Mina Witteman – author | editor | teacher of creative writing

Posts from the “Books” Category

Daily Distraction: namelos at its First Lustrum

Posted on January 20, 2014

namelos, a non-traditional publishing firm, was launched five years ago today. Now, it’s a thriving company. On his website, publisher Stephen Roxburgh tells about his dream and the way to namelos’ success. Yesterday, Stephen was a guest at the Dutch chapter of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators) of which I am the Regional Advisor. We spoke at length with Stephen about the world of publishing and the opportunities the digital world presents us. It was an inspiring and invigorating event, and I was happy to get a peek in the life of a man with a vision and a huge heart for books. I applaud him, for showing us that there are new roads to walk, unexplored paths to travel, and…

Daily Distraction: Translator Laura Watkinson

Posted on January 17, 2014

Today all my writing time went to the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, the world-wide network of children’s book professionals for which I am the Regional Advisor of the Netherlands. We have a new website and blog, and I’ve interviewed the eminent Laura Watkinson, translator and founder of the Dutch chapter of the SCBWI. Hop over to the blog for a peek into the life of an amazing friend and award-winning translator!

Daily Distraction: Keeping Up the Tension

Posted on January 9, 2014

Today, I had a very pleasant distraction. One of my students missed the previous session of the Writing for Young Adults course I teach in Amsterdam. I met her in a restaurant nearby to bring her up to speed. The subject of that session was ‘Keeping Up the Tension’ and it tackled what is often referred to as the sagging middle. That’s right, the sagging middle. It’s that huge part between a writer’s phenomenal, gripping beginning and the staggering, breathtaking end of his novel. In a 3-act structure that middle would approximately cover 50% of the book. A hefty part if your readers have to force themselves to keep their eyes open and not nod off. Flesh out the middle is what writing books…

2014

Posted on December 18, 2013

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Dread Pirate Christmas

Posted on December 12, 2013

This year, my dear writer buddy Stephen Bramucci is offering an audio-telling of his poem “Dread Pirate Christmas” for sale as a fundraiser for SEEDS Arts & Education (501c-3). SEEDS Funds all sorts of cool programing for kids (including writing programs) and he and I want to support their efforts. If you’re so inclined, follow the link below, donate $5 to them via Paypal, and POOF! the MP3 of Dread Pirate Christmas will show up in your inbox (or someone else’s if you put that email under “special instructions”). Happy Holidays from him and his motley crew of freebooters, sea devils, and scalawags! http://seedsed.org/dread-pirate-christmas-mp3/ (Art by the amazing Ben Faubion)

Daily Prompt: Tattoo….You?

Posted on December 1, 2013

Permanent in Ink My breath hitches when the sleeve of his hoodie sags and gives me a clear look at his inked hand and wrist. Or what seems left of them. A snake’s black and blue, forked tongue licks his middle finger and wraps around it to his black painted nail. The head of the viper is tattooed over and around his hand, the mouth wide open, fangs curved over the knuckles of his index and ring finger. A rush of adrenaline tingles through my body. I lower my voice to a hushed, awed whisper. “What the hell is that?” He blinks and gives me a slight and confused shake of his head. Then his eyes light up. He unzips the hoodie. “The ink?” He…