Blog Feed: Amy writes…

Neil Gaiman on Being an Artist

Published on 2012-05-21 10:00:50

In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s Neil Gaiman’s advice to graduating students on living the life of an artist. Brilliant. Honest. Not to be missed. Filed under: Art Tagged: advice, artist, Commencement speech, make good art, Neil Gaiman, University of the Arts > read more

What Workshopping Is Not

Published on 2012-05-15 16:41:11

Yesterday I shared my observations on what makes for a worthwhile workshop. If you missed part 1, you can read it here. Having been through a handful of…let’s say…less than helpful critique sessions, here are some tips on what not to do during your workshop, whether you’re the critiquer or the critiqued. What Workshopping Is [...] > read more

What Workshopping Is

Published on 2012-05-14 19:38:51

I’ve participated in a number of workshops (a.k.a., critiques) over the years. Many have been great. Some have been not so great. I’ve come to some conclusions about what makes for a worthwhile workshop and what doesn’t. I’ve decided to do a two-part post, sharing what I’ve learned in hopes of helping those who are [...] > read more

An Unexpected Lesson in Gratitude

Published on 2012-05-08 18:16:43

A pill bottle sits next to my laptop. The label is fading. The dispense date is June 2006. A prescription for 15 pills. Canine pills. For Holly, collie mix. The pills are Deramaxx. This afternoon I decided to clean out the medicine cabinet. As I filtered through the medications, checking expiration dates, I came across [...] > read more

The Science of Story

Published on 2012-05-01 11:36:29

Yesterday I mailed my sketchbook for this year’s Sketchbook Project: Limited Edition off to the Art House Co-op in Brooklyn. The theme I chose was “The Science of Story”, and I’m really pleased with the way it turned out. I’m excited to see which page they choose to include in the Limited Edition book that [...] > read more

6 Ways to Feed Your Creative Spirit

Published on 2012-04-24 17:25:49

Sometimes life is a rabid wood chipper chewing you up and spitting you out the other side. Okay, that was a bit extreme. But you get it. Life can get messy and manic and leave you blinking, wondering where all your time went. This month has been insanity on a plate. A 102.5 degree plate. [...] > read more

The Perks of Living Next Door to a Yogi

Published on 2012-04-06 11:44:32

My dear friend and neighbor is studying to become a yoga instructor. The particular flavor of yoga she’s been studying lately is yoga nidra, or yogic sleep. Here’s an article from Yoga Journal explaining what it is. When my friend asked me if I would like to be one of her practice students, I didn’t [...] > read more

Carving Out Quiet Time

Published on 2012-03-30 20:43:12

Day one of getting my creative flow going, I carved out some quiet time. It’s still technically spring here in the desert (only got to the low 90s today), so I grabbed a blanket and a couple of books and headed out to a shady spot under a tree. The younger kiddo was inside, happily [...] > read more

Regaining A Sense of Creative Self

Published on 2012-03-29 13:28:04

In some countries, constant noise is used as a form of torture. Sometimes I wonder if my family hasn’t studied up on this technique, and isn’t using me as their guinea pig. OK, maybe that’s over the top. Still, the last two weeks have run me ragged. Between two back-to-back spring break weeks, house guests from [...] > read more

A Gift for You: Free inspirational wallpapers

Published on 2012-03-12 18:02:39

On a cork board above my desk, I have three of my favorite quotes. Dwell in possibility. (Emily Dickinson) Do one thing every day that scares you. (Eleanor Roosevelt) Barn’s burnt down…now I can see the moon. (Masahide) Today is my birthday, and I feel like giving away free stuff. So I fashioned these quotes [...] > read more

Got Quirky?

Published on 2012-02-27 13:50:01

For a while now, I’ve been trying to figure out how I can use my skills as both a writer and designer to help authors. You see, long before I began taking writing seriously, I worked as a graphic and web designer. (You can read more about my journey as a designer here.) Until now I’ve [...] > read more

My Sketchbook Project 2012: tree•house

Published on 2012-02-03 11:13:23

On Tuesday, I sent my Sketchbook Project 2012 off to the Brooklyn Art Library. I have such an affinity for the Art House Co-op and the Sketchbook Project. The grassrootsiness of their mission resonates with me. The theme I chose for this project was “treehouse”, and I’m really happy with the idea/story that emerged from the [...] > read more

An All Too Familiar Ache

Published on 2012-01-31 13:50:28

I can’t believe I’m actually writing this post. Howard, our puppy, had distemper. This past weekend, we had to put him down. And now our family is once again dealing with the heartache of losing a pet. Unbelievable. It’s been an exhausting and emotional week. In the midst of it all, I’ve been doing a [...] > read more

How would you prefer to go?

Published on 2012-01-13 13:49:17

This weekend, I heard a segment on NPR’s Sunday edition of All Things Considered about The Final Works of Famous Composers. Guy Raz interviewed composer and writer Jan Swafford who’d studied the final works of a number of famous composers and wrote his findings in a piece for Slate. You can listen to the segment [...] > read more

What Happens When You Don’t Quit

Published on 2012-01-09 15:32:57

The other day my daughter challenged me to a game of chess. She’d never played before, but we got a new set for Christmas and my husband had spent some time teaching her the pieces and how each moves. “The winner,” she said, giving me her best Dirty Harry look, “gets a Gobstopper.” Game on. [...] > read more

Howie and The Unbearable Cuteness of Being

Published on 2012-01-06 13:22:01

Well, we did it. We got a puppy. If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know this is kind of a big deal, given our journey over the last year. Because we bought this little guy from a rescue, we’re not certain what kind of pup he is. We suspect he’s chocolate lab [...] > read more

An Evening with Superman

Published on 2011-06-28 15:34:48

While my blogging has been hit-and-miss lately, my writing has not. (Yay!) Nor has my venturing out into the world, attending writing-related events. One recent event was a workshop led by the ever-entertaining and inspiring James A. Owen. (If you > read more

I don’t want a Can’t life. Do you?

Published on 2011-06-20 14:20:01

I went shopping with a friend last Friday evening. While walking through one of the higher-end stores at the mall, a beautiful dress caught our attention and we stopped to admire it. It had a swingy skirt and a colorful print. Very pretty. And very e > read more

Should Children’s Books Have A Rating System?

Published on 2011-06-10 09:31:03

Last weekend’s Wall Street Journal article, Darkness Too Visible, sparked a discussion with a friend of mine. She’s a writer, too. Our discussion ended with us contemplating whether or not children’s books — or any book, reall > read more

Under the Influence

Published on 2011-04-13 19:48:14

This week over at The Parking Lot Confessional, we’re talking about the authors who influence us. Due to my being a doofus, I double-booked our guest authors this week, and rather than try to reschedule either (especially since they both worked > read more

How to Save A Life

Published on 2011-04-08 23:53:24

This week, some of the search terms that led people to my blog included: deramaxx and border collies my dog is still sick from deramaxx my dog can not walk after taking deramaxx my dog is no deramaxx deramaxx made dog lame can deramaxx make a dog sic > read more

Where do you write?

Published on 2011-04-04 15:04:15

Where do you write? When I’m at home, I have three places: My desk Sitting on my bed Sitting on the couch Which of these I choose on any given day depends largely on where the children are and how loudly they are playing. You really can only ha > read more

The Elusive First Line

Published on 2011-03-28 18:05:22

I judge books by their first lines. Well, if I’m being completely honest, first I judge them by their covers. Then by their titles. And then by their first lines. I’m guessing I’m not the only one who does this. (Right?) To be fair, > read more

Latest news and an announcement for STAR WARS fans

Published on 2011-03-10 17:06:05

I’ve been away from here for a couple of weeks, focusing my writing time and attention on completing my novel revision. The work is going well, but I miss posting here! I’ll be back to my regular schedule soon, though. Promise. In other > read more

Going Fishing

Published on 2011-02-14 16:10:20

For the next two weeks, I’m hunkering down and getting some projects finished. Instead of leaving the blog all quiet and empty and alone, I’m reposting some of my favorite posts about writing, starting with this one, originally published > read more

Gems from the SCBWI Winter Conference 2011

Published on 2011-01-31 12:18:53

Huge discovery this weekend: Twitter isn’t only for organizing revolutions. It’s also good for keeping tabs on what’s happening at that awesome conference across the country you weren’t able to attend. Who knew? OK, in all hon > read more

What Are You Waiting For?

Published on 2011-01-26 12:49:27

It happened again the other night. I’d made a new acquaintance, and in the course of our chatting, the subject of writing came up. “I have an idea for a story,” she said. “I’ve even written some of it.” “Why > read more

How to Make a Magic Wall (and How It Can Help Your Writing) – via The Parking Lot Confessional

Published on 2011-01-19 17:11:23

I got crafty today over at The Parking Lot Confessional, writing out the instructions for creating a Magic Wall. A Magic Wall is like a bulletin board, only better. It’s a great tool for those times you need help brainstorming, visualizing and > read more

Latest news

Published on 2011-01-12 18:20:11

This week over at The Parking Lot Confessional, our topic is Kickstart Your Writing. I wrote a post called: Starting Is Half the Battle. I hope it inspires you to start whatever it is you’re putting off. And in other news, the second issue of > read more

I told you it was good.

Published on 2011-01-10 12:23:40

Today, A.S. King won a Printz Honor for her awesome book, Please Ignore Vera Dietz. I told you it was good. So go read it already! Congratulations, Amy! Well deserved. Filed under: Books, News Tagged: A.S. King, ALA Media Awards, Books, Congratulatio > read more

Wear A High Collar and Stink of Garlic

Published on 2011-01-07 12:07:33

The more I live, the more I’m convinced there is an energy exchange between people who spend time together. I don’t want to get all woo-woo, and I’m not going to postulate on how it works. (I’ll leave that to the experts out t > read more

Just Write

Published on 2011-01-03 18:54:52

Have you promised yourself this is the year you finally write your novel? And are you sitting there wondering how exactly you go about writing the novel you’ve promised yourself you’re finally going to write? Have you bought books about h > read more

A Wish for 2011

Published on 2010-12-31 17:07:24

So here we are. 2010 on its way out. 2011 on its way in. Like any year, 2010 had its ups and downs. In 2010, there were some really good times, and there were times that made me want to crawl into the corner and die. In 2010, I made some new friends > read more