By: Lisa Brunel

Are you in the progress of writing a children’s book? Have you thought about writing a nice little story that children and their caregivers would like to read?

There is definitely a need for more well written children’s books. Write a children’s book, you never know what might happen if you do!

Writing for children is a fun and creative and the stories you can write can be filled with excitement and imagination. Once you know what you’re doing; you could be asked to write books faster than you can come up with the ideas. Wouldn’t that be nice. You could be busy for quite awhile or choose to write whenever you want! Before you start or if you already have, have a look at the following 5 best-kept secrets that you need to know when you write a children’s book! These guidelines will help you to make sure your children’s book is as great as it can be!

Research
Do your research. Research what you’re writing about. If your story idea is based on something you’re not exactly sure about or the story is unclear to you, your readers will probably pick up on this. When you write a children’s book ensure you do your research so your writing is clear and valuable to the reader. It is important to do your research so you’re knowledge of the situation is credible for the reader. The worst thing is leaving your reader thinking “What if….Be precise and straight to the point. Don’t ramble into too much detail; again, you will lose the interest of the reader.

Characters
Have you made the big mistake a lot of writers of children’s books are making? Many beginner writers develop a wonderful story that they believe everyone will fall in love with then they try to fit the characters around this storyline. This can see you in a wee bit of trouble down the line. The best way to create realistic characters your readers will connect with and care about is to develop them first! Get to know everything about the characters you create. Know their physical characteristics, their personality traits, their background and emotions. The more you know about them the better off your story will be! This will show your readers you have passion toward them and will project through your writing. Therefore, your audience will want to find out what happens to them.

Mood of the story
As most of us writers know, you rarely sit down and write a book cover to cover in one sitting right! Unless you don’t fancy sleeping, then you are the minority. The rest of us will write in sections or little bits here and there. Attempt to write when you are in the same mood you were in when you were last writing. Otherwise, you might have a situation where the readers emotions are up and down throughout the story. This can be quite upsetting for a young child. Another reason could be when the beginning is fulled of excitement, the middle is dull and the best is saved till last. You’ll probably end up with an uncomfortable read for your audience. Try to divide the drama throughout the story and keep the tone and mood steady. It would be sad if you lose the reader before getting to the best part of the story.

The Plot
When you write a children’s book, as it is with all books, the plot is another important aspect to consider. Especially when writing for children. Children are more likely to look to the characters as role models. Therefore, when you are creating the plot for your children’s book, you need to keep your audience in mind. All great books have one thing in common, weather it’s for children or adults.It’s plot will have some sort of conflict! There are two types of conflict, internal and external. Internal conflict is when the main character has to deal with a conflict from within. For example, fear, insecurities or a struggle of right and wrong. External conflict is when the main character has a conflict to deal with outside of their control. For example other people, animals, or a situation where they have no control. Add some sort of conflict to the characters journey and you have a great story!

“Show, Don’t Tell”
Have you heard about “show, don’t tell”? All modern day writers are now using the “show, don’t tell” way of writing. You can defiantly learn how to write in this style, and I strongly recommend that you do. But “show, don’t tell” is where you become a ‘storyshower’ and not a storyteller. What I am trying to explain here is, that even though writers are telling the story, you want to show your readers what is happening so they can create a picture in their mind. This can be done through description. Show your reader how the character is feeling, their actions, their physical reactions and body language, where they are in the story, etc. Add description of the surroundings and the feel of what’s happening around them so you reader feels like they are standing next to them. Show the reader through description as much as possible to add depth to the story. Imagine a movie; the director doesn’t put words up on screen when a character is sad, happy or excited. He instructs the actors to act a certain way and show through their faces and actions how they are feeling. This is the same with an author. You must give enough description to show your readers how the characters are feeling and the situation they are facing.

Hopefully you have found these 5 best-kept secrets helpful for planning how you will write a children’s book. Next comes editing, proofing and formatting. Remember to find out what individual publishers are looking for so you have the most success when submitting your manuscript. Don’t forget to check for grammar and spelling mistakes so you finished result will look professional.

About the Author:
Follow the advice of an author of over seventy children’s books and write a children’s book with success! Go to http://www.learntowriteforchildren.com. You will be able to download a few children’s books for free, straight from the site, and discover some useful writing tips for success with your own writing!

Over the past ten years, James Lamberg has written (and ghost-written) over fifty screenplays that have been produced both in the States and the UK.

He knows the industry.

He knows how tough many people SAY it can be but….

He also knows how EASY it can be, when you get things right.

Lamberg has teamed up with two of his friends, Mark Lewin and Steven Wanamaker, of Movie Works, California – to produce something that will astound you.

It’s a kit that enables you to write a WINNING SCREENPLAY – in just 28 DAYS. Or less!

As you read through this EXCLUSIVE 150+ page course, you’ll learn MORE secrets than you’ve EVER READ in all those so-called “screenwriting” books.

This is TRUTH. This is RAW. This WILL make you a SUCCESS.

And for those fashion lovers out there (admit it), leading lady Maggie Cheung wears a different stylish 1960′s dress in every scene. Yes, these are costume and directorial choices, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be thinking of visuals in your screenplay. Romantic comedy scripts are especially notorious for being a collection of “sitting around and talking” scenes. Yawn.

Here are three ways to visually spice up your screenplay:

Color. Although the general rule of thumb is that the screenwriter shouldn’t be describing the set or costume, you can throw in little touches that help expand character. For example, your leading lady could own a lime green couch. Your leading man could be doomed to drive his mother’s pink car. These splashes of color will remind a reader that this is a movie, not a book.

Location. What’s more interesting: a conversation in a coffee shop or a conversation at the top of the Sears Tower overlooking Chicago? Don’t be afraid to write in interesting and significant location because “the budget will be too high.” It’s not your job to worry about the budget. It’s your job to write a compelling script.

Motion. Walking is better than sitting, but you can do even better than that. Jogging, dancing…now you’re getting closer. Sports are always a great way to put visual action into a movie, such as the jet ski scene in Hitch, or Tom Hanks and John Candy playing racquetball while Tom spills out his feelings in Splash. Whatever you do, try to give your characters as much motion as possible. This will not only keep your scenes visually interesting, it will also heighten the sexual tension between your characters.

As you go through your screenplay, check each scene to see how visual it is and implement these techniques as needed. Need help? Check out Cupid’s Coverage In-Depth Coverage and let someone else go through the scenes for you!

Liz Peters – http://www.cupidscoverage.com/

Another important part of your novel you will need to know is the location of your story and how the land or town was at the time of your writing.  This holds true whether it be the city of San Francisco, the deserts of Arizona, or the mountains of Montana.  These lands and places have all changed over the years since the times of the old west and it is best that you have knowledge of the way it was.

During the times of the old west, life was filled with constant hardships, struggles and battles.  Sometimes these situations were because of the unforgiving land there were trying to eke out their meager existence on or the adversaries who made their life a constant battle to survive.  The tools, equipment and weapons of the old west are largely different from those we have today and it is best to have knowledge of how they were used.

When it comes to the weapons you are better off knowing how to load and fire the most common gun at the time whether is be a double-barreled shotgun or a navy colt revolver.  You will need the knowledge of the feel of the gun, the kick of the gun, the smell of gunpowder, the effect of the bullet on the target at hand along with the range and accuracy of the weapon.

The attitudes and behaviors of the residence of the old west will become important in telling your story.  You will need to create a strong, dedicated main character with whom the reader can readily identify as well as transform into a person the reader can relate to on a personal level.  This will enhance the reader’s interest and enjoyment of the story you create.

A good writer has the ability to incorporate all these facts in his or her story and bring the story along with each unique character to life for the reader.  This is a task not easily accomplished.  A knowledge of the way the people spoke during those times will be necessary in the process of bring all of this to life.

The great western novelists of our time have all ridden off into the sunset only to be replaced with writers who lean toward the modern day and the new technology of the times.  Many seem to have forgotten the cowboys and cowgirls of long ago.  That is until JR Primm hit the bookshelves with true traditional western novels.

JR Primm has managed to capture those times long ago coupled with a strong main character and a solid storyline with all the adventure and excitement one would expect in a western adventure novel.

His latest release, “Riley Bennett in The Empty Shotgun” has captured the essence of a true traditional western adventure novel.  You can check it out at: www.theemptyshotgun.com to acquire your autographed edition at a special discounted price.  You will have the opportunity to once again enjoy the adventures of the old west when reading this enjoyable, traditional western adventure novel.

For additional information about JR Primm’s newest release, “Riley Bennett in The Empty Shotgun” you can visit http://www.theemptyshotgun.com for your autographed edition at a special discounted price.

A career in romance writing allows you to work from home, at your own pace, and during the hours you prefer. Romance writing generally pays better than other genres of fiction, so you can make more money, or work fewer hours, whichever you prefer. Finally, this line of work lets you truly touch the hearts of your readers, and give them the confidence to seek love and happiness in their own lives.

No special education or experience is necessary to break into this career. Successful romance writers merely require independence, creativity, and a determination to succeed. If this sounds like you, follow these ten steps based on the FabJob Guide to Become a Romance Writer to make your mark in this field. Who knows, you may be the next rising star!

Do some reading
If you already love to read romance novels, you are likely an ideal candidate for writing them. If you are unfamiliar with this type of novel, you will want to start off by exploring the genre. If you haven’t read a romance lately, you might be surprised at the new trends within the industry. Try reading a variety of genres to get an idea of what you would enjoy writing, and to familiarize yourself with the conventions of each.

Develop your skills
Many of the skills you need to write will be developed as you practice, so keep those pens moving. Keep in mind that becoming a writer is an ongoing process. If you need some feedback, a local or online writers critique group can also help you further hone your writing skills. If you find yourself stuck for ideas, there are creativity exercises you can learn, and if your grammar needs some help, brush up with a book or quick course.

Get some experience
So you want to list publishing credits to help your chances of selling, but you can’t list those without selling, and it’s hard to sell without the credits. Sound like a Catch-22? It is. Fortunately, you can get your feet wet publishing articles and short stories in magazines and ezines. Make sure you are familiar with the writers’ guidelines and the publication itself before you submit. You may even consider accepting a couple of non-paying assignments in order to build your credentials.

Your proposal package
It is important to create a professional image when you submit your work to an agent or editor, since editors are often swamped with submissions and will only read those that follow their guidelines. Most publishers want to receive a ‘proposal,’ which consists of the first three chapters, a synopsis of the plot and a cover letter. Send them whatever their guidelines indicate, and don’t forget to include a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope) for a reply or return of your manuscript.

Target a publisher
If you have read widely in the romance genre, you will have an idea of which publishers will be most interested in your style of writing. In addition to the major publishers (Harlequin, Kensington, etc.) be aware that there are thousands of smaller and electronic presses that initially may be more receptive. You will want to send them your proposal package, addressed to the current editor. Directories and the FabJob Guide to Become a Romance Writer are useful for finding contact information of publishers to submit to.

Self-publishing
What if your book is so cutting edge that even the small presses don’t feel comfortable taking it on? If you have shopped your book around and not received a positive response, self-publishing may be the route for you. Digital printing now allows for the cost-effective printing of as few as one copy of your book at a time, so you can set up your novel for around $100 and have it available to the public within a few weeks.

Get an agent
If you’ve got your sights set on the large publishing houses, or are terrified of negotiating, you may consider getting an agent to help you find a home for your book. Once you have found an agent you’d like to work with, ensure that he or she has a good reputation in the industry. Bear in mind that an agent will take about 10-15% of everything you earn on your book.

Dealing with editors
It’s important to have a good relationship with someone you hope to be dealing with on an ongoing basis, so once you have interest from an editor, establish and maintain a professional relationship with him or her. Allow three to six months for them to consider novel proposals, and don’t pester them with phone calls. Once they have expressed interest, be business-like, and make changes to your work as requested. A little respect goes a long way in this business.

Networking
Conferences, local writing workshops and conventions are wonderful places to meet fellow authors, editors, agents and publicists. Many are even set up to allow writers to meet on a one-to-one basis with agents and editors. Not only are these situations great for networking, but just joining a national or local writers organization can bring you knowledge from the workshops and conferences they offer.

Self-promotion
Building a readership and increasing book sales are two of the most important things authors can do to promote their careers. If hiring a publicist isn’t in your budget (and you may be surprised to find it is) there are a number of things you can do to promote yourself, such as getting media attention, creating a website, and doing book signings. Be creative, and be persistent…it can only benefit you in the long run.

Lori Soard is the author of the FabJob Guide to Become a Romance Writer. The complete guide offers detailed information about how you can break into this career and become a published romance writer. To check out this guide, visit the website for information.

Here is a list of some of the important aspects you need to think about when writing that killer script:

1. Originality.
2. Opening with a bang.
3. Believable characters.
4. Emotion.
5. Real dialogue.
6. Pace.
7. Trim the fat.

Now let us look at these in more depth:

Originality
What is this story? Are zombies taking over the world? Is a super-spy taking on mastermind criminals? What about high school kids dancing and singing? Is your story original? Now, this is a big ask as originality is hard to do. Most stories are familiar in some form or other due to mythical and legendary archetypes, legends and outlines. Heroes and villains, ghosts and demons pervade our unconscious. It’s in our DNA and race memory from all those years of sitting round a camp-fire eating woolly mammoths drizzled with berry juice.

Most new stories fit into a pattern of sorts. This is fine. We are never going to run out of new ways to construct stories. But how do we add new elements, twists, differences that give us something fresh? That depends on you and your idea. Just don’t do a rehash job but try and bring your own voice to whatever story you are telling. Everyone has a unique perspective and has experienced the world in a singular and original way since birth, so use that.

Open with a bang
Let’s imagine for a moment that by some stroke of luck your 90 pages have landed in the lap of a producer who can make it happen. None of his or her lackeys are available to read it as they’ve all been fired due to the economic crisis or moved to Bollywood or into the porn industry. So now the boss is about to read your script. Will they read a page or two at the beginning? Maybe a few pages more? Will they go to the middle read some there or maybe flick through, getting an idea about the script and whether it is worth spending more time on? Perhaps they will just flick to the back page and read the ending.

The key is to grab them in the first few pages. This will engender a small amount of latitude and goodwill which will raise expectations and keep the producer motivated, hoping to find some more good stuff. So if you can, open with a bang. Of course, you will have to keep up the standard all the way through!

Believable characters
Is it a cartoon? Well, even a good cartoon has believable characters that are ‘believable’ within their own world. That is the world we buy into and we will only buy into it if we feel these people or characters are realistic. Let’s say you want to write a gangster film. Do you know any gangsters or does everything you know about gangsters come from watching gangster films? In this case, I’ll bet that the final film won’t be very good or original. Believability comes through three-dimensional characterizations that have strengths, flaws and everything in-between. Whatever your subject, a little bit of research can go a long way. Research is easier than ever to do now thanks to the god-like presence of the search engines. No excuses. Following on from this is:

Emotion
We need to care about someone, anyone. An audience or viewer or reader wants to be engaged in a story. This cannot happen through events or action sequences alone. It can only happen through characters that we care about. A character whether they are good or bad, hero or anti-hero, must engage our emotions and our feelings. It can be a character that we dislike or love to bits. They just have to make us feel something! Aim for this in your story and you are half way there. Real emotion can come through:

Real dialogue
Make it real by transplanting how you would speak with people you know in real or imagined situations. This doesn’t mean put in ever ‘um’ and ‘err’ or every one speaks with your local accent. It means remembering that real people are feeling something all the time when they are interacting with other human beings. They don’t necessarily say what’s on their mind either, in fact they hardly ever do. A lot of things are left unsaid. Are you writing a cartoon? If not then avoid cartoon-ish, clichéd and one dimensional dialogue.

Pace
Readers want to turn the page. Is your script dawdling like a fat, limping tortoise when it should be up and running like a hare with a jet pack? Pace is created by organizing your scenes in the right order and increasing the energy of the story toward the climax. Cut dialogue that isn’t needed. Cut all superfluous description. Let the readers’ imagination do the work spurred on by your brief but highly efficient and perfect scene setting. Don’t be tempted to put in any film or stage ‘directions’ it’s a mistake; they are not needed at all and can be added later.

Trim the fat
Get rid of scenes that don’t need to be there. They may be great scenes on their own or part of another story altogether but if they don’t move the story forward in any way they must go. If you were writing a novel you might be able to leave them but you’re not. They will only slow you down like extra baggage when running a marathon. Often there are scenes which may have had a point in the early draft stage but are now just fester and lie there doing nothing and all you want to do is say ‘hey get the f**k out of here, I’m working my ass off and you’re doing nothing!’ Be strict with every scene that you have written.

So, just like a boxer, your script should be fresh and in form, lean and trim, coming out fighting, fast on its feet and because we care so much about it, we really want it to win.

Written by Andrew Michael Brown. For more articles to do with film-making as well as other distractions, visit http://www.shortfilmbigshot.com

Through this guide, created by published author & writing teacher Andrea Rains Waggener, you will come to understand with complete clarity all the specific pieces of a compelling novel, how to create them, and how to fit them together. By following her practical, well laid out plan, you will be able to complete your first novel, and also follow the most effective methods of submitting your manuscripts for publishing.

The guide explains why children’s fiction is different from other fiction, how to create characters kids will love, how to get your readers hooked, how to write dialogue, how to plot and write your book, how to avoid common mistakes and how to edit your book to a professional standard.

With over 70 published works Robyn Opie has shown that she can walk the talk. Cut out the learning curve of creating fiction for kids with How To Write A Great Childrens Book.

In the six lessons of the course Parnell guides you through an examination of the history and present state of the horror genre, the principles of strong character creation, the importance of environment and psychological landscape, plot development, writing techniques and how to market and publish your stories. Also included as a free bonus is an additional guide “Writing great horror” by bestselling author M Kenyon Charboneaux.

The course is self paced, and is available for immediate start at any time you would like to commence. Students who have completed the course have gone on to complete several works, and even talk about being picked up by NY publishing companies with their creations.

If you have always seen yourself as a horror and dark fantasy writer in the making, this course is for you.

Visit the “Dark Fantasy and Horror Writing for Profit” course website here.