Jen Storer's Blog

Did you know, dear reader, that statistically most podcasts crash and burn before twenty episodes? They do, they do! That’s why, when your show hits FIFTY you have cause to… eat an ice cream.

Buy a pretty crystal.

Do something to mark the occasion.

I’m all for marking occasions.

Life is an occasion, rise to it. (Someone clever once said that).

As you might know, I’m doing very little full-on writing these days (except for playing with picture books which I cannot resist). These ...

The Shed Party

Saturday night at g&d HQ, we had a shed party. A Winter Solstice celebration.

We had a bonfire and fairy lights and a trestle table laden with comfort food (including pots of curry and sweet dahl, a fresh apple pie, a pear cake, handmade chocolates etc…).

The night was bitterly cold but the sky was clear and you could see the Milky Way and everyone was rugged up (some beyond recognition) and, well, it was just magical.

It was inspiring, too.

We sat around the fire, ...

Thoughts Inspired by The Alchemist, by Paulo CoelhoI’ve been reading The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, an elegant parable about finding one’s destiny while also uncovering the treasure within.

Here’s a picture of it on the train with me…

 
 
When we tap into the ‘language of the universe’ (as suggested in The Alchemist) and learn to read signs and omens, we actually tap into our intuition.

When I had a major ‘tower moment’ in my thirties, I turned my back on common-sense and made a commitment to f...

Creative Writing Tips Galore!

Okay, I’ve got four tips for you again today. I’m obsessed with four, aren’t? I think it’s my brain’s favourite number. Anything more than four and my brain drifts away. La la la…
 
BUT.
 
Having said that.
 
There is one extra tip in this week’s ep, and here it is…
 
EXTRA TIP: If you’re new around here (hello!) and please, for the love all things creative, get yee out of this blog and into the rest of the girlandduck website. Check out all the freebies (I made them wi...

Winter is Coming…

Knitting!

Painting!

Drawing!

Writing stories!

Winter is my favourite time of the year to snuggle in and get creative.

This Creative Winter (It’s coming. Nearly there! Brrr!)

Better to show you pictures, right?

I know you love pictures because, hello, you LOVE children’s literature and that’s why you’re here.

With me.

Readin’ this…
 

Not only Writing Books for Children

HERE’S WHAT I’M KNITTING

It’s another vest!

I love knitting vests because NO SLEEVES.

Q...

Jammies!

Ugg boots!

Corduroy snuggy thingyame that has fake-fur lining and hood…
 

It’s 3 degrees this morning and I’m sitting in the sun, sipping tea and writing to YOU! It’s been a while, yeah?

I had a session with a life coach last week and she asked me to journal about my definition of success. Now, I’ve thought about this a lot over the years, but I’ve never sat down and really examined my thoughts around it. You know, teased ’em out.

First up, here’s what fell out of my noggi...

How to Write a Picture Book

No. Scrub that heading.

Let’s go with

How to FIX a Picture Book

I have awful trouble trying to name, label, title my podcasts. They’re always so chatty and full of incidentals that are bound to help you and it’s hard to settle on one thing.

The ‘formal’ title of this episode is, Four Key Rewriting Questions.

Good grief.

The real question should be why did you choose such a weary title, Jen? Were you actually TRYING to put people to sleep?

N...

Introducing debut middle-grade author, Fiona Lloyd

I’m so excited to share this beautiful interview with debut middle-grade author, and girl&duck alumnus, Fiona Lloyd!

Fiona has been a Duckie and a Scribbler and I’ve loved watching her go from strength to strength, developing her talent, keeping the faith, doing the verk.

This is a funny, engaging and super inspiring conversation that covers all the machinations behind getting your first novel out there. I know you will LOV...

Dear reader!

It’s been ages since I’ve reintroduced myself and I’ve made so many new friends over the past few months (across many platforms), and there have been so many changes in my life and career, that I felt it was impolite to carry on without pause for breath.

I’m Jen Storer.

While this little blog is fairly tidy (but cricket-y quiet ), if you clapped eyes on my Insta feed, you might vom.

It’s so shambolic and so deeply in need of a Branding Fairy Godmother, I’m almost afraid to carry ...

Yesterday was Himself’s birthday. His birthday is often a low-key event, following so closely as it does on the heels of another famous bloke’s special day…

Yesterday was no exception. But I know for a fact that Himself had a beautiful day. I made sure of it.

I took him out to breakfast. (Clever, hey?)

I also gave him gourmet Rocky Road.

And some books about camping and tents and how to cook soda bread and cinnamon buns in the wilderness.

Stuff like that.

Then, in the afternoon...