Author Archives: Linda J. Armstrong

A former elementary educator, I am a freelance writer, photographer, and painter.

Don’t Let Craft Advice Silence Your Authorial Voice

Erin Fulmer Writes SFF

The internet is full of craft advice for writers. Some of it is even good advice. All of it purports to make your writing better, more readable, more relatable, more salable.

I’m not talking about grammar advice, like how to punctuate dialogue. That’s a mechanical skill. It’s mostly objective, at least within its specific context (i.e. writing in English, because other languages treat dialogue much differently).

This is about the subjective stuff. It’s about choices authors make to meet audience expectations or subvert them. It’s about the “rules” that supposedly separate good writing from bad.

Mostly, it’s about style and the ever-elusive attribute known as “voice.” I’ve written here about character voice, but this is not about staying in character. This is about your personal, unique authorial voice and how craft advice can file that away until it loses what made it yours.

You know the advice I…

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A Beginning Reader for St. Patrick’s Day

I’ve been practicing creating picture books. I’m an artist, but I haven’t done illustrations before. My first effort went live just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s called “A Pot of Gold” and it’s for the earliest readers.

Most early readers are created in-house, so publishers and agents aren’t interested in them. Kids love them, though, and there aren’t many St. Patrick’s Day books, so I decided to do the illustrations and post it to Kindle.

I learned so much in the process. I am now a master of the pen tool in Photoshop. I’ve also learned how to use Perspective Warp and Object Select.

I found out what the formats mean on Kindle and discovered free Google Fonts.

If you have a young reader in your house, take a look at “A Pot of Gold.”

What You Need to Know About Query Letters

If you’ve finished a project and you are about to query an agent or editor, here’s a great article linked from Harold Underdown’s blog. If you don’t know about him and you write for children, keep his site handy. It’s a terrific resource.

Before you send, a checklist:

  • Did you research your recipient?
  • Did you spell their name right?
  • Are you sending a manuscript they said they didn’t want?
  • Did you include your social media information? (If you have it.)
  • Did you include your contact information?
  • Is your letter brief and to the point?
  • Does the tone of your letter catch the spirit of your story?
  • Did you include the character and the stakes? (If you don’t know what stakes are, look it up.)
  • Did you include only relevant biographical information?
  • Is your letter less than a page long?

Visit my other blogs

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My latest contemporary art

My photos on Flickr

Art projects for kids

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Inspiration for Writers

I just finished an amazing course in picture book writing from the Picture Book Academy. It was both informative and inspirational.

Every artist and writer needs an inspiration boost sometimes. Here’s a list of resources to keep handy. I’ve used most of them at one time or another and am looking forward to checking out others I haven’t tried.

If your favorite book, podcast, or video isn’t listed, please share it in the comments!

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Funny Picture Books Need Golden Hearts

I love the Children’s Book Academy. I just finished a month-long workshop on writing picture books and learned so much. Some manuscripts I need to revise one more time are humorous and that is important, because everyone loves funny stories (especially me,) but the best humorous tales offer a deeper layer, like the finish on a fine wine.

Click on this link to read what it means to create a picture book with both humor and heart.

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A Magical Blog For Picture Book Writers

I just found this beautiful blog by author/illustrator Kelsey Lecky. She gave a wonderful presentation for SCBWI Carolinas in January. Watch for her wonderful books and if you see her featured at a conference, especially online, attend if you can.

    The Stages of Storytelling

    I love this site and the newsletter that comes with it. The posts offer practical advice and inspiration for writers of all levels.

    The site promotes a couple of kinds of story development software, but you don’t need to buy either to enjoy the current posts and the archive.

    Today’s post breaks writing down into four steps.

    1. Inspiration
    2. Development
    3. Exposition
    4. Storytelling

    My current projects are on the fifth step–revision, but that involves looking back at the others to evaluate my original intention and to “see again” (re-vise) what the story has become.

    Where are you in this process?

    See Me Around the Internet

    My contemporary acrylics on canvas

    My Authors Guild Site

    Art ideas for kids related to my book, Everyday Art for the Classroom Teacher

    My handle on Instagram

    Poetry Prompts and Samples Related to My Chapbook Early Tigers

    My Writing Page on Facebook

    My Stock Photo Portfolio on iStock

    Life on Colorado’s Western Slope

    Learning Ideas for Pre-K- Grade 1 Related to my Book ABC Follow Me

    Join the Discussion, or Start One

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      A Panel of Writers Discusses How they Got Their Agents

      I don’t know about you, but I’m currently looking for an agent. Here’s a podcast panel with five agented writers talking about how they connected with those all-important partners in the publishing business.

      Click here to check it out.

      Visit me elsewhere on the Internet.

      See my latest paintings.

      Try some poetry prompts.

      Check out my Authors Guild site.

      Go to my Shutterstock profile.

      Connect with me on Instagram.

      Happy Sunday from our daughter and her duck (a long long time ago,) #duck New show up today in Grand Junction. From an acrylic painting I did years ago of a wall of tools. I just loved the design. Zazzle makes these cool hangings. I love their prints. #artprints

      Find art lessons for kids.

      Keep in touch.

      Join the discussion or start one.

        Before the Hero’s Journey

        This fantastic blog post provides insight into a journey of great interest to writers of middle grade and young adult fiction–the path to individuation, and even better, that path as it relates to women and girls.

        The post refers to many classic and recent books for writers for further investigation. I’m bookmarking this one, and you might like to as well. Click on the link below to check it out.

        Archetypal Character Arcs, Pt. 2: The Maiden Arc

        Some Recent Posts on One Way to Wonder

        Other Places to Find Me

        My Art Portfolio

        Especially for Poets

        My Local Trips

        Notes From a Virtual Easel

        My Authors Guild Site

        My Latest on Instagram

        Happy Sunday from our daughter and her duck (a long long time ago,) #duck New show up today in Grand Junction. From an acrylic painting I did years ago of a wall of tools. I just loved the design. Zazzle makes these cool hangings. I love their prints. #artprints

        My Latest on Flickr

        https://www.flickr.com/photos/redrockpoet/

          Find More Articles for Writers on This Blog

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          Advice about Naming Characters

          Think of your favorite story people. Their names are as familiar as those of your best friends. In real life most of us don’t bother to adjust our names to our personalities, so sometimes they don’t quite fit.

          As writers, though, we can take advantage of subconscious biases to help readers love or hate story people.

          Here’s an interesting article from the Pikes Peak Writers newsletter about character names. I love this organization and have attended many of their excellent conventions. The one this year is virtual and signup will begin soon.

          Click on the link below for the article What’s in a Name?

          What’s in a Name?

          or visit one of my other recent posts for writers.

          I’ve been finding great articles for quite a while. Looking for something special? Try the tag cloud.

          2012 2013 advice agent agents author authors blogs books challenge character children's books contest creativity fiction help hints ideas information inspiration literary literary agents NaNoWriMo NaPoWriMo novel novels november picture book picture books plot poem poem a day poetry professional promotion publication publicity publishing resources revision social media structure submissions writers writing

          I’m a painter and photographer too. Visit my art blog “Thinking in Pictures.”

          https://wordpress.com/posts/lindajarmstrong.wordpress.com

          Here’s what’s going on over at my Instagram account.

          Happy Sunday from our daughter and her duck (a long long time ago,) #duck New show up today in Grand Junction. From an acrylic painting I did years ago of a wall of tools. I just loved the design. Zazzle makes these cool hangings. I love their prints. #artprints https://www.zazzle.com/mystery_in_blue_violet_poster-228494279116330300 #art #print "Decisions" Contemporary acrylic painting on canvas at #fineartamerica https://fineartamerica.com/featured/east-river-l-armstrong.html?product=metal-print #metal print #digitalart #cityscape #newyorkcity #Fineartamaerica #decorideas #modifiedphotography Set a timer. Get up and move. Refreshes your mind and you may even live longer. (She says as she sits here for hours... )#RedRoseThorns #OurVoiceIsOurPower #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #add #workfromanywhere #work Depression isn't sadness. It's no feelings at all and it's the worst feeling in the world. You don't have to suffer. Help is available and you can use your insurance. I just posted Coda, part of my Saddlehorn Variations Series, on the Saatchi site, https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Coda/8064/10326047/view

          and here’s my account at Flickr. There are abstract photos and also some cool pics my Dad took when he was in Alaska in World War II.

          https://www.flickr.com/photos/redrockpoet/

          See ya around the Web.

          Keep up with my latest hot finds.