All about Chapter Books

All about Chapter Books

Hello! Welcome back to the kid lit craft column where I’ve decided to do a series on all the different types of kid lit. That’s right! We are going to be covering everything from picture books to middle grade and in between! In my first post of this series, I covered everything picture books. You… Read more »

What My MFA Taught Me & What I Learned on My Own

What My MFA Taught Me & What I Learned on My Own

It’s been almost ten years since I graduated with my MFA in Creative Writing, so I’ve had a little time to reflect on the experience. Fresh from my graduation in 2012, I was certain I’d whip through finishing my novel and the book would be out the next year. Right? Wrong. It’s 2022, and my… Read more »

Find Your Motivation for Writing Speculative Fiction

Find Your Motivation for Writing Speculative Fiction

What do you think you haven’t been told about the sometimes called “What-if” stories? Assuming you’ve read the last four segments of Worldly Wise (Welcome Back, BTW!), you already know the basics… or perhaps you already know more. However, if you’re here for the first time, hello there! Welcome to Worldly Wise, where we work… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Ways to Tell Enough without Telling All

#5onFri: Five Ways to Tell Enough without Telling All

There is often a temptation to give your reader more than they really need, or, more importantly, want to know. For example, you describe a garden that is just coming into bloom and then go into minute detail about the flowers and trees. Your description includes the botanical names of three species from one genus,… Read more »

Your Best Writing Goal Based on Your Enneagram Number

Your Best Writing Goal Based on Your Enneagram Number

One of the first things I ask a writer I’m working with is, “When do you want to be done with your book?” Sometimes people have a definite answer: “This year.” Sometimes they look at me and go, “Uhhh…”. The answer depends, of course, on how quickly they write, how much time they have to… Read more »

Kid Lit Craft: Interview with Heather Mateus Sappenfield

Kid Lit Craft: Interview with Heather Mateus Sappenfield

Hello, fellow kid lit writers! This week I have another interview to share with you from the wonderful author Heather Mateus Sappenfield.  About Heather Mateus Sappenfield Heather Mateus Sappenfield loves adventures, especially in the Rocky Mountain landscape that’s been her lifelong home. As part of women’s teams, she’s won 24-hour mountain bike races and road… Read more »