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Author Chat with Bryan Davis on his New Christian Science Fiction Series
I met Bryan Davis at a writer’s conference several years ago and enjoyed getting to know him and his daughter Amanda (also an author). His books are favorites among the students I teach, and I’m honored to have him be my guest on the blog. In our author chat feature today, he shares about a brand new Christian science fiction series, with the first book releasing today. Q: What prompted you to write this new series, or what was your inspiration? This story began as a dream about a dystopian society with a tyrannical regime and a rebel faction trying to bring it down. In the dream, two rebels posed…
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Writer’s Block: Publishing 101
As writers, we often share a dream: to see our stories in print. In today’s video, we talk about the basics of publishing: some common publishing vocabulary, types of publishing, the reality of rejection, and what you, as a young writer, can be doing today to prepare to perhaps publish one day. As always, there’s a writing activity for you at the end. Join us on YouTube, and take a moment to comment or share your thoughts on today’s video.
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Writer’s Block: The Basics of Plot Structure
A story doesn’t just happen. The writer intentionally crafts it from start to finish–from inciting incident to denouement. In this meeting, we talk about the ten basic plots, the components of plot structure, and an example that helps visualize the whole process. As always, there’s a writing activity at the end to help you practice what you’ve learned. Join us on YouTube, and take a moment to comment or share your thoughts on today’s video.
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Writer’s Block: Poetry in Everyday Life
It’s February, a month famous for sharing sweet sentiments, so what better time is there to talk about poetry? Whether you want to craft a ditty for that special someone–or not–everyone can learn to enjoy and even write poetry. Most teens groan when their teacher talks about poetry in English class, but the truth is, we use poetry all the time. It adds beauty and extra dimension to writing, songs, and creative expressions. In this meeting, we’ll talk about the basics of meter, the difference between rhyme and free verse, and some common poetic devices. Then, at the end, I’ll share a writing activity so you can practice being your…
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Writer’s Block: “Show. Don’t Tell.”
"Show. Don't Tell." It's a common writing critique we can overcome. Learn how in this month's meeting of Writer's Block, a creative writing club for young writers.
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Tales of the Lonely Sun Blog Tour
I am so excited to introduce you to today’s guest blogger, Jorja Ayres! Please join me in welcoming Jorja to the blog. This teen writer and her friends are striving to raise the bar for young adult fiction, and today, she shares her reason “why” and a writing tip for other aspiring young writers. Guest Post by Jorja Ayres Hi, everyone! My name is Jorja Ayres, and I’m one of the writers on Tales of the Lonely Sun. TotLS is a writing and reading blog that focuses on sharing and creating stories that shine bright in our dark world. This post is part of our blog tour. If you want…
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How to Avoid Writing Pitfalls
I’m excited to share this month’s creative writing topic on Writer’s Block, a creative writing club for young writers. There, their, or they’re? Its or it’s? This month, we talk about common writing pitfalls and how to spot them. We also look at what makes a strong opener versus a weak opener for a story and also how to write strong dialogue. Don’t miss the hands-on writing activity at the end! Join us on YouTube, and take a moment to comment or share your thoughts on today’s video. Write on! Kristen
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The Challenge to Write Simply
Welcome back to Writer’s Block, a creative writing club designed for young writers. In this month’s meeting, we talk about how less can definitely be more with our writing, but writing simply is much harder than we might think! In today’s video, we talk about ways to write tightly and clear. The writing activity is one you won’t want to miss. Join us on YouTube, and take a moment to comment or share your thoughts on today’s class. Write on! ~ Kristen
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Calling Teen Writers! There’s a New Club for You
If you’re a teen writer, this club is for you! This month, I’m launching Writer’s Block, a creative writing club for young writers. Each meeting, we’ll learn about an aspect of the writing craft and have a chance to practice with a writing challenge. At some point, all of us writers deal with the dreaded writer’s block, or creative brain freeze, but we’re not going to let it slow us down. Instead, we’re going to combat it with the best solutions possible: practical skills and lots of practice! Learn more about my vision for this club and how I hope it can be a way to encourage and equip young…
