Children, the environment, and storytelling: a few simple words that, when combined, can become a powerhouse for teaching children the importance of taking care of our planet. As an author, ghostwriter, rewriter, and member of several writing groups, I’ve come to a realization. We, as a community, have a responsibility to advocate for incorporating environmentally…
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!
5 Must-Use Tips on Writing a Powerful Thriller (and most other fiction stories)
In Brian Klems’ Writer’s Digest Column on Writing, I read a great article titled, “The 5 C’s of Writing a Great Thriller Novel.” While I’m not a thriller writer, the information in this article applies to just about all fiction writing, including children’s books. There are fundamental elements needed in all fiction to make it…
Characters or Story – Which Comes First?
A number of articles on writing for children and other genres suggest that you should know your characters inside and out before beginning the story. In fact, information suggests that the author builds the story around the characters once they are fully developed. While this is good advice, and many experienced authors recommend this technique,…
How Do You Make a Good Story Worthy of Getting Past the Gatekeeper?
Just about every author knows about the “gatekeeper.” The dreaded acquisitions editor who decides if your manuscript is worthy of her attention and the publishing house’s backing. In other words, it’s the editor who decides if your manuscript is worthy of a publishing contract. To make sure your ‘good’ story becomes a ‘worthy’ story, the…
Are You Showing or Telling?
I’ve written about showing and telling before, but it’s such an important topic that more information is always helpful. Writing is an ongoing adventure… always something to learn, tweak, and hone. A long while ago, I wrote a children’s story and found I still had a bit of showing in it, noted by writing coach…
Creating and Beefing Up the Conflict in Your Story
Children’s writing must be tight and focused. And, it must have conflict. The conflict is like a detour or obstacle in the road from point A to point B. The protagonist must figure out a way over, under, around, or through it.
Character Sheets – Adding Dimension to Your Protagonist
Connecting with a reader entails a couple of things, one of which is to have a fully developed protagonist. A crucial aspect of creating a real character is the character’s interactions with the other characters in the story and his reactions to external influences. These reactions to external surroundings or occurrences add layers to your…
Is Your Manuscript Ready for Submission?
Writing is a personal experience. Each writer faces his or her own obstacles and processes. But, one common aspect of writing is it always starts with an idea. You may take that idea and turn it into an outline. You then take your outline and sprinkle it with letters and words and watch it grow….
Imagery and Your Story
One of the most difficult aspects of writing is providing content that your reader can turn into pictures or imagery. You may know exactly what you’re trying to convey, the image you want your reader to see, but does your content translate into effective imagery for your reader? Stephen King discusses this topic in an…
Theme and Your Story
Your story is like a puzzle. It takes a number of elements working together to make a memorable story. One of those elements is the theme. For some, the theme can feel overwhelming. Do you have a theme in mind before striking the first key? Do you write your first draft and then decide on…