Convey Emotions Through Dialogue
Dialogue is a powerful tool for conveying emotions. To write emotional dialogue that rings true, use these pointers from IFW Instructor Victoria Sherrow.
Plot: What’s At Stake?
Plot moves forward as pressure is applied to characters to motivate them to act. Pressure in a story is all about the stakes. Are your stakes high enough?
Nicole Groeneweg
Contest: Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book | 4th Place
HAPPY IN NATURE: THE STORY OF EARTH DAY FOUNDER, GAYLORD NELSON
May 31, 2024
Worldbuilding and the 3 Stages of Writing
Many writers think worldbuilding is only for fantasy and sci-fi, but it’s important for all stories. Consider worldbuilding in these 3 stages of writing.
Get Started Worldbuilding
Good worldbuilding is an art. Writers must convince readers to live in their world. This writing exercise will help you build a world they won’t want to leave.
Irene Bennett
Battle of the Artisans: Making the Bells of Marquis Yi
May 24, 2024
4 Tips for Efficient Worldbuilding
Worldbuilding is the process of making decisions about setting and systems for a story. Check out these four tips for efficient and effective worldbuilding.
Nicki Jacobsmeyer
Contest: Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book | 3rd Place
RISE OF AN UNDERDOG
May 17, 2024
4 Ways Setting Acts with and As Character
Setting can seem like a character all on its own, but only if the writer allows the setting to do its job. And that requires both research and imagination.
What is Worldbuilding?
Every story we read will take place in a world and readers need to be immersed in it. Here are the elements of worldbuilding—no matter what genre you write.
Tom Gauthier
A Voyage Beyond Reason
May 10, 2024
Worldbuilding for Everyday Worlds
Worldbuilding is something every fiction writer needs to think about to create believable scenes rooted in a setting in such a way that readers feel it.
Angela Calabrese
Contest: Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book | 1st Place
CRACK! CHICK! BOOM! THE STORY OF LEGENDARY JAZZ DRUMMER CHICK WEBB
May 3, 2024
Backmatter: When “The End” Isn’t The End
Backmatter is becoming more popular in nonfiction and fiction picture books. It can include timelines, photographs, and indexes. Will it work for your book?
Showing, Not Telling, Backstory
Backstory may be necessary to fill readers in on the history of a character. Victoria Sherrow shares how to include it in ways that show and don’t tell.
Keeping Up to Date with the Institute of Children’s Literature
The Institute of Children’s Literature has a solid reputation for preparing students to be published. We adapt to ensure students are ready for the marketplace.
Writing Scams: A Pair of Potential Problems
Writing scams aren’t new but with a new age of technology comes variations on old tricks. Here’s what two of these scams look like and how to avoid being duped.
How to Show Your Characters’ Emotions
To show emotions, we need words and phrases that help readers feel what the characters feel. This post will teach you how to show your characters’ emotions.
Writers and the Coming of “A.I.”
Today, we discuss writers and A.I. This is an ever-evolving topic where the ins and outs change quickly, but here are things to know about A.I. in early 2024.
Less Filtering = More “Show, Don’t Tell”
When writing fiction, we want to reduce the distance between reader and story. One good way “show, don’t tell” is to eliminate filter words.
