There are two aspects to each story— what it is about and how it is written. Three young adult novels I’ve read over a span
Author: Joyce Audy Zarins
A member of SCBWI, the Writer’s Rumpus, and NEST, Joyce is the author of five books for young readers and illustrator of twenty. She is currently working on new YA, MG and a non-fiction PB. Sculpture is her other passion. Life is a creative experience.
Age Group and Genre: Targeting Your Manuscript
Are you certain you know who you are writing for and what species of story you’ve concocted? These two significant pieces of information must be
Writing Devices: Pros and Cons of Connectivity
Mobility increases productivity. Although you write B.I.C. (Jane Yolen’s famous rule #1 on writing: keep your “Butt in Chair”), that chair now has wings. With
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: A Golden Key
What do Ezra Jack Keats, Sylvia Plath, Stephen King, Richard Avedon, Truman Capote, Robert McClosky, and Andy Warhol have in common, besides being incredibly creative?
THE SCAR BOYS by Len Vlahos
Post #4: Morris Award Finalist Blog Tour Week YALSA’s Morris Award honors the year’s best young adult novel by a debut author. The Morris Award
The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E. K. Johnston
Post #1: Morris Award Finalist Blog Tour Week YALSA’s Morris Award honors the year’s best young adult novel by a debut author. The Morris Award
What Shape Is That Story?
While reading John Green’s Looking for Alaska recently, I was surprised by the shape of the story. It reminded me of other authors who have
Naturalized Diversity
Like daffodils naturalized in the woods, all Native Americans, immigrants from everywhere in the world, people with various abilities, talents, handicaps, and preferences populate our
Finding Your Other Markets
By Joyce Audy Zarins While your book is percolating in your mind, in revisions or sketches, or under the scrutiny of your crit group buddies,
26 Letters, Infinite Possibilities
By Joyce Audy Zarins Writing is an amazing abstract art. By arranging a small set of symbols in unique ways, writers convey ideas to the
3 Ways to Pace Your Picture Book
Now that you know Why thirty-two pages? is the standard number for your picture book, you can pace your story within that format. By editing,
Why is a picture book thirty-two pages?
Most picture book writers and illustrators learn pretty quickly that a standard picture book is thirty-two pages long. But why? True, that is a convenient
Part II: Payment Pitfalls and Experiences
A follow-up to Part I: About Royalties Net Profit Royalty Here is where the red flag begins to really fly. Net profit royalties (not the
Part I: Publisher-to-Author Payment
Part I: About Royalties Part II (coming July 30): Payment Pitfalls and Experiences Royalties and advances for children’s books can be lucrative down the road,
WRITERS' RUMPUS 