Category Archives: writing craft

A Café Chat with Agent Susan Hawk, by Kristen Strocchia

Agent Susan Hawk from Upstart Crow Literary will be joining our SCBWI chapter at the Pocono Remix 2023 retreat this April at the Highlights Foundation. Susan will run a workshop titled Great Openings, provide critiques for those who have signed up, and participate … Continue reading

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A Café Chat with Author Leah Henderson, by Rona Shirdan

Author Leah Henderson will be joining our SCBWI chapter at the Pocono Remix 2023 retreat this April at the Highlights Foundation. Leah will run a workshop titled Learn Character, Learn Voice, provide critiques for those who have signed up, give the Saturday keynote … Continue reading

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Announcing the 2021 Eastern PA SCBWI Let’s Connect Mentorship Program

We need one another We need support We need connection We need community We are honored to announce the Eastern PA SCBWI LET’S CONNECT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. This multi-month, one-on-one mentorship program begins formally this April 2021 and ends in September 2021 … Continue reading

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Fermentation Time, by Anthony D. Fredericks

Navigating     Nonfiction A monthly column by Anthony D. Fredericks Let’s assume you’re making preparations for a weekend party. Lots of your friends are coming over and you want to be sure you have some great food and their favorite beverages. So, you drive … Continue reading

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The Right Verb, by Anthony D. Fredericks

Navigating Nonfiction A monthly column by Anthony D. Fredericks   Question: What does a thesaurus eat for breakfast?  Answer: A synonym roll.   Let’s take a look at the following passage: Cheetahs can run very fast. They can run much faster than … Continue reading

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Let’s Talk Podcasts! by Laura Parnum

Writers can find great information on writing craft and the business of publishing children’s books by attending conferences, reading reference books, and searching the Internet. But there is another great resource out there that many writers can take advantage of: … Continue reading

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Two Field Trips for Eastern PA SCBWI Members, and a Workshop! by Virginia Law Manning

August brings a number of exciting events to EPA SCBWI members. We hope you’ll join us for one or more of them! “Eloise at the Museum” Exhibit in NYC Sunday, August 20, 2017 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM New York … Continue reading

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Avoiding Cliché Characters In YA Fiction, by Lori Ann Palma

When writers develop characters, we most often begin with an idea—a sort of shapeless blob that becomes more distinct as we write a first draft or do a pre-writing character study. Over time, they grow physical characteristics and a personality, … Continue reading

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Chapter Prewriting Guide: Essential Character Inventory, by Kristen C. Strocchia

As Darcy Pattison likes to say, no character comes into a chapter or scene neutral. So, as the author, there are a few things that I need to be aware of before sitting to write the next chapter or scene … Continue reading

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Character Primer: Which Hatched First—The Character or The Plot? by Kristen C. Strocchia

Character development is a classic question of which hatched first—the character or the plot? Or—if you’re like me—then the title almost always springs to mind first, spurring the development of both. Sometimes my title ideas inspire a setting and a … Continue reading

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