Writing for Children

BEING INSPIRED BY EVERYDAY OBJECTS

It's human nature to become attached to things. We connect specific memories to objects: when we received it, who we received it from, how we've used it. Also, objects are wonderfully concrete and specific, we feel the weight of them in our hands and see the effects of age on the object. As a result, objects can also make wonderful story and poetry starters.

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CREATING CHARACTERS INSPIRED BY REAL LIFE

One way to find great characters is to look in the world around you. This seems relatively simple but may actually be harder than it sounds. Why? Because the key to creating vivid characters is writing them objectively and letting the reader draw their own conclusions.

What does it mean to be objective when writing about your characters? In this episode, we work through an ICL exercise to help you see the world, and the characters in it, more objectively.

Get a one-on-one mentor to help you get your characters in shape for publication! Get started here!

AN INTERVIEW WITH JERRY CRAFT

JERRY CRAFT is an author and illustrator who has worked on numerous picture books, graphic novels, and middle grade novels. His newest book, New Kid, is a middle grade graphic novel that has earned four starred reviews, including one from Booklist Magazine that called it "Possibly one of the most important graphic novels of the year."

We talk about:

• How turning your real life experiences into fiction is different than writing straight to fiction.
• How to take real life moments and turn them into fiction.
• How not to make it just a retelling of real life.

Let a one-on-one mentor help you get that book out of your head and onto the page. Get started here!

POINT OF VIEW AS A TOOL

This and last week's podcast is based on an article written by author and former ICL instructor Chris Eboch which touches on engaging your reader and gives some strong examples. In our episode 150, we talked about using vivid nouns and verbs instead of vague description to engage your reader in your story. In part two, we're delving into using point of view for the purposes of showing.

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CONVEY THE WORLD OF YOUR STORY

An important part of setting the stage for your story is to convey the world of your story in a way that engages the reader and doesn't just dump a bunch of facts in their lap. I recently read an article written by author and former ICL instructor Chris Eboch that touches on this point with some strong examples. It's so good, we'll be talking about it for two weeks. Let's get started with part one.

Listen to Part 2 here: www.instituteforwriters.com/sophisticated-show-and-tell-part-2

GIVE YOUR CHARACTERS SOMETHING TO DO

Summed up to its essential core, a plot is the result of applying pressure to a character to the degree that the character must act in reaction to the pressure. The pressure you apply and the reaction to it will be directly tied to the character you've created.

An impulsive, brave, active child will take very little pressure to be pushed into an adventure, but an "easy" plot like that is rarely very satisfying for the reader. Let's talk about ways to up the pressure and keep your readers engaged.

Let a one-on-one mentor help you get those characters out of your head and onto the page. Get started here!

HOW TO EVOKE DETAIL IN YOUR WRITING

Today we're talking about the art of description. This episode is inspired by Assignment 3 in the Writing for Children and Teens course. We're going to focus on evoking in detail a particular place you remember from your childhood. That word "detail" is important, because, if you think about it, specifics are what bring a subject to life on the page—and the elements that make for interesting reading.

Get a one-on-one mentor to help you write publishable work that agents and publishers are looking for! Get started here!

AN INTERVIEW WITH EMMA D. DRYDEN

Emma D. Dryden founded drydenbks LLC (www.drydenbks.com), a premiere children's editorial & publishing consultancy firm, after 25 years experience as editor and publisher of Margaret K. McElderry Books and Atheneum Books for Young Readers, imprints of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. We are thrilled to bring you her expertise on setting and world building in this month's interview.

We talk about:

• The best way to help your reader feel like they're in your world without "telling" and creating prolonged descriptions.
• Great metaphors for emotions (and a way to show not tell).
• How to avoid cliched characters.
• What to do when readers tell you they're not believing your character.
• The biggest mistakes Emma often sees when people are trying to set the stage.

Let a one-on-one mentor to help you write publishable work that agents and publishers are looking for! Get started here!

PROCRASTINATION IS A SELF-FULFILLING CYCLE

When we first took over the Institute for Writers, I wanted to help our community of writers—our students—so I polled them and asked, "What do you think the top two reasons are for not starting (or continuing) your book?"

I thought the big answer would be "getting an agent" or "lack of publishing knowledge", or something like that. The top answer by far was procrastination. Procrastination can grab hold and become a habit. It can allow you to play mind games with yourself.

So, let's talk about nine ways you can keep yourself from getting stuck in your writing.

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WRITING OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Today, publishing is a massive world of opportunity with options far beyond what we tend to consider. Some writers maintain a narrow view of publishing throughout their career. For instance, I know a few self-published fantasy writers who wouldn't consider any other genre or any other mode of being published. They've found their place, and they love it. So living within a small slice of the vastness of publishing might be perfect for you.

On the other hand, if you feel like you've been running your head against the wall as you look for success, it could be that your view has been too narrow. You might be trying to fit into a niche that doesn't work well for you simply because you haven't considered the other options.

Join the Institute of Children's Literature Community! Get our free weekly newsletter with articles on the craft of writing, hot markets looking for your work, and cool resources for your writer toolbox: www.instituteforwriters.com/icl-news