Write a Children's Book

Jan 10, how to write and publish a childrens book

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:33:17 GMT

how to write and publish a childrens book - author explains the secrets of how to write a childrens book in 30 days or less.

Jan 10, write kids books in 30 Days or Less

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:32:22 GMT

Write kids books in 30 days or less. Books, articles, coaching and more. Start your writing career today. Easy Step by Step Instruction.

Sep 9, How to Turn Your Fear Into a Great Story

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:30:56 GMT

There may be times when you sit at your computer and this overwhelming feeling of anxiety just seems to take over. Maybe you are feeling blocked as to what to write? Or perhaps other areas of your life have you feeling anxious. Either way, the last place that you may want to be is in front of your computer. Well, you have two choices. Stare at a blank screen and continue to feel badly or take a step back and give these anxious feelings to one of your characters to deal with. Is your character about to play in the big game where everyone is counting on him? Or is he about to ask the girl that he has had a crush on, practically since birth, out on a date? Or perhaps he is feeling his parents' anxiety about the economy and feels the need to help out? Once you remember that your characters are facing the same problems and emotions as those of us in the "real world," you have a wonderful opportunity to give yourself some "free therapy" and create story lines that are actually believable and relatable. And the really cool part is that since you are the creator of this story you can always ensure that a solution is found. Don't you just love happy endings?

Oct 31, How to Start a Childrens Book

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:31:34 GMT

How to start a childrens book, develop your plot and finish your story in 30 days or less.

Oct 31, Writing Childrens Books the Easy Way

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:22:43 GMT

writing childrens books

Oct 28, Best Book Writing Software

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:56:28 GMT

Sometimes we get great ideas for stories or great ideas for scenes but have difficulty putting it into the right structure. Your story needs to flow easily and keep your reader involved.

To aid in this many top notch authors use book writing software. Sometimes you will use it to structure your story and other times to help with your brainstorming. Either way there is one book writing software that I consider the best.

Oct 27, How to Create Villains and Characters that Enthrall Your Readers

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:10:11 GMT

Yesterday I stopped by the bookstore and bought a much talked about book. Within minutes of reading it, I almost walked back in and returned it. Something stopped me though. It was a fascination almost like that found by rubberneckers world wide. The character was horrible but something prevented me from walking away, from putting that book down, from finishing it. The author had made a character so despicable that only a mother could love him and yet I was drawn to see what he would do next. What this clever writer did was show me a glimpse of this warped soul's upbringing. I began to understand what made him who he was, what shaped his thoughts and behaviors. The author was even upfront from the very first page of the book that I would detest this character. And yet myself almost laughing out loud at the messes he got himself into. A villain in a story must be seen as being human, no matter how despicable. You must understand why it is that he thinks and behaves the way he does. Think of Lestat in Interview with a Vampire. As horrible as these characters are they are also immensely human. There flaws are our own magnified and put on display. Every story needs a hero and a nemesis. It is only when you create conflict in the reader that you will hook them from the first page until the last.

Oct 24, How to Write Better Stories

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:28:07 GMT

I am often asked the question," How to write better stories ?" The answer to this writing question comes in two parts: 1) the use of language 2) the depth of your characters Now the first part is easy to correct. My advice is always to write the stories out without paying attention to sentence structure, grammar or finding the perfect word or phrase. At the end of your story, you then go back and make your changes. What needs to be changed will automatically pop out at you. Some things won't make sense. Others will seem awkward. And some of your language will sound stilted. Relax this is normal. Just go back and make the changes. Also, if you can afford it, hire an editor on guru.com or elance.com to go through and perfect your writing. Now the second part of my answer is about character development. You must take the time to really flesh out your characters before you write. Each character should have its own back story. Where are they from? What was their home life like? What are their aspirations? What were their greatest failures? Even if many of these details never make it into your story in print, they will help shape your characters' actions and speech patterns. You must know your characters before your readers can know them. Get those two writing basics down and watch your stories improve considerably.

Oct 22, Can You Write like Rowling?

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:16:20 GMT

In every writing class that I have ever taken, they had me read from the most acclaimed writers in the genres that we were studying. The purpose was to look at writing styles not to emulate them completely. So many writers come to me absolutely depressed because they can't write like Rowling or one of their other favorite authors. I withhold the kick in the rump that I believe that they need and instead give them a bit of advice. If we all wrote like Rowling or Shakespeare or King then the world would be a very boring place. The reason that these authors are loved is because they give a fresh perspective on the tried and true writing formulas. Publishers and readers are desperate for the next fresh new voice. Do you know how many writers get rejected because they try to mimic Dr. Seuss? Each of these writers are originals and that is what you must strive to be. And here is an uplifting thought, you don't even need to try. Your voice, your thoughts and the characters that you create will automatically be different than everyone else, because no one has had your exact experiences. Yes, you must include a hero and an adversary. And yes you must include conflict and resolution. The rest is up to you. Stop the need to impersonate and serve the world up a big helping of your personal take on it.

Oct 15, The "Right" Stuff to Write About

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:59:17 GMT

Writing for fun is just that. It is a blast. It is like having your own playground in your mind that you occasionally get to share with others. Writing for profit can be equally fun when you do it properly and that involves a bit of research. Here are the treasure troves that will narrow down your search for fun, profitable writing subjects: 1. The Writer's Market - Make sure to get the current year! This book has every publisher and publishing house out there with exactly what they are looking for right now. It also tells you the precise method of getting it to them so that they don't throw your work in the trash. 2. Writing Magazines - Even more current than the Writer's Market, although with fewer publishers listed. This is a great way to keep your finger on the pulse of what is hot right now in the world of publishing. 3. Libraries - Check out the calendar at the libraries to see what authors in your genre are speaking. Also talk to the librarians and find out what your age group is checking out right now. I could go on and on but with just these three sources you are well on your way to picking a profitable topic. Now you just have to chooses one out of that list that you look forward to writing about. Caterina Christakos is the author of How to Write a Children's Book in 30 Days or Less.To learn more click here

Oct 12, Flipping Your Environment to Rejuvenate Your Stories

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:17:15 GMT

I sit here staring out my window at a picture perfect day. The birds are twittering away, the sun is shining and there is just enough of a breeze wafting in to keep it comfortable. How boring is that? My mind already has things going on to energize this situation. If you wrote about a picture perfect day your readers would nod off. Now how about a picture perfect day that is suddenly blown away by a magical thunderstorm. Picnic umbrellas are blown away, as desperate picnic goers scramble to catch them. Children scream and man's best friend heads for the hills. A bit more exciting, isn't it? Or what if the perfectly manicured lawn is suddenly split in two but an ever increasing crevice? And from within, of course an army of disgruntled elves or trolls emerge intent on taking over the world. When your mind or your surroundings gives you a traditional blah story line, immediately start brainstorming the opposite. What would need to happen to completely destroy that scenario and turn the world on its ear?

Oct 8, How to Create Amazing Characters

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:33:48 GMT

Creating amazing characters begins with one thing - love. Whether it is your hero or your villain you must have a deep seated love and fascination for him or her. Even the most evil villain must have some underlying characteristic that is redeeming. Think of Lord Voldermort. At the surface he is truly vile and unloveable but in his history the author tells of a boy who grew up in degradation, who was despised by most of his family strictly because of his lineage and who was given away. Can you not feel for this child and understand the path that led him to the monster he became? When your characters are that real to you that you understand not only their actions but their motivation, then you will have a story that will fly off the shelf and into eager little hands.

Oct 6, How to Write for Profits

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:13:59 GMT

Getting your first book written and published can be a long process. The writing can be done fairly quickly, then it takes a bit of time to edit your work and finally you must go through the process of either finding a publisher or the fairly quick process of self publishing. In the meantime some of us like to have a little thing called money to pay the bills. Earning money as a writer has never been easier. And here is a hint. You will never have to send another query letter to make a living as a writer. There are dozens of sites online where legitimate writing jobs are posted. You can earn money writing content for websites, online articles, blogs, newsletters and more.

Your first step is to sign up for sites like guru.com and elance.com.
Next put together a portfolio of some of your work and a brief resume.
Finally start bidding on projects that interest you. Bid low in the beginning while you build up your reputation. Then as you become known as a reliable and professional writer, your rates can go up

It is that simple. This is not like the old days folks. You do not have to beg for work as a writer. There are enough projects out there for anyone willing to put in the slightest bit of effort.

Sep 26, How to Find the Inspiration to Write a Story

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:50:11 GMT

As I sit here, a gloom hangs over my house, with a light drizzle that doesn't help. It is as if the weather can't quite make up its mind. This is a reflection of my mood. Does that mean that I don't write? Absolutely not. Many of you ask how to find inspiration when you just don't feel like writing. The answer is to go within. Close your eyes and you can instantly be anywhere in the world, in any world that you choose. You could be soaring through space; on a safari in an African jungle; or stepping into a magical shop. The only limits are the ones that you allow yourself to have. Try it. Close your eyes. What has happened to the world around you? Yes you can still hear sounds but the visual is gone. As a writer, you can create anything that you want with that blank slate. Many times I have you look outward at your environment for inspiration. On the days when your outer world has dulled its colors, simply close your eyes and create a fertile environment that is rich and new. Then place your characters within it.

Sep 22, How to Write When You are Frustrated

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:20:07 GMT

Writing is not always something you do when you are relaxed and in a happy state. Some of your best work will often come when you are experiencing hurt or anger, if you allow yourself to use those emotions. Now the last thing that I want to do when I am frustrated is sit down and write. All that energy has me jumping out of my chair. So what is the solution? Grab your recorder in hand and talk while you pace. Use the energy and the emotion for your characters. Give them your problems or problems better suited to their age group and background. If you are writing about teenagers, all the better. Now that age group knows about anger and frustration. I find that pacing helps. It keeps the flow of energy going and keeps me in a highly charged state that can be passed on to my characters. You can do the same. Try it for yourself!

Sep 13, Guidelines to Write a Book

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:34:48 GMT

Ok, I know that it may sound silly to keep repeating this but a good story has a beginning, middle and an end. Now for those of you who have been reading my column for a while you may wonder why I have mentioned this writing guideline, yet again. Well, I keep getting writers asking for book reviews who have a great premise or a great scene but who haven't fully grasped this concept yet. So today's assignment is to pick up the story that you have written or are in the process of writing. Identify the beginning, middle and the end. Is there a dilemma that needed to be solved and was it solved? What was it? Is there a conflict and a resolution? Good now that you have identified it, hand your story over to someone that you trust to be honest, but not brutal. Can they identify the conflict and resolution or are they staring at the last page of your book with a puzzled expression on their face? For those of you who are new to this column and have not started writing yet go to your local bookstore or library and pick up three children's books that have already been written. Do the writing assignment above. If you want to write a story that readers actually want to start and finish then you have to have a clear picture of these three elements: beginning, middle and end and there must be some type of conflict that must be overcome. I'll be back tomorrow with more writing guidelines.

Sep 8, How Being Just a Bit Eccentric Can Make You a Better Writer

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:01:30 GMT

Recently I read an article on how some of the greatest geniuses of our time are now being classified as being bi-polar. It is amazing how jealousy can lead psychologists into labeling these creative geniuses. A truly creative person will have periods of extreme creativity. These periods will be consumed with progressing their work. At the end of these periods many of them literally crash. And why not? Think of the energy it takes to create a masterpiece. Doesn't that outflow of energy deserve a period of relaxation? Most of us would call this a vacation. To these artists it is simply their way of recharging their batteries. But to the psychologist it is simply further proof of their theory. They assume that having a down time means that you are depressed. Ridiculous! A friend of mine has an IQ literally off the charts. He accomplishes more in three months than most people accomplish in a lifetime. And then he literally goes into what I refer to as his "hibernation" period. He sleeps most of the day for one or two months then awakens refreshed, renewed and ready to dazzle the world again. Do not think that just because you are not being "creative" every single day that your work is not good enough to astound the world. Write while the flow is there, when the energy compels you to grab a pen or your laptop, when the thought of doing anything but writing leaves you agitated. And then allow yourself to rest and relax. Recharge your batteries so that you can live to write and dazzle another day.

Sep 5, How to Overcome Writer's Block

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:08:50 GMT

Sep 2, Writing Assignment - Tap into Your Imagination

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:44:29 GMT

Imagine that you have just come home to find a strange box on your desk. There is writing and symbols on it in a language that you have never seen before. As you reach out to touch the box, there seems to be a vibration, almost like a humming, coming from within. Take that writing scenario and run with it. What is the box doing there? What do the symbols mean? Where is the vibration coming from? Were you meant to find it or was it placed there by mistake? Have fun!

Aug 30, Writers - When to Submit Holiday Stories

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:57:50 GMT

Holiday stories are always popular, especially Christmas stories. The problem is that many writers get inspired around holiday time to write these stories and expect publishers to jump on them. Holiday stories are chosen months in advance. They have to be to go through production, promotion and publication. If you intend on writing a holiday story, submit them at leave 4 months in advance. The earlier you get your story in, the better your chances are that a publisher will request your manuscript for review. Here is a writing exercise: Get out your calendar. Circle all holidays that you have an interest in writing for. Plan ahead accordingly and set some real deadlines to get your stories written and your query letters sent out.

Aug 28, Storytelling made easy

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:05:18 GMT

When you sit down to write, spend a few minutes visualizing the world that you will create. Jot down notes, as ideas come to you. Do some free association. Here is an example: My character is a four year old girl. She is from a vibrant ethnic family. There is constant conversation and commotion. She hates the noise and often heads out back to sit under her favorite tree with her dolls. Her older brother sneaks out to play with her at times, careful that none of his friends catch him playing dolls with a girl. Although the little girl feels insignificant in the family, her small role has a major impact on the future of her family. She just doesn't know it yet. See how you can get some story ideas just by daydreaming and jotting down notes? Today's writing exercise: Take the above scenario and run with it. What is it about this little girl that is so special? What will she contribute to the family? Does she do it alone or convince her big brother to believe enough in her to help?

Aug 27, Guidelines to Write a Book

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:58:28 GMT

I have been asked if there are guidelines to write a book and the answer depends on the type of book that you want to write. For a fictional book you generally need a beginning, middle and an end. The story must progress naturally. Some writers like to outline their stories and others wing it. You must find a style that works for you. Within the children's book industry, there may be some structural differences depending on the type of book that you are creating. A picture book, for example, may be confined to a certain number of images, depending on the publisher. If you have a certain publisher in mind, look at books in your genre that they have published and see if there is a typical page count. Also do a quick scan on the number of words per page. Also look and see if there is a certain "writing formula" that appeals to them. Do they tend to publish similar types of stories? A great place to look is the Children's Writer's Market. This book is the bible in the children's book industry. It tells you which publishers are looking for new writers, what they are specifically looking for and how they prefer to receive it. SO if you are looking for the guidelines to write a book for them, this is the exact place to look. ( Always get the latest edition, as publishers and editors change from year to year)

Aug 26, Writing Ideas - how to take the old and make it new again

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:02:04 GMT

Recently I went to the Orlando Science center where they featured a whole exhibit on Norman Rockwell. I was blown away by the amount of detail in each and every one of his scenes. It was like I could step into the paintings and become part of his characters' worlds. It struck me then, how easy it would be to create entire stories using just him images. And you can do the same. Here is the link to Google images of Norman Rockwell paintings. I dare you to look at his paintings and claim that you can't think of a single storyline. Your writing assignment for today: Pick one Norman Rockwell painting and create a story from that scene. Who are the characters? What are they doing there? What events came to pass to bring them together? And where will they go from the scene that you are witnessing? Now start writing!

Aug 24, Get Paid to Write - Avoiding the Starving Artist Syndrom

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:28:03 GMT

Writing is fun. Getting paid to write is even better. And there is a way to get paid to write, even while you are writing your children's book. There are a number of sites online that pay freelance writer for material. Here is how it works. 1) People who need writers for projects like article writing, content for their websites, etc... post projects to these sites. 2) You bid on how much you want to be awarded the project. Ex. $10 per article with a 500 word max. 3) You get picked for the project, complete it and get paid. Most of these sites place the money in escrow for your protection and take a small percentage for themselves. The more you work for them, the more your reputation grows and the more you will eventually be paid per project. Here are just a few sites where you can find writing jobs: 1)rentacoder.com 2)elance.com 3)guru.com If you work diligently with just these three sites, you can earn a nice side salary or even a full salary doing what you love to do - write.

Aug 23, Is there an Easy Way to Write?

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:21:53 GMT

Writing should be easy. If it isn't, one of three things are going on: 1)You are too concerned with getting it right? 2) You are worried about what others will think. 3) You simply are in the wrong mindset. If you feel blocked, I suggest to my students that they go for a walk or do some other form of exercise. Movement can often help unblock your ability to write. Allow yourself a 15-25 minute break to do something physical and then go back and sit down to write. Be diligent about that time though. It is far to easy to allow other things to come up in your quest to avoid sitting down to write. Come back from your bit of exercise and just write. Put on paper whatever comes into your head. Don't worry about sentence structure, grammar or anything else. You can go back and edit later. For now just write.

Aug 22, Can You Write? Overcoming Insecurities

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:12:56 GMT

Many people wish to write a book but are hung up on the question," Can you write?" What you are really worried about is whether other people will enjoy your writing. Seeking approval is the surest way to stop your writing cold. Yes, of course you want others to enjoy your story but the first step is to enjoy the creation process yourself. Take all of my suggestions from previous posts and from my book, < a href="http://www.howtowriteachildrensbook.com"> How to Write a Children's Book in 30 Days or Less, and realize that although there are strategies to target profitable niches, if you are not enjoying what you are doing then you aren't doing it right. Your job is to play in the land of imagination and then to share the worlds that you create with others. That is it. The marketing and business end of it will come but during your writing process, you must enjoy yourself!

Aug 22, Writers - Choosing the Right Word

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:50:54 GMT

Too many writers struggle with finding the "right" word. They have such angst that it prevents them from continuing with their story. This is a major mistake. If you do not like a word that you have chosen or can not think of the right word or phrase, put a line where you would like it to be and move on. After your usual writing session go for a walk or work out. Or watch tv or read a book. Your subconscious will work out the perfect word or phrase or you will realize that it really isn't as important as keeping the flow going. Either way it will get done without the stress and more importantly your story will continue, while your creativity is still fresh.

Aug 21, How to Write and Have Fun

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:28:45 GMT

Too many writers pressure themselves with publication. Yes, it is important, but if you are not having fun coming up with your stories the children that you are writing for will pick up on it. When writing for children you should be in a childlike state. I know. I know. We are constantly told, as we grew up, to act our age. And that is fine, if you are attending a dinner party but to write for a child you must become a child again. Here are some ways that I allow myself to age regress before writing and you can use the same techniques: 1) Go to a theme park. I am luck enough to live near the Disney and Universal studio theme parks so this one was a no brainer for me. 2) Re-read your favorite fairy tales. As you read, you will regress to times spent on a parent or grandparent's lap listening to these tales. 3) Watch cartoons for half of a day. A good session of Tom and Jerry or Mickey Mouse Club house will take you where you need to be. 4) Get a bottle of bubbles and go blow some bubbles in the backyard or your local park. 5) Hang out with children and let them dictate the games you play. Let go of "being the adult" and emerge yourself in their imagination. Writing for children allows you to be a child again. Revel in the experience!

Aug 19, How to Write for Readers and Publishers

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:25:42 GMT

Your readers and publishers have one major thing in common, if you don't catch their interest on the first page, they are gone. Your first paragraph is extremely important. So let's think on this. What would be more engaging - an action packed first paragraph or a paragraph describing the character's home? Usually a bit of action will trump a paragraph about the scenery, unless there is something extremely unusual about that scenery. Use words that imply action. Paint a picture with movement. Ex. Sheryl gasped, as she tumbled down the stairs. Her last thought, as her brother's skateboard flew down after her, was that that little twerp was a deadman. Then the world faded to black. Do you see how that draws you in more than: Sherryl lived in the smallest house on the block. Her family had lived their for ages and some of the neighborhood children swore that it was haunted. Action keeps the story going. Descriptions simply compliment it. We'll be back tomorrow with your next writing tip.

Aug 15, Writing Excercize - 30 minutes

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:56:02 GMT

Here is a fairly quick writing exercise: 1)Go to your local cafe. 2) Pick two unrelated people that you don't know. 3) Write a story about what these two individuals are doing in this cafe at the same time. Do they know each other? If they do know each other are they pretending not to and why? Is there something special about this cafe? Are their drinks ordinary or have they been tampered with? What about the staff at the cafe are they everything that they appear to be? Ok guys take the story from there.

Aug 14, How to Be a Children's Book Writer

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:36:25 GMT

Here is a simple tip that many writers forget. You are writing for children so monitor your language. If you are writing for kinder gardeners use language that you can easily understand. Go to your local library or bookstore and find books in your age group and genre. Model the language style that they use. We are used to thinking and speaking as adults. You need to learn how to think like a child again.

Aug 13, Three Quick Writing Tips

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:29:10 GMT

Writing is not about you. Let me say that again. Writing is not about you. Yes you take your experiences and emotions and incorporate them into your stories but fundamentally your writing is actually about your audience and their reactions. So here are a couple of quick tips: 1) Eliminate I from your writing. Place each character in the first person. 2) Each character should have its own idiosyncrasies and personality. Therefore, each character should have his or her own voice. Read your story out loud to make sure that, if the names were removed, you could tell which character is which just by the way they phrase things. 3) Eliminate all unnecessary descriptions. You do not need half a page to describe the tree that he was sitting under. Re-read a Harry Potter novel to see what I mean. You get a great idea of what Hogwarts looks like but she doesn't spend pages on it. The descriptions are easily incorporated into the story through the characters' eyes.

Aug 12, Seven Simple Steps to Better Writing

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:22:15 GMT

1) Set a definitive time to write. Most people claim that they don't have time to write but we seem to have tons of time to watch tv, listen to the radio or read a book. We make time for what is important to us. You must make writing as important, if not more, than than these other activities. 2) Bring a Pad and Paper with you everywhere. - You never know when a great idea may strike. Being prepared will help you remember the idea, in its entirety. 3) Keep a voice activated recorder in the car - Again, there is nothing worse than having a great story idea and forgetting it before you can pull over and grab your pen and paper. 4) Read other books in your genre - Knowing what is popular and what has been picked up by publishers will be extremely helpful. What are people in that age group clamoring for? Give it to them. 5) Write first and worry about grammar later. Too many writers get caught up in writing the perfect sentence and making sure every t is crossed. Get the ideas down first. Just write. You can go back and perfect it later. 6) Let go of your inner critic. Your first run doesn't have to be perfect. Nor does it have to sound like Rowling novel. She has her style of writing and you have yours. Stop comparing and stop worrying what other people will think. Some will love it and some will hate it. That is life. 7) Remember to enjoy yourself- Writing is and should be fun. Writer's block happens when we put too much pressure on ourselves to get it right. Write because you enjoy writing and the rest will come.

Aug 11, Quick Writing Exercise

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:51:41 GMT

Here is a quick writing exercise to get you going: Imagine that you have just stepped outside your front door. It is mid afternoon. You are a child of ten. ( Go back and pull out pictures of yourself at this age if you have to)See the world through your younger self's eyes. What is different? What would you be doing at that age? Write down every thought that comes to you. Every image. Every sense that is stirred. Now use that to write a short story.

Aug 10, Scrambling for Book or Storyline Ideas?

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:55:47 GMT

Need some quick ideas for your story? Here is an endless source of inspirations: 1) Newspaper Story Titles - take the titles and makeup a story about what you think the article is about. 2) Magazine pictures - No need for content. If the picture is good enough, it should have a story waiting for you in and of itself. 3) Random objects in your home - what makes them special? What special qualities can you give them? Do they have magical powers? Has your character been imprisoned in one accidentally or as a punishment? Is the shape unusual? Is it so ordinary as to be overlooked? Could it be a hiding place for your character's favorite journal or toy? 4) The internet - pick any word and do a google search on it. See what comes up and write a story around it. 5)Sit in a cafe or bookstore and just observe people. Without even speaking to them you will realize that everyone in there is a potential character with his or her own story. Want even more ideas? Download and Read How to Write a Children's Book in 30 Days or less and get started writing your next story today at: http://www.howtowriteachildrensbook.com

Oct 30, Yahoo Authentication

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:10:20 GMT

Oct 30, Verification

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:38:52 GMT

Oct 30, Writing Desks

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:52:09 GMT

Writing Desks - all styles and colors. Lovely Furniture for yourself or as a gift.

Oct 15, Caterina Christakos Biography

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 23:28:29 GMT

Caterina Christakos - author biography.

Oct 15, FAQ for How to Write a Children's Book in 30 Days or Less

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:02:46 GMT

Faq - how can how to write a children's book in 30 Days or Less help you

Oct 15, Writing Testimonials for How to Write a Children's Book

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:45:57 GMT

Testimonials for How to Write a Children's Book in 30 Days or Less.

May 3, Untitled Document

Thu, 03 May 2007 13:34:46 GMT

Apr 3, how to write a book for beginners

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:08:20 GMT

how to write a book for beginners - get the inside scoop on how to write your first book

Jan 18, What You Need To Know To Write A Book

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:29:16 GMT

What you need to know write a book. As a published author and personal coach,with published work in various genres, I get alot of questions about how to write a book and get it published. These questions come from all over the world and yet

Jan 18, What You Need To Know To Write A Book

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:27:17 GMT

Sep 1, Writing Teleseminar

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:59:24 GMT

For the first time ever, I will be hosting a writing teleseminar for new children's book writers. This is the place where you can get all of your questions answered directly by me. The cost to attend is just $25 and will be limited to just 25 participants. To make sure that you get your question answered please click below and add your #1 writing question to the list. I will do my best to include it in your teleseminar.

Sep 1, AskDatabase - How to Write a Children's Book Survey

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:55:26 GMT

Askdatabase survey for children's book writers.

Aug 15, How to Write a Children's Book - audio book version

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 18:43:10 GMT

Hi {!name} Just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that I have added an online audio version of my book How to Write a Children's Book in 30 Days or Less. This is a great way to listen to each lesson, while you write or to get inspired before you write. To get your copy go to: http://www.howtowritechildrensbooksnow.com/howtowriteachildrensbookaudiobook.htm Scroll down and click on the audio version link to get your copy today.

Aug 11, How to Settle Your Mind And Actually Write

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 23:54:39 GMT

Sometimes our minds go a million miles an hour, especially when we sit down to write. Suddenly you remember the errands that you were supposed to run, the chocolate cookie that you must eat, and the fact that your house is a pigsty. Mind you none of this bothered you when you sat in front of the television, got your double latte or worked at your "real job." Yes, your mind has decided to take over again with tons of gibberish. How do you stop this mad dash down procrastination road? Easy. Simply stop. Pay attention to your thoughts and the speed that they are popping into your head. Just stop in mid motion. Put the cookie down and just stop for a moment and see if all the nonsense filling your mind is actually as important as writing. Procrastination occurs when you allow your mind to go on autopilot. Take control. Take a breath. And go sit down and write.

Aug 8, How to Make Your Writing Real

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 00:17:09 GMT

So you have a brilliant idea and have sketched out the details. Congratulations. How do you take it from outline to real in depth characters and setting though? Realize that the setting and characters need to be as real to you as the computer that you are typing on. Take a moment to really examine your sorroundings. Really notice them. Run your fingers over the edge of your desk. Take a moment to really taste the coffee you are drinking. Take an actual whiff of the air around you. Now describe them and describe what reaction each of these actions inspired in you. Your characters need to be as real to you as your child or significant other. The only way to truly create that on paper is to cultivate that true awareness in your own life. Close your eyes. Pick something that your character will experience in this chapter. Place yourself in his or her place. What stands out? What emotions hit you? What is your sensory experience? If your character is being chased, for example, what would be happening to him physically and mentally? Does his heart pound in his chest? Is he mind focused or in a state of utter panic? Now write the scene using those emotions and sensations.