Educational App Research

As an educational writer, former teacher, and current homeschool mom, I’m always on the lookout for great educational products for my kids. Recently, I’ve been curious about educational apps, which seems like the popular buzz word in writing circles and with teachers. So I purchased Julie Hedlund’s template for submitting app proposals which came with great info about this new and exciting market.

But the more I got to thinking, I was stumped. I really didn’t know anything about “playing apps.” My kids play app games, but I NEVER get on the iphone unless to Tango or Skype with my family. So how can a writer develop an app story unless he/she experiences many of them?

This led me to do some app research. Just as I read about publishers’ current books and the current market, I also need to know the app market if I want to submit anything. So I spent all of Saturday afternoon reading educational blogs about the best apps for the classroom, watching video clips of apps, and reading an app publisher’s blog. I made a list of what’s out there, and some “holes” or topics that don’t have any apps. Perhaps I can get my brain to think of something brilliant!

What have you discovered about this market? What are your favorite educational apps?

A Writer’s Scrapbook–Do You Have One?

At one of the writing meetings I attended back in California, a woman spoke about having a writing scrapbook. In her notebook she had ideas for stories, inspiring notes, and published works (that fit). So I bought a colorful notebook for my future published works. My notebook remained empty for a long time until I started getting published, in little places here and there. How to rack up writing credits will be in a future post.

Thankfully, my notebook is getting full 🙂 I bought plastic sleeves to insert magazine articles. Or if the story was published online, I printed it and inserted it into my notebook. If my critique partners or mentor gave me words of inspiration, I added it.

This notebook serves two purposes. One, it’s a safe-keeping place for my published babies. Two, when the writing depression hits, I can go to my notebook and be inspired and encouraged that Yes, I am a writer, and I can do it, by the grace of God!