It's been awhile since I sat down to write on my blog. The past few years have taken all my strength to push on after the deaths of my parents, two years apart, but none-the-less a long grieving period. But one of the best things that has happened during this time period is finally publishing my first picture book. 

​WIGGLY TOES is about a little girl adjusting to Kindergarten when she learns the rules about wearing shoes and socks every day, all day. You see, Tessie has a little problem. Her toes simply must stretch and wiggle periodically or she gets a little agitated. I hope you will go with her through this story and laugh at her antics and discover in the end how she handles her problem.

​Until next time,
​Sherry

WIGGLY TOES: www.amazon.com/sherryannhudson

​NANOWRIMO. Beginning November 1, through the end of the month, many will attemt to write a novel of at least 50,000 words. WHAT? That's what "National Novel Writing Month" is all about. Writers everywhere will be putting their brains into overload, cranking out a possible best seller. Some writers have been doing this for several years, and often say it is their most creative time.

I have completed three NANO's and created two YA novels, which are under rewrites now. It is an intense effort to create a draft that may be a possible novel after much revision, but a great challange that can also be fun.

You think all writers are crazy for doing this? Sure. After all, who would follow a profession that punishes you time and again with rejections after putting in so many hours, days, and months of your life? The answers I read most often from writers go something like this: I have to write or I will explode, What else would I do, or, I enjoy the pain!

Why do it? Not for the pain, but for the growth.

Happy NANO!
Sherry
​

​Do you want to stand out from the rest? Don't know where to start on your platform? Don't be just a number on a long list. Create your website, your twitter and other public sites to get the ball rolling. Kristen Lamb has some great advice about a fan facebook page. Check it out.

​"Does FB Sell Books & Do Writers Need a Facebook Fan Page?"by Kristen Lamb.
​
https://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/does-fb-sell-books-do-writers-need-a-facebook-fan-page/#comment-245786

Recently, I participated in an hour long mini picture book workshop on "How to Get Out of the Slushpile."  It was hosted by Jon Bard and his wife Laura Backes of CBI Clubhouse.
http://cbiclubhouse.com/clubhouse/author/jonbard/

Other participants were: 
Julie Hedlund  www.juliehedlund.com
Emma Walton Hamilton  http://emmawaltonhamilton.com
Katie Davis  http://katiedavis.com

They gave tips on submitting in rhyme, the submission and query process, revise and polish, and submit something the editors/agents haven't seen before. At the end of each speaker's segment, they gave "Action" suggestions for the writer. Very important action suggestions to improve your writing skills. All in all, it was a very productive hour.

Keep writing.
​Sherry

 
FICTION VS NON-FICTION




​
     Just about everyone knows the difference between Fiction and Non-fiction. Definitions as shown in Oxford Dictionaries:
   
        -Fiction: literature in the form of prose, especially short stories and novels, that describes imaginary events and people.

         - Non-Fiction: prose writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people, such as biography or history.
     
     Here are some genres under Fiction.

• Mysteries, crime, detective stories are about solving a mystifying situation.
• Fables can be told by people or animals to present something that can be useful
• Historical fiction are stories about a real place with fictional characters, or real people in fictional places.
• Science Fiction obviously is about something that may have happened, or might happen in the future, involving science, that impacts lives in a fictional setting like space.
• Fairy Tales are about magical or fairy creatures.
• Humor will invoke laughter or smiles in the stories
• Legends are about famous people with fictional stories surrounding them.
• Magic involves the trick of hand, or unnatural events containing invented creatures such as ghosts.
• Romance is a love story of fictional characters
• Horror gives a negative feeling to story and promotes fear and dread
• Suspense is most likely a thriller with fictional character trying to save themselves or others from death or threats.

   
    Here are some genres under Non-Fiction.

• Reference books and textbooks are facts only.
• Speeches are supposed to be founded on facts only.
• Biographies tell the story of a person’s life with true settings and facts.
• Autobiography is a story about the writer’s life with true settings and facts.
• Narrative is factual information in the form of a story for any age.

 
 
I’m sure there are other genres that fall under these two types of writing, that I haven’t thought of. Feel free to leave me a comment below. AND remember, when submitting your work describe the correct genre. 
 
Thanks for visiting my blog, and as always, keep writing.
Sherry