Fr. 32.90

Writing Children''s Books for Dummies, 3rd Edition

English · Paperback / Softback

Shipping usually within 3 to 5 weeks

Description

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Create the next very hungry caterpillar, big red dog, or cat in the hat with a hand from this trusted guideIn Writing Children's Books For Dummies, you'll learn what to write between "Once upon a time . . ." and "The End" as you dive into chapters about getting started writing, how to build great characters, and how to design a dramatic plot. On top of the technical writing advice, you'll discover how talented illustrators work and how to find an agent. The newest edition of this popular For Dummies title even shows you how to choose a publisher-or self-publish-and how to use social media and other marketing and PR to get the word out about your new masterpiece.In the book, you'll learn about: The fundamentals of writing for children, including common book formats and genres, and the structure of the children's book market Creating a spellbinding story with scene description, engaging dialogue, and a child-friendly tone Polishing your story to a radiant shine with careful editing and rewriting Making the choice between a traditional publisher, a hybrid publisher, or self-publishing Using the most-effective marketing and publicity techniques to get your book noticed Perfect for anyone who's ever dreamed of creating the next Ferdinand the Bull or Grinch, Writing Children's Books For Dummies is an essential, easy-to-read guide for budding children's authors everywhere.

List of contents

Introduction 1
 
About This Book 1
 
Foolish Assumptions 2
 
Icons Used in This Book 3
 
Beyond the Book 3
 
Where to Go from Here 4
 
Part 1: the Abcs of Writing for Children 5
 
Chapter 1: Exploring the Basics of Writing Children's Books 7
 
Knowing Your Format, Genre, and Audience 8
 
Getting into a Good Writing Zone 8
 
Transforming Yourself into a Storyteller 9
 
Polishing Your Gem and Getting It Ready to Send 10
 
Selling Your Story 11
 
Promoting Your Book 11
 
Improving Your Chances of Getting Published 12
 
Chapter 2: Delving into Children's Book Formats 15
 
Dissecting the Anatomy of a Book 16
 
Grouping Types of Children's Books 17
 
Illustrated Books for All Ages 18
 
Baby-friendly board books 19
 
Picture books for toddlers 20
 
Other books that have pictures 24
 
Working through Wordy Books 30
 
Early readers 30
 
First chapter books 32
 
Middle-grade books 34
 
Young adult books 36
 
Chapter 3: Exploring the Genres 39
 
Going Out of This World 40
 
Science fiction 40
 
Fantasy 40
 
Graphic novels and manga 42
 
Horror and ghost stories 42
 
Getting in on the Action (and History) 43
 
Action/adventure 43
 
True stories 44
 
Historical fiction 45
 
Mysteries 46
 
Writing About Real People 48
 
Biography/memoir 48
 
Lgbtqia 49
 
Gender-oriented series books 51
 
Friendship 53
 
School issues 54
 
Developmental milestones and first experiences 55
 
Prose poetry 56
 
Romance 57
 
Giving Stories a Message 57
 
Learning/educational 57
 
Religion 60
 
Aspirational and inspirational 60
 
Diversity 61
 
Family issues 62
 
Pets and animals 63
 
Cultural issues 64
 
Addiction, abuse, and mental illness 65
 
Keeping Them Laughing with Humor 67
 
Quirky characters 67
 
Parody, satire, and jokes 67
 
Slapstick and gross 68
 
Dark humor 68
 
Wordplay 68
 
Chapter 4: Understanding the Children's Book Market 71
 
Getting Insight into Book Buyers' Needs 74
 
For chain and big-box bookstores 74
 
For independent bookstores 76
 
Recognizing What Reviewers Offer 78
 
Discovering What Librarians Add to the Mix 79
 
Taking a Look at How Teachers Use Books in Their Classrooms 84
 
Considering Parents' Perspectives 86
 
Thinking Like a Kid 86
 
Going after what kids like -- regardless of Mom and Dad 87
 
Knowing what kids don't like 88
 
Part 2: Immersing Yourself in The Writing Process 89
 
Chapter 5: Setting Up for Success: Finding the Time and Space to Write 91
 
Finding Time to Write 92
 
Figuring out when you're most productive 92
 
Sticking to a writing schedule 93
 
Evaluating your commitment 93
 
Optimizing Your Writing Environment 94
 
Locating your special writing spot 94
 
Keeping helpful references handy 95
 
Cutting down on clutter and getting organized 96
 
Preventing and dealing with interruptions 98
 
Chapter 6: Starting with a Great Idea 101
 
Once Upon a Time: Coming Up with an Idea 101
 
Relying on specific ideas rather than big ones 102
 
Tapping into your own experiences 103
 
Digging through childhood mementos 105
 
Drawing from other children's experience

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