Author Platforms

What exactly is an author platform and how do you create yours? 

https://alaynekaychristian.wordpress.com/2014/12/13/julie-hedlund-busts-myths-about-author-platforms/

Middle Grade Fiction - Tense and Point of View

What tense and point of view are used in best-selling middle grade books?

https://ellenbrockediting.com/2013/10/07/bestselling-middle-grade-fiction-part-2-tense-point-of-view/

Comp Titles

If an agent or editor asks you for comp titles, or books that are similar to yours, you need to choose only recently published ones. 

http://bookendsliterary.com/2019/05/09/choosing-comp-titles/

Children's Book Categories

Contrary to popular opinion, a picture book is not a genre (like mystery, science fiction, biography) but rather a category. 

https://www.jennybowman.com/what-genre-is-my-childrens-book/

Character Descriptions

Describing your characters is more than just listing their physical attributes. 

https://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/11-secrets-to-writing-effective-character-description

Tighten Your Writing

Cut these 25 words and phrases to make your writing read more smoothly.  

https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2019/04/delete-words-phrases/?es_p=9188423

Things to Love About Author Visits

An educator shares five benefits for her students when authors come to visit.

https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/5-things-i-love-about-author-visits/

Middle Grade Fiction - Genres and Topics

What genres and topics appear in middle grade fiction on the best-selling lists?

https://ellenbrockediting.com/2013/09/30/bestselling-middle-grade-fiction-part-1-genres-topics/

Grow Your Backstory

We all know you shouldn't infodump your backstory at the beginning of your manuscript, but how do you organically integrate the needed information? 

https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2019/05/06/mfa-for-breakfast-series-how-to-grow-your-backstory-by-katia-raina/

Rockstar-Quality Titles

Although your publisher may end up changing the title you choose, it never hurts to start with a catchy title. 

https://www.tckpublishing.com/how-to-choose-a-fiction-title/

Publishing Dictionary

Like any business, publishing has a language all its own. 

http://bookendsliterary.com/2019/04/30/an-updated-publishing-dictionary/

Book Events

Here are some hints to make your next book event a success. 

https://writerunboxed.com/2019/03/23/the-art-of-the-book-event-9-tips/

Third Person Limited

Since the early 1900s, the most common point of view in novels is third person limited. 

https://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/craft-technique/why-third-person-limited-point-of-view

Is it a Picture Book

Just because you're manuscript is only 500 words long, that doesn't necessarily mean you've written a picture book. 

http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/10105/guest-post-darcy-pattison-and-leslie-helakoski-how-do-you-know-if-youve-written-a-picture-book/

Realistic Dialogue

Dialogue in a book should mimic exactly the way people talk, but it needs to be believable. 

https://killzoneblog.com/2019/03/what-did-you-say-writing-realistic-dialogue.html

Injecting Humor Into Your Writer

Even the most serious of books needs to humor to lighten them up. 

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2019/04/8-ways-to-inject-humor-into-your-writing/

Social Media Tips

Your readers are on social media, so you need to be there, too. 

https://annerallen.com/2019/04/use-social-media-avoid-cesspool/

One-Sentence Summary

Before you can even consider writing a synopsis, you need to be able to describe your book in one sentence. 

https://rachellegardner.com/writing-a-one-sentence-summary/

Character Objectives

Knowing your character's objectives, both external and internal, will help you write a strong character.

https://kidlit.com/2019/02/18/character-objective-writing-strong-protagonist/

Author Websites

Do you need an author website and, if so, what are the necessary pages? 

https://www.jenniferlaughran.com/faq/do-i-need-a-website-and-if-so-what-should-be-on-it

Close Point of View

Using a close perspective allows your readers to more identify with your character. 

https://mythcreants.com/blog/narrating-a-close-point-of-view/

Free Verse Poetry

Whether you're writing a novel or picture book in verse or stand-alone poetry, you might want to give free verse a try. 

https://www.writingforward.com/poetry-writing/what-is-free-verse-poetry

Growing Your Instagram Audience

Instagram is becoming increasing important for authors, but how do you build a following? 

https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2017/01/07/instagram/

Showing a Character's Age

It can be awkward showing your character's age in your story, but these three hints might help. 

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2014/02/an-age-old-question-how-do-you-show.html

Character Tools

Here are several tools to use that will help bring your character to life. 

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2019/04/5-character-tools-you-absolutely-need-to-know/

Critiquing - Best Practices

When workshopping someone else's manuscript, what's the best way to make your suggestions the most helpful? 

http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/2014/01/31/how-to-critique-best-practices-for-workshopping/

Poetic Voice

How can you use syntax in your rhyming picture book to make it sing? 

https://kidlit.com/2019/04/08/syntax-in-poetry-and-poetic-voice-in-rhyming-picture-books/

Setting Tips

Here are several tips to use in describing a setting. 

https://www.nownovel.com/blog/describe-place-6-tips/

Choosing Between Book Ideas

As writers, we have so many ideas swirling around in our heads, but how do we choose which ones to pursue? 

https://rachellegardner.com/so-many-ideas-so-little-time-2/

Interactive School Visits

Engage the students during your school visit by making it more interactive. 

https://thebookingbiz.com/2019/03/5-ways-to-make-school-visits-interactive/

Photographs in Picture Books

If you need photographs in your picture book, here are some great sources for copyright-free images.

https://www.nonfiction-ninjas.com/blog/picture-perfect-by-stephanie-bearce