I feel like I'm 13 anytime a book of mine is coming out. @nervesofsteel is no different. (More about the book and its release April 2023, here.) But what I want to talk about now is why this book came to be. When you're 13 going on 14, a whole lot of things are going … [Read more...] about 13 Going on 14
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Is YA Literary? The Search for an Abundant Canon
So a thing happened, as folks today like to say, deliberately understating the bigness of said thing. And as part of my work these last two years at Vermont College Fine Arts' program in Writing for Children and Young Adults—besides writing one and a half young adult novels, … [Read more...] about Is YA Literary? The Search for an Abundant Canon
5 Questions to Ask Your Author Friend on Sub
"I'm about to go on sub," I used to say to friends. "What's that?" said my friends. "It means my agent is submitting my manuscript to editors." "Oh!" "Or you could say, my manuscript is on submission to editors." "Ah!" Pause. "So good luck! How long does … [Read more...] about 5 Questions to Ask Your Author Friend on Sub
Grammar PSA: The Hawks Nest
Poor apostrophes; they get abused all the time. I get so mad about it, I actually dreamed up a teen girl/grammar nerd who runs around town defacing poorly-punctuated campaign signs. (My deepest, darkest desire is to do what she does.) RJ Haynes will have none of misplaced … [Read more...] about Grammar PSA: The Hawks Nest
Revision Is Like a Cat
I don't want you to stress about revision. I don't want you to because I already do, and it's way too much for anyone's good. You can come up with all the formulas and processes and formalities you like (and trust me, I've got a pile of Lyn's Rules for Revision, and … [Read more...] about Revision Is Like a Cat
What It’s Like to Be On Sub
What's it like to have your manuscript on submission to publishers? How do you make it through the process? This is the third time I've been "on sub." No Small Thing is circulating to a select group of editors, thanks to the pitch work of Tara Gelsomino, my agent. I'm sharing … [Read more...] about What It’s Like to Be On Sub