Archive - Sarah’s Smorgasbord

I'm NOT trying to fight tree huggers, but I grew up with a monster in my backyard

Plus some poison apples, Meryl Streep, and Kirkus didn't hate me this time!

Jul 17 •

Diamonds in the Rough: Revising for Poetic, Sparkling Prose

An extra goodie course for paid subscribers!

Jul 16 •

52:20

Author Publicity: How the Heck Do I Access the Media? with J.E. Thomas

And SO much diving in before we're ready.

Jul 2 •

Reaching the Pedals: Writing Middle Grade Characters that Drive The Plot

Including my favorite tool for giving middle grade characters more agency and control than they really have.

Jul 1 •

37:46

June 2024

Inside Out and the Time Pete Docter Wrote Me Back

"Oh, hello! Uh, I'm Joy. So, could I just... If you could... I just wanna fix that. Thanks."

Jun 20 •

The Three Steps To Selling Out A Book Signing

And some unexpected but welcome springtime Scandinavian hygge apparently?

Jun 4 •

May 2024

Jason Alexander and Why I'm Optimistic About Publishing

"You're Giving Me The 'It's Not You, It's Me' Routine? I Invented 'It's Not You, It's Me.'"

May 17 •

How NOT to Incorporate STEM Elements in Your Kid Lit, With Amanda Rawson Hill

And I really want to know...what does your muse look like?

May 2 •

April 2024

Beauty in Silliness, Silliness in Trauma

I'm pretty sure Taika Waititi, Magritte, and limericks all have this in common

Apr 18 •

Breaking In to Writing for Animation, with Jarod Rosello

And more references to felines than I planned for, but that is probably to be expected?

Apr 2 •

March 2024

The Biggest Mistake My Creative Writing Students Make

And serial killers who were caught because of small ones.

Mar 19 •

Why Are Animal Books Avoiding the Current Middle Grade Slump? with Author PJ Gardner

And where to submit your kid lit manuscript without an agent.

Mar 5 •

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