Something I've been working on is teaching myself illustration, which is a little intimidating and scary. But Rachel Michelle Wilson has given her top advice for illustrators who started as writers! Her thoughts about diving in to illustration are SO good! sarahallen.substack.com/p/the-number...

Only three of these note cards left to go. Three scenes/chapters. Then this book is written!! It will be *underwritten* and need tons of fleshing out and revising, but that's what next drafts are for! And in the meantime, we're so close to the end!

What song or singer brings you back to your most core younger self? Mine is clearly evidence of how edgy and hip I am. sarahallen.substack.com/p/rewind-and...

Congratulations to him for having the biggest tiny pile of dead skin.

What book, film or TV character over 45 is your very favorite?

You guys, I am very proud of myself, I just did something* I am absolutely petrified of, that overwhelms and freaks me out so much every time I have to do it that I want to puke. But I did it! And I'm not even dead! *see: buying plane tickets

"What advice would you give to writers who want to at least try social media to build their career but feel weird about posting?" sarahallen.substack.com/p/the-white-...

Just a few library displays I've done lately that I'm proud of 😊

This year, I decided that my main author platform social media goal was consistency. (I'm talking Insta and TT, not here. Here I'm a squatter.) Didn't matter if I posted meh stuff, if it got no views, but I WOULD do 1-2 posts a week no matter what. I HATE that it's working.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Honestly, the longer I do this writing thing, the less clear-cut the answer feels. Here's what I've actually noticed about my process after several novels — 🧵

I've sometimes felt like I was doing something wrong, because I never quite felt like a true plotter or a pantser, because my brain just kept jumping between the two. Now I treat that like a feature, not a bug! How bout you? A pantser or a plotter? sarahallen.substack.com/p/i-need-an-...

I just want you all to know that I made a robot display at the library and he is very cute :D

I just did a middle school visit and an eigth grader wearing thick liner and a choker necklace told me I was the "coolest author ever" so I think the Jedi mind-trick worked!!

Filming a silly today and a little worried at how much pretending to be 70 feels like my true form.

Yeeeah boi we're going to the seventh continent today to see what its REALLY like! Thanks to Greg Neri for being our guide! sarahallen.substack.com/p/what-write...

The middle grade market is struggling. I see it in my MG author friends who aren't getting deals on incredible books that would have sold like lightning just a few years ago. But I have two reasons why what's happening right now might not be such a bad thing. 🧵

I've never seen another book quite like this one, and I absolutely loved it. What are you reading lately?

Num. 27 rising baby! You all are amazing. Thank you so much for helping this little newsletter about publishing and writing and creativity reach more artists like you. We've got such an enthusiastic and weird lil tribe being built over here, and I love it.

Wanna know what's sort of secretly going on in the middle grade world right now? sarahallen.substack.com/p/all-my-mid...

Typing up a scene from my current WIP that has references to a John Cleese movie, Taskmaster, and Alan Rickman's portrayal of Colonel Brandon, so I feel I'm doing my job.

Just know that when I'm watching TV, I, too, am being watched.

What happens when you write a poem every single day for a month? A group of us did a month-long poetry challenge and tbh I was surprised at some of the breakthroughs I had, even just mentally. Turns out the other poets learned a bunch too. 🧵

Happy National Poetry Month from me and Michael Buble! www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL8r...

Timicin my tuxedo cat wrote last years April 1st newsletter and he told me to share it again today because he says its basically the best expose ever written. sarahallen.substack.com/p/10-things-...

April is almost here, and that means National Poetry Month is right around the corner. There's something quietly powerful about giving a student the first line of a poem and watching what they do with it. The blank page isn't so scary when someone hands you a door.

So...we're having some THOUGHTS about the most recent Pixar movies on the stack today. Please don't hurt me. sarahallen.substack.com/p/pixar

Reading doesn't have to happen at a desk! I created this FREE "Read in 20 Places" sheet to help kids discover that books can follow them EVERYWHERE. 🌟 Color it in as you go — because every place is a reading place! #ReadingIsFun #Literacy #KidsBooks

I sat down with Macmillan children's book publicist Samantha Sacks to talk about what it really takes to get a kids' book noticed. She had some thoughts about what ever kid lit author should know🧵

Teachers!! St. Patty's is comin, and wouldn't that be a perfect time to do a little limerick unit? I gotchu covered! www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-...

What makes kid lit publicity different from adult book publicity? Well I know it goes over MY head so I decided to ask a professional. sarahallen.substack.com/p/what-makes...

I knew I wanted to talk to my friend Jarrett Lerner about his banner year this year and how he made it happen, but I didn’t realize how thoughtful, encouraging, and generous his tips and advice were going to be. This is a really good one, folks! sarahallen.substack.com/p/he-has-ten...

Yeah.

Students can be so scared of poetry, but they don't have to be. Sometimes its just the blank page that's intimidating. So I've got 30 poetry starters for 5th-8th graders in case that's helpful for your students! www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/30-P...

Some thoughts on what I think we need more of in the world right now. sarahallen.substack.com/p/in-defense...

Interview with the editor of the renowned Cricket magazine on the newsletter today!!! If you're interested in publishing or just behind-the-scenes of a magazine, check it out! sarahallen.substack.com/p/getting-pu...

In case you're having withdrawals...

Today I can finally say what I've waited many a year to say.

If you've got kiddos to entertain during the upcoming holiday break, then I have something for you! The master list of author websites with activities, games, coloring pages, etc. This was so much fun to research, honestly. sarahallen.substack.com/p/bookmark-t...

I have had so much fun experimenting with and exploring Teachers Pay Teachers the last year. I'm learning a lot, and still lots to learn. All my resources are free, and this is my most downloaded one: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-...

Hey hey!! It's the end of the year, and writing endings is hard, so I got the wonderful Arianne Costner to tell us how. Especially those funny, punchy kind. Seriously her tips are so good! sarahallen.substack.com/p/good-endin...

My favorite font is on this list. It's number twelve. Whats your favorite font? sarahallen.substack.com/p/44-hyper-s...

Interviewed an actual clown (and writer/cartoonist/illustrator) this week and what he had to say was so cool and inspiring and thought provoking. sarahallen.substack.com/p/become-a-c...

Don't miss my interview with middle grade author @sarahallen.bsky.social. Sarah checks a lot of boxes when it comes to bumps in the publishing road, but she’s gotten to check a lot of the good boxes, too. Don't miss her great advice on The Long Road to Publishing! shows.acast.com/the-long-roa...

Don’t miss this great episode of The Long Road to Publishing with MG author @sarahallen.bsky.social! shows.acast.com/the-long-roa...

There are some truly phenomenal family Halloween movies to watch this month, and here are 13 of my favorites: sarahallen.substack.com/p/top-13-fam...

Oct 10 - Middle Grade Horror Books You Should Read Day 10 The Nightmare House by @sarahallen.bsky.social Penny Hope used to be brave, but that was before she met the Fear Maker. Years later, he still haunts her dreams

Eeeee!!! Hit a pretty exciting milestone today over at the newsletter :D sarahallen.substack.com

Hello wonderful teacher friends! How about a spooky season no-prep freebie? Halloween writing prompts to use in writing lessons, ice-breakers, independent work, however you want! Ideal for 4th-7th. Totally free here: sarahallen.substack.com/subscribe

Happy death day to the one and only Edgar Allan Poe. I'm sure he'd want us to celebrate.

My current adult WIP has multiple POVs, and I’m really nervous about being able to pull it off. My goal is to get something in the vein of Thursday Murder Club style. We’ll see if it will work. In the meantime, outlining in notecards and Tim Burton movies are helping!