How to write for children ~ from picture books to young adult

How to write for children ~ from picture books to young adult random header image

Entries Tagged as 'Description'

Setting the Mood with Words and Rhythm

May 5th, 2009 · 3 Comments

I can’t resist looking at another passage from Savvy. That book is full of gems: “WASH YOUR HAND, WILL JUNIOR,” I screamed again, raising my voice to be heard over the brawl and over the sound of breaking glass. As my brother’s pressure system grew, the window closest to Fish began to fracture, spreading splintering [...]

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Tags: Craft · Description · Rhythm · Technique

Backstory

October 31st, 2008 · No Comments

How do you put in necessary backstory without losing your reader who wants to move forward? Well, instead of using an info dump, I think you should use an info dribble. Just like it sounds. Little bits of info here, and little bits of info there. Look again at the bit of reportage we made [...]

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Tags: Craft · Description

Reportage, Info Dump, Author Intrusion

October 31st, 2008 · No Comments

In children’s books, especially,  we see this sin. So many people choose to write for children because they want to educate readers, after all. So, I’ll give the red ribbon of second place of the Seven Deadly Sins to the sin of reportage. Yep, reportage. Lot’s of people call this author intrusion, or an info [...]

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Tags: Craft · Description · Seven Deadly Sins

World Building Through Metaphor

October 31st, 2008 · No Comments

When was the last time you lost yourself in a story? Do you know what Hogwarts looks like? What do you remember about Anne’s P.E. Island? How about Narnia? Do you have a feel for that world? Because children want to be taken away from the everyday and immersed in strange, faraway lands, world building [...]

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Tags: Craft · Description · Setting