Because no other children lived on my city block, after school I either memorized poems from A Child’s Garden of Verses or wrote stories. I was nine when I sandwiched a collection of stories, plays and poems between two pieces of cardboard held together with brass clips.
Creating a book is like running a marathon because day after day, a writer strings together words that pull a reader into a character’s life and conflicts. Writing requires discipline, and a sense of vision of how to tell the story. Having one of my cats by my computer helps me to stay focused.
Writing historical fiction requires hours of research. Most of the time I find necessary information through the internet, or by contacting an expert on a certain detail, but sometimes I need to travel to a location. Historical fiction writers must recreate a world during a certain time period so the readers can encounter details about how people lived. Yet, the story shows how folks experienced the same universal emotions and conflicts as contemporary people.
I usually write for two hours in the morning, accompanied by a cup of tea. Unless I need to research a specific detail for the chapter, my phone stays off because it is too easy tap that Facebook icon and waste time. If I am unsure how to create a vivid scene, I walk around the house or even go outside for a few minutes to clear my head.
In the winter, one of my three cats sleeps in my office while I write. During the summer, the two youngest supposed-to-be-barn-cats spend most of the day outside and stop by for snacks. In the winter, they prefer sleeping on the settee or on a stack of fabric waiting to become a quilt. My deceased corgi, Merlin, also liked to reside in my office when I wrote.
Read and write. After you finish a book, think about how the author developed the character and the plot. While earning my Master in Fine Arts in writing creative nonfiction, I spent my days reading novels similar to what I wanted to write and then writing critical essays about the books.
The place to learn how to write for younger generations is: The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. SCBWI holds conferences, sponsors web workshops, and has chapters around the United States and in other countries. The members are supportive, and the events are enlightening. Also, a common suggestion is that a writer should read 1000 picture books to learn how to write those types of stories.
Because no other children lived on my city block, after school I either memorized poems from A Child’s Garden of Verses or wrote stories. I was nine when I sandwiched a collection of stories, plays and poems between two pieces of cardboard held together with brass clips.
Creating a book is like running a marathon because day after day, a writer strings together words that pull a reader into a character’s life and conflicts. Writing requires discipline, and a sense of vision of how to tell the story. Having one of my cats by my computer helps me to stay focused.
Writing historical fiction requires hours of research. Most of the time I find necessary information through the internet, or by contacting an expert on a certain detail, but sometimes I need to travel to a location. Historical fiction writers must recreate a world during a certain time period so the readers can encounter details about how people lived. Yet, the story shows how folks experienced the same universal emotions and conflicts as contemporary people.
I usually write for two hours in the morning, accompanied by a cup of tea. Unless I need to research a specific detail for the chapter, my phone stays off because it is too easy tap that Facebook icon and waste time. If I am unsure how to create a vivid scene, I walk around the house or even go outside for a few minutes to clear my head.
In the winter, one of my three cats sleeps in my office while I write. During the summer, the two youngest supposed-to-be-barn-cats spend most of the day outside and stop by for snacks. In the winter, they prefer sleeping on the settee or on a stack of fabric waiting to become a quilt. My deceased corgi, Merlin, also liked to reside in my office when I wrote.
Read and write. After you finish a book, think about how the author developed the character and the plot. While earning my Master in Fine Arts in writing creative nonfiction, I spent my days reading novels similar to what I wanted to write and then writing critical essays about the books.
The place to learn how to write for younger generations is: The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. SCBWI holds conferences, sponsors web workshops, and has chapters around the United States and in other countries. The members are supportive, and the events are enlightening. Also, a common suggestion is that a writer should read 1000 picture books to learn how to write those types of stories.
