This is Part2 of an article about creating your protagonist. Well, not just creating him, it’s about creating a powerful and memorable main character (MC). And, it’s based on an article I read at Jerry Jenkins, author of 186 books. Part one discussed: – Naming your character – Making him quickly visible – Let the…
Category: writing for children
6 Power-Tips to Creating Your Main Character
View Post I read an excellent article by Jerry Jenkins who is an author of more than 186 books and a New York Times bestselling novelist. This is a writer who knows about writing. The article was about creating memorable heroes. Every author wants to be able to do this. So, below are the first…
Writing Picture Books for Young Children – A Different Writing Style
A writing style is the way a writer writes a story. It’s the words used, sentence structure, tone used, and even the method used. The children’s picture book writing style is unique for two main reasons: 1. You’re dealing with young children. 2. You’re often dealing with parents and teachers who will read the story…
Storytelling vs. Writing a Story
Is there a difference between storytelling and writing a story? Yes, there is. A children’s publisher commented on the difference between storytelling and writing. She explained that storytelling involves visual aids, whereas writing does not. Granted, children’s picture books do provide illustrations in the form of visual aids, but they are not the same as…
Ghostwriting Children’s Books – 5 Ways to Know if You’re Any Good
Some writers can at times wonder if they’re ‘good enough’. Are they fulfilling their clients’ expectations? They may occasionally doubt their writing skills and ability. I think it goes with the territory. They may take on a project they’ve never done before. Yep, doubts surface. They see peers getting credits from major magazines or getting…
Picture Books – Story or Illustrations, Which Comes First?
While most authors know the answer to the title question, whether the story or illustrations come first in picture books, some newbies don’t. I have a client with a three-book series. This client happens to be an amazing artist and created her story around her illustrations. For the purpose of this article, I’ll say…
Children’s Writing and Information Dump
As a ghostwriter and editor, occasionally I get clients who give me a draft of a story that has information dump within the first few spreads of a picture book. This is a no-no. Information dump is when an author literally dumps a chunk of information for the reader to absorb. Granted most new writers…
Balance in Fiction Writing – The Major Elements
There are five major elements to a fiction story and it’s the combination of these elements that make the story complete, interesting, and considered good writing. Too much of one or not enough of another can affect the readers ability to connect with the story. So, what are the major elements of a story? The…
Create a Believable Protagonist with Realistic Characteristics
It’s noted that you should let the reader see your protagonist’s characteristics within the first few pages. This enables the reader to quickly identify with him. This connection will determine whether the reader turns the next page. Unless you’re writing fantasy or science fiction, your protagonist will have ordinary strengths (possibly extraordinary, but within the…
6 Tips to Make the Most Out of Writing Workshops
Guest post by writing coach Suzanne Lieurance Six Simple Ways to Make the Most of Any Writing Workshop or Writing Class If you’ve recently signed up for a writing workshop or writing class, in the hopes of becoming a better writer, then follow these simple steps to make the most of that experience: 1) Read!…