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Wednesday, April 24, 2024
IS AMAZON JUST A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING?
My friends and fellow authors kept telling me, “You have such a pleasant speaking voice, why don’t you try making an audio version of one of your Tales2Inspire books. So during Covid, while isolating a lot and feeling a bit bored, I decided to give it a try.
Authors are given a special link to promote their audio books, so that if others order using that link, the author is rewarded. But in their own words, here is how:
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Learn to Write for Children Before You Write for Children
Contributed by Karen Cioffi, Children's Writer
I write for young children, and I’ve also written a lot of content on marketing and health topics. Writing in multiple genres, I can tell you that writing for children can be much more challenging.
When writing for children, there are guidelines to follow to help your story avoid the editor’s trash pile.
Okay, I can hear some of you mumbling that you’re self-publishing.
That’s great, but...
You SHOULD still create a story that adheres to traditional book publishing standards.
Wondering why?
There are so many reasons:
1. You want to create and publish a quality book, one that you’ll be proud to be the author of.
2. You want to be perceived as a professional writer.
3. You want a story that grabs the reader.
4. You want a story that engages the reader and motivates them to keep turning the pages.
5. You want to have an ending that leaves the reader satisfied and hopefully offers a take-away value.
6. You want your story to be age and word appropriate.
7. You need to edit and proof your story before publishing.
8. You want to write a story that, once read, will motivate the reader to read other books you’ve written.
So, how do you write a slam-dunk children’s book?
For starters, you should know about writing for children. I’m not saying you need to get an MFA in Writing for Children. I’m suggesting you take some online or offline courses and READ A LOT.
Read traditionally published books in all children’s genres, but specifically in the genre you want to write. You can also check out your local library and look for recently published books.
You’ll also want to read books on the writing process and structure.
What are some of the things you should know when writing for young children?
- There should be only ONE main character. It is from this character’s point of view that the story will be told.
- The story’s time frame should be short.
- You need to pay attention to adverbs and adjectives, and you should limit them.
- You can write in different tenses, but once you choose one for a particular story, you must stick to it throughout the story.
- You should use proper grammar and punctuation.
- You need a story arc and a character arc.
- All stories must have conflict unless you’re writing a children’s concept book.
- You should use appropriate words and an appropriate storyline.
- If you want to be called an author, you have an obligation to other self-published authors to produce a quality book. If you don’t, your book will lessen the value and professionalism of all self-published books.
These are just some of the things you should know about. So, are you familiar with adverbs and adjectives? Do you know what tense is? Do you know what a story arc is? Do you know what point of view is?
If you know all these things and those not mentioned here, jump in and start writing your story.
But if you don’t know how to write for children, take a step back and at least learn the basics.
To help you on your journey, you can find a list of writing resources by clicking the link within this sentence.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, ghostwriter, rewriter, editor, and coach with clients worldwide. If you need help with your children’s story, please visit Karen Cioffi Writing for Children.
Karen also offers HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S FICTION BOOK, a 250+ page book covering A-Z of writing for children.
And for those children’s authors who are self-publishing, Karen provides WRITERS ON THE MOVE PRESS.
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A feature in the right column of this blog lets you subscribe to #SharingwithWriters so you don’t miss any of Karen’s posts on writing for children.
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MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Independent Writers of Chicago Offers Essential Advice
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Friday, April 12, 2024
A Basic Guide for Those Who Dream of a. Writing Career
Get Discovered: Your 6-Step Guide to Shining as a Writer
By Gwen Payne
You’re ready to embark on the exhilarating journey of unleashing your creative prowess and getting your work noticed by the world. You dream of captivating readers with your fiction, inspiring others through your non-fiction, or sharing your unique insights through blogging. Whatever the case, this guide is your roadmap to success. Today, Tales2Inspiredives into six practical steps that will help you get discovered as a writer or author. Grab your favorite writing instrument, settle into your special nook, and let’s begin this extraordinary adventure together!
Step 1: Write Your Heart Out
First things first: you gotta write, write, and write some more! Pour your thoughts onto paper or screen and let your imagination soar. Whether it’s short stories, blog posts, or that novel you’ve been dreaming about, consistent writing is the key to honing your craft.
Step 2: Build Your Online Oasis
Having a vibrant online presence is an absolute game-changer in this digital era. Create your own little corner on the web by starting a blog or website. Showcasing your work in a visually appealing and easily accessible format can go a long way toward attracting readers and potential collaborators.
Don’t forget to sprinkle some social media magic, too! Platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook are fantastic tools for connecting with fellow writers and engaging with potential readers. Share snippets of your work, show glimpses of your writing process and join conversations using relevant hashtags.
Step 3: Network Like a Pro
Networking isn’t just for those fancy business types – it’s crucial for writers, as well. Attend local writing workshops, join online writing groups, and immerse yourself in the bustling community of fellow wordsmiths. Interacting with others who share your passion can open doors to collaborations, mentorship opportunities, and even publishing connections. This is where traditional marketing, like business cards, can prove invaluable. Start handing them out around town and leaving them at local establishments!
Step 4: Seek Out Opportunities and Promote Your Work
The world is brimming with opportunities, dear writer. Take the leap and submit your work to literary magazines, online publications, and writing contests. Rejection might sting, but every acceptance is a cause for celebration and a stepping stone toward recognition. Remember that all those “no’s“ are just a part of the journey to your “yes!“
Leveraging the tried-and-true tactic of creating a brochure to market yourself is a smart and cost-effective strategy. In today's digital age, you don't necessarily need to hire a professional designer to achieve a high-quality, impactful brochure. Instead, you can use a brochure template available online for free. These templates provide a solid foundation that you can customize to suit your personal brand or business. By adding your own text, images, and custom design elements, you can create a stellar brochure that effectively communicates your value proposition to potential clients or readers.
Step 5: Embrace Lifelong Learning
Writers never stop growing, so keep that curious spirit alive! Go to writing workshops, enroll in online courses, and devour craft books like there’s no tomorrow. The more you learn, the better equipped you’ll be to captivate readerswith your words.
Step 6: Stay Patient and Persistent
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a successful writing career. Embrace patience and persistence as your trusty companions on this journey. Keep writing, learning, networking, and submitting your work. Your breakthrough moment is waiting just around the corner!
You’ve armed yourself with some serious tips, and now it’s time to put them into action:
l Start writing
l Embrace the digital realm
l Network like a pro
l Seek out opportunities
l Embrace lifelong learning
One way to begin is by submitting your work to anthologies. Here is an established series that offers a free contest that includes other value-added benefits to all authors who choose to enter. It’s from writer and editor Lois W. Stern who contributes her talents to TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com:
Tales2Inspire books offer inspirational and motivational stories by award winning authors from across the globe. We also help talented authors on their individual paths to discovery.
MORE ABOUT TODAY’S SHARING WITH WRITERS CONTRIBUTOR:
Gwen Payne is a stay-at-home mom with an entrepreneurial spirit. Over the years, she has mastered raising her two daughters while side hustling to success through small ventures based on her passions - from dog walking to writing to e-commerce. With Invisiblemoms.com she hopes to show other stay-at-home parents how they can achieve their business-owning dream