Focus, determination, and perseverance are essential to just about every aspect of your life. Each characteristic is unique and together create a powerful synergy. Focus is one’s ability to concentrate exclusively on a particular thing through effort or attention. Determination is an unchanging intention to achieve a goal or desired end. Perseverance takes determination a…
Category: writing for children
Want to Self-Publish a Rhyming Children’s Book? Read This First
As a ghostwriter I deal with lots of new ‘authors.’ One scenario I come across now and then is when someone sends me a story with rhyme in it. When this happens, it’s never done right and it’s my job to guide these authors to the path of ‘doing it right.’ A recent manuscript I…
Writing, Submissions, and Working With Editors
Every writer, at least hopefully, will work with an editor from time to time. While, we’d all like it to be on a regular basis, time to time is better than nothing. When in the joyous situation (you’ve gotten something accepted for publication), there are some tips that will help you in your working relationship…
The 3 Levels of Picture Books
Children’s picture books have 3 levels or purposes in regard to the reader and purchaser. Think of it as the structure of a house: there’s a basement, a first floor, and often an upper floor. Level 1: The basement, or Surface Level, is geared toward the youngest reader (or listener if too young to read)….
How Do You Build a Successful Writing Career? (3 Tips)
Writers need to be tough. It’s not an easy arena to be in. Did you know that writers get so many rejections there have actually been studies done on it. According to a Huffington Post article, “96% of authors seeking agents are rejected.” (1) That’s pretty severe. Another article at Writer’s Digest says, “don’t even…
Had a Children’s Book Ghostwritten? Now What?
With a steady stream of ghosting clients, I am often asked what comes after the manuscript is written and edited. Well, this depends on which publishing road you’ll be taking: self-publishing or traditional publishing. Since the majority of my clients go the self-pubbing route, I’ll start there. SELF-PUBLISHING BASIC PAGES AND COPY (in addition to…
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…
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…