Best Advice

Over the years I have received much advice from editors and fellow scribes. If I had to decide on three of the best pieces of wisdom, they would have to be the following:

1. Cut it down by half and leave nothing out - an editor proferred this advice when I turned in a manuscript that used a little bit too much fluff and stuff.

2. He who asks a question feels a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. (Old Chinese Proverb) - I read this somewhere and it became my impetus for raising my hand when I attend writing workshops or seminars.

3. Tell me, I’ll forget. Show me, I’ll remember. Involve me, I’ll understand. (Old Chinese Proverb) This sage piece of advice reminds me how and why to show, not tell in my writing.

Finding the Magic Bullet

Bad news...there is no magic bullet. There are no shortcuts or quick tips to making it in the writing world. First, I believe a writer needs passion. If God intended you to write, He will guide you little by little in your craft.

Find what triggers that yearning to knit together words on a page and then take steps to pursue and perfect your chosen career. Persistence and patience are essential character traits in the kit of a writer who is worthy. Take courses. Find writer friends. Join a writer's group. Read books on writing. Read the kind of books you would like to write. Read them again and do so for logical reasons. Then read them again, paying attention to what appeals and what doesn't. Research. Write and rewrite. Pray. Then pray some more. Make sure your motivation is in line with God's plan. Are you trying to write for the big bucks? Or are you writing what you know (or would like to know?)

Know your publisher's or editor's target market and then ask yourself what do these readers want and need to know? What is missing from the wealth of information out there and then fill in the blanks.

Be professional but be natural. When your fingers move with abandon and words appear almost miraculously on the page, your heart is taking over and you are writing right.

I think one of the best pieces of advice I was given as I started out in my writing career was when an editor told me to write from the heart.

"If you do this," she said," then you will touch other hearts."

How very true. This was my encouragement to write with passion and purpose. When I get a little down and dejected because I have become too task oriented, I remember those great words and I get inspired all over again. Just remember there are no quick fixes in this profession but there are amazing results when you write from the heart.

Which is Which?

When you decide to write for children, there are some other things you need to think about. What kind of book will I write? Will it be a picture book? An early chapter book? A YA? Or maybe something in between. Here is a bit of an outline that will hopefully give you the general idea of where your story might work:

1.The Picture Book category is called such because the illustrations play a significant role in telling the story. Baby books and Toddler books are usually lullabies, nursery rhymes, fingerplays, or wordless books. The length and format varies with the content. For babies and toddlers the books are short, simple stories and usually range from 0-300 words
Picture books - typically picture story books are 32-page books for ages 4-8. Some publishers say ages 3-7 or even 5-9. It depends on the publisher. Word count is usually somewhere up to 1500 words, with 800-1000 words being the average length. Plots are not complicated and they have one main character who assumes the child's emotions, concerns and viewpoint. The illustrations and story share a 50/50 role. Usually the pictures are on every page or every other. Sometimes a picture book will exceed 1500 words; this is usually geared toward the upper end of the age groups and is the longer ones are often non-fiction. Nonfiction in the picture book format can go up to age 10, 48 pages in length, or up to about 2000 words of text. Early picture books are geared toward the lower end of the 4-8 age range and are simple stories under 1000 words.

Easy readers are for children just starting to read on their own (age 6-8). The books usually have color illustrations on every page like a picture book, but the format is more a little more mature and sometimes are broken into short chapters. They can be 32-64 pages long, with 200-1500 words of text, occasionally going up to 2000 words. The stories are told mainly through action and dialogue with one idea per sentence.
Books average 2-5 sentences per page.

Transition books or Early Chapter Books for ages 6-9 bridge the gap between easy readers and chapter books. They have the same style as easy readers but are longer - sometimes about 30 pages long with 2-3 page chapters.

Chapter books for ages 7-10 are 45-60 pages long and broken into 3-4 page chapters. Stories have a more intricate plot than transition books, though they still can contain a lot of action. The sentences can be longer but paragraphs are still short with 2-4 sentences being the average. Chapters often end in the middle of a scene to keep the reader turning the pages.

Middle Grade Books have the greatest readership. This age 8-12 age group is considered to be the golden age of reading. Stories are longer (100-150 pages,)and more complex with sub-plots involving secondary characters. The themes are more sophisticated. Readers at this stage and age enjoy good characters that they can relate to; they get hooked and want to read more. Series books are popular in this age group. Fiction genres range from contemporary to historical to science fiction/fantasy; nonfiction includes biographies, science, history and multicultural topics.

Young Adult for ages 12 and up, are longer stories, about 130 to 200 pages long. Plots can be complex with several major characters, though one character should emerge as the focus of the book. What do teens struggle with today? That's what YA novels need to encompass.