Picture books were our first experience with the printed word. They introduced us to delightful new adventures and taught us to read. It’s not too surprising that, even as adults, we still remember some of our favorites. Even if you’ve never had the inkling to write for children, this issue will change your outlook and provide you with solid take-away tips… MORE >>

It seems these days everybody wants to write for children. Many celebrities are getting their stories published, and more and more young adult novels are being made into movies. So how do you keep up with children’s book publishing trends? And where should you go to network? Margo L. Dill chats with children’s author and SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) advisor Esther Hershenhorn about the benefits of… MORE >>

The results are in! After careful deliberation, our honorable guest judge, literary agent Jennifer DeChiara, has made her final decisions. Read the winning entries of the Fall ’08 Personal Essay Contest based on a prompt by Jill Butler, sponsored by skirt! books…
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Whether your picture book idea is warm and cuddly or fast and funny, creating a workable picture book manuscript may be the most difficult writing task you’ll ever undertake. Sue Bradford Edwards provides six tips that will help you improve your work… MORE >>

Hold on to your pencils and put on your thinking caps because we’re talking with children’s award-winning author, Jody Feldman. Jody wrote The Gollywhopper Games, a story full of games and puzzles for readers to figure out alongside the characters. WOW! columnist Margo L. Dill chats with Jody about writing books for kids, the writing process, the inspiration for her first novel, school visits, and… MORE >>

Have you ever considered creating a teacher’s guide for your children’s book? If you haven’t, you’re missing out on an opportunity to position your book to be adopted for use in the classroom. Jessica Kennedy chats with Carol J. Amato about how to create a teacher’s guide for your fiction and nonfiction books in this instructional interview… MORE >>

A rhyming game during a self-described “boring car trip” with her young children inspired Nancy Shaw to write Sheep in a Jeep. Since its publication in 1986, her hapless critters have returned for more escapades in Sheep on a Ship and five other related titles. Barbara J. Petoskey interviews Nancy about the writing process and how to create memorable rhymes… MORE >>

Eve Heidi Bine-Stock knows the ins and outs of children’s writing. Not only has she written numerous children’s books, but she’s published them too! With all that expertise, it’s no wonder she authored a series called How To Write a Children’s Picture Book. Cathy C. Hall chats with Eve in this in-depth interview about structure, word, sentence, scene, story, and figures of speech and how they relate in specific ways to writing a children’s picture book—complete with diagrams to help… MORE >>

When writing a children’s book, it is often necessary to adjust the reading level in your story to ensure it is written to the vocabulary and comprehension level of a particular genre: easy reader, chapter book, middle-grade, young adult. But how do you do that? Gail Martini-Peterson provides a step-by-step formula to help you lower or raise the reading level of your story to fit your intended audience… MORE >>

If you ever walk into Gamut Classic Theatre on a Saturday afternoon, you might see forty or so children seated on the floor in front of a tiny stage, watching as a fairy tale or nursery rhyme is brought to life before their eyes.  Jennie Adams interviews Melissa Nicholson, Co-founder, Executive Director, Actor, and Playwright, about how she adapts classic stories for the stage and gives them a wonderful new spin to the delight of her young audience… MORE >>

Start the New Year off right! Find out more about WOW!’s new brand of writer’s markets and how joining the club can help you jumpstart your freelance writing career… MORE >>