In this episode, Sharon and Christy talk about how to navigate critique groups, the positives, perils and pitfalls inherent in getting and giving feedback, and how to find a critique group that will best serve your needs.

Sharon's Critique Guide, "The Art of Critique: Giving and Getting Good Feedback"

Christy's Critique Group Needs Self-Reflection Journal

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @CoachingKidLit

For more information about Sharon Skinner, visit bookcoachingbysharon.com.

For more information about Christy Yaros, visit christyyaros.com.

In this episode Christy and Sharon are joined by fellow Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach Sara Gentry. Sara, Sharon, and Christy talk about using the Author Accelerator Inside Outline as a tool for studying published books as mentor texts.

Books discussed:

The Next Great Jane by K.L. Going

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

After the Fall by Dan Santat

A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @CoachingKidLit

For more information about Sharon Skinner, visit bookcoachingbysharon.com.

For more information about Christy Yaros, visit christyyaros.com.

For more information about Sara Gentry, visit solutionsforwriters.com

Sharon and Christy discuss what makes a good opening for a KidLit novel, and test each other's detective skills with some excellent opening lines from published KidLit.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @CoachingKidLit

For more information about Sharon Skinner, visit bookcoachingbysharon.com.

For more information about Christy Yaros, visit christyyaros.com.

Christy and Sharon talk about plot, different forms of plot/subplot, some of the plotting tools that are available, and dig into plot in KidLit.

Darcy Pattison's Shrunken Manuscript Revision Method: https://www.darcypattison.com/writing/revision/shrunken-manuscript-watch-webinar/

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @CoachingKidLit

For more information about Sharon Skinner, visit bookcoachingbysharon.com.

For more information about Christy Yaros, visit christyyaros.com.

Cindy L. Rodriguez returns to chat with Christy and Sharon about the value of hiring a book coach, whether you're just starting out, still aspiring, or a multi-published author.

Cindy’s debut picture book, Three Pockets Full, came out from Cardinal Rule Press on September 1.

Jump to:

[3:04] The Backstory of the Story

[8:02] Critique Group vs. Coach 

[11:08] The Manuscript Evaluation

[13:16] On Feedback from Your Book Coach/Editor

[19:29] The Story You Think You're Telling vs What's on the Page

[24:36] Working with a Coach When You Already Have a Contract

[26:58] Why We Love "Why?"

[30:29] Book Coaching as an Investment in You

[32:20] Actionable Items

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @CoachingKidLit

For more information about Sharon Skinner, visit bookcoachingbysharon.com.

For more information about Christy Yaros, visit christyyaros.com.

Christy and Sharon dive into Coaching KidLit, what exactly this book coaching thing is, which is not a very simple answer, but nonetheless an interesting one, because at its essence, it's all about helping you write, edit, and polish your manuscript so it's the best it can be.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @CoachingKidLit

For more information about Sharon Skinner, visit bookcoachingbysharon.com.

For more information about Christy Yaros, visit christyyaros.com.

Sharon and Christy discuss source material, challenges with adhering too close to facts, and ways you can put some distance between you and the "way things really happened" in order to tell a compelling and emotionally resonant story.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @CoachingKidLit

For more information about Sharon Skinner, visit bookcoachingbysharon.com.

For more information about Christy Yaros, visit christyyaros.com.

Join Sharon and Christy as they welcome their first guest, KidLit author Cindy L. Rodriguez, to talk about her journey to KidLit through journalism and teaching middle school. Cindy's debut picture book, THREE POCKETS FULL: A Story of Love, Family, and Tradition, illustrated by Begoña Fernández Corbalán, comes out July 1 from Cardinal Rule Press.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @CoachingKidLit

For more information about Sharon Skinner, visit bookcoachingbysharon.com.

For more information about Christy Yaros, visit christyyaros.com.

What drives a story is not only what happens to the protagonist, but what it means to them, their choices and the consequences of those choices, and what they choose to do after that. The character journey is what the story really is about. This is especially true in KidLit.

Join Christy and Sharon as they deep dive into character development and discuss ways that KidLit characters differ from adult characters.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @CoachingKidLit

For more information about Sharon Skinner, visit bookcoachingbysharon.com.

For more information about Christy Yaros, visit christyyaros.com.

The most engaging stories are those that contain emotional truth.

So, what is emotional truth? And how can you get it onto the page?

Christy and Sharon explore what it means to write emotional truth, and how, when you write from a place that is emotionally true, the reader will truly connect to that, even if you’re writing about something they have not personally experienced.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @CoachingKidLit

For more information about Sharon Skinner, visit bookcoachingbysharon.com.

For more information about Christy Yaros, visit christyyaros.com.