The Inquisitive Inkpot
Exploring Tales and the Art of Telling
Tag: author
When Does a Signature become an Autograph?
Autographs: we worship them. We cut in line for them. We spend money for them. Everyone has that person whose autograph they would do most anything for. And yet, what makes an autograph so special? Isn’t it just a glorified signature? Yes, basically. But… Continue Reading “When Does a Signature become an Autograph?”
Of Saplings and Stories: What We can Learn
When I’m not writing stories, I work with trees. Let’s be clear: I’m not the one cutting trees down or doctoring them up—no, no, you will not see me wielding a chainsaw or fertilizer. Instead, I run the marketing and communications department for a… Continue Reading “Of Saplings and Stories: What We can Learn”
Reading Aloud to Young Listeners
When I found myself reading aloud to twelve hungry-eyed elementary students, I suddenly realized why I had written a children’s book. Well, “suddenly” is perhaps incorrect, since parents had already been sending me pictures of their kids reading my children’s book. That’s pretty fulfilling.… Continue Reading “Reading Aloud to Young Listeners”
If My Book were a Child
If my book were a child, I would think it most darling for nudging me with ideas while only half-conceived. “I hope you look like me,” I would tell it with fondness. For this unborn book would carry my name. And if my book… Continue Reading “If My Book were a Child”
Publishing: When an Author gets down to Business
Any aspiring author will one day come face-to-face with a formidable opponent: that opponent is called logistics. All right, you’ve written your book. You’ve revised the heck out of it. Maybe you’ve even found an illustrator. And now…? If the honeymoon phase with your… Continue Reading “Publishing: When an Author gets down to Business”
What Young Writers can Teach Us
When I first met an 11-year-old writer who runs his own newspaper, I felt seriously behind on life. Those who know me have heard me complain about how old I feel at 22. In fact, one of my father’s friends tried to console me… Continue Reading “What Young Writers can Teach Us”
Illustrations that Breathe a Children’s Book to Life
I will never forget the first pictures I saw of my children’s book—pictures I didn’t draw. Oh, I’d storyboarded and thrown together some third-grade quality sketches, but I had yet to meet my own character face-to-face on a page. Or should I say, face-to-foot?… Continue Reading “Illustrations that Breathe a Children’s Book to Life”
Storyboarding a Children’s Book
When was the last time you picked up a children’s book to study the pictures? I’ll admit, I hadn’t even touched a children’s book for a long time when I decided to write one of my own. This meant I had a lot to… Continue Reading “Storyboarding a Children’s Book”
Writing a Children’s Book: What no one told me
When I sat down to write my first-ever children’s book, I was actually a bit scared. Anyone who’s ever tried something completely new knows this anxiety. And anyone who’s ever written something for publication knows the self-conscious dread… What if it doesn’t turn out… Continue Reading “Writing a Children’s Book: What no one told me”
Children’s Stories: the Unexpected (Mis)Adventure
There’s a reason they say to try new things—I never thought I would author a children’s book, yet here we are. How did that happen? Well, let me tell you… Once upon a time, there was a young woman who wrote stories. But not… Continue Reading “Children’s Stories: the Unexpected (Mis)Adventure”
