Backstory Basics
Backstory can be essential to understanding a character and his/her journey. It can deepen conflict, reveal motivation and elicit sympathy for a hero or secondary character. But… Nothing can kill…
The Kidlit Compass Blog
Reader Resonance
The middle grade and YA sections of your local bookstore and/or library these days are teeming with genres, styles and subject matters for teens and ‘tweens to explore. Some offer…
To Prologue or Not to Prologue?
Many middle grade and YA authors debate whether or not to include a prologue when beginning their manuscripts. Prologues are sections of story that precede the first chapter, similar to…
The Promise of Your Story
We’ve been zeroing in on the unique craft elements of beginnings – opening pages, scenes and chapters – in the Children’s Book Hub over the past few weeks. One of…
Chapter Books vs. Middle Grade: What’s the Difference?
What’s the difference between a middle grade novel and a chapter book? The lines can often seem blurry – but the truth is that each is a unique format in…
Is it YA or Adult Fiction?
You’re writing a story with a teenage protagonist but very sophisticated themes and content… is it categorized as adult fiction, or young adult (YA)? You’re writing a sci-fi fantasy with…
Holiday Gift Ideas for Children’s Book Authors
Shopping for a children’s book author, or author-to be, this holiday season? Here are some ideas to make the gift-giving a bit easier… One of the best and most lasting…
Crowdfunding a Picture Book 101
My friend, fellow writer and editing client, Julie Foster Hedlund, is conducting a unique experiment in hybrid publishing – a process that may well become a model to help small publishers…
