There’s a great article in The Writer, April 2012 issue (1). If you’re able to get your hands on a copy or find it online, it’s worth the read. Delving into this article, I did some additional research and came up with eight elements that are probably the most common fiction writing mistakes. 1. You…
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!
Point of View and Children’s Storytelling
Point-of-view (POV) is the narrator’s view of what’s going on. The POV is who’s telling the story. This will determine what the reader ‘hears’ and ‘sees’ in regard to the story. And, it determines the ‘personal pronouns’ that will be used. There are three main POVs in young children’s storytelling: first person, second person, and…
Storytelling – Do Not Let the Reader Become Disengaged
As an author it’s your job to create an engaging, compelling, suspenseful, intriguing, romantic, or other type of story content that will lure readers in and keep them turning the pages. But the key word for a successful story is ‘engaging.’ Engagement, according to Merriman-Webster.com, means to have an emotional involvement or commitment. Based on…
Book Review of The Lucky Baseball
As a children’s author and writer, I’ve done my share reviews of children’s books. Occasionally, I’ll be sharing them with you. It’s important to make note of ‘good’ books for kids. The first one up is: Title: The Lucky Baseball: My Story in a Japanese-American Internment Camp Author: Suzanne Lieurance Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc. ISBN:…
Writing Fiction and Writing Nonfiction – Similarities and Differences
Writing fiction and writing nonfiction have some distinct similarities and differences. But, before we get into that, let’s find out the definitions of fiction and nonfiction: Fiction: According to Merriam-Webster.com, fiction is “something invented by the imagination or feigned, specifically an invented story; the action of feigning or of creating with the imagination.” Nonfiction: Merriam-Webster’s…
Writing – It’s Not Wise to Revise Too Soon
Contributed by Suzanne Lieurance It’s been said many times that good writing is actually good rewriting, and I certainly think that’s true. Yet I also know from experience that it is often unwise to revise too soon. Consider this – when you get a professional critique or an editorial letter, do you immediately read the…
Writing Fiction for Children – 4 Simple Tips
Writing fiction for children has a number of rules and tricks, the very basics of which are creating believable characters and adding conflict. But, there are many other elements that go into creating an effective and engaging story. Below are four simple tips to help you navigate the children’s writing waters. 1. Show the way…
Writing Fiction for Children – Character Believability and Conflict
Writing in general is a tough craft, although many may not think so. The writer has to take individual words and craft them together to create: interest, suspense, romance, humor, grief, fantasy, other worlds . . . the list goes on and on. And, it must be done with clarity. While there is an abundance…
Rewriting a Folktale – Walking Through Walls
When a writer’s muse seems to be on vacation, she may be at a loss for story ideas. While there are a number of sites and tools online to help get the creative juices flowing, one tool that writers might overlook is studying folktales. Reading folktales is a great way to spin a new yarn,…
The Outlining Method of Writing (Are You an Outliner?)
Are you an outliner or a pantser? I don’t know if there has been a study of how many writers prefer each, but I know there are many in both camps. You know the saying, “different strokes for different folks.” But, before I go on, the definition of an outliner is a writer who creates…