My 4 Year Anniversary

My Professional Mentor, Edie Melson

By Laurie Epps

I can't believe that it was four years ago today that I started my first blog. I was inspired by my beloved mentor, Edie Melson to have at least the perfect trifecta: a blog, Facebook, and Twitter. Today, I'd like to do a remembrance of the last four years, and how far I've come not only as a writer, but as a person as well.

Strawberry Shortcake

By Laurie Epps

When I went to the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference, I attended a Marketing class where we talked about shocking BROCA. This technique basically embodies the spirit of doing something different to stand out among the other submissions. But I couldn't resist attending a Poetry class taught by my dear friend, Pam Zollman.

Pam talked to us about using some more unusual types of poems to make you stand out to a publisher. So we practiced a few in class together, and I was not prepared to actually work in these classes. But it just goes to show you, that the brain is still working, and we learned a few things they are looking at when you are pitching to Highlights Magazine.

Markets for Children's Poetry

April is National Poetry Month

Since it is National Poetry Month, I thought it would be fitting if I addressed our next generation of writers. Most writers start off as avid readers, so the highest calling as a writer is to write to children. I could think of no one better to do that than Pam Zollman. Pam is the former editor for Highlights Magazine, and speaking at the upcoming Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference in May.