I self-published a children’s picture book in 2008 when self-publishing wasn’t as popular as it is today. And as a newbie to self-publishing, I made a couple of mistakes. The first of which was that I didn’t hire an illustrator-–I did the illustrations and book cover myself. I can hear the gasps. It’s okay, though….
Tag: writing for children
Self-Publishing a Picture Book and Vanity Presses
Sadly, there are still new authors who fall for the lure of self-publishing (vanity) services. And, while this article focuses on picture books, it’s solid advice for authors of other genres. As a ghostwriter, the majority of my clients hit the self-publishing road as do I think most of today’s authors. It’s just easier and…
Writing a Successful Children’s Series – 3 Key Elements
This is Part2 of writing a children’s series. And, if you’re a children’s writer of chapter books, middle grade, or young adult you can write one. To write a series, you need three things: 1. Strong characters In a ‘live’ workshop, Scholastic senior editor Matt Ringler noted that the most important element of a series…
Writing a Children’s Book Series – Different Types
I attended another ‘live’ workshop through SCBWI. This one was with Senior Editor Matt Ringler with Scholastic. He’s in the series department for chapter books, middle grade, and young adult. If you write in these genres, you’ll want to read on! In case you weren’t aware, Scholastic is the only publisher that deals solely with…
Villain or Antagonist – Is There a Difference?
Guest Post by Linda Wilson Is a villain and an antagonist one and the same? Sometimes, and sometimes not. First stop, the dictionary definitions: Mwa Ha Ha A villain is: 1. a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; scoundrel; 2. A character in a play, novel, or the…
Writing a Publishable Children’s Story: 12 Power-Tips
I’m a children’s author and ghostwriter, and I’m always honing my craft. I read lots of books and articles on writing and writing for children, as well as books in the genres I write. I also attend workshops and webinars by expert children’s writers and editors. If you want to write for children, you must…
Writing for Children – Learn the Ropes
I write for young children, and I’ve also written a lot of content on marketing and health topics. Writing in multiple genres, I can tell you that writing for children can be much more challenging. When writing for children, there are guidelines to follow to help your story avoid the editor’s trash pile. Okay, I…
A Writer’s Number One Job
Writers have to do a lot to create a good story, but the number one thing is to create a connection. You must make the reader care. Although it’s the most important element of your job, lots of writers just don’t get it right. According to Mary Kole of KidLit, “Whether they name emotions outright,…
Picture Books – What Grabs an Editor
I attended a ‘live’ two hour writing workshop through SCBWI: Hook, Line and Sinker: What Catches the Editor’s Eye with Scholastic editor Natalia Remis. It was an amazing workshop and not only was the information excellent, the editor gave the first page of the attendees’ manuscripts a critique! I try to keep up with the…
Walking Through Walls Book Trailer
Walking Through Walls was honored with the Children’s Literary Classics Silver Award. Set in 16th century China, this middle-grade fantasy adventure is about 12-year-old Wang. Not liking to work, it really bugs him that he has to help his father tend the wheat fields. Thinking he can bypass work and struggle (and become rich and…