Sue Santiago
Children's Writer & Sometimes Poet
Category: Writer’s Craft
Nuts & Bolts of writing
Works for kids and authors alike
You know how we teach our kids to write a basic story summary using the somebody-wanted-but-so-then model? It holds up from picture books through grown up books. So when I hit a plot problem I applied the somebody…strategy. I noticed quickly that I…
Squashing Your Outer Adult to Write for Your Inner Child
“Rediscover the child in you so that you may write for the child before you,” literary agent, Stephen Fraser, urged a room of writers at the recent Marvelous Midwest conference. Challenge accepted. Just warning you, there will be no acting like adults here. These…
Reflections from My Pretend B&B Stay
I am pretending that I am retreating at a B&B as any smart writer would after another great SCBWI conference. She knows from experience she needs time to digest all those delicious morsels she filled and refilled her plate while at the all-you-can-eat-buffet of…
Tips for Working with Beta Readers
In the spring the very kind local school librarian agreed to organize a group of beta readers for my current work-in-progress. (First tip: volunteer at your local public library or school library to build relationships with librarians and keep your finger on the pulse…
Documentary Novel vs Historical Fiction
You write about what you already know, right? But, you also write about things you want learn more about. Admittedly, after researching this topic I may be more confused than when I started. Let me see if I can work it out! The easy…
No Excuses!
My daughter was at volleyball camp and I had a rare afternoon alone with my son. I offered to go for a bike ride with him and get some ice cream. He turned that down. Granted, it was raining a little. Instead, he said…
