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Writing for Children
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Writing for Children
Writing for Children can be a really rewarding career or part-time hobby.
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Interview with Bren MacDibble - Part 2
Finding Outlets and Lessons Learned
Interviewed by Marg McAlister
If you want to be a writer, you have to focus a good part of your attention on writing. Watch what kids are following, and what media is doing. Stories are combining with gaming, animations are increasingly sophisticated, there are interactive whiteboard stories for classrooms now. Find out how all these things work and what their requirements are for writers. . . . keep reading
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Bren MacDibble - Children's Writer
Part 1: My Writing Life and Deadlines
Marg McAlister Interviews Bren MacDibble
Bren MacDibble started out writing for children and had reasonably quick successes with educational publishers, which got her hooked. She says: "Figuring my muse was some kind of higher life form that had accidentally taken up residence in my skull and could do no wrong, I gave it free reign and it decided to jaunt off down a crooked path of chapter books and novels for older children and YA, all in the genre of science fiction..." . . . keep reading
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Educational Lending Rights and Public Lending Rights
Margaret Warner
The ELR (Educational Lending Rights) and PLR (Public Lending Rights) scheme is an Australian government program that makes payments to eligible Australian creators and publishers on the basis that income is lost because copies of their books are held in educational and public lending libraries. Australia is one of 25 countries that operate this program. . . . keep reading
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Sandy Fussell's School Handout Tips
Sandy Fussell
Sandy Fussell, author of the CBCA-shortlisted POLAR BOY and the popular Samurai Kids series, is well-organised when it comes to author talks, promotion and school visits. Here are two ideas from Sandy that might help you plan what to take to schools and/or literary luncheons: an Introduction Envelope and a Classroom Booklet. . . . keep reading
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So You Want to be a Storyteller?
Helen Evans interviewed by Marg McAlister
Some storytellers find pleasure in following the oral tradition. A short time ago, Helen Evans - an accomplished storyteller - wrote an article for Writing4Success about what she does. Now, for the benefit of those who are interested in following in Helen's footsteps, we have an interesting Q&A to find out more about how Helen prepares and delivers her storytelling sessions. . . . keep reading
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Getting Serious about Series
Felicity Pulman
There's no doubt in the world that series have always been popular with children. Here's a tip for new writers: look around for publishers of series who accept mss from a variety of authors. Read the series, check the publisher's requirements and see if you can write something that 'fits'. BUT... give enough thought to what your series is about, and how it will end. I wish someone had told me that before I wrote the Shalott trilogy, which was really a lesson in how NOT to write a series! Read more... . . . keep reading
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THE SHALOTT TRILOGY -
Turning History and Legend into Fiction for Teenagers
Felicity Pulman
The idea for the Shalott novels came to me from Tennyson's poem. It raised so many questions: who was the Lady of Shalott? Why was there a curse on her? Why, when she saw Sir Lancelot and left the tower, did she have to die? After that came the 'what if' questions that authors so often ask themselves, the first one being: what if it were possible to go back in time and change a legend (or history)? . . . keep reading
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Why and For Whom Do Authors Write?
Felicity Pulman
I was recently part of a panel of writers discussing the topic: How do writers know what will appeal to teenage readers? How do they create worlds that will entice the young to read and treasure their stories? As part of an online children's writers' festival, I also addressed the question: Why should authors labour over a novel when students' hearts and minds are elsewhere? . . . keep reading
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Writing History That SellsGhost Boy and the Quarantine Station
Felicity Pulman
I have always been fascinated by the unknown in our world, and enjoy exploring the idea of knowledge travelling through time, time slip and parallel universes, reincarnation and ghosts. This all came together when I started asking myself: what if a ghost from the past could bring information into the future, information which helps to solve a family mystery? . . . keep reading
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Writing Lively Non-Fiction
Wendy St Germain
Wendy St Germain has written about 30 titles; almost all non-fiction. Her non-fiction books and articles are lively and interesting, so it's no wonder her work is popular with editors. In this interview, Wendy tells you how she got started writing non-fiction, and offers her Top 5 Tips for keeping non-fiction interesting... . . . keep reading
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Tips on Websites and Creating YouTube Trailers
Deb Abela
Deb Abela, author of the Max Remy Superspy series, says firmly that she thinks "a website for a writer is essential". But Deb doesn't stop at a website (which is really three websites in one anyway, because it promotes herself, her Max Remy series, and her Jasper Zammit series); she actively promotes her books on YouTube. Learn how she does it... . . . keep reading
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Polar Boy: Anatomy of a Short-Listed Children's Book
Sandy Fussell's "Polar Boy" was published in August 2008 to very positive reviews, including comments such as: "Polar Boy is a gripping, well-researched and thoroughly enjoyable adventure for upper primary readers, of particular appeal to boys," and "Accessible & action-packed adventure story... A brilliantly researched & evocative tale of a fascinating time rarely written about in popular culture." . . . keep reading
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Getting Hysterical About Historicals
Vashti Farrer
Every time you need to provide information, ask yourself - Does my reader need to know this? Chances are he won't and as a general rule: If in doubt, leave it out. Most of your research will probably end up on the cutting room floor, but none will it go to waste. If you steep yourself in the period it can't help but show itself by a process of osmosis. You won't, for instance, make anachronistic mistakes. You won't dress your 18th century heroine in a crinoline, or feed potatoes to your 10th century English peasants. . . . keep reading
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Creating Characters for a Young Adult Series
Doris Stutley interviewed by Marg McAlister
Doris Stutley has written and published three books of a planned 8-book crime fiction series for young adults. The first three books of the "Operation" series are Operation Foxtrot Five; Operation Delta Bravo, and Operation Alpha Papa (published by Lothian). Much of the success of the series can be attributed to the well-drawn characters, whose personalities and adventures hold great appeal for the young adult readership. . . . keep reading
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Popularity Vs Importance
by Sally Odgers
Not long ago, I was reading an author's bio from a website. The author mentioned her Most Popular title and then added the one she considered her Most Important. Naturally, they weren't the same book. . . . keep reading
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Effective Author Visits
by Sally Odgers
Author visits to schools are a handy source of publicity and income for many children's writers. There are three ways to arrange such a visit. . . . keep reading
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Ann Harth
