Busting 3 Magical Writing Myths
Jan Fields busts three common writing myths and shares how you can be sure these myths don’t derail your writing career before it even has a chance to start.
Use Specific Language to Energize Nonfiction Writing
Nonfiction writing doesn’t have to be boring. Learn to recognize generalities and replace them with specific, concrete language and vivid sensory details.
Grand Openings: Article Leads that Hook the Reader
The lead that opens an article often seems like the most challenging part to write but it can be done. Use these tips for article leads that hook the reader.
8 Ways to Improve Your Nonfiction Articles
Publishers know that young people are hungry for good nonfiction. Let’s look at eight ways you can spruce up your nonfiction article writing.
Riveting Resolutions: 10 Effective Article Endings
Writing an effective nonfiction article ending is one of the most overlooked aspects of writing. Leave your reader satisfied with these riveting resolutions!
Learn from Success: 10 Engaging Article Openings
One of the best ways to learn what makes an engaging article opening is to study published nonfiction pieces and to see what made them successful. Let’s do it!
Writing Nonfiction for Very Young Readers
Writing nonfiction for very young children requires specific things but with a narrow focus, few words, and kid-friendly topics, you can break into this market.
The Big 3 of Nonfiction
The three essentials for any publishable children’s nonfiction are accuracy, clarity, and organization. Let’s look at these tips for success in nonfiction.
Sensing It: Bringing Show Don’t Tell to Your Nonfiction
What does show don’t tell mean when it comes to nonfiction? Jan Fields shares examples of using sensory details to bring true stories to life for the readers.
4 Steps to Improve Readability in Children’s Books
Part of writing children’s books that can be used in a school setting lies in meeting the needs of the reader. Here are 4 steps to improve readability.
Exploring Learning Opportunities for Writers
Looking for back-to-school learning opportunities for writers? Susan Ludwig shares places where you can go back to school yourself and hone your writing skills.
A Back-to-School State of Mind
As a writer, you may want to jump on the back-to-school bandwagon. There are an assortment of opportunities for your continuing education in the writing field.
Show or Tell: Writing Dialogue Tags and Beats
Speech tags and action tags or beats are essential when writing dialogue. These tiny but mighty words are the difference between reader confusion and enjoyment.
Dive into Writing Dialogue
Dialogue is a favorite for writers AND readers. Dialogue makes your character present and real in a scene. Let’s talk tips and techniques for great dialogue.
Creating Character Voice
Your readers should sense the subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences between the character voices in the stories you write. Try these exercises today!
Your Voice or Theirs?
Voice, whether your natural writing voice or the voice of a character, comes from an emotional place. Jan Fields gives us exercises to develop these voices.
Discovering Your Author Voice
Voice is something publishers want, but it’s an elusive thing to understand. Today, we discover ways to develop our own voice and the voices of our characters.
Inside/Outside: More Tips on Writing Conflict
When writing conflict, inner and outer conflicts are not two separate things. Outer conflicts offer an opportunity to explore inner ones better. Find out how.
Finding Your Author Voice
Your author voice has a unique and specific makeup. The way your word choice, writing style, tone, and perspective all make your voice unique to you.
Defining Types of Conflict in Children’s Books
Conflict in children’s books isn’t necessarily fights or arguments, it’s about the roadblocks that keep the character from getting what they want in the story.
