Sue Santiago
Children's Writer & Sometimes Poet
Tag: Sue Santiago
Relentless
Absolutely relentless. As soon as the liftgate is open, these two jump in. I call them out so I can load the first suitcases. They jump back in. Call them out so I can add the cooler. They jump back in. And this pattern…
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…
2018 Successes
I have found a much needed shot in writing arm through 12 Days for Writers. On this third day of Christmas Julie challenges us to consider the successes we enjoyed in 2018. It’s so much easier to think about the places we fall short….
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…
Make A Ripple
On September 12, 2001
I stood before my class
of confused and scared third graders
and lied.
Mission Accomplished
This is the face of satisfaction: Computer shut mission accomplished satisfied. But it’s really like this: 258 free verse poems roughed it’s an ugly baby right now but it’s complete! And it doesn’t take long to feel like this: What’s next? Reading Wired for…
