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What’s your biggest question about writing children’s books?
Happy New Year! As a children’s author, editor and writing coach, I spend a lot of time talking about writing and/or publishing books for children and young adults. I feel...
Read MoreFrom Theme to Story: Turning Abstract Ideas into Specific Stories
Themes are the big ideas that give stories depth and meaning… that make them resonate long after the first read. But when it comes to picture books, it’s important to...
Read MoreRead-Aloudability: Ensuring Your Picture Book Sings When Read
Picture books are intended to be read aloud to or with the child, so it’s essential to ensure your manuscript sounds as good as it looks. Even though they are...
Read MoreThe Power of Word Choice: Editing for Precision and Impact in Picture Books
Hello, writers! In picture books, every word counts. Careful word choice can enhance your story’s precision and impact. Here are some tips for editing your manuscript with an eye for...
Read MoreTrolling for Ideas (or, “Darn! Why Didn’t I Write That?!”)
The ideas for our children’s books are often inspired by my kids. Dumpy the Dump Truck was directly inspired by my son Sam’s love of trucks, and The Very Fairy...
Read MoreThe Circle of Focus
When Jane Yolen speaks of ‘focus’ with respect to writing picture books, she specifies that it should be sharp and small. There’s an acting term originally coined by the great...
Read MoreSomething Utterly Inspiring
My daughter attended her annual book fair at school this week. Among the books she wanted me to buy for her was Clarice Bean, That’s Me by Lauren Child. I...
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