Guest post by Fiona Ingram Getting kids enthusiastic about reading and even doing their own creative writing may seem like a monumental task when you see all the techno-competition around—video games, movies, computer games etc. They focus on the electronic stuff which, like an electronic babysitter, is doing all the thinking for them. Children…
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!
Should You Really Write That Book?
I read an interesting article at The Outline. It starts off by demolishing two diehard myths: 1. Everyone has a book in them. 2. Any story can be turned into a book. We have to keep in mind though that there are two very different publishing models or paths. Let’s go over myth #1. The…
4 Reasons Why Self-Publishing Your Children’s Book May Be Your Best Option
Last week I talked about why you shouldn’t self-publish a young children’s book. I gave 5 reality-check tips. You can check that article out here: Is Self-Publishing a Children’s Book the Way to Go? 4 Realities For this article, let’s go over the reasons taking the self-publishing path for your children’s book may be a…
Is Self-Publishing a Children’s Book the Way to Go? 4 Realities
I self-published a children’s picture book in 2008 when self-publishing wasn’t as popular as it is today. And as a newbie to self-publishing, I made a couple of mistakes. The first of which was that I didn’t hire an illustrator-–I did the illustrations and book cover myself. I can hear the gasps. It’s okay, though….
Make Success a Habit with 3 Doable Steps
We all fall into the “I don’t think I can” hole now and then. It’s interesting how a lot of writers and people in general have negative thoughts throughout the day: – I’m tired. – This is too hard. – I don’t have enough time. – I’m not good enough. – This is overwhelming. –…
Overcome Writer’s Block with Automatic Transcription
Contributed by Descript If you’re a writer — of books, essays, scripts, blog posts, whatever — you’re familiar with the phenomenon: the blank screen, a looming deadline, and a sinking feeling in your gut that pairs poorly with the jug of coffee you drank earlier. If you know that rumble all too well: this post is for you. Maybe…
Series Writing – Is It For You?
Contributed by Linda Wilson How big is your children’s book idea? In fiction, it might cover generations as in Philippa Gregory’s Cousins’ War and Plantagenet and Tudor Series, or growth of the main character which occurs in Nancy Drew mysteries. Have your pick of nonfiction topics that can blossom into a series from a single…
Writing a Book – Bait and Switch Editing
Contributed by Melinda Brasher Bait and switch tactics don’t usually work well in writing. Of course, surprises and twists are good, but if you write a romance and market it as a psychological thriller, you’ll disappoint readers. If you start a novel as a realistic, contemporary mystery, and near the end reveal that the real…
Self-Publishing a Picture Book and Vanity Presses
Sadly, there are still new authors who fall for the lure of self-publishing (vanity) services. And, while this article focuses on picture books, it’s solid advice for authors of other genres. As a ghostwriter, the majority of my clients hit the self-publishing road as do I think most of today’s authors. It’s just easier and…
Writing a Successful Children’s Series – 3 Key Elements
This is Part2 of writing a children’s series. And, if you’re a children’s writer of chapter books, middle grade, or young adult you can write one. To write a series, you need three things: 1. Strong characters In a ‘live’ workshop, Scholastic senior editor Matt Ringler noted that the most important element of a series…