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One of the most common pieces of writing advice is to “write what you know,” a quote often attributed to the great Mark Twain. So, it’s no surprise that I dreamed up an aspiring naturalist to be the main character of my first MG manuscript. Having worked as an environmental educator, and for the National
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With a few weeks off between summer and fall classes, I made good use of the time with some new (and some old) MG reads. As usual I was drawn toward historical fiction, tales of adventure, and anything with a taste of fantasy. Read on to hear my thoughts on my latest reads. The Last
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I started working on my manuscript sometime in late 2022 or early 2023. Between then and now there have been countless drafts, a contest win, a research trip, tears, triumphs, read alouds with both my grandmothers, POV and tense changes, and a lot of prayer. The experience of writing and revising a full manuscript has
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The time period since I completed the first draft of my first novel, The Summer of Moons & Monsters, has been near nonstop revision and soaking up all I can about the craft of writing. I think I’ve been working on the manuscript for about three years now. During that time I’ve taken several classes
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I am constantly on the hunt for new sources of Texas folklore. Where else can you find men that herd bees, buried pirate treasure, ghostly longhorns, and railroad building pixies all in one place? These books serve as points of reference and endless inspiration. I’ve been known to scour eBay for out of print books
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When I started dreaming up the storyline of The Summer of Moons and Monsters, I knew there was a lot of research ahead of me. I was actually pretty excited about it. But I had no idea the rabbit holes it would take me down or how much time I’d be spending studying various components
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My background is in environmental education, so it’s no surprise that the outdoor side of worldbuilding is my favorite. It’s also no surprise that I pay close attention to the natural world in the books I read. While not every reader will get pulled out of a story by a critter wandering 1,000 miles outside
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It’s impossible to choose a favorite book. Much like music, books become attached to feelings that identify seasons of our lives. With that in mind, here are some of the books that filled the seasons of my middle grade years. For me, those years were roughly 1998-2003. Island of the Blue Dolphins, Hatchet, and My
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Texas is home to a plethora of opportunities for young writers. Find a contest to enter or a workshop near you! Contests •Texas Book Festival Fresh Ink Contest •Save Texas History Essay Contest •I am Texas Writing & Art Contest •Young Author Writing Contest (Round Rock, TX) •East Texas State Fair Writing Contest •Battle of
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I’ve always had an interest in ancestry and genealogy. This is probably due in part to my southern heritage. We Texans cherish our history. The toes of our boots point forward but our heels are firmly planted in our past. We spin stories on front porches over glasses of sweet tea, we guard family recipes
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Victoria Tatum 