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!
November 14, 2024
The Surprising Benefits of Writing a Nonfiction Article
Writing a nonfiction article isn’t easy. However, it may be easier and quicker than writing and selling a picture book and the benefits may surprise you!
November 8, 2024
Dealing with Submissions Failure
Sometimes submissions don’t pay off. Some ideas don’t work like you intend and sometimes they are outright rejected. Here’s how to deal with submission failure.
October 31, 2024
4 Tips for Deciding What You Want in an Agent
While agents perform similar functions, not all agents function the same. Here’s what to consider when looking for an agent who’s right for you.
October 24, 2024
The First Steps in Contacting Agents
You’ve written a book and now you want a literary agent. Now, the research begins. Get tips for finding the right agent for your work and avoiding scammers.
October 17, 2024
4 Book Proposal Pitfalls
Creating a fiction or nonfiction book proposal can seem daunting. Let’s look at what editors and agents want from a proposal and 4 things NOT want to do.
October 10, 2024
Pitching Your Picture Book
Submissions in today’s market often involve new elements of pitching your picture books from social media to comp titles. Here’s how to make them work for you.
October 3, 2024
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.
September 26, 2024
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.
September 19, 2024
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.
September 11, 2024
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.
September 5, 2024
Back to School: Writing for the Classroom
Schools are crammed full of reading material. Who is doing all that writing for the classroom? What’s different about the educational market? Let’s find out.
August 27, 2024
Back to School Plans for Writers
Are you feeling the back-to-school itch? Make this season work for you as a writer! Jan Fields shares ways to get reinvigorated in your writing this fall.
August 22, 2024
Evaluating Writing Programs
How do you evaluate a critique program or a writing program and decide if it’s worth your time and your money? The answer is research. Check out these tips!
August 15, 2024
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.
August 8, 2024
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.
August 1, 2024
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.
July 18, 2024
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.
July 11, 2024
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.
June 27, 2024
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.
June 19, 2024
