Not every children’s book with illustrations qualifies as a picture book. Picture book is a unique format, distinct from chapter books or illustrated novels. Picture books are designed for pre-schoolers and elementary school readers, and while the latter may be able to read independently, these books are intended to be read aloud — which is a unique craft challenge, meaning they must “sing” to the ear.

The following are some distinguishing characteristics of picture books:

A picture book has…

• 32 – 48 pages, with 32 being by far the most common. These pages are divided into 16 double-page spreads, generally featuring either a minimal amount of text and prominent art, or a balance between the two. (Bear in mind that the first and last couple of pages are usually reserved for title, acknowledgements and copyright info.)
• 0 – 1000 words maximum, with 500 or less being the preference in today’s market.
• Illustrations on every page (or every facing page.) The art may be full color, black and white, or any combination thereof, but it complements and furthers (rather than just reflects) the story.
• A simple plot and a limited number of characters, with a child or child-like protagonist at its center, the same age as the book’s target audience.

A picture book does NOT have…

• Chapters – these fall under the categories of early reader, chapter book or novel, depending on the length.
• More than 1000 words (with some exceptions, especially with respect to older, “classic” picture books, such as Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings, which has 1149.)
• Less than 32 pages, or more than 48 pages. (Again, with the exception of older classics.)
• Dozens of characters, complicated plots or sub-plots.
• Adult Protagonists (with the exception of fables and fairy tales.)

Craft elements of narrative fiction Picture Books

Begins “in media res” – the problem or conflict is established on page 1

• Satisfying dramatic arc – beginning, middle, end
• Child or childlike hero, in pursuit of problem/goal, who learns/changes by end
• Emphasis on action, dialogue and behavior, rather than exposition/description
• Fun/engaging use of language for “read-aloud-ability”: word play, rhythm, alliteration, parallelism, patterns, onomatopoeia, personification, verse
• Economical, lean text – few adjectives and adverbs; don’t say what art shows
• Visual progression – story makes for variety in illustrations
• May use anthropomorphism (esp. to deal with tricky subjects)
• Theme, message or takeaway revealed through action rather than moralizing

If you’re a working or aspiring picture book writer, this post is for YOU.

The single best resource that I know of for picture book writers is – for a VERY limited time – accepting new registrations.

My friend and colleague Julie’ Hedlund’s 12 x 12 picture book writing challenge is a powerful and inspiring writing community, where members aim to write 12 complete picture book drafts, one per month, for each 12 months of the year…with advice, encouragement and submission opportunities along the way.

Now in its 5th phenomenally successful year, 12 x 12 provides the inspiration and resources you need to help you write, submit and get published!

Here’s just SOME of what membership in 12 x 12 has to offer:

• An amazing community of 750+ picture book writers from all over the globe and at all levels – from absolute beginner to multi-published, offering motivation, support, and accountability to help you write MUCH more than you would on your own.
• Curated resources for planning, writing, revising, submitting, and promoting picture books at your fingertips 24 x 7, 365 days of the year.
• Opportunities to submit one polished picture book manuscript to an agent each month, February – November!
• Monthly guest posts from talented, multi-published picture book authors who also give away fabulous prizes to help you with your craft.
• Access to a members-only 12 x 12 Facebook group, which serves as a support network, a question and answer pool, and a place to share resources.
• A robust online Membership Forum where members can receive feedback on their work and find critique partners.

But it’s ONLY for picture book authors – and registration is ONLY open in January and February, so don’t wait.

If you miss registration, you have to wait another whole year to join.

Trust me – if you write or dream of writing picture books, this is the one writing community you DEFINITELY want to be a part of!

Here’s my personal affiliate link to get more info:

http://emmasfavorites.com/12X12in2016

For writers seeking representation, the query has to do a lot of heavy lifting:

• It’s your first impression to an agent or editor.
• It has to make the agent feel like you’ve done your homework.
• It has to be intriguing enough to get someone to read your manuscript without giving away the whole plot.
• It has to show your credentials in professional way that is confident but not “braggy”.
• And, it’s has to be succinct.

No wonder query letters are such a tough nut to crack!

That’s why I’ve teamed up, once again, with Julie Hedlund to bring you a new, live webinar called “Cracking the Picture Book Query” on Tuesday, November 10th at 1pm ET/10am PT. This webinar will be one of two hosted in November and it’s FREE.

In this 90-minute webinar, we will:

• Teach you how to write the perfect picture book hook.
• Show you the four elements of a query letter.
• Tell you exactly what needs to go in each query element and in what order.
• Provide you with templates for writing hooks and queries.
• And, answer your query questions LIVE!
• Share the features and benefits of The Complete Picture Book Submissions System, which will be re-opened for enrollment for a limited time following the webinar.

So, are you ready to Crack the Picture Book Query?

It’s easy to join, just CLICK HERE to register for the webinar. It’s free!

This presentation is so jam-packed we know you’ll want to watch again after the event, so there will be a replay available for one week after the live webinar.

To your success!

P.S. Can’t make it live? Register to get access to the replay! Click HERE.

Gerry is in search of the PERFECT costume – one that will look just right with her wings and crown. Her imagination runs wild, and she decides on a flowing angel outfit (complete with a sparkly halo, of course). Gerry and her friends are so excited for the big day…until an accidental spill threatens to ruin EVERYTHING! What is a fairy princess to do? Thankfully, Gerry knows just how to save Halloween, and also shows what it means to be a good friend.

Illustrated by Christine Davenier.

Click here to purchase.

Get your glitter pens and favorite markers ready — it’s time to channel your inner artist with the Very Fairy Princess! Create your very own tiara, design gorgeous fairy princess wings, and draw unique costumes and creations in this book brimming with activities bound to entertain and delight for hours on end. From schooltime fun to adventures at home and with friends, each page offers an inspiring way to draw, imagine, and express your creativity. Let Your Sparkle OUT!

Illustrated by Christine Davenier.

Click here to purchase.

Now that the kids have gone back to school, why don’t you?

• If you find yourself filled with ideas for children’s books and would love to write picture books, middle grade or young adult novels – what’s holding you back?

• Do you have a manuscript in the works, but you’re not sure if you’re helping or hurting it with constant edits?

• Interested in going back to school yourself to share your book with students?

Consider one of my Just Write Children’s Books courses or resources, all of which can be accessed from the comfort of your own home!

I offer three home-study writing courses that cover everything you could ever want to know about writing picture books, middle grade or young adult novels. The courses come with written lessons as well as writing assignments that will help you progress through your manuscript while learning all about the craft of children’s book writing. You can take any course at your own speed and from anywhere in the world. You will have a rough draft of a completed manuscript upon completion!

If you already have a completed manuscript and are simply unsure of what to do next, consider purchasing Editor in a Box, my 6-step editing system to help make your manuscript the best it can be! This product exists in two versions – one for picture books and one for chapter books and novels – and can be used again and again on all of your children’s book manuscripts.

If you’re ready to start submitting your manuscript to agents and editors, The Complete Picture Book Submissions System created by Julie Hedlund and myself, opens periodically for registration. To download our cheat sheet on picture book submissions and get notified when the course reopens, register here.

Finally, if you are ready to share your book with your target audience and supplement your author income, consider School Visit Wizard! This brand new product allows authors to learn how to cultivate, book and deliver stellar school visits!

Are you more interested in a traditional school setting? Think about applying to the 2016 Children’s Literature Fellows program run through Stony Brook Southampton. This program selects only 12 fellows per year who are mentored by bestselling authors, in order to complete several picture book manuscripts and/or a middle grade/young adult novel. While most of the course is completed from home, Fellows are required to attend the Children’s Literature Summer Conference and a Winter Publishing/Editing Conference at Stony Brook Southampton, NY.

So why not take a chance and go back to school? If writing children’s books is your passion, this is the moment to make it happen!

P.S. If you’re unable to make up your mind, be sure to take a look at my blog. I have tons of posts on the topic of writing and publishing children’s books. Be sure to scroll through the many posts or search keywords relevant to your interests.

Do you know the #1 way to build an audience of loyal readers AND boost your author income exponentially?

By doing school visits.  

It’s true. School author visits are the single best way to connect with young readers, teachers, librarians and parents…AND they’re a wonderful way to earn additional income.

But I’m always amazed by how few of my colleagues, students and clients are doing school visits. “Who am I to visit schools?” they say, “I only have one book!” Or, “I’m not a best-selling author – why would they care?” Or, “I haven’t even been published yet! How can I do a school visit?” Many experience performance anxiety, or feel that reaching out to schools, getting booked and planning presentations is just too overwhelming.

I felt the same way when I was starting out. I wished that I could have one go-to place where I could learn the ropes, find the tools and resources I needed and have all my questions answered.

That’s why I created School Visit Wizard, the one-stop, comprehensive system to research, cultivate, book and deliver stellar school visits with confidence!

School Visit Wizard is much more than a course. It contains ready-to-use, customizable forms, templates and checklists to save you countless hours and a lot of money. No need to research or create invoices, contracts, flyers, order forms, or anything else — I’ve done it all for you!

The program is broken down into 7 step-by-step modules containing videos, slideshows, documents and customizable forms, encompassing everything you need to know about School Visits, including:

• How to Research, Cultivate and Book School Visits
• Whether – and What – to Charge for a Visit
• Dozens of Suggested Topics for Engaging, Age-Appropriate Presentations
• Customizable Forms and Checklists, including: Sample Invoice, BookingContract, Presentation Schedule and Details, Backpack Flyer, Book Order Form, Evaluation Form, and more.
• Common Mistakes and Problems – plus Solutions
• Managing Book Sales
• Do’s and Don’ts of School Visits
• Answers to 60+ FAQ’s About Doing School Visits
• Insider Tips from Other Authors
• Virtual School Visits
• Recommended Resources

PLUS…3 Fabulous Bonuses!

#1 – Advice from the Experts – Interviews with School Visit Expert Mary Brown and Booking Agent Catherine Balkin, plus tips from fellow authors and educators with school visit experience

#2 – Presenting Your Work: Developing Presentation Skills, Conquering Stage Fright and Presenting with Confidence

#3 – All About Teacher’s Guides, with Marcie Colleen

To celebrate the launch of School Visit Wizard, I’m offering it at a special early-bird price of $197 for this week only (next week it goes up to $247.)

So if booking and delivering author visits in schools is on your bucket list for the next school year, click on the link below…

(But don’t wait! Schools book author visits 6 months to a year in advance – so you need to be planning now!)

http://schoolvisitwizard.com

To your success!

Authors interested in doing school visits often wonder when the should contact schools to cultivate bookings. The answer is: as far in advance as possible.

Many – if not most – schools plan their budgets and schedules anywhere from six months to a year ahead. So if you’re interested in getting booked in the 2015-2016 calendar year, the time to begin cultivating those bookings is NOW.

Here in the western hemisphere, summer is halfway over (sorry!) and teachers and administrators will be heading back to their offices shortly to begin gearing up for the new school year. This is the moment to begin getting your ducks in a row! Make lists of schools to reach out to, prepare your author visit packet and plan the presentations you will offer.

With time on your side, you can be connecting with your audience and supplementing your author income this very next school year!

Want more information on doing school visits?

Click here to receive my FREE 3-PART VIDEO TRAINING SERIES on school author visits.

(Act fast… the videos expire on July 14^th!)

For those of you who write children’s books and are interested in school visits, here’s some great news!

I ran a survey several months ago asking you to tell me your biggest question (or fear) about school visits. So many of you responded and shared your concerns and questions, that I’ve decided to provide a FREE Video Training Series that will answer your most burning questions.

The topics will be:

VIDEO #1: 10 Tips for a Successful School Visit (these ten tips will provide you with a solid foundation for doing school visits)

VIDEO #2: Things That Can (and Do) Go Wrong – and How to Deal With Them (we’re always afraid of the unknown, with this video I’m looking to make you more prepared!)

VIDEO #3: Answers to Your Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions (certain questions came up in your submissions again and again – I will answer these critical questions in order to make you feel more confident going into the classroom.)

Click here to sign up for the free training…. but do it quickly. The videos expire on July 14th! Once you sign up, you will soon receive an email giving you access to the first video!

Who Stole the Crown Jewels?

Twelve-year-old Keira discovers a hat floating on the Long Island Sound. When she puts it on, weird, wacky and wonderful things happen. Little does she know that she will soon be on a secret assignment thousands of miles away from the sandy shores she knows and loves to the heart of London.

Meet Keira, a girl with a vivid imagination, bright red hair, very cool glasses, crazy perception skills and on the shy side; her mischievous puppy Waffles with a nose that can sniff trouble anywhere; and Papa, her grandfather, a retired secret agent who is itching to find something to do.

Together, they created the Keira and Papa Detective Agency for solving mysteries that have little to no real clues. Scotland Yard and the Queen of England urgently need the agency s help to find the mysteriously missing Crown Jewels. Will they be able to find them in time?

Meet the girl who became a secret agent … not even her parents know!

Join forces with Keira, Papa and Waffles on a thrilling ride of suspense, surprise and fun solving The Case of the Missing Crown Jewels, by real-life grandfather/grand-daughter writing team Robert Martin and Keira Ely.

Click here to purchase The Case of the Missing Crown Jewels

The Secret at Haney Field: A Baseball Mystery by R.M. Clark

Mysterious things are happening at Haney Field, which April O’Day and her best friend, Darren Plummer, are determined to uncover. Who are those baseball-playing shadows, and why are they at Haney Field? Can Marcus “Mayhem” Mayfield, a veteran of the Negro Leagues as well as the majors, help them solve this mystery?
 As facts come into focus, will Mr. Haney try to keep an event from the 1960s hidden under the grandstands? April and Darren are on the case and quickly learn that this is no ordinary season. In fact, it’s a whole new ballgame!

Click here to learn more about The Secret at Haney Field.

Paris Hop! by Margie Blumberg

On a visit to Paris, France, for just one day, Grandma Goldie is eager to show her granddaughter, Aimee, how the city sparkles in the sun from the top of the Eiffel Tower. But the other joys of “Paree” create delightful detours along the way. Will this peppy pair make it to the tower before sunset? Find out in this charmingly illustrated rhyming tale about the City of Light . . . and happy surprises.

A French-English glossary is included!

Click here to learn more about Paris Hop!

Breezy Bunnies by Margie Blumberg

Will rain spoil little brother’s breezy day?

It’s springtime in Carrot Cake Park and these two breezy bunnies–Millie and her little brother Jimmy—are ready for fun . . . playing with their friends, picnicking with ducklings, and cloud-watching along the way. And should the weather change, Millie is all prepared with her umbrella. This bouncy rhyming tale with its charming illustrations reveals their splendid day, which may just get a little bit soggier than they ever imagined!

Click here to learn more about Breezy Bunnies.

I’m putting the final touches on School Visit Wizard, a step-by-step, customizable kit to help authors book, plan and deliver A+ author visits in schools.

I want to make sure I’ve covered everything, so if you’re willing to help by answering one quick question, I’ll send you a FREE report outlining The 7 Essential Documents Every Author MUST Have in Their School Visit Kit. (What’s a School Visit Kit? Don’t worry – this report answers that, too!)

Just click on the link below, fill out the form and click submit – and you’ll receive the report immediately.

Thank you!

https://emmawaltonhamilton.wufoo.com/forms/whats-your-biggest-question-about-school-visits/

For those of you who write picture books, here’s some great news!

My friend and colleague Julie Hedlund and I recently ran a survey asking for questions about picture book submissions. We received SO MANY great questions – literally, hundreds – and we were amazed by how many people asked the same questions.

Julie and I are both dedicated to supporting fellow children’s book authors – in our view, the children’s book writing community is perhaps the most mutually supportive of any professional community out there, because, hey, we’re all writing for kids!  So we decided to create a FREE video training series answering your most commonly recurring questions as follows:

1. How to write a GREAT HOOK sentence in your query letters

2. The Top 5 MISTAKES TO AVOID, and 5 lesser known (but frequently made) mistakes – so you don’t sink your submission before it starts.

3. Our ANSWERS to the most commonly asked QUESTIONS that came up over and over again in the survey.

Click here to sign up for the free training…. but do it quickly! These videos will expire in 10 days!

P.S. Please share this post on social media or with your picture book writing friends… there’s great information in these videos for everyone who writes picture books. And check out some of the fabulous comments we’ve already received on the first video, below!

Picture Book writers of the world, listen up!

The single best resource that I know of for picture book writers is — for a very limited time — accepting new registrations.

12 x 12 is a year-long writing challenge, where members aim to write 12 complete picture book drafts, one per month, for each 12 months of the year, with advice, encouragement and submission opportunities along the way. Created by author Julie Hedlund, 12 x 12 is now in its fourth phenomenally successful year, and provides all the motivation, support, and accountability you need to help you write, submit and get published.

Imagine a 24/7 writing community where, if you have a question, you can receive answers almost instantly from a network of over 750 authors. Imagine having curated resources for planning, writing, revising, submitting, and promoting picture books at your fingertips, every day. Imagine a picture book playground where you can meet other writers & illustrators, talk shop with people who “get” you, give/receive feedback on your manuscripts & queries, form critique groups, and tap into an endless supply of inspiration. This is 12 x 12.

But it’s ONLY for picture book authors – and registration is ONLY open in January and February, so don’t wait.

Here’s my personal affiliate link to get more info:

http://emmasfavorites.com/12X12in2015

To your success!

Happy New Year!

As a children’s author, editor and writing coach, I spend a lot of  time talking about writing and/or publishing books for children and young adults. I feel so blessed to do the work I do, and to belong to such a warm, supportive and buoyant community of fellow readers, writers and children’s book lovers.

So I thought I’d start this New Year off a little differently. I want to begin 2015 by listening… really listening, in order to help me best serve those who share the dream of writing or publishing a children’s book or young adult novel in the year ahead. Will you help me? Please tell me…

What’s your #1 question about writing and/or publishing books for children or young adults?

What holds you back? What do you feel like you don’t know, or need to do or have in order to fulfill that dream?

To answer, simply click on the link below and write your response in the box provided:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BIGGESTKIDLITQUESTION

Thank you for sharing your dreams and questions with me, and here’s wishing you all possible success in your creative endeavors in the year ahead!

I’m thrilled to announce that  my good friend and colleague, author and 12X12 Picture Book Challenge Founder Julie Hedlund, and I have officially launched our new course, The Ultimate Guide to Picture Book Submissions!

Julie and I have poured everything we know about writing query letters and the process of submitting picture books into this course. We are proud to say it is a one-stop-shopping source for EVERYTHING a picture book author needs to know about submitting picture books successfully to agents and publishers.

In fact, we guarantee that every possible question about the picture book submissions process is answered in this course. How can we make that promise? Because if anyone purchases the course and finds, after going through all the material, that a question they have is NOT answered, we’ll both answer the question AND add it to the official FAQs.

And for this weekend only, we are offering an early-bird special of $50 off the retail price of the course, bringing it down from $197 to $147. (That’s actually $3 less than my professional Query Critique service… and in true “teach-a-man-to-fish” fashion, empowers picture book authors to polish their own queries with confidence forever more.) In addition, those who purchase the course before the early-bird deadline expires will receive a BONUS gift – our comprehensive list of publishers that accept un-agented picture book submissions.

This is NOT a mere ebook, but a complete soup-to-nuts resource for crafting flawless submissions to land an agent or a book contract. Those interested can take a short video tour of everything that’s in the course HERE.

(But remember – the early-bird offer expires at midnight on Monday, November 3.)

To your submissions success!

You’ve finished the first draft of your children’s book or YA novel… now what?

Or… You’ve revised until you’re blue in the face, but it’s still not quite “there” yet. Maybe you’re considering hiring a freelance editor, but want to make the most of their time – and your money. You might even be ready to submit to agents or publishers… but you just don’t trust spell check.

Introducing my latest resource for children’s book authors… Editor in a Box! 

Whether you need help with any aspect of revision or are ready to put the final polish on your work, Editor in a Box contains everything you need to get your picture book, chapter book or middle grade or YA novel into the best possible shape for submission to agents, editors and publishers, including…

• A comprehensive 6-step Revision Process, with specific recommendations for revising your story, as well as your storytelling – in video, print and checklist form.
• A list of Weak, Overused, and Unnecessary Words
• A “Grammer Crammer”- basic grammar and punctuation rules as well as common errors to watch out for
• Manuscript formatting guidelines and recommendations
• A Guide to Finding, Hiring and Working with Freelance Editors
• A complete Guide to Manuscript Submission, including information on queries, cover letters, finding an agent and more
• Recordings, Transcripts and Takeaways from Interviews with esteemed professional children’s book editors

I created this kit because, as a freelance editor myself, I’m painfully aware of how often writers submit their work to editors, agents and publishers before their manuscripts are truly ready.

At best, this can cause a freelance editor to lose valuable time addressing careless and avoidable errors, rather than being able to focus on the more substantive issues of the work. At worst, it can increase the cost of a project, or even prompt a freelance editor to reject a job outright.

Even more importantly, you have only one chance to submit to a publisher or agent – don’t waste it by submitting work that isn’t 100% ready.

The kit comes in two versions: Editor in a Box for Picture Books, and Editor in a Box for Chapter Books and Middle Grade or YA Novels.

Before you hire a freelance editor, before you submit to an agent or publisher, put your manuscript through a soup-to-nuts revision process that will give you the tools and the confidence to make it sparkle.

Click here to find out more… http://emmawaltonhamilton.com/store

To your success!

Backstory can be essential to understanding a character and his/her journey. It can deepen conflict, reveal motivation and elicit sympathy for a hero or secondary character.

But…

Nothing can kill pacing faster than an info-dump of backstory, especially in the first half of a novel.  So when and how best to include it?

Here are 5 tips on how to artfully weave backstory into a middle grade or YA novel:

1. Hint at your character’s backstory early on, but hold off on revealing it until the information is crucial for readers – or characters – to know.
2. Reveal it piecemeal. Instead of an extended flashback, pick 2 or 3 key moments you can drop in here and there in small chunks – a sentence or two at a time, rather than paragraphs. This allows your reader to play detective and piece the clues together to form the whole picture.
3. Have it be activated by something sensory – a sight, smell, sound, taste or feeling. These are powerful memory triggers, and can connect a present experience to a past one, making the details of the backstory feel more germane.
4. Put it in a moment of interiority. (This only works if you are writing in 1st or close 3rd person, of course.)
5. Reveal it in as few words as possible, artfully chosen. How many of those lyrical details do you really need? Let go of the writerly padding, no matter how much you love the imagery, and focus on the details that move the story forward. Young readers are less interested in backstory than they are in forward moving action.

For more writing and revision tips and tools such as this, take one of my home-study writing courses – Just Write for Kids, Just Write for Middle Grade or Just Write for Young Adults.

Visit: http://justwritechildrensbooks.com for details.

The middle grade and YA sections of your local bookstore and/or library these days are teeming with genres, styles and subject matters for teens and ‘tweens to explore.  Some offer up fantastical and imaginative worlds, others deal with gritty topical issues – and there’s a vast range in between. But no matter what genre or format you choose to write in, there is a universal key to crafting a compelling plot for young readers: resonance for your intended audience.

What does that mean?

You want to be sure the central problem or big idea that your story grapples with is relevant to your target audience on a very practical, concrete level.  In other words, the reader must identify with it.  Feeling different, seeking independence, navigating relationships, testing boundaries – these are all universal experiences that any teen or tween can relate to, whether the story unfolds in the past, present or future and no matter where in the world it takes place. (This is not to say that you can’t write about a subject that only a select number of young readers can relate to… but that will narrow your audience, so marketing well to that ‘niche’ group becomes even more essential when the time comes.)

No matter your story’s genre or format, who the central characters are or the time and place in which it unfolds, be sure that the central issue the hero is wrestling with is germane to your target audience.  If you don’t have ready access to kids the same age as your target reader, spend some time studying the developmental issues and concerns of children, pre-teens or teens in that age group (The Gesell Institute’s child development book series is a great resource to start with.)  Knowing the age-specific passions, questions, struggles and quirks of your intended reader is the best way to brainstorm kid-friendly ideas and craft compelling characters with authentic voices that young readers will relate to.

(Interested in more information like this? Check out my home study courses in writing picture books, chapter books and middle grade novels and young adult fiction, at JustWriteChildrensBooks.com) 

Many middle grade and YA authors debate whether or not to include a prologue when beginning their manuscripts. Prologues are sections of story that precede the first chapter, similar to an introduction, but their sequencing in relationship to the following chapter(s) is not necessarily chronological. Often structured as a flash forward or flash back, a prologue can provide details that justify a character’s motives later on, or offer a quick glimpse at the central action, conflict or climax of the story that lies ahead. (This kind of prologue was used by Stephanie Meyers in Twilight.)

It’s important to know that prologues are not wildly popular with editors – they can feel like a cheat, something the author has chosen to use because he or she can’t figure out how else to incorporate that information, or because their beginning isn’t strong enough.  They can also be viewed as a stalling tactic, a way to write your way in to the story, like a kind of literary ‘throat-clearing.’

Don’t decide definitively to include a prologue until your manuscript is complete… and even then, make sure you are including one for the right reasons. Below are some pros and cons of prologues that may help in choosing whether or not to create one for your story:

Prologue Pros

• Can provide details that will explain character motives later on
• May tempt readers to read on by allowing a glimpse of the excitement that lies ahead
• Provides a place for important backstory without slowing momentum once the story is underway

Prologue Cons

• Can be viewed as a stalling tactic or sign that you’re unsure how to begin
• May be overlooked or ignored by readers, who may then miss the key information it contains

(Interested in more information like this? Check out my home study courses in writing picture books, chapter books and middle grade novels and young adult fiction, at JustWriteChildrensBooks.com) 

We’ve been zeroing in on the unique craft elements of beginnings – opening pages, scenes and chapters – in the Children’s Book Hub over the past few weeks.  One of the most important elements to consider is the promise of your story. 

What is your story really about? What will it say on the dust jacket that will prompt the reader to crack its spine and read on?

This is known as your story’s “promise.” 

The promise of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is that it will be about magic – more specifically, wizardry.

The first paragraph of the first book reads:

“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense.”

… which nicely promises the reader that in this book some very not normal, strange and mysterious things are about to happen.

The point is, if your book is about a character who can talk to animals, don’t wait 100 pages before they talk to, or hear from, an animal. If it’s a ghost story, make sure that first chapter or scene contains some ghostly element. Even if the character doesn’t realize what’s happening yet, there should be some hint right away of what’s to come… something that ties into your hook, the thing your story is really about.

Find a way to work the most interesting, compelling part of your story – its promise – into your opening.

(Interested in more information like this? Check out my home study courses in writing picture books, chapter books and middle grade novels and young adult fiction, at JustWriteChildrensBooks.com.) 

What’s the difference between a middle grade novel and a chapter book?

The lines can often seem blurry – but the truth is that each is a unique format in children’s publishing. The table below clarifies the essential but often subtle differences between the two:

This chart is one of several from Just Write for Middle Grade! my 14-week course in writing chapter books and middle grade novels.  Please visit www.justwriteformiddlegrade.com for more information.

You’re writing a story with a teenage protagonist but very sophisticated themes and content… is it categorized as adult fiction, or young adult (YA)?

You’re writing a sci-fi fantasy with two protagonists – an adult and a child.  Is it YA or adult fiction?

You’re writing a graphic novel with a 20-year old hero. Adult fiction or YA?

What is the difference between YA and adult fiction, anyway?

The table below may help you distinguish the key elements of both genres and classify your own work accordingly:

The table above is from Just Write for Young Adults!, my 14-week home-study course in writing YA fiction.

For more information on this and other children’s book writing courses I offer, please visit www.justwritechildrensbooks.com.