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writing
Writing and Reading
Writing and reading go hand in hand. As Stephen King wrote, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” That’s why I set aside time every day to read, not just children’s books, but works of adult fiction and non-fiction that inspire me. When my children were young, I used to take them to the library every week in order to expose them to quality children’s literature and cultivate an interest in reading. My imagination would take off like crazy during these trips, as I saw examples …
Staying True to Your Vision
One of the most important parts of being a writer is staying true to your vision and standards. This can be pretty tough in today’s world when many agents and publishers put pressure on you to alter your creation so that it is….(that dreadful word!) marketable. I promised myself when I was finding an illustrator that I wouldn’t compromise my vision of Danny the Dragon. It was quite a search, taking nearly a year, but finally I found exactly what I was looking for with Aija Jatsuna, who lives in Latvia, Europe and didn’t even speak one word of English. …
Writing Spaces
As early as Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own, people have been talking about the importance of having a place of your own to write. People often ask me, “What does your writing space look like?” I love to close myself up in my studio, tucked away in a quiet part of my house. From my writing desk is a beautiful view through my French doors behind our home of a Monet-like setting—calm lake water, shady trees, and colorful flowers. It’s an ideal setting for sure, but you know what? With my busy schedule I’m hardly home, so I …
Writing Routines
When I visit schools and libraries, the inevitable comment arises from aspiring authors (adults and children alike): I want to write, but I can’t get started. Sometimes they say it’s hard to find the inspiration or motivation to write. Well, “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration,” as Thomas Edison said. It may not sound glamorous, but in my experience I’ve seen that writing is about routine. If you sit around waiting for inspiration to wash over you, you may be sitting there for quite some time! Writing every day is key, setting aside a regular time of day—even …
School Library Journal Praises Danny the Dragon
It is with great pleasure that I read the encouraging review of Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy in School Library Journal. I am fortunate to have been recognized by many awards programs for this first book in the Danny the Dragon series, but what an honor it was to receive SLJ’s stamp of approval! School Library Journal is “the world’s largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens,” according to its website. The monthly magazine was founded in 1954, and its reviews on kids books are a valuable resource to librarians, teachers, and others who work with …
Read My Interview on BFKBooks.com
I’m honored to have been interviewed by Vicky of BFKbooks (http://bfkbooks.com), formally The Bookfiend’s Kingdom. BFKbooks features book reviews, exclusive interviews with authors, and the opportunity to buy books. Vicky asked me all about my Danny the Dragon children’s book series, my background, and my passion for raising awareness for celiac disease, an autoimmune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Read the interview by clicking on the link below: http://bfkbooks.com/interviews/tina-turbin-on-danny-the-dragon-et-al Tina Turbin www.DannyTheDragon.com b.a.
Write Your Goals Down
Writing your goals down on paper (or on your computer in this computer age) is essential. A recent study was conducted recently to find what made Harvard’s most successful graduates so successful. It turns out that the common denominator among these prosperous alumni was writing down their goals. Luckily, you don’t need a degree from Harvard to do that. Tina Turbin
Q and A session with a HS in Albany, New York
I am often asked many queston on the radio, in a school, or libarary about the many aspects of writing, the book itself, the characters etc. I decided to share a Q and A emailed to me which I had with a HS in Alabany. My answers are after the numbered questions short and sweet but I share my sincere opinion as an Artist and Author to everyone below these questions-especially aspiring writers. Teacher: Hi Tina, I hope your trip was enjoyable! We did do a read-aloud with your book and the students had a number of questions in both …
Children Need Good Literature
The fact that kids need good literature is not a new one. Just look at the number of awards available in the United States alone to reward authors for superb children’s literature. The long list of such awards includes the Newbery Medal, Caldecott Medal, Coretta Scott King Award, and Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal. With such an extraordinary effort made to celebrate good children’s literature, there must be something important about it. I know how short the attention span of a child can be yet how thrilling it is to watch a child’s imagination partake in an exciting adventure …
Literacy Statistics Need To Be Confronted by Parents
First, the most important thing you can do to ensure the literacy of your own child is being involved. Research on the effects of parental involvement shows a consistent, positive relationship between parents’ participation in their children’s education and their children’s academic performance. Reading to children and also homeschooling are a couple of ways for parents to increase their involvement and improve their children’s ability to read. Reading to children should be done as early as six months of age, as soon as babies develop an interest in the pictures and illustrations in books. Keep in mind that …