The Institute Difference
Writers simply benefit more from advice they can trust. And one place to learn the art of writing for publication is The Institute of Children’s Literature.
Be Prepared to See Characters Suffer
Nothing wrecks a story quicker than a writer who is trying to shield the characters from suffering. Story is about challenge. And challenge is about pressure and discomfort.
Character Emotion: Show Don’t Tell
Because emotion is so important to successful writing, writers need to think about it. And never is this truer than in creating our characters.
First Steps in Character Creation
Character creation involves building your person from scratch. So, jumpstarting character creation often benefits from creative boosting tricks.
Can You Have Adult Characters?
Most children’s books contain adults. What they don’t do, or don’t do often, is feature the adult characters. But the adults are there.
Building Characters from Scratch
People are interested in people. This is true in books as well as in life. So, let’s look at what you really want to aim for in building your characters.
PLOT: Terrific Twists and Turns
Building a plot twist can prove even more difficult than just plot. See what Jan Fields has to say about the way plot twists can turn a story around.
PLOT: Organized? Organic? Original?
Plot is a calculated and time-consuming process. We will discuss what it takes to make a seamless and logical plot that doesn’t confuse readers.
More PLOT Help
Plot is more than just a storyline. A writer must tackle all parts of plot including its logics, its holes, and its linear pattern. Are you up to the task?
Welcome to PLOT
Pared down to the most basic, plot is simply the way your story is told. This month we’re taking a look at specific essential elements of this device.
