Tag: writing advice for children

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Full cast

Child's drawing of a cast of characters for a proposed novel

Dear Penny,

I’m convinced you’ll be the next author under 30 in Canada. You’ve already developed a fine cast of characters. I appreciate the dramatic labels you’ve assigned them.

When looking for a publisher, it is best to find one that has produced books similar to the one you have written. You can do that by doing some research at your library. Your librarian might also be able to help if you describe the type of book you are looking for. Then it is a matter of seeing who publishes those books on their copyright page and writing to them about your story. That’s exactly how I got started.

I wish you the best. Happy reading and writing!

Cheers,

Jessica

P.S. I don’t work at a fancy-pants hotel either.

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Click!

Child's drawing of a photograph of time spent with dad

Dear Noa,

Thank you so much for sharing a happy memory of the time you and your dad spent working on a project together. I love how you’ve captured that happy time with your drawing of a photograph of that moment. I hope you still have the butterfly you made. Sometimes, it is difficult to sort through and decide which moments will matter over the long run, and which ones turn out to be not important, even forgettable.

I say, hang on to happy memories because they will serve you the best especially during periods of uncertainty.

Stay well, and happy reading,

Jessica

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Pet clinic

Child's drawing of a pet clinic with three vets

Dear Claire,

I think there must be plenty of great story ideas that come from pet clinics. I recently took my dog Ivy for her booster shots, and let me tell you! She couldn’t wait for that chapter to be over. She spent the whole time cowering behind me, her stubby tail wedged between her legs. And what was really heartbreaking was that the vet was being so kind, getting down on the floor and cooing to Ivy, even offering really tasty treats.

Ivy wanted none of it. No gold sticker for Ivy. I’m certain I’ll use this scene in a future novel.

Stay well and happy reading,

Jessica

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Extra bright Mars

Child's drawing of the planet Mars with a Canadian flag and a rocket.

Dear Henrik,

Thank you so much for your gorgeous drawing of Mars. I’m thinking about Mars today because tonight, Earth will move in its orbit to line up with Mars and the Sun, forming a straight line, with Earth in the middle.

As a result, Mars will look bigger, brighter and redder from Earth. Also, Mars won’t get this close to Earth again until 2035! Pretty special!

If it is a clear night where you live, and you happen to have a telescope, you might even see Mars’ polar icecaps. Mars will be rising from the east as the Sun sets.

Alas, it is pouring today where I live, which means that clouds will block my view. The only red I’m going to see are the sodden leaves clinging to the maple tree in my backyard.

There’s always next year.

Stay well, and happy reading,

Jessica

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Crow

Child's drawing of a crow

Dear Jack,

I like crows, too. I see them all the time at the park when I walk my dog Ivy. There’s a whole murder of them who yell at her from their treetops as she trots down the path pretending to ignore them.

Here are a few interesting facts about crows. They have an excellent memory and can remember faces of people. They can problem-solve and use tools. For example, researchers dropped a small bucket of crow food at the bottom of a long tube and gave a hungry crow a wire. The crow actually bent the wire to hook the bucket handle and retrieve it! Crows weigh about the same as a soup can, and they can fly up to 65 kilometres per day. They have been known to adopt baby crows that have been orphaned. Lastly, they’ll eat anything. Literally, anything. They are not picky eaters.

If you hear caw-caw-caw, they are likely warning others of danger. Ivy doesn’t get away with anything when they’re on the lookout.

Happy reading and birdwatching,

Jessica

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Basket

Child's drawing of a tree house with red escape slide, basket and rocking chair

Dear Olivia,

I like how you’ve meticulously labelled absolutely everything in your drawing, like a scientist or a museum curator. Also, you’ve really paid attention to details: the straws in the glasses of lemonade, the chocolate chips (or are they raisins?) in the cookies, the flowers in the window boxes and the heart-shaped doorknob. It’s quite wonderful. Authors love details!

I’m intrigued by the basket of wool you’ve included. Do you knit? I knit, and I have just finished a blue sweater. I found that having a craft or two on the go is a nice break from being at my desk, which can feel like all the time!

Happy reading,

Jessica

P.S. I’m pretty sure they’re chocolate chips. Also, I especially like your label “sky everywhere”. That would be a wonderful title for a novel! Very poetic!