Designed to take you from the moment you first put pen to paper to the point at which you are ready to start contacting publishers (or uploading an ebook file), this is the most important book on writing children's books you'll ever read. It introduces you to the craft of writing for children, the art of words - and pictures - and the way in which to use them. It gives you inspiration, ideas and practical advice. It gives you the background to each different area of children's writing, and the skills you'll need to succeed. Unlike any other book on the market, however, it also helps you begin to critique your own work, meaning that at every step of the writing process you'll be producing the best art you can. There are plenty of other essential writing tools in this book, as well, including techniques for overcoming writer's block; with nearly a quarter of the book focussing on how to get published, how to publish yourself, which courses you do - and don't - need, the nuts and bolts of competitions and festivals and the importance of social media, this really is the most comprehensive companion to the subject available.
Author(s): Beauvais, Clémentine
Publisher: John Murray Press
Year: 2014
Language: English
Pages: 320
About the author
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part One: Finding a voice
1 Once upon a time … and other beginnings
2 What’s it about? Theme and thesis
3 Crafting a plot and sticking to it
4 Perspective and tense: who speaks, and when?
5 Children, adults, animals, monsters: characters in children’s literature
6 Playing with language
7 Stand-alone or series?
8 Research
9 Writing, writing, writing, writing
Part Two: Finding a format
10 Picturebooks: for the love of words and pictures
11 Chapter books: action!
12 Tween and young teenage literature: negotiating the high-school turn
13 Young Adult literature: the good, the dark and the broody
14 Poetry for children: rhyme and reason
15 Fairy tales – between tradition and renewal
16 Drama-free editing and polishing
Part Three: Finding a publisher
17 Almost there! Proposal, pitch and planning the next stage
18 Shopping time: from agent to editor
19 You’re in! Working with an editor and a publishing house
20 Self-publishing
Part Four: Finding readers
21 Promoting your book: the basics
22 Building an Internet presence
23 Talking to kids: the real child readers and you
24 Networking and getting stronger
Conclusion
Bibliography
