Experiences lived can help create stories for children of all ages. Marilyn Janson shares methods to mine story gems as you ponder the message you want to send.

The use of motif creates tension, deepens emotion, and is often well-remembered. Dr. Diana Stout shares examples of motifs from literature and film.

Learn how to build suspense like a haunted house, layering tension, delaying reveals, and keeping readers hooked. Click to read more.

We all know that feeling of looking forward to a Big Day. Even after we’ve outgrown the thrill of candles on our cake, we still feel it before special events.

Finding balance means some things take a backseat while I focus on what is in front of me. Sometimes that means parts of my life are all the way in the trunk!