Whether to publish traditionally or self-publish is the question I get most from my ghosting clients. Most new to the writing arena don’t understand what’s involved with either path. This article will hopefully shed some light on the topic. Traditional Publishing With traditional publishing, you submit your EDITED manuscript to publishing houses and/or literary agents….
Tag: 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…
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)….
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…
Rewriting a Folktale – Walking Through Walls
When a writer’s muse seems to be on vacation, she may be at a loss for story ideas. While there are a number of sites and tools online to help get the creative juices flowing, one tool that writers might overlook is studying folktales. Reading folktales is a great way to spin a new yarn,…
Learn to Write for Children – 3+ Basic Tools
We all know how difficult it is to break into the business of writing for children. Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, it is a tough business and can be overwhelming for those just starting out. While all writing must adhere to certain guidelines, writing for children has additional principles unique to its genre. To…