Writing Advice from Kate DiCamillo

Had the good fortune to meet the lovely and ultra smart Kate DiCamillo on Saturday. She gave a rousing reading and q and a session at the Mountains to Sea Festival. She gave 3 writing tips during her talk:

1/ Read 2/ Show up on the page - write every day - doesn't matter if it's short, just write daily. 3/ Be stubborn and stand up for yourself - if you want to be a writer, don't let anyone or anything stand in your way.

Good advice!

Everyone fell in love with Kate during the day - she's amazing and so funny. I do hope she comes back to Dublin soon.

I do love the questions young readers ask authors. They asked Kate - 'Are you a cat or a dog person?' (Dog!) Did you have a doll when you were little? (Yes, Victoria - and Kate still has her in a cedar chest at the end of her bed as she can't bear to give her away.) Do you like mice? (Yes!)

Far more interesting than the questions adults ask - 'where do you get your ideas?' We should all look at things through children's eyes at least once a day. Are you a cat or a dog person? Such a great question!

Yours in writing, SarahX