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Keep your hand moving. That's what Lynda Barry advocates in her book, What It Is.













If you're writing and don't know what to say next, write out the alphabet. Keep your hand moving. Eventually the words will flow.




This works for drawing, as well.

I like to get up around 5:00am when the morning is silent, with a cup of coffee in hand. I read, or write, or draw. It's usually a creative time.

This morning my mind was blank.

But hey-- here's a ball point pen! And a scrap of paper! And look, there's a salt shaker!










And a pepper grinder!













I started drawing.

Boring sketches? Yeah! But who cared what they looked like? My hand was moving.

After a short break to shower and get the kids off to school I went back to writing. It turned out to be a productive brainstorming morning.

(And by the way, I highly recommend Lynda's book. It's a wild combination of graphic novel, memoir, and writing/creativity instruction-- very inspiring!)

Bringing the Past to Life: Writing Middle Grade Historical Fiction, this week’s teleclass for members of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club will be presented tonight at 7:00 central time. The instructor for this class is Suzanne Lieurance, author of the upcoming middle grade historical novel, The Locket: Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (to be released in May 2008). Lieurance is currently completing a second historical novel for Enslow Publishers’ fiction adventure series.

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Other CWCC News

Members of the CWCC enjoyed a manuscript critique telesession last night, where everything from picture book manuscripts, writers’ resumes, and nonfiction articles were critiqued. Today, members will receive a link to the recording of this session so they can listen to the critiques of their work even if they were unable to attend last night’s LIVE session.

Join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club, here, and receive these benefits, plus many more, for only $27.00 per month.