, sewing monsters, cleaning closets, and watching favorite old movies. Often it involves Jane Austen, Madeline L'Engle, Dorothy Sayers, and Elizabeth Peters. Sometimes it just takes a few days. This time it took FOUR WEEKS! But now, the ideas are flowing again. I'm excited to tackle some new projects. I WANT to WRITE again!! I know I'm lucky. My fallow times are not years, but weeks. However, I think this is because, like the farmers I grew up with, I know that I NEED fallow ground. I give myself permission to just be. It's what my brain and my soul need. Please, give yourself permission to enjoy some fallow ground. And to celebrate fallow time - I'm giving away four of my "monsters". Leave a comment below that tells about your brain burnout or fallow time. You will be entered to win a sweet little idea monster to help you with your newest project!  By Stephanie Bearce
I had just finished the 13th round of revisions on my manuscript. It was spit-shined and perfectly polished. The topic was unique. I'd done months of research. This story was sure to sell. I opened up my email ready to send the manuscript to my amazing agent, and there was a note from fellow Ninja Chick, Susie Kralovansky. DID YOU SEE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT? There in Publisher's Weekly was an announcement for the sale of my story. Exact same topic. Even the same title! But not written by me. I'd been scooped. Was there some devious plot to hack my computer and steal my ideas? No. Did some evil writer read my drafts and take my work? No. Was I the victim of a good topic and poor timing on my part? Probably. Anyone who has been in the nonfiction business for more than half a second has experienced the "Stolen Idea" phenomenon. Nonfiction writers are avid readers and researchers. We are always looking for a new topic, a new take on a holiday, critical anniversaries, and hidden gems of stories. It's like the California gold rush for nonfiction stories. And exactly like the gold prospectors, there will be winners and losers in the story mining business, too. But simply because another author beat you to the editor's desk doesn't mean it's over for your story. There are a few tricks you can try. 1. Change the target age of your manuscript. Is there a need for a middle-grade manuscript on the topic? Change that PB into an MG proposal. Or vice-versa! 2. Try a different format. Could you change it into a graphic novel? Could you turn it into a collection by adding similar stories? 3. Change the focus of the manuscript. If you are writing a biography of a famous person, try focusing on an unknown aspect of their life. 4. Set it aside for a while. This does not mean giving up on the story. Simply give your story some time and space. You may come back at it with a totally new perspective or you may find a unique way to use your research and hard work. Most importantly, don't get discouraged. There are more stories waiting to be discovered. Get busy digging!!  By Nancy Churnin After publishing 10 nonfiction picture books, my first co-authored book, WHEN MAMA RINGS THE BELL, will come out in Fall 2023, co-authored with Shayna Vincent, for Albert Whitman & Company. When should you co-author a book rather than be the solo author? Often, being the solo author is the only option. My first ten books, all picture book biographies, were about people who are not alive. Not much of an opportunity for collaboration there beyond what I could conjure with research and my imagination! But one doesn’t always co-author with a living subject. The decision to do so is subjective. Here are some factors to consider: 1.Does the subject want to play an active role in telling his or her own story? Some subjects or sources might want to leave it all to you. Others may have strong feelings about making sure their voice is not only heard, but acknowledged in the author credits. 2.Would you be appropriating someone else’s culture or experience by telling their story without them? One of the best way to ensure that you are respecting someone’s culture or experience is to partner with them in telling the story. 3.Would it be more rewarding for you, spiritually, to join voices with someone else? For me, this third consideration was the deciding factor, although the second factor was important, too. WHEN MAMA RINGS THE BELL is inspired by Shayna Vincent’s experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer as a young mother in her thirties. It is told from the point of view of one of her young daughters. Shayna didn’t ask to be a co-author when I approached her about telling her story. But as I worked on the manuscript, using her words, her experience, her feelings, her details, it was clear to me that the best story would emerge from our full collaboration. With regard to the third factor, it felt right spiritually to meld our words. With regard to the second factor, it felt right, morally, for her to have the credit she deserved by getting full credit for sharing the story that she wished she had for her daughters when she was diagnosed and would now help others. Shayna lived the story we were writing. Not only did that merit credit as a co-author, but one of the added benefits was that as a full co-author, Shayna could be an even more powerful spokeswoman for families dealing with cancer and other serious medical conditions. This is my first co-authored book, but it has been an incredibly rewarding and uplifting experience. I hope to do more. Nonfiction Ninja Chick Nancy Churnin is the award-winning author of 10 picture book biographies. When Mama Rings the Bell, co-authored with Shayna Vincent, is one of her three new books scheduled to be released in Fall 2023. It will be published by Albert Whitman & Company   by Susie Kralovansky
Often at a writer’s conference, “What’s the secret to getting published?” comes up. Here is my advice, simple and sweet:
Early in my writing career, I was one of those writers. I couldn’t wait to submit even when I knew a phrase fell flat or the ending was weak. My inner voice would say, “I don’t think it’s ready.” Did I listen? Absolutely not! Was it ready to be sent out? Absolutely not! But I was convinced (every single time, because I am a slow learner) that the editor or agent would recognize my genius and happily replace the word, phrase, or whatever my piece was missing. Did that process work? Never! Ever! Again, the big secret – STUDY THOSE GUIDELINES!
You can do this. Good luck!  By Stephanie Bearce Sunshine, swimming pools, hammocks under the trees; the lazy hazy days of summer are almost here. I'm all for basking in the warmth of the sun and taking some time to recharge your batteries. Just as long as you don't use summer as an excuse to neglect your writing! Take a look at some of the amazing opportunities available to help you recharge, learn, and revise this summer! Out of the Box Nonfiction- Traci Sorrell WriteOnCon - online kidlit conference Writing Science and Nature for Kids and Teens - Highlights Foundation Nonfiction Kidlit Confab - Writing Barn Summer Camp in Nonfiction - Highlights Foundation Getting into Graphic Nonfiction - Writing Barn How to Engage Readers with Activity Writing - Dana Rau - Writing Barn Creative Connections Panel: Working with Agents and Editors - Writing Barn Writing Leveled Readers for Education - Sonny Regelman - Writing Barn Writing Nonfiction for Kids - Kidlit Creatives Take a class and beat the summer slump!!  by Christine Liu-Perkins
I had underestimated the usefulness of a timeline until I was stuck in a confusing muddle of historical research. In desperation, I created a double timeline—one recording major events in the lives of the family I was writing about, and one recording major events in the early Chinese empire. At last, clarity! I gained many insights that had eluded me before, and what I learned enriched multiple sections of the book. That timeline was definitely worth the effort I invested in constructing it. Timelines not only condense a lot of information, they also help us see connections and patterns, such as:
Interested in giving timelines a try? You can make your own using Microsoft Word or Powerpoint: You might also include timelines in your manuscripts, activity guides, and presentations. Teachers often look for timelines and encourage students to make them. Here's some sources for creative examples: How do you use timelines? Have any tips to share?  By Linda Skeers
One of the most important things a writer can do is to read, study and analyze books in their chosen genre – especially recently published, award-winning, and starred reviewed books. In the past, I would sit down to really study a book – to figure out what makes it tick and to somehow absorb some secret that would improve my own writing. Alas, I read and enjoyed a lot of books, but I wasn’t sure I was really learning anything from my own solitary study. That changed when I became a part of a Picture Book Study Group. You know the saying “Two heads are better than one?” Well, imagine how much better six heads could be! Reading the same books and sharing my thoughts and opinions with others and listening to their thoughts and opinions gave me a whole new perspective on HOW to learn from a mentor text. My group formed from a casual conversation about wanting to dive deep into picture books with the hope that analyzing great books would help improve our own writing. We’ve been going strong for over five years, so I guess it’s working. First, we agreed on some ground rules:
We also select books in the same genre or category so we can compare and contrast and see how different authors handled similar topics. Any subject works – how about TREES? Here’s a list of titles we could read and explore: BE A TREE! – Maria Gianferrari SURVIVOR TREE – Marcie Colleen THIS VERY TREE – Sean Rubin TREES – Tony Johnston THE SECOND LIFE OF TREES – Aimee Bisonette BEFORE WE STOOD TALL – Jessica Kulekjian THE WISDOM OF TREES: How Trees Work Together to Form a Natural Kingdom – Lita Judge THANK YOU, TREE – Fiona Lee LISTEN TO THE LANGUAGE OF TREES: a story of how forests communicate underground – Tera Kelley Again, five titles work well but this gives you an idea of what’s “out there” and worth studying! Topics can range from food to frogs and space to scientists. Possible discussion questions: Did one book stand out among the group? Why? (it’s interesting that we almost always have a different favorite and it’s enlightening to discover why certain books resonate with different people) What was the writing style? Conversational? Humorous? Lyrical? Straight-forward? What other styles would work with this topic? What was included in the Back Matter? Did it enhance the text? What did the author do to keep readers engaged and turning pages? Was there something unique or surprising about this book? Was a technique used that you could attempt with your own writing? Would this book appeal more to adults than children? Why? Other questions and comments will spring up during the discussion. Remember, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and you can learn a lot from someone else’s perspective – especially when it’s different than your own! This also works for Middle Grade and YA – you just might want to limit the list to 2-3 titles each month. Gather a group of writers interested in analyzing books in your favorite genre and start studying together – it’s a fun way to learn and share and it might just help you look at your own manuscripts in a new way!  by Pat Miller
I took an informal poll at a writer’s conference, asking if they wrote nonfiction. If they didn’t, it was often because they thought it was boring, that the research was overwhelming, and that kids don’t read it. As a long-time elementary teacher, librarian, and children’s author, I’d like to share why I think writing nonfiction is such a pleasure. It could be for you as well. 1. Curiosity comes first. Children are powerfully motivated by curiosity—think of a toddler. Imagination kicks in much later than curiosity. Being the one to write the books that pique and respond to children’s curiosity is immensely satisfying. Kids DO read nonfiction—they want to KNOW! For more about how children like nonfiction, read this article by Melissa Stewart and friends. 2. The ideas are already "out there". Whereas fiction writers must nourish the tender sprout of inspiration, nonfiction writers need hedge trimmers to shape the lush growth of information that is readily available. Books, letters, journals, and newspapers from prior centuries are readily available, as are millions of historical photographs, census records, deeds, and obituaries. Many can be accessed from your home computer. Museums feature items from bygone days—clothing, toys, tools, inventions. Their collections are often accessible online. For example, The Black Cowboy Museum near me has video of their exhibits. 3. Experts are eager to help do the work. You don’t have to know what you are talking about when you write nonfiction. Part of research is to find someone who does. Medieval dress, pikas, Inuit wedding traditions--someone is passionate about it. When I was researching the mariner who invented the doughnut, I got help from librarians, maritime history professors, docents at a maritime museum, and newspaper archivists. Don’t forget interest groups, scientists, re-enactors, documentaries, and restored homes, shops, and battlefields. With nonfiction, you aren't alone with the blank page. Though you can conduct a lot of research online, visiting places and experts is fun and provides writers a bonus--tax write-offs! 4. Experience counts. Did you try parasailing on your honeymoon? Do you have a passion for genealogy, identifying birds, or making doll furniture? You can write about your interests. Keep a journal on your cruise, follow up on something you hear on TV, or interview kindergartners. It’s all fertile ground in which to grow a true book. 5. Mentor texts provide clues. When I begin research, I located books on my topic. Not only did each provide useful content, but they often showed ways to use dialogue, craft a narrative arc, or break down complex science into books that children understand. Another bonus is that the authors lean in and whisper, “Look in the back—I left you a road map.” Back matter includes author notes, books and sites used, and experts consulted. You can use those resources. And though Wikipedia is not considered a reliable source, scroll to the bottom of the article, and look for the resources used to write it. It’s a jackpot! Exercise your curiosity and your creativity by giving nonfiction a try. You may discover that rather than being boring, writing true can be satisfying and addictive! Pat Miller (www.patmillerbooks.com) is a former teacher and school librarian. She has written 20 books for school librarians and 10 for children. She is the author of the award-winning NF, The Hole Story of the Doughnut, illustrated by Vincent Kirsch).  by Peggy Thomas *This is a shout out to Kathy H. and Ellen who recently asked about organizing research. My husband would tell you that I’m the LAST person who should talk about organizing papers. But I think I’m the perfect one because I used to be an old-school organizer. My method was THE BOX. Each project had its own box that I kept next to my desk to hold books, notes, articles, etc. But, for the last 3 books I have used OneNote to keep track of my online research. OneNote is a program that comes with Microsoft Office, and it is also available for Macs. (Other similar programs include Evernote and Notability.) It saves and syncs everything as I work, and makes it accessible on every device. Rather than explain how to sign up and start a notebook, I’m going to let Microsoft do it. Here is a link to short how-to videos. OneNote has changed my life. I used to photocopy EVERYTHING. Now, I stash all that information in a OneNote notebook. Each notebook has files. (Mine are arranged as tabs along the top.) Each file has pages. (Mine are listed on the side.) For my newest mid-grade biography, Hero for the Hungry, I have a file for each phase of Norman Borlaug’s life – Childhood, School, Mexico, Nobel Peace Prize, etc. (You're curious aren't you? Who is this guy?) I’ve also got files for the bibliography, interview notes, and additional subjects, like wheat and famine, that require more background research. When I find an article online, I cut and paste it into a page. For example, in the school file I have: a page with an image from Norman’s yearbook; another page holds a newspaper clipping about the wrestling team; and a third is a Youtube video of a 1961 interview in which Norm talks about the lecture that changed his life.   THE BEST THING EVER is that OneNote automatically adds the website’s link at the bottom of the clipping. Brilliant!! It remembers where I got the info, even when I can’t! I also like the search feature so I can find key words in any document.
OneNote does a lot more. It lets you handwrite notes, draw, record video and audio, and if you collaborate with someone, you can share notebooks. Maybe someday I’ll expand my skill set and learn its many other features, but for now, I’m just happy creating notebooks and saving paper. (My husband is too.) What is your best tip for staying organized? Share in the comments. And keep sending us your questions. We’re here to help. www.Peggythomaswrites.com |
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Disclaimer: The Nonfiction Ninjas are a group of writers with diverse ideas . The views expressed in each post are those of the author and may differ from others in the group.
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