Sharon and guest Rebecca Dolence discuss using creatures as symbols in kid lit, exploring how folklore and personal experience inform storytelling. They share insights on developing creature backstories, avoiding stereotypes, and twisting familiar tropes, while encouraging writers to innovate and deepen character symbolism in their children’s literature.
Key Topics Covered:
<ul>
<li>The role of creatures and symbolism in children’s literature and storytelling</li>
<li>Avoiding stereotypes by giving creatures nuanced personalities and backstories</li>
<li>How personal experience and voice shape writing and coaching approaches</li>
<li>Using folklore, mythology, and animal symbolism in kid lit</li>
<li>Twisting and innovating on familiar tropes and creature archetypes</li>
</ul>
Visit Rebecca online at: <a href='http://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-a-dolence-ba278a15'>LinkedIn, </a><a href='https://www.youtube.com/@RebeccaDolence'>YouTube, </a><a href='https://www.instagram.com/radnotesbookcoaching/'>Instagram, </a><a href='https://substack.com/@rebeccadolence'>Substack</a>
And check out her <a href='https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/uqL0Uh7'>Creature of the Month Club </a> and <a href='https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/FyIyYDb'>Free Villain Worksheet</a>
Other Resources:
<a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetry_slam'>Slam Poetry Wiki</a>
<a href='https://whatismyspiritanimal.com/'>What is My Spirit Animal</a>

Sharon and guest Rebecca Dolence discuss using creatures as symbols in kid lit, exploring how folklore and personal experience inform storytelling. They share insights on developing creature backstories, avoiding stereotypes, and twisting familiar tropes, while encouraging writers to innovate and deepen character symbolism in their children’s literature. Key Topics Covered: The role of creatures and symbolism in children’s literature and storytelling Avoiding stereotypes by giving creatures nuanced personalities and backstories How personal experience and voice shape writing and coaching approaches Using folklore, mythology, and animal symbolism in kid lit Twisting and innovating on familiar tropes and creature archetypes Visit Rebecca online at: LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Substack And check out her Creature of the Month Club and Free Villain Worksheet Other Resources: Slam Poetry Wiki What is My Spirit Animal

Sharon and guest Rebecca Dolence discuss using creatures as symbols in kid lit, exploring how folklore and personal experience inform storytelling. They share insights on developing creature backstories, avoiding stereotypes, and twisting familiar tropes, while encouraging writers to innovate and deepen character symbolism in their children’s literature.
Key Topics Covered:
<ul>
<li>The role of creatures and symbolism in children’s literature and storytelling</li>
<li>Avoiding stereotypes by giving creatures nuanced personalities and backstories</li>
<li>How personal experience and voice shape writing and coaching approaches</li>
<li>Using folklore, mythology, and animal symbolism in kid lit</li>
<li>Twisting and innovating on familiar tropes and creature archetypes</li>
</ul>
Visit Rebecca online at:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-a-dolence-ba278a15" rel="noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn,&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RebeccaDolence" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube, </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/radnotesbookcoaching/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram,&nbsp;</a><a href="https://substack.com/@rebeccadolence" rel="noopener noreferrer">Substack</a>
And check out her&nbsp;<a href="https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/uqL0Uh7" rel="noopener noreferrer">Creature of the Month Club </a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/FyIyYDb" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Villain Worksheet</a>
Other Resources:
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetry_slam" rel="noopener noreferrer">Slam Poetry Wiki</a>
<a href="https://whatismyspiritanimal.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">What is My Spirit Animal</a>

Episode 45: Creatures as Characters & Symbols with Guest Rebecca Dolence

A podcast about writing and publishing good KidLit, hosted by Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach Sharon Skinner.
Talking about the craft of writing children‘s books.

A NOTE TO OUR LISTENERS:
Christy Yaros, co-founder of the Coaching KidLit podcast, has stepped away to focus her time and energy on other exciting opportunities. I’m deeply grateful for the insight, heart, and dedication she brought to building this podcast and supporting the KidLit community.
As we move forward, I’ll be continuing the podcast solo—welcoming a range of guests to share their expertise and inspiration for writers creating stories for kids and teens. I’m excited to carry on the mission we started together and to keep supporting you on your KidLit journey.
—Sharon Skinner

Sharon Skinner is a book coach, editor, and author who helps writers craft stories that connect deeply with readers. With a passion for both story structure and heart, she brings decades of experience to coaching writers across genres and age categories, from picture books to adult. As the host of the Coaching KidLit podcast, Sharon continues its mission to inform, inspire, and support KidLit creators at every stage of the journey.

At Coaching KidLit, we’re committed to inclusion. We believe stories are richer and more resonant when they reflect a wide range of lived experiences. That includes voices from the LGBTQIA+ community, Native and Indigenous peoples, people of color, people with disabilities, neurodivergent creators, and those from diverse cultural, religious, and gender backgrounds.
 We also understand disability through a broad lens, and we align with the social model of disability, which focuses on removing barriers—not "fixing" individuals.
 Bottom line? Everyone deserves to be seen and heard. And we're here to support stories that make that happen.

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A podcast about writing and publishing good KidLit, hosted by Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach Sharon Skinner. Talking about the craft of writing children‘s books. A NOTE TO OUR LISTENERS: Christy Yaros, co-founder of the Coaching KidLit podcast, has stepped away to focus her time and energy on other exciting opportunities. I’m deeply grateful for the insight, heart, and dedication she brought to building this podcast and supporting the KidLit community. As we move forward, I’ll be continuing the podcast solo—welcoming a range of guests to share their expertise and inspiration for writers creating stories for kids and teens. I’m excited to carry on the mission we started together and to keep supporting you on your KidLit journey. —Sharon Skinner Sharon Skinner is a book coach, editor, and author who helps writers craft stories that connect deeply with readers. With a passion for both story structure and heart, she brings decades of experience to coaching writers across genres and age categories, from picture books to adult. As the host of the Coaching KidLit podcast, Sharon continues its mission to inform, inspire, and support KidLit creators at every stage of the journey. At Coaching KidLit, we’re committed to inclusion.We believe stories are richer and more resonant when they reflect a wide range of lived experiences. That includes voices from the LGBTQIA+ community, Native and Indigenous peoples, people of color, people with disabilities, neurodivergent creators, and those from diverse cultural, religious, and gender backgrounds. We also understand disability through a broad lens, and we align with the social model of disability, which focuses on removing barriers—not "fixing" individuals. Bottom line? Everyone deserves to be seen and heard. And we're here to support stories that make that happen.

A podcast about writing and publishing good KidLit, hosted by Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach Sharon Skinner.
Talking about the craft of writing children‘s books.

A NOTE TO OUR LISTENERS:
Christy Yaros, co-founder of the Coaching KidLit podcast, has stepped away to focus her time and energy on other exciting opportunities. I’m deeply grateful for the insight, heart, and dedication she brought to building this podcast and supporting the KidLit community.
As we move forward, I’ll be continuing the podcast solo—welcoming a range of guests to share their expertise and inspiration for writers creating stories for kids and teens. I’m excited to carry on the mission we started together and to keep supporting you on your KidLit journey.
—Sharon Skinner

Sharon Skinner&nbsp;is a book coach, editor, and author who helps writers craft stories that connect deeply with readers. With a passion for both story structure and heart, she brings decades of experience to coaching writers across genres and age categories, from picture books to adult. As the host of the Coaching KidLit podcast, Sharon continues its mission to inform, inspire, and support KidLit creators at every stage of the journey.

At Coaching KidLit, we’re committed to inclusion. We believe stories are richer and more resonant when they reflect a wide range of lived experiences. That includes voices from the LGBTQIA+ community, Native and Indigenous peoples, people of color, people with disabilities, neurodivergent creators, and those from diverse cultural, religious, and gender backgrounds.
&nbsp;We also understand disability through a broad lens, and we align with the social model of disability, which focuses on removing barriers—not "fixing" individuals.
&nbsp;Bottom line? Everyone deserves to be seen and heard. And we're here to support stories that make that happen.

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Episode 45: Creatures as Characters & Symbols with Guest Rebecca Dolence

Episode 45: Creatures as Characters & Symbols with Guest Rebecca Dolence

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