I was so honored to receive the Prairie Writer Award for contributions to literature and literacy! Honestly, I still can’t believe it! Here’s what I wrote about validation: If you know me, you know I believe in celebrating every step. In every page. Every epiphany. Every friendship. Every yes, no, not now, and get back…
From the Newsletter: On Brainstorming
“Idea generation is about quantity, not quality. Multiplication, not subtraction. Editing comes later. The goal of brainstorming is to walk out with buckets of ideas, not one precious idea perched on a pillow.” ― Sam Harrison, Creative Zing! Spark Your Creativity & Powerfully Present Your ideas Dear Writers, Friends: I am in that exciting place known…
Goodbye 2022! Hello, 2023!
Last night, I asked my son, Elliot, what his word for 2023 was going to be. (He gave me the look that said: Mom. I do not do these kinds of things.) And then, when I didn’t drop it, he thought about it and chose EXPAND. In 2023, he wants to expand his social circle,…
From the Newsletter: Reassess. Reset. Restart
Do one thing today that scares you – and you already know what that is! – and go do it. Even if you just make one step toward it, it will help you look at the world differently. -Luvvie Ajayi Dear Writers, Greetings from The Highlights Foundation’s Whole Novel Workshop! During this retreat, writers submit…
From The Newsletter: Fear and Resistance and Joy
Oct 10, 2022 “Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.” ― Steven Pressfield Dear Writers, Who is the writer you want to be? Are you feeling any joy in your writing? How are you dealing with resistance? How are you dealing with…
From the Newsletter: Discouraged? Let’s get back on track today!
Oct 17, 2022 When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. -Harriet Beecher Stowe Dear Writers, Lately, I’ve been hearing…
Add YOUR recipes here!
In Brand New Bubbe, I share three great soup recipes! For me, making soup is a lot like writing. I add a bunch of interesting ingredients to the mix…and something even better emerges! (You also have to taste/revise A LOT.) Do you have a great recipe you’d like to share? Post it here by pressing…
From the Newsletter: Getting ready to launch!
“The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.” ― Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point Dear Writers, In one month, my next picture book, Brand New Bubbe, will be on the shelves! (If you want a personalized, signed copy, you can preorder it here!)…
From the Newsletter: Critique FAQ’s
“To free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves there lies the great, the singular power of self-respect. Without it, one eventually discovers the final turn of the screw: one runs away to find oneself and finds no one at home.” -Joan Didion Dear Writers, This week on Twitter, I…
From the newsletter: all three GOALS posts in one.
Dec 6, 2021 “Failing is a crucial part of success. Every time you fail and get back up, you practice perseverance, which is the key to life. Your strength comes in your ability to recover.” ~Michelle Obama, Former FLOTUS Dear Writers, It’s December, the month of reflection and goal setting. Last year, I didn’t set…