4 First Steps to Writing a Marketable Children's Book

 Contributed by Karen Cioffi, Children's Ghostwriter, Editor, and Coach

 Writing books is a business. The same goes for writing magazine articles, copywriting, and so on. 

Any time you write with the thought of selling what you’re writing, it becomes a business.

It’s not that the marketing end of your writing should put a damper on your muse, but there are a few key marketing components that you need to keep in mind when writing.

1. The very first component is your audience.

It’s been said over and over that you need to have a target market – a target audience for your book.

Well, if you're not sure, imagine you wrote a story about your Alaskan adventure.

Who do you think would be interested in it? Who do you think would buy your book?

Now imagine you wrote a children’s fantasy chapter book. 

Same questions.

But the answers will be different.

In an article at Live, Write, Thrive, the author takes this a step further. She advises you to analyze your ‘perfect’ reader. Find out what he likes. Does he have any pets? Does she like sports or music? What about her family and school? What about friends? The deeper you go, the better.

With the answers to these questions, you can craft a story tailored toward that reader. Or you can include tidbits that a particular reader can relate to in a story you are already writing.

Maybe your reader is a junior lifeguard and cross-country runner. And he has an eighty-pound, former bronco-jumping Bernedoodle.

With this knowledge, you can craft a story that incorporates elements relative to the readers’ age group without detracting from the story’s creative process.

2. Have a great theme.

First, what is theme?

One explanation of theme is from MasterClass: “In simpler stories, the theme may be a moral or message: ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’ In more complex stories, the central theme is typically a more open-ended exploration of some fundamental aspect of society or humanity.”

The theme should be subtly woven into your story.

But there are occasions when you don’t know what the theme of your story is until it’s complete. 

Six of the most common themes are:

-Good vs. evil
-Love
-Redemption
-Courage 
-Coming of age
-Revenge

As a children’s ghostwriter, the themes I see most often from clients are:

-Be who you are
-Acceptance
-Being a good friend and making friends
-Kindness
-Bullying
-Environment

For a children’s writer or someone who wants to write their own children’s book, the themes tend to focus on raising awareness in children. The themes usually focus on teaching and guiding children.

Your theme should be like a ghost, invisible. But like the wind, you can feel it. You know it’s there.

3. Be different.

It’s challenging to come up with a unique story. Everything that can go on in life has been written about. 

So, how do you keep your story fresh?

One good way to do this is to study recently published books in your genre. Make the bulk of them traditionally published, since they had to get past the gatekeepers.

There are two reasons for researching traditionally published books:

A. As mentioned, the storyline and writing will be good…good enough to make it past the gatekeepers.

B. Publishing houses know what’s being received well and what’s not. They’re doing a lot of research that you can take advantage of.

After you research your contenders, buckle down and write a better story, one that has a different spin. This may take a great deal of effort, but it will make your story stand out; it will make your story unique.

Try to avoid the popular stuff. Think about historical fiction. 

If you go this route, just keep in mind you need an audience that will be interested in it.

You might even get ideas from folktales. Not the ‘overly done’ ones, but older, ancient tales. 

Whatever you write, make it your own.

4. Write a good story.

You can take all the steps necessary to create a marketable children’s book, but if the story isn’t properly written, if you don’t have a good story, those steps will be for naught.

A quick breakdown of the elements needed to write a good story:

-Theme (we discussed this already)
-Plot
-Story structure
-Characters
-Setting
-Style and tone
 
If you have any other tips on writing a marketable children’s book, please put them in the comments.

Sources:
https://www.livewritethrive.com/2014/06/09/3-ways-to-plan-a-marketable-novel/ 
https://www.novel-writing-help.com/what-is-theme.html
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/the-complete-guide-to-narrative-theme-in-literature-definition-examples-and-writing-how-to
https://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com/2015/05/10/make-a-good-story-worthy-of-the-gatekeeper/  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

 

Karen Cioffi is a children’s author, ghostwriter, editor, and self-publishing consultant. If you’d like to learn more about writing for children or need help with your story, visit Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi. 

You can check out Karen’s books HERE.

And connect with Karen on SOCIAL MEDIA. 
 

 

 

 

 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

What Children's Authors Shouldn't Do: 3 Tips

 

 

 Contributed by Karen Cioffi, Children's Writer, Editor, Coach

 It seems there are still new children’s authors or wannabe authors who don’t take the time to learn how to write for children… at least to learn the basics.

Here are three mistakes to avoid when writing for children:

THE PICTURE BOOK CLIFFHANGER

A recent client wanted a picture book rewritten with the ending missing, so there was a bit of ghosting involved. The intended age group was four to eight.

I rewrote the story and added a ‘satisfying’ ending with a takeaway only to learn the client wanted it to be a cliffhanger and didn’t want a takeaway.

Well, kind of a cliffhanger. The client wanted the ending missing.

No loose ends tied up. No satisfying ending. No full character arc. No full story arc.

This client scenario was a first for me.

Not wanting a takeaway is one thing, but not wanting a satisfying ending for a young children’s book doesn’t make sense.

The story was to leave the reader to guess what the author had in mind for the ending or create their own. 

The author’s intent was to create a series of cliffhangers motivating the reader to get the next picture book.

I tried my best to help the client understand that a young children’s book needs all the elements of a ‘good’ story, especially when seeking a traditional publishing contract.

This is not to say if you’re writing a children’s book series, you can’t have a teaser at the end that hints to the next adventure. But the story at hand must have a satisfying ending before the brief teaser.

THE PERFECT STORY WORLD

I don’t get too many of these types of authors, but it came up in another recent project.

This scenario is when the author doesn’t want any significant conflict in the story. No real stakes involved.

-No swarm of bees to block a path the protagonist must get through.
-No ferocious fire-breathing dragon blocking the entrance to a cave the protagonist must get into.
-No dangling from a cliff before being rescued.

The author also doesn’t want the characters, even the villain, to have any bad traits.

-No evil Professor Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis).
-No evil Joker or the Penguin (Batman’s nemesis).
-No evil Lex Luthor (Superman’s nemesis).

This type of story is sugar-coated.

Instead of a roller coaster that goes up and down, where the rider has to hold on tight, this type of story is the stationary horse on the carousel, no holding on needed, no real movement involved.

You always want your story to be the one the reader is motivated to hold onto, motivated to turn the pages. You want your story to go up and down and around.

HITTING THE READER OVER THE HEAD

Most of my clients have a specific goal for their story. They want to send a message to a child. They know exactly what they want the takeaway to be. 

A number of stories have the bullying theme, but interestingly, that’s eased off. Now I get more requests for inclusion, standing up for yourself, and being kind themes.

Some new authors think they have to hit the reader over the head with their message. They blatantly want to tell the reader how the main character grew because he was kind, stood up for himself, or included someone different in her group.

This is not a good idea. The story should convey the message subtly. 

I hope these three tips on what to avoid will help you on your children’s writing journey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s writer, coach, and self-publishing consultant with clients worldwide. For more tips on writing for children or if you need help with your children’s story, please visit Karen Cioffi Writing for Children. While there, you can check out Karen’s books. 

And don’t forget to CONNECT.  

----- 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

How to Make Your Characters Memorable

 

Contributed by children's writer Karen Cioffi 

 

Characters take shape from the simplest clues.

Maybe you first reference the character as the boy or a tall girl. Even with those simple words, you've given that character life.

Before that, there wasn't a boy or a tall girl.

BELOW ARE 5 DOS AND DON'Ts FOR CRAFTING CHARACTERS

1. Don't over-dump physical details.

While it’s important to bring your characters to life through description, it’s best to limit including too many details. In other words, avoid over-dumping physical details.

An example of this might be Raul. A tall and thin twelve-year-old with green eyes, dark brown hair, and a swimmer's body.

While you won't be able to write all his details in one scene, and you shouldn’t even try.

However, there are techniques to convey physical characteristics without overdumping. 

To convey his height:

-The boys took turns hurling the paper airplane through the air until it got stuck in the branch of a tree. “You get it, Raul. You’re tall,” said Shawn. 

To convey his hair color:

-From the back, Mrs. Stenzer couldn't tell which boy was Raul. They all had dark brown hair.  

To convey his body type:

-Raul was the only new kid on the swimming team who already had a swimmer's body.

2. Avoid being too vague.

While you shouldn’t convey every detail of a character, you can provide enough to give the reader an idea of the character's physical attributes. The reader can then fill in the details.

Two examples of this might be:

-His neat cut in the back and sides contrasted with the long hair in front that fell below his brows.

-He stretched his swimmer's body and then raced into the ocean.

3. Include the character's environment.

A character may live in an apartment in a low-income building. Another may live in the backwoods of the Appalachian Mountains. All this will give insight into the character.

Or the character may live in a penthouse on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Or the character may live in Saipan. 

The character's environment can also include his past environment. 

I ghostwrote a book in which one of the characters went from a wealthy lifestyle to a poor one. This could tell a lot about why the character behaved in a certain way or why she was depressed. 

4. Include the character's close relationships.

How your character engages with the different people in his family, friends, and new people will show different facets of his character.

The friends he associates with will also reveal some of his tendencies and character. The expression 'birds of a feather flock together' can play a factor in the character's personality.

5. Include appearance and even sundry items.

How you describe your character's appearance can tell a lot about that character. 

-Are his clothes neat and ironed, with his shirt tucked inside his pants? 
-Is he unkempt? Are his clothes wrinkled, with his shirt partially tucked in, or not?
-What about her hair? Is it a mess? Does it look dirty? Or is it well-groomed?
-Is his hair short or long? Is it well-kept?
-What does she keep in her backpack? 
-Does she always chew gum? 
-Does he always use breath mints? 

The list can go on and on. 

These are just five tips on how to use description to bring your characters to life and enhance your readers' view of your characters. There are others, but this should give you a solid foundation for creating engaging characters.

 

                                                                ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

 Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach with clients worldwide. For more tips on writing for children or if you need help with your children’s story, please visit Karen Cioffi Writing for Children. While there, you can check out Karen’s books.

And don’t forget to CONNECT with Karen. 

-----

A feature in the right column of this blog lets you subscribe to #SharingwithWriters so you don’t miss any of Karen’s posts on writing for children.   

----- 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Writing Success

 

 

 

 Contributed by Karen Cioffi, Children's Writer

Writers has their own view of what Writing success is. Some writers may simply want to get a book or article published; others may want to be on the New York Times Best Sellers List; others may want to make a living writing; and others may be seeking wealth and fame. The key here is to dig down and really know what your perception of writing success is.

Once you are sure what you are aiming for, take the necessary steps to become the writing success you dream of. Sounds easy, right? Well, we all know it’s not; if it were, there would be no struggling writers.

The first problem we encounter is actually realizing how we perceive success or what we want from our writing efforts. According to Jack Canfield, co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul, the number one reason for being stuck and not realizing your potential or goals is the lack of clarity.

Step One: You Must Define Your Goals 
It’s not sufficient to state you want to be a published writer; you need to proclaim the specifics. You want to be a self-help nonfiction author of published books and magazine articles, earning an income of $100,000 per year. You can even get much more specific than that—the more specific your goals and intentions are, the more likely you will attain them.

Step Two: Prepare a Plan
When you finally have a breakthrough and know exactly what you want from your writing efforts, you need to prepare a detailed plan. Your plan, just like your goals, needs to be very specific. 

Think of a recipe: You plan on baking a cake, but you’ll need more than just the ingredients; you’ll need the exact amount of each ingredient, the proper procedure for mixing them together, the baking temperature, how long to bake it, how long to cool it before removing it from the pan . . . you get the idea.

Now you’re on your way. You have specific goals and a detailed plan, but you’re still not achieving success.

Step Three: Take Action
Think of the first two steps as the foundation of your house. To move forward toward success, you need to build the house. This takes action; it actually takes more than just action; it takes ongoing action and perseverance to carry you through to completion.

Step Four: Projection
You have the other steps down pat; now, picture yourself attaining your goals. According to motivational speakers, you will have a much greater chance of making it happen by projecting success. This step encompasses a number of strategies such as envisioning, projection, projection boards, and affirmations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, working ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach. If you'd like to learn more about writing for children or need help with your story, visit Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi. 

You can check out Karen’s books HERE and her DIY webpage HERE.

Connect with Karen on SOCIAL MEDIA. 

----- 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Writing: The Juggling Act

  

  Contributed by Karen Cioffi, Children's Writer

 It takes time to write a 'good' story.

I’m sure there are writers who sit down and write a story in a day, but I’m talking about doing it right.

This is especially true of writing for children.

It’s so important to know the rules. Know what the standard industry guidelines are and adhere to them.

There’s a lot that goes into writing. And if you want it to be publishing and marketing worthy, again, you want to do it right.

But what happens when you finish your manuscript? You revised it, edited, and proofed it, and possibly even had a professional writer look at it.

Your manuscript, your baby, is ready to fly. 

You enter the traditional submitting phase. You’ve done your research and have found literary agents and book publishers in your genre. The submission process is in full swing.

This process can easily take longer than the writing process, but you need to persevere.

In the meantime… 

Should you just sit around and wait for a bite from an agent or publisher?

Should you sit around and gather dust on your keyboard?

Absolutely not!

You need to move on to another story as soon as you start the submission process on your first book. Once book two is in the submission process, it’s onto book three, and so on.

This goes even more so for articles.

According to writing coach Suzanne Lieurance, you should have around 12 articles out circulating to magazine editors.

This is how you get work.

It’s the writing juggling act.

Keep the stories or articles moving.

Once you finish one story, get started on the next.

Another aspect of the writing juggling act: Book Marketing.

While you do need to keep writing those stories and getting them published, you also need to work on marketing you and your writing.

Marketing is a part of every author’s writing life if you expect to sell your books. 

-The first step of marketing is to create a quality book.
-The next step is to submit your work – this is pitching your work.
-If you’re self-publishing, you will need to publish it and distribute it so it’s available for sale.

Once the book finds a home, it’s about creating visibility. If people don’t know it exists, you won’t sell it. 

The marketing and visibility process is ongoing.

If you’re wondering if having to promote your books is a must, even major publishers expect their authors to have an online author platform. They also expect the author to be able to help sell their books through that platform.

And, small publishers expect you to do all the marketing. 

Marketing is that important.

So, what are the basics of an author’s online platform?

-The first step is to have a website and keep it current.

-Next is to post to social media to bring awareness about you, your books, articles, or services.

This will take up any spare writing time you may have. 

So, if you’re a writer, there is no such thing as downtime. It’s all about the writing juggling act.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach with clients worldwide. If you need help with your children’s story, please visit Karen Cioffi Writing for Children.
 
Karen also offers: 

HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S FICTION BOOK. 
A 250+ book that will help you start or finish your children’s book

FICTION WRITING FOR CHILDREN eCOURSE
4-Weeks / 8 Sections / Instructor Guided Self-Study Program
 
~~~~~~

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Writing: What Areas are You Strong In? Weak In?

  

 Contributed by Children's Writer Karen Cioffi

Writing is different for every writer. 

Some find it easy to merge their chapters seamlessly. Others find it easy to craft that ‘just right ending.' 

Other authors find it easy to jump right into a story, writing a grabbing beginning. 

No matter what aspect of the story, there will be some writers who can breeze through it effortlessly while others  struggle. That’s the nature of writing.

I find it pretty easy to start a story. I can create a beginning that jumps into the action, which is what most stories need, especially children’s stories. 

But… I can find it challenging to end my stories. I have no idea why. I can start it and bring it along toward an ending, but then I fizzle out. My endings can initially be weak.

I first noticed my weak spot when I submitted a chapter book to 4RV Publishing. I pitched the story to the publisher during an online writers’ conference. The publisher allowed me to submit a synopsis and the first three chapters of my manuscript. Unfortunately, my submission was also lacking, but that’s another story.

The editor who read the chapters and synopsis liked the storyline but was confused about my ending in the synopsis. As I mentioned earlier, I can struggle with my endings. In spite of that, the editor recommended that the publisher request the manuscript so they could look it over. They advised me to edit it first and work on the ending. I created an entirely new ending and sent it to a professional editor for review and editing.

It’s funny, but I think that at times, there are forms of inspiration that can take us where we don’t usually tread... that help us overcome our obstacles or mountains. 

In the case of my story, “Walking Through Walls,” I came up with a pretty good ending that tied everything together and provided a surprise. I worked on this story for around two years, and finally, when it counted, I found the right path for the story to take.

We writers must pay attention to our writing weak spots and work on them. I was fortunate that an editor and publisher looked beyond my weak points and gave me the opportunity to improve my story. This is not always the case.

So, what’s a writer to do?

Well, the very basics are simple:

1. Make sure you’re part of a critique group that includes both new and experienced writers. The critique members can help you overcome the hurdles. 

2. If you have to, write a few different scenarios in the section you’re having trouble with to help you open up. And if you’re still having trouble with your story, put it away for at least a week, preferably more, and then go back to it. It’s almost like magic; you’ll see it differently. And listen when inspiration comes knocking!

3. Read a lot of quality books in the genre you’re writing and even copy sections of them word-by-word. Make sure to include recently published books by top publishers. This is a trick to get your brain to think and write ‘good writing.’ Please note that this should only be done for practice purposes. Never, ever use someone’s work as your own.

4. Practice your writing—hone your craft. My endings have improved through working and practice. This is why there’s a saying, “practice makes perfect.” Well, if not perfect, at least much better!

5. If nothing else works, hire a developmental editor or ghostwriter to help rewrite the sections you’re having difficulty with.

So, the tips of the day: Pay attention to where your writing weak spots are and work on them. 

And listen when inspiration comes knocking!

Now, back to the title of the post: What's your writing forte? 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

 

Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, working ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach (picture and chapter books). If you need help with your story, visit Writingfor Children with Karen Cioffi.

 

You can check out Karen’s books HERE.

----- 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

You've Got to Know What You're Doing

 

 

 Contributed by Karen Cioffi, Children's Writer

As with anything you attempt to do, it’s essential to know what you’re doing.

My father was a contractor—he built homes.

How structurally sound do you think those homes would have been if he didn’t know what he was doing or didn’t know how to read blueprints?

Or what about a musician who didn’t learn how to play an instrument. Or one who knew the basics but never practiced. Would you attend a concert that this musician was giving?

Well, the same thing applies to writing for children.

It’s true that a self-published author can publish a poorly written book; no one will stop him. But do you think that’s fair to the reader and those authors who produce quality books?

The answer is NO on both accounts.

A common problem I see with new children’s authors is that they’re not familiar with the different genres.

I’ll see 2,000-word picture book drafts or 9,000-word middle-grade drafts.

I’ll also see things like an intended middle-grade draft with inappropriate content for the age group.

This also applies to the words you use in your story. Everything must be age-appropriate when writing for children.

And there must be a main character (protagonist).

A story I recently reviewed didn't have a main character. It didn’t have a story arc, either.

This is common for some new authors. They have a message they want to convey but don’t realize it needs to be within the boundaries of a good fiction story.

Another biggie I notice is middle-grade stories with multiple points of view (POV), even going so far as to change POVs within a chapter. That's usually not a good thing no matter the genre. However, if it's upper middle grade, you can get away with more than one POV, just not within the same chapter. It's best to keep things simple.

I realize that many people think writing for children is easy.

How hard can it be, right?

Well, it’s actually a tricky genre to write in.

When writing for children, you must adhere to the industry’s standard guidelines. In other words, you need to know what you’re doing … you need to play by the rules.

Some elements that pertain to playing by the rules are:
1.    Word count
2.    Sentence and chapter length
3.    Story length
4.    Age-appropriate content
5.    Point of view
6.    Protagonist
7.    Character and story arcs

So, before you jump into a children’s story, read a many, many books in the genre you want to write. Be sure they’re well-written, though. A good way to do this is to read recently traditionally published books by top publishers, such as Simon & Schuster, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Chronicle Books.

There are good self-published books out there, but it’s sometimes a guessing game as to which are well-written and which are poorly written. You wouldn’t want to learn or model poorly written books.

Traditionally published books will be up to the current publishing guidelines and well-edited.

It'd also be a good idea to take a few online children’s writing courses, read books on writing for children, and possibly get a children’s writing coach to help you overcome the hurdles of writing a publishable book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 

 

Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach with clients worldwide. If you need help with your children’s story, please visit Karen Cioffi Writing for Children.

 

Karen also offers:

HOW TOWRITE A CHILDREN’S FICTION BOOK.

A 250+ book that will help you start or finish your children’s book

 

PICTUREBOOK, CHAPTER BOOK, MIDDLE GRADE COACHING

Four to twelve-week coaching programs.

 

FICTIONWRITING FOR CHILDREN eCOURSE

4-Weeks / 8 Sections Guided Self-Study Mentoring Program

 -----                                                

 

A feature in the right column of this blog lets you subscribe to #SharingwithWriters so you don’t miss any of Karen’s posts on writing for children.  

-----

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.