More Helpful Blogs & Books

The writing community is full of advice.

Evelyn B. Christensen
Resources for Writers page—links to many good articles & resources
http://evelynchristensen.com/writers.html

Is Your Idea a Picture Book, Chapter Book, or Middle Grade Novel?
Great post on figuring out just what your shiny new idea will (or should) grow up to be.
http://taralazar.com/2015/01/08/is-your-idea-a-picture-book-chapter-book-or-middle-grade-novel/

How to Create a Text Dummy for a Picture Book in Microsoft Word by Jacki Kellum

Mentors for Rent
A consulting/coaching/critiquing service for those who write for children or young adults.
http://mentorsforrent.wordpress.com/

Mythcreants
Mythcreants is a blog for speculative fiction storytellers. To better understand and tell the stories we love, we analyze popular stories and explore techniques in writing, roleplaying, and worldbuilding.
http://mythcreants.com/

Tips for Successful Author Readings
For those who are already published and are OUT THERE promoting a book, Wendy Van Camp’s blog post has some great advice on how to prepare for a public reading.
http://nowastedink.com/2014/09/26/tips-for-successful-author-readings/

Poetry4kids.com
Check out the dropdown menu LESSONS on Ken Nesbitt’s incredibly generous, amazingly helpful site.
https://www.poetry4kids.com/#

Renee LaTulippe’s Free Lyrical Language Lessons
Links to a series of blog posts on Renee’s site that offer wisdom and guidance for writing in rhyme. She also offers paid critique services and paid courses.
https://www.reneelatulippe.com/

RhymeWeaver
Incredibly rich resource for anyone writing in rhyme, or teaching others how to do it.
http://rhymeweaver.com/

Rhyme Clinic
A great blog post on writing in rhyme. Linda Ashman guest-posts on Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.
http://susannahill.blogspot.com/2013/12/rhyme-clinic-with-linda-ashman.html

Rhymes and Misdemeanors
Great resource for writers of rhyming picture books by author Hope Vestergaard.
http://hopevestergaard.com/writers/articles/rhymes-and-misdemeanors/

On the Craft of Rhyming Picture Books
Editor and author Frances Gilbert gives sound advice on using rhythm & rhyme without boring the reader.
https://www.goodreadswithronna.com/2019/12/03/frances-gilbert-on-rhyming-picture-books/

lllustration Notes: To Include Or Not To Include… by Johnell DeWitt

Writing Irresistible KidLit
“The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Fiction for Young Adult and Middle Grade Readers” by Mary Kole, published by Writer’s Digest. Links to buy her book and a comprehensive list of free resource links.
http://kidlit.com/resources-for-writers/

Chapter Book Chat
Marty Mokler Banks blogs about chapter books, which are not picture books and are also not middle grade novels. “Chapter books enter a child’s life at that tender moment when he or she is ready to embark on a more challenging reading adventure… but not so challenging that it’s scary.”
http://chapterbookchat.wordpress.com/
Good post at this site on the difference between chapter books and middle grade, why they are so often confused, and why it’s critical to get it right when choosing books for young readers.
http://chapterbookchat.wordpress.com/2014/03/05/difference-between-chapter-books-middle-grade-redux/

Mrs. Reader Pants
A middle school librarian offers fiction and nonfiction book reviews, library ideas, book fair tips, and lesson ideas. Great for finding out what’s appropriate and what isn’t for certain age groups.
http://www.readerpants.net/

25 Editing Tips for Tightening Your Copy
Great post on The Write Life blog that describes simple and effective ways to polish your manuscript–whether it’s for adults or kids, fiction or nonfiction.
ttp://thewritelife.com/edit-your-copy/

Why Hire an Editor / Copyeditor / Proofreader?
A series of posts that clearly explain types of editing that all books should go through before publication, and why each step is important.
Why Hire an Editor? http://catherineryanhoward.com/2013/03/28/why-hire-an-editor/
Structural Editing for Self-Publishers http://catherineryanhoward.com/2013/04/04/structural-editing-for-self-publishers/
Copy-editors: What They Really Do http://catherineryanhoward.com/2013/10/15/copy-editors-what-they-really-do/
Proofreading Explained http://catherineryanhoward.com/2013/10/17/proofreading-explained/

Reading While White
Allies for Racial Diversity & Inclusion in Books for Children and Teens
https://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/

Readability Testing
Is your manuscript at the right reading level for your target audience? Check it out with these tools.
Readability Formulas Free analyzers for several readability algorithms http://www.readabilityformulas.com/
The Lexile Analyzer by Metametrics. The current “gold standard” for scoring readability for texts intended for children and teens. Free for 250 word samples; free trial for Premium. https://lexile.com/educators/tools-to-support-reading-at-school/tools-to-determine-a-books-complexity/the-lexile-analyzer/
Readable https://readable.com/