Imagine that you’ve written a story that makes you proud. It has conflict, good, humorous, dialogue and an exciting plot. What if someone steals your idea? The only way that you can be positive that no one has stolen your idea is not to publish your work. There are probably hundreds of stories with some similarities to yours. But remember that once you publish your story, there are copyright laws to protect it. But there are no such laws to guard your ideas. You would need to publish your story so that the laws will protect it. Let’s explore the copyright laws so you understand more about them.
Is your work protected when you discuss it with your friends? No, when you talk about your ideas, or your story, it doesn’t have copyright protection. But once your work is in print, it belongs exclusively to you and no one else can publish it without your permission. In the United States, and most western countries, the same rule would apply. Should you register it yourself? You may do so by visiting this website: http://www.copyright.gov/ If someone publishes your work illegally, you can take them to court. If you are preparing to take legal action against someone, you should be sure to register your work before you proceed with the lawsuit. If you decide to publish your own work, you must register it yourself.
What happens if you publish with a small publisher? Even small publishers will usually register your work for you before it’s published. It is generally part of the publishing fee. If you’re not sure about this, be certain to ask what services are included in the fee. It’s most important that you check your contract so that you are familiar with what is covered. Usually, the publisher registers your book in your name so that you have the rights to it.
What are the rules if you publish an article in a magazine? If a magazine is publishing an article for you, they would have registered the entire magazine so it would be protected by copyright laws. The exception would be that you would need to register your own article, if you were preparing to go to court.
Do you need to worry about publishers stealing your work? It would be very rare for a reputable publisher to steal your work. The one exception would be if you were dealing with a shady company that wants “samples” of your writing and they hire you to provide those pieces every week. You may find one of your short writing samples were published without permission. This is one legitimate reason to avoid these types of establishments. In some cases, the publisher may be so inexperienced that he/she doesn’t realize that you must register an article or story before it’s printed. It’s even possible that a new publisher could pay your for your work, without letting you know that it was published until after it was released to the public. You could receive a letter stating that your article or story has been published. In this case, they’re not intentionally stealing your work, but you may have also submitted it to another company, so this can be quite an embarrassing situation for you. This is an unpleasant surprise, to be sure so the best way to avoid it is to work with established publishers who are well informed about copyright laws.
What about online publications? In this instance, it’s possible that someone will see something in on online publication or on Facebook without realizing that copyright laws apply. They could see your work, like it and copy it to their website or their Facebook page. Generally, if you email them and tell them they used your work without permission, they will delete it quickly.
What is pirating? This happens when someone actually does steal your work, usually seen online. Someone can scan it and place it on their own website. But it only happens with very well known books and the person responsible wants to display your work without paying for it.
If you remember some of these tips, you could save yourself quite a bit of stress. Always submit your very best work to a publisher and don’t discuss it until it’s been forwarded to a reliable publisher.
Some important things to remember:
It’s most important to remember that writers often have similar ideas, but it’s the way the ideas are presented that matter. Also, keep in mind that there are no copyright laws for ideas, only actual printed work.
The safest way to prevent any stealing of your work is to deal with a reputable publisher who knows copyright laws well.
Once your work is in print, it’s uniquely your own creation and protected by
the laws.

It’s best to keep your plans to yourself until your work is safely in the hands of a good publisher who knows copyright laws well.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on January, 21

Deanie's essay, "Looking for the Secret to Success? Never Give Up" is included in the new book, "The I Word." It's a collection of inspiring essays, written by authors.
Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/The-I-Word-eboo...

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on January, 19

Let’s imagine that you’ve been working diligently on your new children’s story, but something is lacking. Could it be that your characters are too perfect? If so, your readers will not be engaged in reading it and will quickly lose interest. Your readers won’t really care about what happens in your story unless they can connect with the characters you’re creating. We’ll talk about some ways to make sure your characters are memorable.
Make your readers feel the emotions of your characters:You may have had a writing instructor or an author friend remind you that you must help your readers to relate to whatever is happening to the characters in your story. How can you do that? One way you can accomplish this is not to use tired clichés in your writing. Instead, use original ideas. If you have children about the same age as your characters, take note of the language they use. What kinds of activities interest them?
Do your characters follow their personality? Let’s say that Kylie loves music. She practices piano religiously so she can perform well at her recital. But, she’s terribly frightened of heights. With this in mind, it wouldn’t be a good plan to have her suddenly decide she wants to excel in diving.
Does your dialogue fit?It’s most important that your characters don’t speak like adults. They don’t often use perfect grammar. If you’re not sure about this, spend some time with children and pay particular attention to the words they use. Be sure to keep your dialogue lively and insure that it advances your plot in some way.
Get to know your characters In order to write a story that will engage young readers, you must know you’re characters well. How can you do that? Besides spending time with children, you can role play. Pretend you are one of your characters. Listen to the music they enjoy. Treat your story “people” as if they were part of your family. Observe the activities they love. Being involved can really make a huge difference in how well readers will connect with your story.
In summary, here are some hints to remember when writing for children:
1. Be sure that your readers feel the emotions of your characters.
2. Get to know your characters, as if they were part of your family.
3. Make sure that the actions of your characters match their personalities.
4. Use dialogue that matches the way today’s children speak.
I hope that these suggestions set you on the road to writing the perfect children’s story.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on January, 07

Carla Burke is the author of two books: "I Spy a Dragon Fly" and "My Name may be Peanuts but I Say Nay to PB& J." Her book,"I Spy A Dragon Fly" was chosen to receive the 2011 Christian Literacy Award.It was well deserved recognition for the years she spent writing and promoting it.
"I Spy A Dragon Fly" is an endearing title for a children’s book. How did she come up with the idea for my book? In 2007 there was great deal of rain in San Antonio. One day she noticed swarms of colorful dragonflies darting about all over her property.She showed the dragonflies to her son, who was four years old at the time, hoping one would land on him. To their amazement, a small blue dragon fly settled on her son’s arm. He was so delighted that she wanted to write down their wondrous experience as a keepsake.In the end, her story became an enchanting children’s book instead.
Carla’s second book, "My Name may be Peanuts, but I say Nay to PB&J",concerns a very serious subject-food allergies. She wanted to educate children and parents about the dangers of food allergies. She hopes that her book will foster an understanding and prevent bullying of children who suffer from food allergies.
Does Carla have a work in progress? Yes, her new book will be released soon. It concerns therapeutic riding and the benefits to children with disabilities. Riding can be a life changing experience to children, not only physically, but emotionally as well. It helps them build self esteem.
Are you wondering what Carla enjoy s in her spare time? She loves volunteering at Saddle Light Therapeutic Riding Center. She enjoys seeing the tremendous changes that riding makes to the students there and satisfies her passion for horses as well. She’s a busy mom to her children, Sean and Amanda, and a devoted wife to her husband, Phil. If you’d like to purchase her books, please visit: http://www.carlasburke.com or http://www.amazon.com/author/carlaburke

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on January, 14

Suppose you are a disabled child or adult living in the area of San Antonio, Texas. Perhaps you love horses, but you thought it was impossible to even get to know these wonderful, patient, animals because of your handicap. Don’t dismay! Visit the Saddle Light Center of Therapeutic Horsemanship and there’s a good chance your life will change for the better. The instructors at Saddle Light are specially trained so they can help children and adults with all kinds of disabilities including, cerebral palsy, autism, learning disabilities and neurological disorders, just to mention a few. You can rest assured that you or you family member will be well well cared for during your time at Saddle Light. It is member of The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (known as PATH.) Additionally, Saddle Light Center is registered with the Physical and Occupational Board of Examiners.
The Saddle Light Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship was founded in 1991, as a 501C3 charity organization. The mission of the Center is to inspire their students to reach goals beyond what was expected. It is well documented that riding helps, muscle strength, self esteem, and balance in handicapped people. Children with autism, who have never spoken, find it easier to relate and speak to the horses. Amazing things can happen through riding. Children who were never expected to walk can surprise everyone when they walk and become accomplished riders through the efforts of the staff and horses at the Saddle Light Center. If you’ve been considering a riding program for yourself or your child, I would encourage you to visit the Center. You might be amazed at what you can accomplish!

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on July, 13

If you’re a nine year old boy, what might you normally do? Play video games? Play with trucks? Play baseball, America’s favorite game? Not if you’re Cody Jackson. At the tender age of nine years old he’s already written two children’s books, and been featured on Fox News, Dr. Drew, and The Pentagon Channel, just to mention a few. Cody considers it his personal mission to greet soldiers returning from their military service. He’s welcomed thousands of them and made their homecoming an extraordinary event. Cody’s goal is to help other children understand that it’s okay to be patriotic and love your country as he does.
Cody’s parents have done an extraordinary job explaining to him that our soldiers, sailors and Marines and Airmen, work very hard to protect our great country from it’s enemies. He understands that without our military members, we wouldn’t be a free country- the greatest country on Earth.
Cody, I applaud you for all you’re doing for our troops. No doubt you’ve made a huge difference to every one of them. I’ll bet you’re their hero, Congratulations! You’re such a wonderful role model for your friends as well.
If you’d like to purchase Cody’s Activiity/Coloring Book, Pint Sized Patriot, please visit: http://1boyuso.com/ You may also preorder Cody’s new book: Pint Sized Patriot Standing Tall on that website. Please keep in mind that Cody donates a portion of the proceeds from his book to send care packages to our troops.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on July, 10

A new interview has just been posted on www.beachboundbooks.com. Here is the link:http://www.beachboundbooks.com/d.... Hope you stop by to check it out.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on May, 04

Imagine you’ve spent months, or even years trying to create a children’s story that you think has just the right ingredients to be THE one. You can hardly wait to dash your perfect story off to the publisher. You might be in a hurry to submit it, but before you make a hasty decision, you need to cover your bases. What are some of the things you need to check out? Well, some of the things might be easy to overlook.
Double Space Your Manuscript
What happens if you forget to double space your manuscript? Unfortunately, the editor will probably toss it into the dreaded circular file! Why would he or she do that to your masterpiece? Remember that editors are busy people. If your story is single-spaced, it’s too time consuming and difficult to read, especially when time is precious.

What are some of the other steps you need to take to be sure your story is ready for prime time? Did you remember to check for typing mistakes, or spelling errors? These details are important, because if you submit an article with sloppy sentence structure, spelling errors, or awkward sentences, a rejection letting will be in your mailbox soon. Remember to read and reread your story. It can be tiring to edit your story for hours on end, so you’d be wise to take a break. Go for a walk, or do something you enjoy and come back to your writing later, when you’re refreshed. You may even decide to wait till the next day before you have another look at it. It’ll give you a fresh perspective so you’ll notice things you’ve missed previously.
The Opening
Does your story have a good opening, with action? Will it hook your reader so he or she won’t want to put it down?

Suspense:
Did you remember to include enough conflict in the story? You know that conflict is the problem that gives your story suspense.
Age Appropriate
Did you remember to make your main character about the same age as your readers( or a couple of years older) so that they will relate to your character? These are all things that will help make your story more appealing.
Word Use
You'll want to be sure you've used words your readers will understand. Check Children's Writer Word Book by Alijandra Migilner (Writer's Digest Books) for children's stories from grades 1-6. It also contains valuable publishing information geared toward children.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
Finally, are you ready to “own” your work? Are you proud to sign your name to it? Are you positive that your best effort will be on display for your readers? This is an important step to take before your story is ready for submission. Have you done the necessary revisions, or are you settling for your first draft? So many things can change between the first draft and the finished product, in my view.
In summary, here’s a checklist to help you include keys to success:
1. Is your manuscript in the proper format that your publisher recommends?
2. Is your opening riveting so your reader will be mesmerized by it?
3. Have you checked carefully for spelling, grammar, and typing errors?
4. Are you proud to put your name on your work?
If you’ve followed these steps, I’ll bet you’re going to be thrilled with your final results and your publisher will find it irresistible. Congratulations!

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on March, 03

Renowned author, Claire Power Murphy, interviewed children's author, Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on Claire's show, "Improve Every Year. They discuss building character through children's books on www.womensradio.com. We hope you'll tune into the interview. Here is the link:http://www.womensradio.com/2012/03/character-building-through-childrens-stories/

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on March, 03

When the Ending Meets the Beginning in your Children’s Story
Imagine you’ve worked for months to hone your perfect children’s story. You’ve paid attention to important details. You’ve made sure that your main character has learned important lessons during her journey. The opening of your story has action to hold the interest of your readers. But what can you do about the ending? You don’t want to tell your readers everything, but you want them to have a hopeful feeling when they finish your book. You might prefer to end your story “organically.” What does that mean? The word “organic” brings vegetables and fruits to mind, doesn’t it? But in writing, “organic” means that you create a natural ending for your story. Sometimes you may choose to refer back to the beginning of the story and have the ending tied to that. For example, for my first story, Tails of Sweetbrier, I began by asking the reader a question. The question I chose was this:”Have you ever wanted to be able to do something, but you came across a roadblock of some kind?” Asking a question will peak the reader’s interest. Immediately, the child will wonder what kind of obstacles were going to be described in the story. They’ll want to know whether the “roadblock” was such a big thing that it couldn’t be overcome. In the end, I chose to tie it neatly together by encouraging my readers to never give up on their dreams. I told them, “You have the power to make your dreams come true so reach for them and don’t accept anything less! “ It’s an ending that inspires children that they can overcome anything if they persevere.
You may also decide to start your story with the main character dreaming. You could describe the details of the dream vividly and have your character wake at the end of the story. There can be all sorts of mysterious, scary events, but when your character awakes, he may be glad to find it was all just a dream. Or some parts of the dream can actually happen. You have so many different ways that you can craft your story. Always be sure that your ending fits the beginning. It’s possible that your ending doesn’t fit with the beginning any longer because you’ve opted to change things along the way. It’s most important that all of the pieces of your story make sense when you’ve finished your masterpiece. Keep in mind that you don’t have to tell your readers the lessons your main character has learned. You can show how much your character has grown. Maybe Tessa was always afraid of the water, but she had to jump in to save her best friend, Cara. Your readers will cheer for Tessa because she overcame her greatest fear.
In summary, remember these things when you’re building the perfect ending:
1. Does the ending fit the opening? Does it fit the rest of the story?
2. Does the ending show that your main character matured in some way?
3. Does the ending leave your reader with a sense of hope or encouragement?
4. Did you remember to show your reader that your character has changed in a positive way?
If you remember some of these hints to polish the ending to your story, it will help you put the finishing touches on your wonderful story.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on February, 07

The second edition of Charlene the Star is now available from Tate Publishing. Here is the link:http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-62024-214-8.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on February, 06

We’ve talked about some important ingredients for your children’s story. Today we’re going to discuss dialogue and how important it is to your successful story.
First, it’s important to remember that you don’t want to write lots of chatter that doesn’t advance the story. It needs to have a purpose that advances your story plot. Why does this matter? Well, for one thing, many young readers check out the dialogue before they choose to purchase the book. They want to know if it looks interesting and entertaining. They want to check if the subject matter would engage them. You’ll need to place your dialogue so that it supports the action you’re planning for your book.
Next, you need to keep some general rules in mind for your narratives. For example, every time you change speakers, you’ll need to start a new paragraph. You need to frame the statement itself with quotation marks and add a comma, question mark, or period at the end of the sentence.
Here are some examples from Charlene the Star and Hattie’s Heroes:
“Here’s Hattie, speeding down the aisle, holding her bonnet,” said Charlene.
“Good morning, Charlene,” said Hattie, taking a bow. I do love to wear hats!”
You’ll notice that the quotes are only around what is actually speech.
If someone laughs, or runs, it’s part of the action narrative, but not part of speech, so you wouldn’t enclose it in quotes. For example,
Mary laughed. “What a dumb joke you told, Bob.” The quotes only enclose what Mary actually said.
What other hints can we remember to help you write the perfect dialogue? Something that will really help is to spend time with children. Pay close attention to how they talk. They tend to use short sentences. Generally, they don’t offer a lot of sage advice themselves, but they could think about those things, so you can set their thoughts apart by using italics. Here’s another example of that from Charlene the Star and Hattie’s Heroes:
Charlene thought, Hattie’s going to lose her favorite bonnet if she doesn’t slow down. That would ruin her whole day. “Hattie slow down. You’re racing down the aisle. You don’t want your favorite bonnet to fly right off your head.”
In summary, here are some things to keep in mind when you’re writing your next children’s story:
1. Be sure your dialogue advances the story. Don’t write useless chatter that has no purpose.
2. Only use quotes around what is actually said.
3. Use italics when writing a character’s thoughts, to set them apart from actual dialogue. That way, your readers will know exactly what’s happening.
4. Spend time around children so you know how they talk and what’s important to them. Remember to make your characters realistic so they don’t offer advice that’s too mature for them.
Now you have another piece to the puzzle of creating the best children’s story ever.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on January, 25

Just wanted to let you know that Deanie's new book, Charlene the Star and Hattie's Heroes, is now released!

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on January, 22

Just wanted to let you all know that Tails of Sweetbrier is being re released with Tate Publishing. For a short time, it will be only available through Deanie. You may email her at:deanie@dhdunne.tk for a signed copy. She'll post an update when Tails of Sweetbrier is re published.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on January, 22

One of the most common problems writers have is coming up with a good idea for a children’s story. Where do these ideas come from? Don’t you wish there was a little idea elf who stopped by whenever you need him? Let’s discuss some ways to find good ideas.
I think a good place to start is your own experiences. Did something happen to change the course of your life? That was the case for my book, Tails of Sweetbrier. The decision my dad made to teach me to ride horses truly changed my life and made it possible for me to realize my dream of becoming an accomplished equestrian. Have your children done something amazing or amusing that you can use as a starting point for your story? How about your pets? Many authors have successfully written about adventures of their pets.
Where else can you search for ideas? How about stories or movies? Sometimes all you need is for a story to stir a particular sentiment inside you; something you can use as a story foundation. Some authors have mentioned they suddenly get ideas in the middle of the night, or they dream about something that would make a good story subject.
Another thing that might help you come up with ideas is to imagine you’re a child again. Start with the phrases “What if? or “I wish”. You might be surprised where your ideas will direct you.
How do you determine if the story idea is noteworthy? Does it excite you? Does it seem to take on a life of it’s own? If so, you could be on your way to something great.
In summary, try looking for ideas from:
1.Your own life experiences
2.Your children’s activities or statements
3.Newspaper articles or movies
4.Something amusing that your pets do
Now you have several places to explore for the perfect story idea. Enjoy your adventure and best of luck in finding the perfect story!

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on January, 23

Some of you know that our dog, Elliott, is featured on the cover of my book, Charlene the Star. You might also know that the state of CT suffered through a power outage, resulting from a freak Oct. storm. We were without electricity for a week. How did Elliott manage to stay warm? He'd sit in front of the fireplace screen and warm one side. Then he'd turn to warm the other side. After that, he'd warm that big chest of his! He managed to keep us smiling! He also loved to cuddle up with us on our bed. All of us are glad things are back to normal. Elliott is now completely relaxed on our couch. He knows this is "Elliott's house."

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on November, 09

Hi everyone,
This is my first blog post so I'd like to introduce you to my children's books:Tails of Sweetbrier, Charlie the Horse, and Charlene the Star.

[bc:Tails Of Sweetbrier|7544574|Tails Of Sweetbrier|Deanie Humphrys-Dunne|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1276709303s/7544574.jpg|9823523]
My first book, Tails of Sweetbrier is about my personal childhood experiences overcoming my handicap and becoming a successful competitor in horse shows. I tried to use my experiences to show that amazing things are possible if you persevere.
For the two newer books, I wrote fiction stories about horses that are funny, but they also have important life lessons.

[bc:Charlie the Horse|7610524|Charlie the Horse|Deanie Humphrys-Dunne|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1299186184s/7610524.jpg|10057292]
Charlie the Horse is about a young racehorse who wants to become the winner of the Kentucky Derby. Charlie has lots of fun during training. He doesn't seem to concentrate on the task at hand. Instead, he likes to nibble on flowers, or just look around, instead of running. But eventually, he learns how important it is to set goals and keep trying.

[bc:Charlene The Star|10079910|Charlene The Star|Deanie Humphrys-Dunne|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1299186154s/10079910.jpg|14976656]
Charlene the Star is Charlie's little sister. She finds racing boring. She wonders if she should become a model.
She needs to find a way to show her trainers she doesn't like racing. What will she do instead? The story shows that it's okay to have different talents than your friends. It's also fine if you don't know where your natural gifts lie and you have to try different things before you find a good fit.

During June, I'm featured on: http://www.authorofthemonthspotlight.blogspot.com/

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on June, 19

Were you nervous about writing your first story and submitting it for publication?
I remember fretting about whether or not I should even write my first story, Tails of Sweetbrier. Initially, I thought no one would want to publish it. Maybe it would be too boring. Yikes, that would be unfortunate. But then I remembered my dad always said that if you’re afraid to try something, you should consider the worst outcome you could imagine. When I did that, I figured if no one wanted to publish it, I’d just try to improve it and resubmit it. It turned out that I worried for no reason because the story was published.
When I wrote Tails of Sweetbrier, I knew the message I wanted to convey. I wanted children to realize that anything is possible if you persevere. That’s what my parents taught all three of their daughters. If you want something, just work until you reach your goal. That was my secret to success in achieving my dream of becoming a champion equestrian, as detailed in Tails of Sweetbrier. Doctors told my parents I wouldn’t be able to walk, but my dad was undeterred. He told me the doctors were wrong and he’d teach me to ride horses to prove them wrong. Fortunately, my dad was correct. Not only did I learn to walk, but also, I was able to compete in horse shows successfully. We had a great adventure on the road to success. There were days marked by victory, and times of disappointment, but I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
When I wrote Tails of Sweetbrier, one concern is that I didn’t want to be portrayed as a hero. I didn’t accomplish anything extraordinary. All I did was keep working toward my goal. Here’s my closing sentence from the story: “You have the power to make your dreams come true, so reach for them and don’t accept anything less.” I hope this statement is an inspiration to children as they work to realize their dreams.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on August, 04

One of the keys to a successful children’s story is conflict. What exactly is that? Do your characters have to be engaged in a knock down drag out fight? No, but one of the building blocks of a good story is a struggle of some sort. Usually, the main character has to be involved in the conflict you develop. Another word for a conflict is a problem that involves the main character. Why does it need to be the main character? Generally, the main character learns something important by solving his/her problem. The main character has to do something which will bring about the result that he/she wants.
Let’s look at some examples so you have a good picture of what I’m trying to convey.
Mary wants to audition for the part of the dancer in the school play. She’s already been studying dance for two years so she feels like she’s ready. But Sarah thinks she’s the best dancer in town so she keeps reminding Mary who is the best.
“Everyone in school knows I’m the best dancer. I always play the part of the dancer every year,” she declares, stamping her foot. “Besides, I’m the prettiest,” she adds, sticking her nose in the air.
Mary is intimidated so she quits and lets Sarah play the part. Even though there’s some conflict, Mary gives in so there’s no suspense in the story. Your readers will want suspense. They want something that will captivate them. Something that will keep those pages turning.
Now let’s suppose that Mary’s mom convinces her to try out for the part and see who does best. That would make things a little more exciting, but Mary didn’t solve the problem herself so that’s not the best solution. What if Mary stays awake wondering what to do? Finally, she decides to try out for the part and the director was so impressed by her performance that she got the part after all. This time, Mary learned something about herself. She learned that she had more talent than she thought. She also figured out that she never would have reached her goal if she’d given up. Moreover, she finds she’s more courageous than she thought, because she acted in spite of her misgivings.
Is there more than one kind of conflict? Yes, your character can have an external conflict where a person or situation, is preventing him/her from reaching the goal.(like the situation with Mary and Sarah). You may also have an internal conflict where the main character has to make a decision on his own so he/she is thinking about the choice to make. The internal conflict is always within yourself. For an example of what I mean, let’s say that Jane falls from her horse. Now her confidence is shattered. She’s convinced she can’t ride anymore. That’s the outer conflict. But inside, she blames herself for the fact that her horse was hurt in the fall so they missed the show that could have qualified them to compete in the state championships. If only she rode with more conviction, her horse wouldn’t have refused the jump. Now we have an internal and external struggle. Your readers will be anxious to see how Jane reacts. Does she overcome her fear? Does she give up riding altogether? Does she forgive herself so she can move forward and proceed with her riding career?
To summarize, be sure your story has these four ingredients for success:
1.A main character with whom the reader connects
2.A conflict or problem.
3.An action that the main character takes to solve the conflict
4.A result that shows a change in the main character

I hope that you’ve enjoyed learning about these keys to success and that they help you reach your goal of being an amazing author.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on August, 26

Today we’re going to discuss characterization. What is that? It’s the art of creating a person for your story. You’ll need to describe your character’s personality traits and physical attributes so that your reader will relate well with him. The more completely you develop your characters, the more interesting your story will become. You’ll want to be as creative as you can so that your characters aren’t too ordinary, or boring.
What kind of main character should you create for your young readers? Be sure your protagonist is believable. Give him realistic flaws. Maybe he has a kind heart, but a quick temper. Maybe she’s painfully shy, but one of the smartest kids in the class. Children realize we all have strengths and weaknesses, so you should create your characters accordingly. Also, remember to describe them physically so that your readers can visualize them and connect with them. After you’ve described your characters, read through the story to ensure you have kept them true to the traits you’ve given them. Did you forget that Jessie was the fearless soccer player, but in your story, she’s afraid to try out for the team? Is Brandon, who hates public speaking, suddenly, leading the debate team competition? These scenarios would be workable, because the actions contradict the character’s traits.
Now, how important is a name? I have one suggestion on this subject. Keep in mind that names that were popular years ago, may not be on the top of the list today. For example, Marie and Tom were common names years ago. Today they’ve been replaced by names like Emma and Jacob. It’s easier for your young readers to connect with your characters if they have contemporary names.
In conclusion, try to keep these things in mind when writing your children’s story:
1.Use names that are popular today.
2.Create believable characters with strengths and weaknesses.
3.Develop your characters completely to make them interesting.
4.Be sure your characters actions fit the traits you’ve given them.
I hope that these suggestions help you to create wonderful characters for your stories.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on September, 23

Does anyone have a mixed breed terrier? We used to call our dog, Elliott a terror, instead of a terrier! He chewed 3 TV remotes, and lots of pens. But he only did that once he was sure we weren't sending him back to the pound(where we got him). He was on perfect behavior for the first few weeks until he figured he was safe!
We love him so much that he's on the cover of my children's book, Charlene the Star.
He'll also be featured on the cover of my new book, Charlene the Star and Hattie's Heroes, which will be released soon. He loves being the center of attention.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on October, 27

Does anyone have a mixed breed terrier? We used to call our dog, Elliott a terror, instead of a terrier! He chewed 3 TV remotes, and lots of pens. But he only did that once he was sure we weren't sending him back to the pound(where we got him). He was on perfect behavior for the first few weeks until he figured he was safe!
We love him so much that he's on the cover of my children's book, .
He'll also be featured on the cover of my new book, which will be released soon. He loves being the center of attention.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on October, 27

Last time we talked about the importance of conflict, or the problem, involved in your children’s story. We learned that you can’t have a good story without including a problem for the main character to solve. It’s the conflict, or problem, that propels the story forward. Today we’re going to discuss another important element you need for a successful children’s story: theme.
What exactly is a theme? It’s the underlying message the author wants you to ponder. It’s an overall idea that the author wants you to think about. Generally, it appears in the story several times. For example, when I wrote Tails of Sweetbrier, the main thing I wanted my young readers to consider is that you shouldn’t abandon your dreams when things don’t go the way you’d like. How do you know that was the theme? There were many times throughout the story where the main character (in this case, me) could have given up. I wanted to become an excellent horseback rider. But my legs weren’t as strong as most children’s because I have cerebral palsy. I’d fall off when my legs got tired. I’d fall off if my pony stumbled. I’d repeatedly lose my balance when I was learning to jump . During all of these incidents, readers found that I often reminded myself that giving up was not an option. They learned that I could have given up, but I realized that would prevent me from ever reaching my goal.
Is there a difference between a theme and a moral? Yes, the moral is usually clearly stated. For example, in the story, ”The Tortoise and the Hare,” the author tells you, “Slow and steady wins the race.” But, theme is something that readers need to discern for themselves. I think it’s more valuable to them because they’re likely to remember it, since they discovered it themselves.
Now you know more about themes. You can explain the difference between a theme and a moral. I hope these hints help you to create stories that are irresistible to children.

posted by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne on November, 05