Have you ever read your children’s story and thought, Something is missing? The writing may be good. The characters may be interesting. And the story may even have an important message. But somehow, it feels flat. One of the most common reasons for this is surprisingly simple: Nothing really changes. Many manuscripts I review have…
Author: Karen Cioffi
Karen Cioffi is an award-winning author and children's ghostwriter. She loves to help those who want to be the author of a children's book fulfill their dream. Contact Karen today to get your story started!
Biggest Book Marketing Mistake New Picture Book Authors Make
You’ve written your picture book, worked with an editor, found an illustrator, published it, and finally have a finished book in your hands. Now comes the part many new authors (and seasoned authors) dread: book marketing. You create a social media post announcing your book. You share the cover. You post a link to Amazon….
Writing for Kids: How Much Detail Is Too Much?
While rewriting a chapter book for a client, I’ve run into an issue I haven’t come across before. It has to do with descriptions, specifically clothing details and physical attributes. The client described the clothes each character is wearing. Even for a group of children, she describes the general attire. While a chapter book has…
Picture Book Cliffhanger Endings: Good or Bad?
Is it a good idea to use a cliffhanger ending in a picture book? At first glance, you might think the answer is no. Picture book writers know young readers need a satisfying ending. They need an ending that resolves the main conflict and leaves them feeling that the story has reached a natural conclusion….
Social Media for Writers: Relevance Over Reach
I’ve revamped my social media strategy due to threatening emails. While the threats said to stop all online visibility, it was focused on the promotion of my business on social media. With this new strategy, I’m hoping I won’t be as easily tracked by switching up my schedule and frequency. My fingers are crossed. And…
Beyond the Hero’s Journey: 4 Alternative Character Journeys
The Hero’s Journey is one of the most common story structures in fiction, one you’re probably familiar with from literature and movies. This character journey was identified and popularized by Joseph Campbell in his 1949 book “The Hero with a Thousand Faces.” It was later adapted for writers. The details differ from book to book,…
Book Launch Bootcamps: Are They Worth It?
Most of us have been there. Launching a book is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Between building excitement, reaching readers, coordinating promotions, and trying to generate reviews, many authors wonder if they should invest in a book launch bootcamp. Book launch bootcamps promise to guide authors through the process with step-by-step instruction, accountability,…
Writers: Be Careful What Genre You Lock Yourself Into
It’s easy to start your writing career and not envision five, ten, or twenty years down the road. Maybe you’re a mystery writer and thought it would give you an edge if you put “Your Name, Mystery Writer” on your blurbs, tags, business cards, and other promotional material. The same goes for a children’s writer,…
Who Buys Children’s Picture Books?
This is a topic children’s authors need to be aware of. When new authors begin writing a picture book, they usually picture a young child curled up on a parent’s lap, listening to the story. While children are certainly the audience, they are rarely the ones making the purchase. Understanding who actually buys picture books,…
Is Your Writing Active or Passive?
Contributed by Writer, Coach Suzanne Lieuarance Ever feel like your stories and articles are a bit slow-paced and wordy? If so, that’s probably because you’re using passive voice. Don’t worry—everyone does it. But if you want to captivate your readers and keep them turning pages, you need to switch to active voice. What’s the difference?…