April 2009
Creating Believable Characters for Children's Books
If you’ve read my previous articles you’ll be aware that I’ve defined children’s books as books that feature a child as the main character and the audience is children.
So, let’s take a look at children as characters.
In p...
Creating Ideas For Children's Books
Ideas are everywhere. All of the time. It’s our job, as writers, to find some ideas and turn them into entertaining stories.
The most common sources of inspiration include: our experiences and personalities, children, family, pets, friends, conve...
March 2009
How To Write In The Children's Market (Part 3)
This is going to be my third article of many to come. The article series is the how to when it comes to writing in the children?s market. It is going to be a considerably long series so keep checking back for new updates.
Children hate it when they c...
Writing Picture Books for Children
Picture books look easy to write. They usually contain less than 1,000 words with stories that appear so simple that anyone can write one.
In fact, picture books are the hardest of all children’s books to write and do well.
That doesn’t mea...
10 Survival Tips For Taking Young Children Camping
“Let’s go camping!” With those few simple words you are instantly a hero to your children. To ensure you remain that way during the camping trip, you better make sure you have planned well and are prepared for all types of contingenci...
Plotting a Children's Book
In a previous article I explained the ideas behind some of my children’s books. Over time, I’ve trained my brain to be on “alert” for ideas and I discover a lot more ideas than I have time to put pen to paper or fingers to lapto...
How to Enjoy Camping with Children
Many of us have fond memories of our parents taking us camping as children and would like to pass on this experience to our children but are a little daunted by what we see as the unknown, particularly if it has been a while since we last went camping....
Taking Children On The Ferry
Children are naturally adventurous and will love the excitement of going on a giant boat. If you have anxieties about the journey do not let your children see as this will make them nervous too.
Most children will be fine on the ferry so you have no ne...
Choosing The Right Children's Gift And Toy
Take advantage of shopping online to help you save time. Instead of trekking out into the shopping malls to stand in lines, you can elect to do some or all of your gift shopping online and save the gasoline and the frustration. There are plenty of chi...
How To Write In The Children's Market (Part 1)
In the next couple of months I will be writing a number of articles about how you can break into the children?s market of writing. This will be a considerably long series so I suggest you keep checking back for the newest post.
Writing children?s lite...
Plotting a Children's Book
In a previous article I explained the ideas behind some of my children’s books. Over time, I’ve trained my brain to be on “alert” for ideas and I discover a lot more ideas than I have time to put pen to paper or fingers to lapto...
Plotting a Children's Book
In a previous article I explained the ideas behind some of my children’s books. Over time, I’ve trained my brain to be on “alert” for ideas and I discover a lot more ideas than I have time to put pen to paper or fingers to lapto...
Choosing The Right Children's Gift And Toy
Take advantage of shopping online to help you save time. Instead of trekking out into the shopping malls to stand in lines, you can elect to do some or all of your gift shopping online and save the gasoline and the frustration. There are plenty of chi...
Writing for Children: Nonfiction for Magazines
Nonfiction need not be dull; it includes a wide range of topics. It can include history, biography, personal essays, personal profiles, sports, biology, geology, geography, holidays ? the list really is almost endless. Anything that you find fascinatin...
February 2009
Children's Books - How to Add More Style to Your Writing - Part 1
When writing your children?s book, your should try to pay as much attention to style as you do to the construction of the story. Style is the elegance of the story, and without due regard to style, your book will be awkward and tedious to read.
The fol...
Children's Books - How to Keep Children Turning Those Pages
How should a children’s book be constructed?
A very important element in the construction of a piece of creative writing is a strong beginning. If the opening is not catchy, then readers will fairly rapidly lose interest.
Children tend to have a ...
How to Get Your Children's Book Published
How do you get a children’s book published?
I’m sure there are many varied answers to this question depending on who you ask. I can give you my experiences and advice.
I had been writing for five years before I had my first book accepted by...
How To Write In The Children's Market (Part 1)
In the next couple of months I will be writing a number of articles about how you can break into the children?s market of writing. This will be a considerably long series so I suggest you keep checking back for the newest post.
Writing children?s lite...
Children's Stories - Submitting Manuscripts to Publishers
First you must enjoy writing ? you are doing it for your own satisfaction. I?m sorry to have to inform you that you won?t make a J.K. Rowlings fortune even if you do find a publisher - and you may not. The competition is fierce!
If you haven’t r...
Taking Children On The Ferry
Children are naturally adventurous and will love the excitement of going on a giant boat. If you have anxieties about the journey do not let your children see as this will make them nervous too.
Most children will be fine on the ferry so you have no ne...
Children's Books - How to Keep Children Turning Those Pages
How should a children’s book be constructed?
A very important element in the construction of a piece of creative writing is a strong beginning. If the opening is not catchy, then readers will fairly rapidly lose interest.
Children tend to have a ...
Childrens Book of the Month Club - The Perfect Gift
Reading is almost becoming a lost art. Between the video games, children’s DVDs and the endless variety of shows that are geared towards children it’s hard to imagine a time when a child would actually sit down and read a book for enjoyment...
Choosing The Right Children's Gift And Toy
Take advantage of shopping online to help you save time. Instead of trekking out into the shopping malls to stand in lines, you can elect to do some or all of your gift shopping online and save the gasoline and the frustration. There are plenty of chi...
How to Get Your Children's Book Published
How do you get a children’s book published?
I’m sure there are many varied answers to this question depending on who you ask. I can give you my experiences and advice.
I had been writing for five years before I had my first book accepted by...
History Written for Children
When is history fun? When it is told or written in story form. Children are more responsive to stories of true events than they are to reading a conventional history book. Shirley Nelson author of ?What Happened Here?? saw the need for a local histor...
