I’m sure most everyone has heard this quote by former professional ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky: “100% of the shots you don’t take don’t go in.” Whether it’s the end of the year, the middle, or the end, this is such an appropriate quote. It’s wise to periodically take a step back and evaluate what…
Tag: Karen Cioffi
Writing – Words to Live By
In a world littered with half-truths and lies, these are words to live by in your words and in your writing: Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates. At the first gate, ask yourself, “Is it true?’ At the second gate, ask, “Is it necessary?” At the third gate, ask, “Is it…
10 Tips to Writing a Query Letter
I have a client who is heading down the traditional publishing road. Since one of the most important elements of this process is the query letter, I have some tips on what to do and what to include. 1. Before you even think of writing your query letter, make sure you have a good story….
Are All Children’s Stories Meant to Become Books?
Writing well over 300 stories, between ghostwriting and rewriting, I’ve only seen one story that couldn’t be tweaked, nudged, shaken, or even deconstructed and reconstructed into a publishable story. The concept and author of that one book were, well, not quite all there. Dealing with so many clients, I’m surprised I only had one so…
Hiring a Ghostwriter for Your Picture Book? Are Illustrations Included?
It seems lately, a lot of people who want to have a children’s picture book ghostwritten for them aren’t quite sure what they get for their money. I’m often surprised when a potential client asks if the price quoted includes illustrations. Another query I’m getting a number of lately is about writing and illustration packages….
Writing Plot Twists Into Your Story
Plot twists are an established tool to writing intriguing stories, whether for books, movies, TV, or other. These helpful tools create a more engaging story for the reader. According to Wikipedia, “A plot twist is a literary technique that introduces a radical change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot in a work…
The Cost of a Picture Book
Probably 75 percent of my clients want picture books. Of that 75 percent, about 25 percent go the traditional route. Yep, most don’t have the patience or grit to go the traditional route. But, with the retail price of a traditionally published picture book being on the high side, authors may wonder why they only…
Turn a Children’s Movie into a Children’s Book
While it’s usually the other way around, book to movie, if you’re a freelance writer or ghostwriter, you may get a request to turn a children’s movie into a children’s book. If this should arise, there’s a lot to consider, especially when most non-cartoon children’s movies have multiple POVs (point-of-perspectives). Another problem that may arise…
Children’s Books and Back Matter
Are you thinking of writing a children’s book? Or, maybe you’ve written one already. The majority of my clients hire me for picture books, although I’m getting more and more chapter and simple middle grade clients now. As authors having a book to be published, it’s important to know a bit about what should go…
The Secret of Getting Ahead
Probably everyone has heard one adage or another about the first step. Well, that first step certainly applies to your writing too. Having a desire to write a novel or children story is something, but taking the first step to bringing that desire to fruition is impressive. Having an idea for a story is something….