Sara Francis-Fujimura
Freelance Writer, Creative Writing Teacher, & Author
Fun Stuff
"Who are these 'Gotham Girls' you are forever talking and tweeting about?"
I've been writing with three incredible women since 2003--Teresa Mitchum, Betsy Kepes, and Emily Goodman. Because the three of them met while taking an online class through the Gotham Writers' Workshop, they nicknamed themselves "The Gotham Girls" or "GGs" for short. That August, I met Terry in an elevator at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference in Los Angeles. We hit it off immediately. She introduced me to Emily (who was also at the conference), and the rest is history. Some may wonder how four very different women living all over the US (and at times all over the world) could possibly make a critique group work? The answer: THE INTERNET! What keeps us going is the trust we have in each other. The GGs simultaneously hold my hand and kick me in the butt when I need it. All of us have been published in national and regional magazines. Emily's book Plant Secrets was illustrated by the talented Phyllis Limbacher Tildes and published by Charlesbridge in 2009.
Want to learn a little more about the GGs and how to make an online critique group work? Then read Terry's article "The Truth about Writer Friends" which ran in the January/February 2010 issue of the SCBWI Bulletin on p. 25
I've been writing with three incredible women since 2003--Teresa Mitchum, Betsy Kepes, and Emily Goodman. Because the three of them met while taking an online class through the Gotham Writers' Workshop, they nicknamed themselves "The Gotham Girls" or "GGs" for short. That August, I met Terry in an elevator at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference in Los Angeles. We hit it off immediately. She introduced me to Emily (who was also at the conference), and the rest is history. Some may wonder how four very different women living all over the US (and at times all over the world) could possibly make a critique group work? The answer: THE INTERNET! What keeps us going is the trust we have in each other. The GGs simultaneously hold my hand and kick me in the butt when I need it. All of us have been published in national and regional magazines. Emily's book Plant Secrets was illustrated by the talented Phyllis Limbacher Tildes and published by Charlesbridge in 2009.
Want to learn a little more about the GGs and how to make an online critique group work? Then read Terry's article "The Truth about Writer Friends" which ran in the January/February 2010 issue of the SCBWI Bulletin on p. 25
SCBWI New York Conference 2012 SCBWI-AZ "Homegrown Series" with Emily 2009
My Favorites:
I read A LOT. Some of my favorite authors are:
PLAYLISTS:
I really do use music to inspire my writing. Each of my book projects gets its own soundtrack. Sometimes the songs are from the time period the project is set in. Many times though, it’s the words or imagery a song create in my head that makes it stand out to me. Sometimes, it’s the singer’s voice or style which sounds like a character’s voice in my head. Music can be a great way to add depth to your writing or even help you break through a creative block.
I read A LOT. Some of my favorite authors are:
- Rick Riordan
- Jane Yolen
- Justina Chen Headley
- Lisa Yee
- Richard Peck
- Scott Westerfeld
- Kirby Larson
My Pick-of-the-Month Book:
February 2012
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
PLAYLISTS:
I really do use music to inspire my writing. Each of my book projects gets its own soundtrack. Sometimes the songs are from the time period the project is set in. Many times though, it’s the words or imagery a song create in my head that makes it stand out to me. Sometimes, it’s the singer’s voice or style which sounds like a character’s voice in my head. Music can be a great way to add depth to your writing or even help you break through a creative block.
PLAYLIST FOR BREATHE:
Breathe is set in 1918, but all my music is contemporary for this project.
The Motions Matthew West
Firework Katy Perry
Say John Mayer
Fallin’ for You Colbie Caillat
