Ten-Minute Blog Break - 18th June

Before I start the blog round-up, I'd like to thank everyone who's commented on or retweeted these posts over the last few months. Not only is it great to know that the Blog Break is being read, but also that you're reading the posts by our featured SCBWI bloggers.


To kick things off this week, Bridget Strevens-Marzo has a hugely inspiring blog post about the ShoutSouth! festival run by CWISL (Children's Writers and Illustrators in South London). SCBWI members including Bridget, Mo O'Hara, Sarah Mussi, Anne-Marie Perks, Sam Hepburn and Sara Grant took part in three days of writing and illustrating workshops with over ninety 8-13 year olds. You can see the variety and quality of the results over at Bridget's blog and it's an immense credit to the organisers that everyone donated their time for free.

Jane Heinrichs has written a terrific post about unleashing your inner creativity, something that sounds easy but can often be very, very hard. As someone who frequently finds themselves in front of an empty Word document, gripped by irrational fear, I found this list of simple tips very approachable and encouraging.

Cathy Brett's article for The Guardian on illustrated fiction for teenagers kicked off a fantastic debate on the SCBWI British Isles Facebook group. Why don't grown-up books have pictures in them? Are publishers the problem, or do book illustrations seem childish to older readers?

Meanwhile, over in the silly corner, Lorraine Gregory has a highly unscientific test to help you determine whether you're cut out to be a children's writer, and one of the comments on Mark Jones's latest blog post reads "Well, that was a waste of time". Depending on your mood, you may consider that a criticism or a recommendation!

Nick.


Nick Cross is a children's writer, blogger and all-round digital guru. In 2010 he was a winner of Undiscovered Voices with his zombie comedy Back from the Dead.
Read Nick's latest blog post, in which he considers the seemingly endless state of being an "Almost There" writer and yet finds optimism in Waiting and Learning.

6 comments:

  1. Is the silly corner a bit like the naughty step Nick? Do we have to stay there all day? I must say it sounds like it might be quite fun...

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  2. Replies
    1. I am always in the mood for a silly corner but I am wondering if 'VOTE FOR PEDRO" counts as 'blatant advertising'hmmm
      Mark, who is Pedro, anyway?

      Delete
    2. ha! Brilliant.
      Yay VOTE FOR PEDRO!

      Delete
  3. Thank you Nick I totally missed (until now) the FB discussion about pictures and Cathy Brett has joined in - marvellous!

    ReplyDelete

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