Those Pesky Commas
Commas. Commas are tricky.
We learn in school that a comma means a pause, which is true, when you are reading. This doesn’t mean that, when you are writing, you should stick a comma in anywhere you feel the need to take a breath.
The rule that gets ignored most often is this: do not use a single comma to separate the subject from the verb or the object from its modifier.
Which means:
DON’T DO THIS: Stella ran along the ancient corridor, and dodged a vampire on the stairs. (Here, “Stella” is the subject and and the two verbs are “ran” and “dodged.” Just as you wouldn’t write “Stella, ran along the corridor” you can’t stick a comma between “Stella” and “dodged.”)
INSTEAD, DO THIS: “Stella ran along the ancient corridor and dodged a vampire on the stairs.”
DON’T DO THIS: “Just in time, Ambrose flung the amulet out of the window, and into the shrubbery.” (Here “flung” is the object and “into the shrubbery” is an adverbial phrase modifying “flung.” Just as you wouldn’t write “Ambrose flung the amulet, out of the window” you can’t stick a comma between “flung” and “into the shrubbery.”)
INSTEAD, DO THIS: “Just in time, Ambrose flung the amulet out of the window and into the shrubbery.”
Tune in later for more about getting commas into the correct places.
Read More
Pygmy Possums
The world’s tiniest possums are tougher than they look–after they were feared extinct following Australia’s devastating 2019-20 bushfires, survivors have been found on Kangaroo Island. Wildlife is amazingly resilient–as the animal protagonists of my new picture book, Wombat Underground, discover.
Mostly I just wanted to post a picture of an intensely adorable possum. I admit it.
Read MoreWombats Coming Soon
Wombat himself, illustrated by Charles Santoso–just a snippet of the lovely, lovely art for this book
Today I’m looking forward to the day when (about a year from now; we in the publishing business live in the future a lot) my picture book Wombat Underground will be published. This is a book close to my heart; it holds so much of my feelings about both the natural world and the nature of humanity–essentially, when we’re frightened and alone, do we welcome in strangers who are also frightened and alone? Do we shelter each other, or do we drive each other way?
(Yeah, it’s not just about wombats)
But it is also a charming and exciting story about a wombat and a bushfire, and it’s just…I’m really proud of it. I can’t wait for the day when you all get to see it too.
Read MoreIllustration Competition
Astra Publishing is running a competition for illustrators–a great way for artists to get your work in front of editors and art directors as well as, perhaps, win a bit of prize money.
Picture book art is such a rich and fascinating form of visual expression–I know I don’t understand as much about it as illustrators and designers do, but I love the complexity of it, the way a good illustrator will capture character and interaction and action and emotion, at the same time moving the reader’s eye deeper into the book, and of course remembering to avoid the gutter! When done well, it sweeps the reader along so easily that it can be hard to remember to slow down and appreciate the detail and the skill. Illustrators, I salute you!
Read MoreSpring Poem
Thanks to FotoRieth from Pixabay for the lovely image!
It’s a cold, gloomy, rainy, SNOWY spring day up here in Maine…but it did give me a bit of inspiration for a spring poem, which I thought I’d share with you.
Party Dresses
Spring throws a party
and everyone’s going,
everyone’s wearing their best.
Daffodils nod their new golden bonnets.
Hyacinths brush up their purple-prink frills.
Tulips sashay in their deep crimson ballgowns.
Pansies slip on their soft velvet shoes.
Even the rain has been invited,
shaking her long silver hair.
Spring throws a party,
and everyone’s going.What about you?
Come too!
Read More
Things Not To Do
Let them read!
A middler schooler I happen to know was picking out a book from her school library the other day. The staff member frowned at it, announced to the room that it had rather mature themes, and then handed it to her after all.
Just…don’t.
If a book isn’t right for middle schoolers, don’t have it in the library. If a book is in the library and a student chooses it, don’t criticize it and embarrass her in front of all her classmates.
(The book was, by the way, entirely appropriate.)
I hear from educators all the time how important it is for kids to develop a love of reading. And then I hear about things like this.
Here are a few thoughts, from someone who may not be an educator or a librarian or a literacy specialist, but from someone who does care about books and kids.
Don’t tell kids they are reading the wrong books. Don’t criticize their taste, even if their taste runs to series fiction or fantasy or graphic novels or any of the other books we adults like to sneer at. Reading is reading. Reading books that you adore is the absolutely best way (perhaps the only way?) to develop a true love for the printed word.
Don’t shut up the library or severely limit its hours and then complain that kids aren’t reading.
Don’t refuse to allow them any class time to read and then complain that they don’t prioritize reading.
Don’t give them tedious reading logs to fill out, making reading a painful chore.
Don’t act embarrassed or uncomfortable when kids in the throes of adolescence want to read about (gasp!) sexuality.
Don’t tell them when and what and how to read.
Just don’t.
Read MoreAstra International Picture Book Writing Contest
Open to all writers, published or unpublished, for picture book manuscripts of 1000 words or less. Contest deadline April 30, 2021. Find out more here!
Read More
Sarah L. Thomson
A children’s book author publishing award-winning nonfiction, poetry, picture books and novels including…
“Thomson focuses on newfound connection, magic, and suspense to conjure a fast-paced, heartwarming mystery. Thomson’s world is populated by resourceful protagonists, fanciful creatures, and quirky supporting characters.”
—Publishers Weekly