It's hard not to constantly have your characters' hearts pounding, their breath catching.Even in middle-grade fiction.
But since sitting in on Becca Puglisi's workshop at our Florida SCBWI Miami conference in January, I've tried harder. I have her Crutch Words right over my computer. Those overused words we should try to replace.
A few of mine?
Breathe.
Smile.
Step.
Gaze.
Oh, and the was +ing verb thing-
(Sorry, Becca. That's the way Southerners talk! I tried to rid myself of a few "I was eating" and "He was hoping" beats. Not easy.)
Check out Becca's most helpful BLOG, HERE.
And this link to her book: EMOTION THESAURUS
One thing I loved most about this year's Miami Conference? Seeing friends I made last year and meeting writers for the first time, like Becca Puglisi and Donna Gephart.
(One of my favorite middle-grade novels, with the absolute most kid-appeal, is Donna's
OLIVIA BEAN TRIVIA QUEEN. )
Florida's a hotbed of kids' writers.
Maybe it's because of Joyce Sweeney, Mentor Extraordinaire?
(PS She's now teaching online workshops. Check them out HERE.)
