twelve-year-olds

February Growth Chart up!

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A very good (and late!) evening to you, Write Edge readers! This day slipped away from me, but I couldn’t go to bed until I posted this month’s parenting adventures. Today I share an instance of the sisters presenting a united front against the Big Evil Parents. 😀 Here’s an excerpt:

In the last year, then, we’ve started relying on Fourteen to help smooth ruffled feathers when Twelve gets upset about something. She may not realize this, but as time goes on we plan to use her more and more as the buffer. The mediator.

The person privileged enough to listen to Twelve’s bellyaching.

Read the full post now on Growth Chart!

Wear a mask; stay socially distant; wash your hands; find out about the vaccine.

Have a lovely weekend, readers!

E.R.G.

This entry was posted in fourteen-year-olds, Kids growing up, Parenting, Parenting challenges, Teenagers, Tweens, twelve-year-olds and tagged , , , , , , , .

Last week of February!

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Good morning, Write Edge readers. It’s the last full week of February. This year is slipping past us in the blink of an eye. Let’s hope we’re moving toward better things.

For those who are pursuing a life passion, we’re certainly encouraged and would do well to stay in touch with those goals. To keep moving toward them, as it were. This week’s motivational quote goes right to the heart of that. It mentions writers specifically, but I think you could substitute any creative outlet here:

“If you read good books, when you write, good books will come out of you.”—Natalie Goldberg

Good writing, like other skills, takes a lot of practice and time. Every month, on the last Monday, I share some pieces that made an impact on me. That means today it’s time for our regular writers’ showcase. Check out some fun pieces that run the gamut of emotions: melancholic; romantic; wistful; even creepy. Read all of them now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

Last week on Instagram I shared the book I’m going to be reviewing this week. On Wednesday I’ll let you know what I thought of The Future is Yours by Dan Frey. Find out how this #bookreviewpreview turned out on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

On Thursday, I return to the Bookshelf for the last installment of Thursday R.E.A.D.s for this quarter. All month I’ve been doing a deep dive into The Test by Sylvain Neuvel. Come back to see what I thought of this novella in the role of Dreamer.

Finally, at the end of the week, we go back to parenting adventures and Growth Chart. Find out what the kids and I have been up to in the last month. See the latest installment on Friday!

Wear a mask; stay socially distant; wash your hands; find out about the vaccine.

Encourage someone today who really needs it.

Have a wonderful day, readers!

E.R.G.

This entry was posted in book analysis, Book reviews, Creative writing, fourteen-year-olds, indie authors, Indie publishing, Instagram, Kids growing up, New authors, New books, Parenting, Parenting challenges, Teenagers, Thursday R.E.A.D.s, Tweens, twelve-year-olds, writers' showcase and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , .

New parenting post — and a surprise! (No, not the parenting kind. :D)

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Hello, Write Edge readers, and happy Friday! I hope you’re all staying warm this week. Here in Central Illinois, it’s chi-lll-lll-y. We’ve got snow and a few spots on the sidewalks are still a little icy. Despite that, I see more people this year out and about during the winter. I even saw a pair of girls bundled up in heavy jackets rollerblading today!

It’s the last Friday of the month, so for those of you who are long-time followers you know that means it’s time for my monthly parenting post. Here’s a quick excerpt:

I wonder sometimes, though, if it’s possible for us to be overly sensitive. To start walking on eggshells because we’re too scared to say anything. Too scared to make a joke or to speak without thinking.

Read the whole piece on Growth Chart now!

Also, I promised a surprise earlier this week, and I’m thrilled to share it with you. Some of you may remember that last year I was fortunate enough to become the host of Biblio Breakdown on the Writescast Network podcast collective for writers. Sadly, Writescast folded at the end of the year, but founder Ryan Campbell gave me his blessing to continue with Biblio Breakdown in the same format with the same name and schedule — and I’ve posted my first independent Biblio episode for you today!

As a quick recap, Biblio Breakdown is a writing podcast where I talk about a particular aspect of writing using a recently-released novel as an example. I talk about what the book did well and then offer exercises so writers can practice the same things in their own manuscripts.

Today I’m discussing giving your readers too much information and focusing on Savage Road by Chris Hauty. Find the whole episode on my author website, EktaRGarg.com, and share it with your writing friends.

Wear a mask, stay socially distant, wash your hands, and have a fantastic day and weekend, readers! Stay warm out there!

E.R.G.

This entry was posted in Biblio Breakdown, book analysis, Kids growing up, New books, Parenting, Parenting challenges, Tweens, twelve-year-olds and tagged , , , , , , , , , .