I consider myself super-duper lucky, as a Writers’ Rumpus blogger, to be able to meet and interview so many talented kidlit authors. I learn new
Tag: writing tips
A Perfect Pair: Science and Poetry in Picture Books
Poetry and science often go hand in hand in children’s literature. Candace Fleming’s Honeybee, winner of the 2021 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, is a perfect example of how lyrical language can bring science to life in a fresh and compelling way. But why do science and poetry pair so well?
Writing YA? Stressing Over Structure? Check Out Jessica Brody’s New Book: Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel, The Ultimate Guide to Writing a YA Bestseller
Let’s warm up with a True or False Pop Quiz about Story Structure:
#Kidlit Interview with ABI CUSHMAN, the amazing talented author/illustrator.
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Abi, your new picture book came out in May. You wrote and illustrated WOMBATS ARE PRETTY WEIRD: A [not so] serious guide
ANT ics with Picture Book Layers plus Smarty Ants GIVEAWAY
I’ve been ANTicipating today for ages because it’s SMARTY ANTS’ book birthday! One of the reasons SMARTY ANTS sold is because of its many layers.
HOW I WROTE WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW
About four years ago, I went after my curiosity and explored the possibility of writing something I didn’t know. Specifically, this happened with my upcoming picture book, GIRLS ON WHEELS, which is inspired by the skateboarding movement in India.
SAY AHHH! FINDING THE PERFECT PICTURE BOOK ENDING
Guest Post by Lori Mortensen I love writing picture books. I especially love writing picture book endings. They’re the icing on the cake. The cherry
Interview: Kidlit Author Rajani LaRocca Discusses Four Eagerly Awaited Books
It’s my great pleasure to welcome Rajani LaRocca back to Writers’ Rumpus to discuss her upcoming books in 2023- three picture books (fiction and non-fiction alike) and an epistolary middle grade novel co-authored with Chris Baron.
How Difficult Can A Comp Be?
VERY! That’s my conclusion. I have been reading and writing in both YA and MG for nearly twenty years (where has the time gone). My querying nightmare continues to be comps!
Interview with PHAEA CREDE – #Kidlit Writer Extraordinaire
Carol Gordon Ekster: Phaea, more than two years ago Writers’ Rumpus interviewed you about being a debut author when JET THE CAT first came out. Now that you are an established author, what has changed for you?
When to Use THAT (Which and Who, too!)
When I ask writers which word confuses them the most, the most common answer is THAT! There are some complicated grammar rules, but rest assured, I waded through them and strove to make my explanations as clear and understandable as possible. I promise we’ll ease into this slowly, starting in the shallow end and moving progressively deeper.
Hook Your Readers from Page One with Three Ingredients
Whether it’s an agent, editor, or reader, the first page is your first, and sometimes your only, chance to make an impression and convince them to continue with your story.
Interview with Author, Editor, and Poet Ryan Van Cleave…And a Double Giveaway!
Today is a very exciting day here on the blog. I have Ryan Van Cleave here with me, who, if you don’t know, is a bit of a writing and poetry rock star. And some of what he does, you may actually not know, because he has ghostwritten many books (in addition to those under his own name) and coaches and mentors many writers behind the scenes.
GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT WRITING A PICTURE BOOK SERIES OR SEQUEL
It had been about a year since my debut picture book, Counting to Bananas (Flamingo Books, April 2022, illustrated by Estrela Lourenço) had been acquired. My editor, Cheryl Eissing, emailed to say her team was exploring the idea of Banana possibly carrying a picture book series. Was I interested? I had never thought about writing a sequel and, as a debut author, never imagined I would be asked to. But was I interested? Seriously? Of course I was bananas about it!
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