Articles - Children's Writing en-us http://proofpositive.com N/A http://proofpositive.com editor@proofpositive.com 20 http://proofpositive.com/articles/470/1/TURN-PERSONAL-STRUGGLES-INTO-BOOKS-FOR-CHILDREN/Page1.html TURN PERSONAL STRUGGLES INTO BOOKS FOR CHILDRENby Laura Backes, Publisher, Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's WritersSuppose you've just gone through a divorce and lost custody of your kids. Or a loved one has recently died of cancer. Or you struggled in school as a child because you have dyslexia.Many writers turn difficult periods in their lives into books for children, hoping to help young readers through similar painful experiences. Here are some tips to keep in mind when creating and selling books based on real-life events: admin@proofpositive.com (Laura Backes) Sun, 26 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://proofpositive.com/articles/469/1/7-Tips-On-How-To-Locate-Junior-Editors-for-Your-ChildrensBook/Page1.html 1. Talk with a teacher at your local school that has a classroom of your book's age group. Ask for permission to come in and read the book to the class. Video tape the children's reactions or ask two people to accompany you to record the children's reactions to direct parts of the story. Give each of the recorders a copy of the manuscript that they can write comments on in the exact location of the children's reaction. They can make smiley faces of J L to save time. admin@proofpositive.com (Catherine Franz) Sun, 26 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://proofpositive.com/articles/468/1/Childrens-Stories---the-Essentials/Page1.html *Main characterDevelop protagonists that your readers will care about. Create characters that are the same age or a little older than your target audience. Make them real and believable. Allow your characters to make mistakes and have embarrassing moments. Children aren't perfect. They can't identify with a protagonist who is. Give Molly Squinch an obsession with worms or the inability to complete anything. Make Henry Steed stumble and turn red when a certain teacher comes near. Develop a character who is real enough to be living next door. admin@proofpositive.com (Ann Harth) Sun, 26 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://proofpositive.com/articles/467/1/The-Untold-Secrets-of-Writing-Best-Selling-Childrens-Books/Page1.html Ever wondered how the most successful children's book writers get their ideas? The answer may surprise you. Most children's books are based on the same exact story - good versus evil. Ex. Harry Potter vs Voldomort. Cinderella vs her wicked stepmother. Pinnochio's conscience vs. outside influences.Next we add a protagonist and an antagonist. Ex. Don't we love it when Harry Potter and Malfoy get into it? Or when Hansel and Gretel turn the tables on the witch? admin@proofpositive.com (Caterina Christakos) Sun, 26 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://proofpositive.com/articles/466/1/7-Keys-to-Writing-a-Childrens-Book-that-Sells-Like-Hotcakes/Page1.html 1) Create a hero that your audience can relate to. Examine your target market honestly. Who will be reading your book? Just because you think that your main character is funny, charming and brilliant doesn't mean that they will or even that that is what they care about. admin@proofpositive.com (Caterina Christakos) Sun, 26 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://proofpositive.com/articles/465/1/How-to-Write-for-Children-and-win-over-Parents/Page1.html You need to understand what the children want from reading and what their parent's want. Keeping the children happy and enjoying the story while enticing their imagination and appealing to their creative spirit is essential. But what is it that will make the parents purchase the book? Parents are also looking for books that will give some educational benefit to the child. It is obvious that new words and ideas are educational in themselves, but parents often want something more constructive - they want a way to measure the success of the book, to the educational value to their children. admin@proofpositive.com (Barbara Gabogrecan) Sun, 26 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://proofpositive.com/articles/464/1/Writing-a-Child-Story-8-Elements-to-Consider/Page1.html #1: Theme A good child story has an underlying theme. The underlying theme of "Peter and the Wolf," for example, is "don't tell lies" or "be honest." The underlying theme of "The Sneetches" by Dr. Seuss is "don't be racist" or "all (Sneetches) are created equal." A theme can be the moral of the story, or an insight or viewpoint that the story conveys. Common themes are courage, love, perseverance, friendship, etc. As an underlying theme, the theme usually emerges subtly as the story unfolds. A direct statement of the theme usually comes across as preachy and uninteresting. Remember what your high school English teacher used to say: "show, don't tell!" Also, keep your theme positive and constructive. Your story may be sad, but make sure it's not negative, cynical or depressing! admin@proofpositive.com (Paul Arinaga) Sun, 26 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://proofpositive.com/articles/463/1/Publishing-Child-Book-Top-Ten-Tips-for-Writing-Book-Pitches/Page1.html #1 -- Grab their attention in 10 seconds or less 10 seconds. That's how much time many editors say they spend per submission when they're screening. The first sentence of your pitch is the first thing that an editor will read, and if it doesn't grab their attention, it will be the last thing the editor reads. Make sure to stimulate their curiosity (without being "cute" or "evasive") so that they want to read the rest of your pitch and then your manuscript. Remember that your letter may be vying with a huge stack of other such letters in the harried editor's "slush" pile. Don't be boring! admin@proofpositive.com (Paul Arinaga) Sun, 26 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600