tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35541251517879972482024-03-13T23:18:33.781-07:00From Sarah, With Joy<center><big><b>*Poet * Author * Wanderluster* </b></big></center>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.comBlogger691125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-62296823679559907492023-07-17T08:26:00.000-07:002023-07-17T08:26:20.209-07:00Build A Monster<p> Teachers and parents, looking for activities for your littles? New fun activities posted weekly!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ymERKkQuKdOrMbb7utOLYhwZWNdK6BohcL3KlldP08xVXqry4Yo34h_2iycRzTf-wHKs-WW1zpBWzXyPreZ4uXXbddl9IFGfAzpL5B8X1uzcj8FIxPrh9al4jcafznGEbrpDMbZFNYOfoCXJtxYmBmfH1m4ILZvG9yPnurNeqz2zKvF1E5ZsTr_E/s3300/IMG_0366.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ymERKkQuKdOrMbb7utOLYhwZWNdK6BohcL3KlldP08xVXqry4Yo34h_2iycRzTf-wHKs-WW1zpBWzXyPreZ4uXXbddl9IFGfAzpL5B8X1uzcj8FIxPrh9al4jcafznGEbrpDMbZFNYOfoCXJtxYmBmfH1m4ILZvG9yPnurNeqz2zKvF1E5ZsTr_E/w494-h640/IMG_0366.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can download the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UP-IuWJJCQ5S9gAqE427AuBdL5dzeB7C/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">full size PDF here!</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Book Recommendation: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nimona-Noelle-Stevenson/dp/0062278223/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=6JAmE&content-id=amzn1.sym.5f7e0a27-49c0-47d3-80b2-fd9271d863ca%253Aamzn1.symc.e5c80209-769f-4ade-a325-2eaec14b8e0e&pf_rd_p=5f7e0a27-49c0-47d3-80b2-fd9271d863ca&pf_rd_r=Y8QYBB55NJGNW068W9SP&pd_rd_wg=XNm36&pd_rd_r=3841bfee-d439-4762-9e94-6768f6207bbf&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m&_encoding=UTF8&tag=2460108a-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=322c1df13b6c6636031db7ee2a677f09&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Nimona</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhACDKWyIs_zGb_9FdwTPzKXr0IuIRuoe93PeSY4ls2cujET67te1Z_ngdRmmB2-Jd1B68O1P_4BO7KyVF2Q2EgFuaRjNELW8-2UVnGlpxXxI_DfcsfsBiG74ae4eeBGQya1cKmpSQERM0SrN89f3Bcw51il_Jq7NUBdtsEzswgIgKdY0T3RxPIHdqY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhACDKWyIs_zGb_9FdwTPzKXr0IuIRuoe93PeSY4ls2cujET67te1Z_ngdRmmB2-Jd1B68O1P_4BO7KyVF2Q2EgFuaRjNELW8-2UVnGlpxXxI_DfcsfsBiG74ae4eeBGQya1cKmpSQERM0SrN89f3Bcw51il_Jq7NUBdtsEzswgIgKdY0T3RxPIHdqY=w285-h285" width="285" /></a></div><br />The movie is out now on Netflix, but the book is even better!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for joining! Please feel free to pass this along to parents, teachers, or anyone else looking for some fun kids activities!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Sign up for my <a href="https://sarahallen.substack.com/" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a>, and preorder <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374390952/the-nightmare-house" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Nightmare House</a> today!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*The activities on this site are available for free download, and are to be used in educational and/or private settings. They may not be used elsewhere or for profit without written consent.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">**The above contains affiliate links</span></div></div><p><br style="text-align: left;" /></p></div><br /><p><br /></p>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-71508064038948774092023-06-29T12:07:00.000-07:002023-06-29T12:07:08.934-07:00Summer Reading Activity for (Spooky) Kids<p>Looking for reading activities for your summer? I hope to start posting weekly games and activities, starting with this! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKaJFWILT3XizwSPV-Il_EdwUTRmBJyQy2FWsH5WhfHYMWH6wHqP_NBVBHZTeL23G-iMFGdawxPNeGzmb1tW6QLDlPJKzR23lbyiXKvlwedn1A8aMBOurJTn3NCyVxvUFgsupnMbdLwFWMh5gxTyaaZUhKp45I0ySX53O8EevJHsOnqqiAVaiq9Yh/s3300/Summer%20Reading%20Spooky.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKaJFWILT3XizwSPV-Il_EdwUTRmBJyQy2FWsH5WhfHYMWH6wHqP_NBVBHZTeL23G-iMFGdawxPNeGzmb1tW6QLDlPJKzR23lbyiXKvlwedn1A8aMBOurJTn3NCyVxvUFgsupnMbdLwFWMh5gxTyaaZUhKp45I0ySX53O8EevJHsOnqqiAVaiq9Yh/w494-h640/Summer%20Reading%20Spooky.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can download the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E00lnstg-NTYuM84oVofuK_beuDooG4i/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank">full-size PDF here</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thanks for joining! Please feel free to pass this along to parents, teachers, or anyone else looking for some fun kids activities!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">Sign up for my <a href="https://sarahallen.substack.com/" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a>, and preorder <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374390952/the-nightmare-house" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Nightmare House</a> today!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*The activities on this site are available for free download, and are to be used in educational and/or private settings. They may not be used elsewhere or for profit without written consent.</span></div></div><p><br /></p>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-59935326681449268072023-03-06T08:48:00.000-08:002023-03-06T08:48:05.019-08:00An Author's Many Hats<p>Happy Monday! And happy March! So glad to have January and February over and done with, yeah? I'm feeling the tireds and the winter-time blues, so let's see if we can push through together!</p><p><b>An Authors Many Hats</b>: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpbLNlGLWLK/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFU1Dw00tM8OF3Icn6m3jc9dk_jQPXzxtQ1LxuD3Bl0jrCnO-uv67MranASzS3JqjAdZvxCLSo0Qp2Nvn4O7ZPkZ1eAgmHEy0RSCetl4XbweKd3n8oXW5p3mxHNJO0xPRB9eV8pDOPcyr8hcHg_kWepu2js2u80_b4prnr9-0VQogHo9dvZa6pQ/w348-h348/IMG_0277.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">What other hats do we authors wear?</p><p><b>When Are You Gonna Write Real Books for Adults?</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="296" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_r2g0w9UGzY" width="356" youtube-src-id="_r2g0w9UGzY"></iframe></div><br /><b>A Question For Teachers:</b><p></p><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks/video/7202773061282712875" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7202773061282712875" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;"><section><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="@sarahallenbooks"><br />@sarahallenbooks</a> Hey teachers! especially elementary and middle school teachers. I have a question for you. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teachersoftiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="teachersoftiktok">#teachersoftiktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teacherlife?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="teacherlife">#teacherlife</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teachertok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="teachertok">#teachertok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teachertiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="teachertiktok">#teachertiktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Blue-Blood-6778968637492430849?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="♬ Blue Blood - Heinz Kiessling">♬ Blue Blood - Heinz Kiessling</a></section></blockquote><p><b>Book Recommendation:</b> This book by <a href="https://www.whimsydark.com/" target="_blank">Delilah Dawson</a> is so well written and lots of good spooky fun! You and your upper-middle grade readers will love it.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/667670/mine-by-delilah-s-dawson/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="298" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjggWh5FDPetKR2o15jpfTd_GAUrrnLYJpc_GFfT6AnF9V3tqLuf8yYJAyLbURGhb_g3zy97SesQ7_c24PWkwotIOG7nHSn6d_TyiPdz_4QQ--UgPxMaiEycu7RXX2f2tjVQpVF8L0Vu4Y-FsNeqN3Ay9zn6bQedIMbsqXjUmHT4HXrduTf3iCLQg=w242-h366" width="242" /></a></div><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">***</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><p></p><p></p><p>Thanks for joining! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Sign up for my <a href="https://sarahallen.substack.com/" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a>, and preorder <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374390952/the-nightmare-house" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Nightmare House</a> today!</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div></div></div> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-88264865195493029302023-02-27T08:37:00.000-08:002023-02-27T08:37:29.276-08:00How To Write A Query Letter<p> I hope you've all had a great week! I spent most of mine working on some freelance writing work as well as the zero draft of my next middle grade novel--it's a monster book, and has been great fun to write! What are you all working on?</p><p><b>How To Write A Query Letter</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="319" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1atFDDMdE7E" width="449" youtube-src-id="1atFDDMdE7E"></iframe></div><br /><p><b>Toast: A Poem</b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpI7cJAvx7J/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSUYR1iWzAodATPAjcBLfbmfnuhnnWCSbM3yn7FhQTjHsreH4h8dQuq7QGmeEyyCYvWtmo9Wil00WbnuFd4CYrU0RZ2xzl7lhXx2qLhjfI7ggr5b7jnEpVYm2EK6d7X8_OVLZDdljYNjBdqxwGx-mK8oghkPBTGTuruI6BvZwZH-aIrA4P9n6aw/w370-h370/IMG_0308.JPG" width="370" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>The 'I Don't Want To Write' Song:</b></div><p></p>
<blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks/video/7203546793156545835" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7203546793156545835" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="@sarahallenbooks">@sarahallenbooks</a> The surprise end of this song sponsored by my mom's pantry. Thank you for coming to my "I Don't Want To Write" concert. And thank you @literallyjohngreen and @hankgreen1 for the Tshirt. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/writertok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="writertok">#writertok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/writersoftiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="writersoftiktok">#writersoftiktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/authorsoftiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="authorsoftiktok">#authorsoftiktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/sillysong?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="sillysong">#sillysong</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/songs?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="songs">#songs</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/songwriter?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="songwriter">#songwriter</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7203546764211915566?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Sarah Allen | Author">♬ original sound - Sarah Allen | Author</a></section></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><b>Book Recommendation: </b>One of my very favorites of recent years is <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250181428/scarystoriesforyoungfoxes" target="_blank">Scary Stories for Young Foxes</a>, by Christian McKay Heideker. I was so thrilled when it won the Newbery! Check it out! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250181428/scarystoriesforyoungfoxes" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="900" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxAgExHFYBXZcVOOKJkjpTu4RIKuAOYwLrrgAJHydLSszB_Wb8bGyuoSOcPzUDpPKRNxPLRpRd5cze_M4zK5NKrxdV9MUx0TprqTZwEcr0-Tj9p1Rp2iWmmdvioq7X8Gr_MDTRIwXGTbVOqYzIR1v5EDRpLB2waKvGVR37du0BB3vZTkJxmFBH4Q=w181-h280" width="181" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">***</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks for joining! </p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Sign up for my <a href="https://sarahallen.substack.com/" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a>, and preorder <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374390952/the-nightmare-house" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Nightmare House</a> today!</b></div></div></div><p><br /><br /></p> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-77331856904424617212023-02-20T08:40:00.000-08:002023-02-20T08:40:39.149-08:00Teach Yourself Illustration and Cartooning<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Teach Yourself Illustration and Cartooning</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Hi friends! Are you at all interested in illustration or comics drawing? Personally, I'm a writer first and foremost, but I have always been interested in illustrated chapter books, picture books, and graphic novels. As writers, having those skills simply opens up additional opportunities, right? So the last few months I've really been diving in to it. I've never taken an art class and don't feel like I'm ever going to be a great artist, but here's the key to all this, that I learned from the amazing graphic novelist and illustrator, <a href="https://jarodrosello.com/" target="_blank">Jarod Rosello</a>: your art doesn't have to be great, it just has to communicate. I feel like that idea freed me from the constraints of feeling like I actually had to be good at this, ha! And since then, I've been going through a lot of tutorials on the site <a href="https://www.21-draw.com/" target="_blank">21-Draw</a>, and they have been incredibly helpful. So if you're interested in being able to open more writing opportunities for yourself with some art communication skills, I recommend it to you!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzdhLc32FZ1rc4vjQc77Z5veeomnPCjY0crmc6Cg01HxEIg5RaWChLsqvdBbaS4Yiwr9nQCoL22WWPHhX26kLr0utWckzqy-OegHrPDubXlKTF8j0wZsfAF4Nl0_u_TeAoYVILC5vjqsIJ9ChFksLk4pPECA0JqttrT0DJ5SgWuRDcvagn2CPng/s866/IMG_0290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="669" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzdhLc32FZ1rc4vjQc77Z5veeomnPCjY0crmc6Cg01HxEIg5RaWChLsqvdBbaS4Yiwr9nQCoL22WWPHhX26kLr0utWckzqy-OegHrPDubXlKTF8j0wZsfAF4Nl0_u_TeAoYVILC5vjqsIJ9ChFksLk4pPECA0JqttrT0DJ5SgWuRDcvagn2CPng/w147-h227/IMG_0290.jpg" width="147" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyui8L4wVstwHX951EtX1ZlNC-v71zlON_NaXjIGBwjrxjIWZXPxx1ZUT8aUdCvKrde5eW3UCyN-7FJBMCSh40Ovm4oSwDFg8lD2AZ6dq4eV_WBXbaVikqXH_MShWsd7oVAn0U3MGhXCr-dcq3I0eNaxPAqo56HMLZUQnXbA-VDsAkJ3feZc1wg/s781/IMG_0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="781" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyui8L4wVstwHX951EtX1ZlNC-v71zlON_NaXjIGBwjrxjIWZXPxx1ZUT8aUdCvKrde5eW3UCyN-7FJBMCSh40Ovm4oSwDFg8lD2AZ6dq4eV_WBXbaVikqXH_MShWsd7oVAn0U3MGhXCr-dcq3I0eNaxPAqo56HMLZUQnXbA-VDsAkJ3feZc1wg/w204-h202/IMG_0291.JPG" width="204" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jg5tIyM7mYt6vUmC-hzsVrePlgQ32vVwtHWLUSZn652jpVI0lSxGE3rRiuVLSSMQYrhhviyXttlqFxSSI_iaonobJn7d56RZ5oGimMXyjG53DsnT_ZAuqohAttYyTDO4pmhKgJ47Djhph1JE2RSXzLND3XRvLONLann45LLR1G9CSp3hy7ocPw/s781/IMG_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="781" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jg5tIyM7mYt6vUmC-hzsVrePlgQ32vVwtHWLUSZn652jpVI0lSxGE3rRiuVLSSMQYrhhviyXttlqFxSSI_iaonobJn7d56RZ5oGimMXyjG53DsnT_ZAuqohAttYyTDO4pmhKgJ47Djhph1JE2RSXzLND3XRvLONLann45LLR1G9CSp3hy7ocPw/w204-h204/IMG_0293.JPG" width="204" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Writing Villains: </b>This is what always happens when I write villains--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Co28rSbPjlg/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YZqda2UnaXJoCFHZwq52NvyiRzetyugpzlEbhVA0hrRwemWXOWPCTiJoWrmYlWXMO6IAHjI25DC8PhJkYbLosTbXEc79KHKmYEz-0eKx12O9ZPu2pwWbhyDp5DuJETYulFAgBfeSrsjWnoQpCOHHc0NDWw7bAo_iloE44H9XBa_4af6GdMqtQw/w394-h394/IMG_0282.JPG" width="394" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>My Kitty is Named After My Favorite Star Trek Character:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_N6NpmFj__I" width="361" youtube-src-id="_N6NpmFj__I"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><b>Book Recommendation: </b>Speaking of Jarod Rosello, may I recommend to you his fantastic middle grade graphic novel series? It's adorable and so much fun!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Panda-Moon-Bear-Jarod-Rosello/dp/160309444X" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDntHWJrfHV_L5KWe3Z-NE4E4Y7qMXdQpQhK2NCPo13eGPdxbWYEqq_jpAxmAjwNzuNWIp8krEQSIDNAsCWNLYIPwbYtkaSvmDCoBedpxP3VA70WPU-1mesBZfinc1-mFNn6UgLyCN5Ou3Dp9LQavB2pA8mWVPWdAWFIOU07Q8jM_kkgy03iHzcw=w215-h323" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">***</span></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks for joining! </p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Sign up for my <a href="https://sarahallen.substack.com/" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a>, and preorder <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374390952/the-nightmare-house" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Nightmare House</a> today!</b></div></div></div><div><div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></div></div></div>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-87495179153579903012023-02-13T08:29:00.001-08:002023-02-13T08:29:40.723-08:00Writing Lesson from the Super Bowl<p><b>Writing Lesson from the Super Bowl</b></p><p> </p><p>What a game! That's about as tight as it gets. Ups and downs, twists and turns, cheers and heartbreak for both sides. So what can we writers take from that game?</p><blockquote><p>It's not over till it's over.</p></blockquote><p>I think in a lot our writing lives, we might feel like Chief's fans at halftime. Down ten points, and our QB has a bum ankle. Maybe this is us when we think we're finally getting that agent offer, but it's a no go. Maybe this is after we've published a few books and things start to fizzle. Maybe this is our editor leaving the business. So what do we do? Come out after half-time with throwing arms cocked and ready and a determination nothing can stop. Keep on keeping in. It's not over until <i>you</i> say it's over.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>When Social Media feels like a Heartless Void</b></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CokcQhQLhX7/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="866" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkHtJxFdd7z_TbLvRvv1WEvjpwoyNVrS1OnoRNuW7erMAUhbge3DO_HjspaZN9frYjSFC6Gz8wg6mgB0cCd-ISBpW8MwBDHUOal4cxaZYoIgfR2nk6pytX1gy5wYlIg1c97AhJNty3j4WvDmeJZ_BHRKIg7r4JPTgntnO27kOtcGvadLIWX7FnYQ=w383-h383" width="383" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><b>When Your Muse Leaves You To Work By Yourself</b><br /><p></p>
<blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks/video/7199035861453917482" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7199035861453917482" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="@sarahallenbooks">@sarahallenbooks</a> What, does the muse just expect us to KEEP GOING??? Like this is our JOB or something??? <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/writertok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="writertok">#writertok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/writersoftiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="writersoftiktok">#writersoftiktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/authortok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="authortok">#authortok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/booktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="booktok">#booktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/authorsoftiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="authorsoftiktok">#authorsoftiktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7197458668340644651?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - FJerry">♬ original sound - FJerry</a></section></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><b>Book Recommendation:</b> This absolute stunner by Cindy Baldwin comes out next week, so <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/no-matter-the-distance-cindy-baldwin/18535518?ean=9780063006447" target="_blank">preorder yourself a copy now</a>!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/no-matter-the-distance-cindy-baldwin/18535518?ean=9780063006447" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMFsd8mPfO6rdk5E0r6PRC2DWJSk9ybTMCgVZd6Xboy1rbpBJITKuxIU8uGBaJy32BFtVOf3xxr82NooEpnqChmXBhVrDd3djJip2tn7khhh-vwDLG_RrtkYW1k4rIDedxwlLl7YbaHn8FvTZOjK-Qy5DQpzlrXMGpfRe3aw15TfUauNDnh6RvOQ=w234-h353" width="234" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif">***</span></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks for joining! </p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Sign up for my <a href="https://sarahallen.substack.com/" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a>, and preorder <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374390952/the-nightmare-house" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Nightmare House</a> today!</b></div></div> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-11834230029919063632023-02-06T10:10:00.007-08:002023-02-06T10:10:53.219-08:00Turner Syndrome Awareness Month<p> Hey friends! February is Turner Syndrome awareness month. It's a great time to pick up a copy of <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374313197" target="_blank">WHAT STARS ARE MADE OF</a> if you haven't already!</p><p><br /></p>
<blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks/video/7195381880093429034" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7195381880093429034" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="@sarahallenbooks">@sarahallenbooks</a> February is Turner Syndrome Awareness Month! I never saw myself in books as a kid. When this mom sent me this video I basically dissolved. This THIS is exactly why we write. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/turnersyndrome?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="turnersyndrome">#turnersyndrome</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/disabilitytiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="disabilitytiktok">#disabilitytiktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/disabilityawareness?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="disabilityawareness">#disabilityawareness</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/disabilityrepresentation?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="disabilityrepresentation">#disabilityrepresentation</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7195381859113601838?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Sarah Allen | Author">♬ original sound - Sarah Allen | Author</a></section></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><b>Self Care:</b> What are your preferred self care activites?</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CoS3UY2viZT/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="866" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmVRUlabr4vU9DSxHQTftKKNlAsJRKYig3lcHx7UQb_MiBILe51g0k1ZRvcwilcJG2_yF2cVN9MstDxsMu2xSa3G1iTdaORwlJLK-7yIDvvlAQatVQy3ve0SvObwT0UrG3K2BwDYx_pGpInjp6VJW_9ys5c-ukkf1ETfI-yLuAvH4oJakI0uLJcQ=w313-h313" width="313" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Teaching myself to draw comics:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/75fafNFSp70" width="320" youtube-src-id="75fafNFSp70"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Book Recommendation: </b><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-nest-reprint-kenneth-oppel/10296591?ean=9781481432337" target="_blank">The Nest</a> by Kenneth Oppel is one of my favorite middle grade horror novels. It's got all the best stuff, and plenty of heart!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-nest-reprint-kenneth-oppel/10296591?ean=9781481432337" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="286" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtcbEg-Hs5Ol8Ex88K6Bs7xL3Z6WHTPuAztiAA9XDnKOuUfIl1AbH2QKYI-ZxEaYCOR5KICyQG9FOLjYhR4a2JU3jLsKFSlXN80eYVE_F6vQ3qiho8tZPgwjMZAZEg11Pfo171e8ImrR_THfwfVAD8cgwZmBCNrC0Gac4WidJwpq09S0ZXtnkO8Q=w213-h297" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">***</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks for joining! </p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Sign up for my <a href="https://sarahallen.substack.com/" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a>, and preorder <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374390952/the-nightmare-house" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Nightmare House</a> today! </b></div></div></div><p><br /></p> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-91109573591987546162023-01-30T08:38:00.001-08:002023-01-30T08:39:59.485-08:00Dealing with 1 Star Reviews<p> <b>How to Handle 1 Star Reviews:</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p>
<blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks/video/7193896979028741422" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7193896979028741422" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="@sarahallenbooks">@sarahallenbooks</a> This is now the official anthem of 1⭐ reviews. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/writertok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="writertok">#writertok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/writersoftiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="writersoftiktok">#writersoftiktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/author?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="author">#author</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/authortok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="authortok">#authortok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/authorsoftiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="authorsoftiktok">#authorsoftiktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/authorsofbooktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="authorsofbooktok">#authorsofbooktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/booktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="booktok">#booktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/I-Dont-Care-7191957083598752555?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="♬ I Dont Care - garlandgays">♬ I Dont Care - garlandgays</a></section></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><b>Sleep Styles of a Cat Lady:</b></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CoAXQWRLVxU/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="866" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9e5kEtdBhsaACnnkfEQxb8icKZouMhcuwQl2b-1T6MHo-6qPxsEphfmqIZThiKro5llex5fGOGZjF56ZxmzVNxrCVl3g52F096frQzEcVttQaUFbvLOCBfo5v424g8ca0FmVcrCU7Y-NAjER3n82hOqhan5sP-NLmT4vYa5j6fVJIHRaDxfhwXA=w379-h379" width="379" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>He's a Ten, But...MASH edition:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/52e1S5TkfDg" width="320" youtube-src-id="52e1S5TkfDg"></iframe></div><br /><b>Book Recommendation:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Huge congrats to all the American Library Association award winners this morning! I'm off to get my hands on a copy of the newest Newbery winner, <a href="https://www.lbyr.com/titles/amina-luqman-dawson/freewater/9780316056618/" target="_blank">FREEWATER</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lbyr.com/titles/amina-luqman-dawson/freewater/9780316056618/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="450" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7TPPHPjo4vQFvrM8rDy-IJqviabf2UdyniHvnfMIKj8OHKt4ote2yXfM1eGK_xw0XwriYQM_uMv448PKB6J_tXpA-lFTdVq7Dj3TfHbY6wtylm3Shjhy7j0ITDW3pv_r92Hfrl7FpfqBWxDhUW_eXX5S3hl88WfOUCRq8kpPjcdqQgBScyAbpDw=w213-h313" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.85px;">***</span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks for joining! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b>Sign up for my <a href="https://sarahallen.substack.com/" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a>, and preorder <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374390952/the-nightmare-house" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Nightmare House</a> today! </b></div></div><p><br /></p> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-41260807700241858652023-01-23T11:46:00.004-08:002023-01-23T11:46:57.007-08:00Are You Good Enough to Be A Writer?<p style="text-align: center;"><b> Weekly Roundup 1/23/23</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>The Writing Process in 15 seconds:</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HlBpsLYxpck" width="320" youtube-src-id="HlBpsLYxpck"></iframe></div><br /><b>January Ghosts:</b><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyJ71TMToMZVIMAy1dWVwQkVXZ8FpJ6w9s2BSuFje5Dc9Clkf0vKJ8D0q4juiXLxEzkfE_lIEsm7qRYNx9mjIFKl7UIFY2feJcJpXNSjxwnd1m4ZhXSyLknA1dGofPn7dM-zAeG0jimpFd_Gw5x4657q1WNuOrkR_m0ZqtN298AO3gd_GFDQSncQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="866" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyJ71TMToMZVIMAy1dWVwQkVXZ8FpJ6w9s2BSuFje5Dc9Clkf0vKJ8D0q4juiXLxEzkfE_lIEsm7qRYNx9mjIFKl7UIFY2feJcJpXNSjxwnd1m4ZhXSyLknA1dGofPn7dM-zAeG0jimpFd_Gw5x4657q1WNuOrkR_m0ZqtN298AO3gd_GFDQSncQ=w327-h327" width="327" /></a></div><br /><b>Are You Good Enough to Be A Writer?</b><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks/video/7189453269243120939" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7189453269243120939" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="@sarahallenbooks">@sarahallenbooks</a> How do you know if you're good enough to be a writer? <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/writertok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="writertok">#writertok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/writersoftiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="writersoftiktok">#writersoftiktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/authorsoftiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="authorsoftiktok">#authorsoftiktok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/authortok?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="authortok">#authortok</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7189453268853115694?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Sarah Allen | Author">♬ original sound - Sarah Allen | Author</a></section></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><b>Book Recommendation:</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/667670/mine-by-delilah-s-dawson/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="298" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYiXNGdzsndTjl7RxWcxhqLYP7TFuz2-2X1o9zEl-JhOHxlXG3uAg85wt862_doRt3HzyGk_7_kd-4kXuIDb8sbBw-eAUXyNzRuHQqryItbMg5C5sId-T-oFtxM1as73--as18Vq5r0H8YUnn6yvr5pjfbE66YuhcOmxVP-Zvl1wUl_p3Vkg7Skw=w208-h314" width="208" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">***</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;">Thanks for joining! </span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b>Sign up for my <a href="https://sarahallen.substack.com/" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a>, and preorder <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374390952/the-nightmare-house" style="color: #674ea7; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Nightmare House</a> today! </b></div> <script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-49844461437004292132023-01-16T13:29:00.000-08:002023-01-16T13:29:19.439-08:00When An Author Doesn't Match Their Book<p style="text-align: center;"> <b>Weekly Roundup: 1/16/23</b></p><p><b>The Author vs. The Book:</b></p><p>I made a little comic about when an authors look, personality, and vibe doesn't at all seem to match their book. This is in contrast to some authors *ahem* Stephen King *ahem* who really, really DO seem like the kind of person who writes the books they do. This may or may not have been inspired by the middle grade horror I have coming out in August. You can find the original comic <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cndd8ZsrLMg/?next=%2Fsarahallenbooks%2F" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cndd8ZsrLMg/?next=%2Fsarahallenbooks%2F" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="866" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmf_spMe6EYAGk4QWlH7aeLoNyG3OgHxeRmaUvqKGPQly6nqXHevIYXqF5NK13T1b01lVlqkGXteeCnDz2dorb2x0r2uSd-zZLHijQu0sLJfiGwqtfVrba4oaP-Dl0-d-4dIL96uktStP9whB-5wwPdGWu_haYsF0R7DGNueIv12YCo7TDkKei_g=w347-h347" width="347" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374390952/the-nightmare-house" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="866" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLwSw0uqNL2UtmqvgBxblN84lnu3LvaO7D11VIncXaYtPY5bccvM-9g1sFFhNicjbVsmddPIzW9uq9Bdx6XJ1ReuiVQbxKs1S2CpT8jtfyddukkjVC_rnJ0lmrFEape3-HoHR542krCC8YYYbSvTSgClgWneoV18OL44DW3WFHebk9_skbRyo1Ag=w327-h327" width="327" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Why I Write Kids Books:</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='303' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw6aXc7Spo4md2JLT-x8D3hI57lfAnWh8tA9lKMhqv8uOyLdOjeAK4XviodVbe7m3P2YnStoAwXCNQdG6E4iw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks/video/7187910123099016491" target="_blank">here </a>for original video</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>The Saiga Song:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jBXsncUp2IQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="jBXsncUp2IQ"></iframe></div><br /><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Book Recommendation:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! The book recommendation for this week is <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dear-martin-nic-stone/1125531425" target="_blank">Dear Martin</a> by Nic Stone. Definitely an important and worthwhile read, if you haven't already checked it out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dear-martin-nic-stone/1125531425" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="396" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJYE-U-eLbMaR0DYkaXgkZvbLmiIx8y8Orz96E7wYtd4cDUK-3E7GBT_pyj2zou-zliSR3nkszBcteng_4EEzCW7sLGtgFeBoB8GVTFeOeKQ9MwDO26KlluzPHGDAu4csTG7wL-ZfiZbov-IKQKzKi6o6PPNCb7rbeCfBXCbu0xmLAbmmzvsdd2A=w202-h303" width="202" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Thanks for joining! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sign up for my <a href="https://sarahallen.substack.com/" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a>, and preorder <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374390952/the-nightmare-house" target="_blank">The Nightmare House</a> today! <br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><br /></b><p></p>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-72914681985932338712022-07-11T03:00:00.001-07:002022-07-11T03:00:00.165-07:00Writing Middle Grade<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Hw3ACksAFS7D0mtFGJKsP7XK4teeSpL2jXI9g6csTZdaUSlTZkHypbpbB4ZBaVL-2HnFOesV0JPah0O_mUJgF_lPFPqA2p1WEqadnN0v5owhIaf9hfE5KB4hT170I5WsPOPtsJRApM-DkGKVWWJfhsoWZ7SlWfuAbzXqU9U7h6f3BaeioIZKQg/s2048/Writing%20Middle%20Grade%20Comic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Hw3ACksAFS7D0mtFGJKsP7XK4teeSpL2jXI9g6csTZdaUSlTZkHypbpbB4ZBaVL-2HnFOesV0JPah0O_mUJgF_lPFPqA2p1WEqadnN0v5owhIaf9hfE5KB4hT170I5WsPOPtsJRApM-DkGKVWWJfhsoWZ7SlWfuAbzXqU9U7h6f3BaeioIZKQg/w640-h640/Writing%20Middle%20Grade%20Comic.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: left;">"As a child, I disliked books in which children learned to be 'better' children." - Beverly Cleary</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div>Currently Reading: <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781338636314" target="_blank">THE ASH HOUSE</a>, by Angharad Walker.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div><br /></div><div>Order my middle grade books, <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374313197" target="_blank">WHAT STARS ARE MADE OF</a> and <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374313258" target="_blank">BREATHING UNDERWATER</a> today! And follow along on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarahallenbooks/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahallenbooks" target="_blank">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SarahAllenBooks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahAllenBooks" target="_blank">Twitter</a>!</div><p><br /></p>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-51308539729072340572022-04-25T04:00:00.001-07:002022-04-25T04:00:00.170-07:00Attenborougholics Anonymous<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIOy3bhETtyxcT5pdG72Qt_eHgGdjt88BW1nDExn6NKlG_qffpI_54sXkYQB5WNXlumtaNB1W-ZV6GN4Jtv3tvT6nfgLJrbiTglsApAaEGuFiostVqZhZQOv1VZSZjPIEtTW86IKgJU0WVOlfWNBq1PtockYPNa5wtLX23UiCZ3G8Bk_L4CjzZPA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIOy3bhETtyxcT5pdG72Qt_eHgGdjt88BW1nDExn6NKlG_qffpI_54sXkYQB5WNXlumtaNB1W-ZV6GN4Jtv3tvT6nfgLJrbiTglsApAaEGuFiostVqZhZQOv1VZSZjPIEtTW86IKgJU0WVOlfWNBq1PtockYPNa5wtLX23UiCZ3G8Bk_L4CjzZPA" width="320" /></a></div><br />Hi, I’m Sarah, and I’m an Attenborougholic.<p></p><p>I’ll be honest, it hasn’t been that long since I watched my last David Attenborough documentary. In fact I watched one last night. The primates episode of Life, you know the one where the orangutan mother teaches her baby how to build nests and it’s raining and the baby holds a giant leaf above its head like an umbrella and it’s so tender it makes you want to cry? Oh, I’m supposed to avoid triggers. Sorry. Anyway.</p><p>It wasn’t even my idea to come here tonight. My friends basically staged an intervention. They said I “don’t hang out with real people anymore” and they’re “tired of my fake British accent.” I keep telling them my The Life Collection box set isn’t on a shrine, it’s just on a special table next to some candles and a picture of a gorilla that also happens to have Sir David in it, ok?</p><p>I honestly don’t see a problem. It’s not like David Attenborough documentaries are disrupting my life. Well, ok, so maybe I’ve forgotten what day it is a couple or several times, but isn’t that everybody during a pandemic? And maybe my student ratings are on the decline, but come on, am I really supposed to care about grading freshman composition papers when a newly hatched marine iguana is making a death-defying escape from a waiting hoard of coiling, writhing, racer snakes?</p><p>All I’m saying is that there’s an Attenborough for every occasion. Scared about a job interview? Put on The Hunt. Summer heat wave? Cool off with Frozen Planet. Trying to restore your circadian rhythms? Fall asleep to the dulcet sounds of Sir David narrating Blue Planet.</p><p>Look, it’s just a tough world we live in, you all know that. It’s a trash-fire. But when I’m on the couch with my cat Atty and Planet Earth is playing, that part where moonlit bats skim for fish in slow motion like a ballet, I forget about the trash-fire parts for a while.</p><p>I admit, when it was announced that all the BBC Earth series would be leaving Netflix… those were dark days. Some real lows. I don’t think I lasted even a full day before blowing half my paycheck to buy the lot on Amazon Prime. But now they’re mine for good, downloaded on my phone, my iPad, and my laptop. What, like I’m gonna pause three cheetah brothers working in perfect synchronicity to hunt down an ostrich, just because I have to pee?</p><p>I’ve never told anyone this (and I can’t believe I’m announcing it to you all now) but I’ve even found myself playing Miracle on 34th Street in the middle of June just because Richard (rest in peace, #ibelieveinsanta) sounds a lot like his brother.</p><p>Maybe I have a slight problem. Heaven knows, Sir David’s been a blessing and a curse during this pandemic. I must’ve watched Africa fifty times since we all went into quarantine, the perfect escape, but my anxiety over David’s health and well-being has skyrocketed. Since he got the vaccine I’ve finally started sleeping again.</p><p>But what you’re asking me to do is take an impossible plunge, a leap off the edge of a four-hundred foot cliff like the barnacle goslings at the beginning of Life Story. It’s like, without those birds, who am I, you know? Just a girl who’s never been to Greenland? My friends say I could go to Greenland if I “did my job” and “participated in the world instead of just watching David Attenborough narrate it,” but how am I supposed to know where to look without him telling me?</p><p>What if—God forbid—we lose him before they make Planet Earth III?</p><p>I’ve gone on too long, now, but that reminds me. Those of you from the Steve Irwin GriefShare group—I recognize a few faces—I’ll see you tomorrow.</p><p>Thank you for listening. </p><p> </p>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-63604091681289191852021-01-10T10:29:00.000-08:002021-01-10T10:29:28.170-08:00Writing Thoughts From The Grass<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v91Hyjmzmnk/X_tE5bIPINI/AAAAAAAA_Ts/PzSA0oYY0PkIL0I_A_eqTgSKBXcXiH4agCLcBGAsYHQ/s1650/WTGrass.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1650" height="494" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v91Hyjmzmnk/X_tE5bIPINI/AAAAAAAA_Ts/PzSA0oYY0PkIL0I_A_eqTgSKBXcXiH4agCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h494/WTGrass.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Recommended Read</b>: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49767124-you-ll-find-me" target="_blank">You'll Find Me</a> by <a href="https://amandarawsonhill.com/" target="_blank">Amanda Rawson Hill</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Submission Opportunity</b>: Poetry for <a href="https://uncannymagazine.com/submissions/">Uncanny Magazine</a>, <b>due Jan. 18.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>***</b></p><p>Sarah Allen is the author of <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374313197">WHAT STARS ARE MADE OF</a> and the upcoming <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374313258">BREATHING UNDERWATER</a>. Find her online @sarahallenbooks and <a href="https://www.sarahallenbooks.com/">https://www.sarahallenbooks.com/</a>.</p>Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-12194372127150041352020-05-16T11:46:00.001-07:002020-05-16T11:47:14.567-07:00Dear Airplanes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RwCYQK2yxRo/XsA0Lv0x1vI/AAAAAAAA48g/rd65xEL-iJYuM-6rR0ToBObxOOWEdsd6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Dear%2BAirplanes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RwCYQK2yxRo/XsA0Lv0x1vI/AAAAAAAA48g/rd65xEL-iJYuM-6rR0ToBObxOOWEdsd6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Dear%2BAirplanes.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dear Airplanes,<br />
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Sky cotton washed in<br />
light, beaming the way your wings<br />
and my soul tip up.<br />
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From Sarah, with joy<br />
***<br />
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Recommended Read: <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781536204940" target="_blank">A Wish In the Dark</a>, by <a href="https://soontornvat.com/" target="_blank">Christine Soontornvat</a><br />
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<br />Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-2586008585364782772020-04-20T06:00:00.000-07:002020-04-20T06:00:03.133-07:00Dear St. Paul's Cathedral<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3vvPZnZkoU/Xp0I9dvkxuI/AAAAAAAA3uE/KRcrO-koctIK33K9cPKx12RVJGmLmJAHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Dear%2BSt%2BPauls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3vvPZnZkoU/Xp0I9dvkxuI/AAAAAAAA3uE/KRcrO-koctIK33K9cPKx12RVJGmLmJAHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Dear%2BSt%2BPauls.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Dear St. Paul's<br />
<br />
So Christopher Wren,<br />
you've built quite a grand mess hall<br />
for souls and pigeons.<br />
<br />
From Sarah, with joy<br />
<br />
***<br />
Writing Lesson from St. Paul's:<br />
<br />
Like Christopher Wren, take a classic model and put your own twist on it, or take two classic forms and mash them together!<br />
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***<br />
Recommended Read: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42072421-my-life-as-a-potato?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=vf7jesloVb&rank=1" target="_blank">My Life as a Potato</a> by <a href="https://ariannecostner.com/" target="_blank">Arianne Costner</a><br />
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<br />Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-42367310746785624562020-04-15T17:10:00.000-07:002020-04-15T17:39:46.306-07:00Dear Scotland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slrPphkB0x0/Xpeh2YZSGUI/AAAAAAAA3jo/4hPV04_POt85kZOjENtR-0QFwIKmkZgVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Dear%2BScotland.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slrPphkB0x0/Xpeh2YZSGUI/AAAAAAAA3jo/4hPV04_POt85kZOjENtR-0QFwIKmkZgVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Dear%2BScotland.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dear Scotland<br />
<br />
Aorta for pipes,<br />
play me atop the bone crisp<br />
hills. The music's here.<br />
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From Sarah, with joy<br />
<br />
Recommended Read: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46206745-coo?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=a3HNuX16gl&rank=1" target="_blank">Coo</a>, by <a href="https://www.kaelanoel.com/" target="_blank">Kaela Noel</a><br />
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<br />Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-90225590806766357872019-12-09T21:17:00.004-08:002021-01-10T09:21:21.319-08:004 Steps to Being Published<b>1. Have something ready to publish.</b><div>
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Okay, believe me, I know that getting that publishing contract, seeing your book out on the shelves--that's such a real, shiny goal. It's so hard to have patience in the process. We want our book to be published NOW. But let yourself take the time you need to make the best book you can. Don't rush. Keep improving, keep writing, and the rest will come. Let your absolute best writing be the first, and ever-primary step.</div>
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<b>2. Craft your best query.</b></div>
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After you've got a publishable manuscript, the next step is to get your query ready. Think of your query as three sections.</div>
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First paragraph: Introduce yourself, and the give the title, genre, and word count of the book your querying. Also tell the agent you're querying <i>why</i> you're querying them specifically. Do they represent writers whose books are like yours? Did you meet them at a conference?</div>
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Second paragraph: This is the summary of your project. It can be intimidating, but this too can be broken down into easy parts. Four, in fact. 1) Introduce your main character. 2) What is the goal your main character is trying to achieve? 3) What are the forces/people stopping your main character from achieving her goal or getting where she wants? 4) What devastating consequence will occur of your main character does <i>not </i>achieve that goal?</div>
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Third paragraph: Sign off quickly with any publishing credits you already have, and possibly comp titles if you have good ones. If you're worried about this and feel like you don't have good stuff to put in this paragraph, don't stress. Just say thanks, and keep it simple.</div>
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The best tip I can give for querying is to check out the <a href="https://queryshark.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Query Shark</a> blog. It's a big archive but well, well worth the read.</div>
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<div><b>3. Strategize your agent query approach</b></div>
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My personal recommendation is to send queries in batches of 5-10. That way, if one batch of agents all come back with similar feedback, you can take that into account as you prepare your next batch. You can use <a href="https://www.agentquery.com/" target="_blank">Agent Query</a> to find agents. Another very good way to find agents is to look at the acknowledgements section of the books that are like yours, and see if the writer thanks their agent by name. They very often do, and then you've got the name of an agent who represents and likes the kind of thing you write.</div>
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Get ready to rinse and repeat this process. Its hard in the moment to remember that rejection isn't personal, but believe me, it's not. Think of all the books you've read and loved. Only a small percentage of those books are ones you love with a FIERY PASSION, right? Books you'd be willing to read dozens of times? And that doesn't you don't love the other books you love, or that other books aren't just as good. They're just not your <i>soul</i> books. Agents have to feel that strongly about your book, because they're going to be working on it for a long time. So keep going. It's worth it to have patience and find the person who believes in you and your book.</div>
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<div><b>4. Work on the next thing.</b></div>
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This has been one of the best things for me to keep in mind at every stage of the publishing journey. <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374313197" target="_blank">STARS</a>, my debut book, is my fourth. I worked on it while I was querying my other books; books that will never be published, and rightly so. With each project, we grow as writers, and that's exciting. So learn to finish. Then send out your project as determinedly as if it's your only project and your career depends on it, and then start work on the next thing as if its your only project and your career depends on it.</div>
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Keep going! This takes years of work, grit, and patience. It takes humility and constant learning. Find friends and mentors who can help and guide you on this process. Stick to it, and good luck!</div>
Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-82187721102511489272019-05-20T06:00:00.000-07:002019-05-20T06:00:02.101-07:004 Non-Spoilery Writing Lessons from Avengers: End Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Image result for marvel end game" height="274" src="https://ksassets.timeincuk.net/wp/uploads/sites/55/2019/04/Payoff_1-Sht_Online_v6_Domestic_Sm-1-e1552570783683.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<b>1. Characters can feel SO REAL.</b> We've spent so much time with these characters, particularly the original six. We've seen them behave well and badly, seen them victorious and devastated. I think it's seeing this range, seeing how differently each of them reacts in difference situations makes them feel like people we know.<br />
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<b>2. Even action is enhanced when character is king. </b>To be honest, this is where I think Marvel has excelled where DC has struggled. When we get a chance to see the characters move in normal life, and react with the people they love--when we know their quirks and eccentricities, then when the action is at a climax we are that much more invested. In the midst of big action and heavy battles we can get small moments of humor or crushing moments of poignancy, because we know these people and care about them. Man do we care.<br />
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<b>3. SYMMETRY. ALWAYS SYMMETRY. </b>Ok. Ok. I don't mean everything is about symmetry but man the Roussou brothers brought the story to such balanced symmetry I still almost can't bring myself to talk about it without getting teary eyed. Oh gosh it was so good. Whatever else happens symmetry can make your story feel not just complete but resonant in a way that will stay with your reader for ever and ever. If you do it as brilliantly as this movie it will ring in your bones for days.<br />
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<b>4. Robert Downy Jr. deserves ALL THE ACADEMY AWARDS. </b>Ok, not really a writing lesson here, unless you can figure out a way to distill the perfect purity that is RDJ into your writing. More just a statement of fact.<br />
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-Sarah<br />
*come chat with me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarahallenbooks/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahallenbooks" target="_blank">Twitter</a>!Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-32882620478495579222019-03-25T11:35:00.003-07:002019-03-25T11:35:45.492-07:00TWO BOOK DEAL WITH FSG/MACMILLAN!!!Guys I don't even have words right now.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w00SIUJZ_B0/XJkfGGi2eHI/AAAAAAAArLM/Hn6WG3YWo2oHdorRhpZh5zzlbPZkSVsBwCLcBGAs/s1600/PNW%2BAnnouncement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="705" height="215" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w00SIUJZ_B0/XJkfGGi2eHI/AAAAAAAArLM/Hn6WG3YWo2oHdorRhpZh5zzlbPZkSVsBwCLcBGAs/s400/PNW%2BAnnouncement.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I will come back here at some point and do a whole post about getting my agent, how the deal went down, what its been like, and all that. But for right now I just have to say I am so, so grateful. Grateful for every person whose supported me or taught me, online or irl, for my friends and family and everyone who's let me go after this and never told me my dream was unrealistic. I really almost can't believe that I get to do this thing.<br />
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You guys are awesome! And of course, keep writing!<br />
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SarahSarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-7553694911239527432019-01-07T07:00:00.000-08:002019-01-07T07:00:01.930-08:00My Pet Vampire Squid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>My Pet Vampire Squid</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Mom says no way</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">but I know she doesn’t mean it.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A Vampire Squid is a perfect pet.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">See, I know all about them.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I know they’re</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">not quite squid</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">not quite octopus</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">their tentacle tips glow in the dark</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">like eyeballs</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and when they’re afraid</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">they wrap themselves up in their</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">umbrella tentacles</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">like a long, dark cloak.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I know just how they feel</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and how to take care of them too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">All you need is a large tank </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">in a dark room</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">and a little brother</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-1b51563d-7fff-bf99-8e76-ee2719d95114"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-8253506081566674172018-07-30T07:00:00.000-07:002018-07-30T07:00:18.108-07:00The Pineapple House<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tBtxKV-XxM/W16nsMmeOWI/AAAAAAAAlk0/2ellDBlIR8kT8Wu9ZvpmHKzHGvdSP9v2wCLcBGAs/s1600/il_570xN.1182971108_m3dv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="570" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tBtxKV-XxM/W16nsMmeOWI/AAAAAAAAlk0/2ellDBlIR8kT8Wu9ZvpmHKzHGvdSP9v2wCLcBGAs/s320/il_570xN.1182971108_m3dv.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/291073439/pineapple-wall-decals-pineapple-decals" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr>
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<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<b>The Pineapple House</b><div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Clementine had a pineapple house</div>
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that grew pineapples on every wall.</div>
<div>
They grew so fast and so many she said</div>
<div>
"I'll never have time for them all."</div>
<div>
She invited her family and friends, </div>
<div>
the whole town came to join her big pineapple bash.</div>
<div>
They ate pineapple ice cream and upside-down cake</div>
<div>
and ran the pineapple yard dash.</div>
<div>
Folks had pineapple barbecue, pineapple juice,</div>
<div>
and pineapple filet mignon.</div>
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They threw pineapple frisbys and pineappleoons</div>
<div>
and played pineapple tag on the lawn.</div>
<div>
When the sun had gone down and the party</div>
<div>
was over, and all Clem's relations withdrawn,</div>
<div>
she turned to go in to her pineapple bed</div>
<div>
and found her whole house was all gone.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
-Sarah Allen</div>
Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-75742064169158374992018-07-23T08:51:00.000-07:002018-07-23T08:51:00.366-07:00I Don't Know How To Act At Funerals<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LtCe98eKOo/W1X4dV7cmWI/AAAAAAAAla0/Znw_hACxI9YirzXx_xVQvFuH4V30hYf_ACLcBGAs/s1600/eb8b68688bae36415b09731c047d319d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LtCe98eKOo/W1X4dV7cmWI/AAAAAAAAla0/Znw_hACxI9YirzXx_xVQvFuH4V30hYf_ACLcBGAs/s320/eb8b68688bae36415b09731c047d319d.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/202732420696289802/" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I Don’t Know How To Act At Funerals</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-4a4d4080-c7ce-2609-df79-1ecdf19e93d2" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">because the person I want to ask about it</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the person I want to talk to about it</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the person I want to explain to me</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">why my stomach has vortexed my skull</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> isn’t here.</span></div>
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Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-28565276878021519622018-07-02T16:27:00.001-07:002022-07-07T13:49:00.335-07:00I Can’t Focus on Writing Thi...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TvbCbQNSrj8/WzhLL6ikaNI/AAAAAAAAkhU/iWibT_1Kec0Bo8oP5j0atqmWdbPhz0oNgCLcBGAs/s1600/can_t_focus__by_lunamiranda-d96se75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="894" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TvbCbQNSrj8/WzhLL6ikaNI/AAAAAAAAkhU/iWibT_1Kec0Bo8oP5j0atqmWdbPhz0oNgCLcBGAs/s320/can_t_focus__by_lunamiranda-d96se75.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.deviantart.com/lunamiranda/art/Can-t-focus-555598049" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I Can’t Focus on Writing Thi...</span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-0462b66e-53e3-ba92-a6e0-5c5113e7c028" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I can’t focus on writing a</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Why is there so much dust on my</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Was that my stomach or a knock on the</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">My math worksheet should come first or maybe</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When did teacher say to turn in our</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Should I write mine on Cleopatra or</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">How many notifications do I have on</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Oh look a video about</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Could that be what this poem </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Was it due tomorrow or the next</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">If I told my teacher I can’t focus what would she</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mom says it’s time for</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We haven’t had pancakes for dinner since</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Maybe if I just put one final</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And they lived happily ever</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">-Sarah Allen</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-58140288171717292572018-06-25T07:30:00.000-07:002018-06-25T07:30:18.276-07:00Pet Diaries<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rf31xKa64aw/WzB-pq9IXHI/AAAAAAAAkZI/Rpn5QmessUctc8O6ppiKL1ydefSTtixewCLcBGAs/s1600/20120915-115909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="560" height="224" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rf31xKa64aw/WzB-pq9IXHI/AAAAAAAAkZI/Rpn5QmessUctc8O6ppiKL1ydefSTtixewCLcBGAs/s320/20120915-115909.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dailyoftheday.com/happy-dog-grumpy-cat/" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Pet Diaries</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-d164f9b2-3567-dbb4-c408-e66ca2ec81f7" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Yay! I love you!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I love the smell of your breath in the morning!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I love the sound you make walking on the squeaky stairs!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Squeaky! Yay! I love my squeaky!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I love that you’re pouring kibble in my bowl!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Yummy!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I love the chew marks on my bowl! </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I love my rawhide that’s broken in half</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and the fresh one on top of the washer</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">where I can stare at it</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">all day long!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I love the taste of toilet bowl water</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Because it almost tastes like you!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Love, love, LOVE!!!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the dog</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Dear Sirs:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I am sorry to say my orders have not been followed.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Perhaps I was not clear that from the hours of 11-3 p.m., I am to be left</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Undisturbed. I will permit some level of frolic only outside those hours.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Another matter: you can imagine my horror when, on Tuesday last, upon leaping</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Up to the living room windowsill, which, as you are no doubt aware,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Is my spot, I was confronted by a horrid collection of those plastic things</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The smallish one calls Lego’s. It made my nap extraordinarily uncomfortable.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I’m sure this will be addressed in the future,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As will the unappetizing temperature of my dish.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Oh, one more thing.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Could you please do something about that obnoxious canine?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">He was drinking out of the toilet again.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">From her Majesty,</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Cat</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3554125151787997248.post-41617382092133940232018-06-18T07:00:00.000-07:002018-06-18T07:00:15.561-07:00The Dragon Inside<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/83/16/f3/8316f301938089cc5a84fdbcbe0e2abd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/83/16/f3/8316f301938089cc5a84fdbcbe0e2abd.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/505740233127046762/?autologin=true" target="_blank">Image Source</a></td></tr>
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<b>The Dragon Inside</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The dragon in my closet</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">left a black mark on my shoe.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">She tore my jeans—and flip-flops</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">are her favorite thing to chew!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The dragon in the kitchen</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">always burns my whole wheat toast.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">He scorched the trash compactor</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">but he makes a good pot roast.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The dragon in the parking lot</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">roars at all the buses</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">while they unload all the kiddies,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and he blazes, growls and cusses.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The dragon playing dodgeball</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">blows her short fuse every time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">One dragon burned my homework,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and the teacher thought that I’m</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">the one who's doing all the damage.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The secret though, you see,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">is these dragons all got nothing</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-38729f01-0eef-80c4-d453-eeb37e1c8bf4"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">on the dragon inside me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">-Sarah Allen</span></div>
Sarah Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com2