Disclaimer: This episode contains some distracting paper shuffling. Nothing too jarring. We wouldn't be serious writers without some paper shuffling every once in a while anyway. Thanks!
Sheryl Scarborough, author of debut novel To Catch A Killer and forthcoming sequel To Right a Wrong (February 2018) by Tor Teen. Sheryl is award-winning writer for children’s television and holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, lives in Washington state, and has always had an obsession with forensics.
In this Porchlight conversation Bethany and Sheryl talk about looking at the “why” of their writing and how that adds depth to the work. They discuss how the writer might not immediately see their personal connection to their story, but they can find power in connecting the emotionality between themselves and the work itself. Sheryl talks about the differences between writing for television and writing books and how the three act structure is paramount. She explains how “structure creates your pace” and how “the genre chooses the writer”. She shares the support in her writing community and what can be learned from reviews.
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(book covers & author photos) – all available on Sheryl’s website: www.sherylscarborough.com
Sheryl’s social media: www.sherylscarborough.com Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Facebook
This episode features the sparkly, Sarah Aronson. Sarah began writing for kids and teens when someone in an exercise class dared her to try. Since then, she has earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and published three novels: Head Case, Beyond Lucky, and Believe. Titles forthcoming include her first nonfiction picture book, Just Like Rube Goldberg (Beach Lane Books, TBD) and a new young MG series about the worst fairy godmother ever, The Wish List (Scholastic, 2017). When Sarah is not writing or reading (or cooking or riding her bike), she is talking to readers about creativity, writing, and of course, sparkle power! She loves working with other writers in one of her classes at Writer's on the Net* or the amazing Highlights Foundation. She is also the cofounder and organizer of the Writing Novels for Young People Retreat at VCFA, now approaching its fifteenth year. She has served as an SCBWI mentor in both Illinois and Michigan. She overuses exclamation points. When she’s excited, she talks with her hands.
This Porchlight conversation is full of humor and light. We discuss talent vs. hard work, world building, writing a series, and of course, sparkles! "There are three things you need to write a book, inspiration, intuition (which includes a lot of luck), and the hard work." Sarah shares how she uses the Pomodoro Technique as well as her own personal take on the word, mentor. "A writing teacher is a friend who gives you keys to a car."
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