into Book Buyers’ Needs
Recognizing What Reviewers Offer
Discovering What Librarians Add to the Mix
Taking a Look at How Teachers Use Books in Their Classrooms
Considering Parents’ Perspectives
Thinking Like a Kid
6 Part 2: Immersing Yourself in the Writing Process Chapter 5: Setting Up for Success: Finding the Time and Space to Write Finding Time to Write Optimizing Your Writing Environment Chapter 6: Starting with a Great Idea Once Upon a Time: Coming Up with an Idea Stumped? Break through with Brainstorming Fighting Writer’s Block Chapter 7: Researching Your Audience and Subject Hanging Out with Kids Dipping into Popular Culture Researching Your Nonfiction Topic
7 Part 3: Creating a Spellbinding Story Chapter 8: Creating Compelling Characters The Secret Formula for an Exceptional Main Character Getting to Know Your Characters through Dialogue Compiling a Character Bible Writing Stories with Two or More Main Characters Choosing Supporting Characters Calling All Character Arcs Character Don’ts — and How to Avoid Them Developing Characters through Writing Exercises Chapter 9: The Plot Thickens: Conflict, Climax, and Resolution Plot: It’s All about Action Centering on the Story Giving Your Story a Beginning, Middle, and End Propelling Your Story with Drama and Pacing Outlining to Structure Your Plot Preventing Plot Problems Writing Your First Draft Chapter 10: Can We Talk? Writing Effective Dialogue The Fundamentals of Good Dialogue Listening to Real-World Dialogue Adding a Speech Section to Your Character Bible Testing! Testing! Reading Dialogue Out Loud Avoiding Common Dialogue Mistakes Improving Dialogue by Using Writing Exercises Chapter 11: Setting the Scene Giving Context to Your Story and Its Characters with Scenery Creating a Context Bible Knowing When to Include Scenery and Context Providing the Right Amount of Setting Engaging Your Readers’ Senses Knowing When Not to Make a Scene Exercising Your Nose through Smellography Chapter 12: Finding Your Voice: Point of View and Tone Building a Solid Point of View Having Fun with Words through Wordplay, Rhyming, and Rhythm Using Humor to Your Advantage The Mojo of Good Writing: Exploring Voice, Style, and Tone Knowing When You Need a Voice Makeover Helping Your Voice Emerge by Playing Pretend Chapter 13: Writing Creative Nonfiction Books The Nonfiction Children’s Book World at a Glance Writing Toward a Nonfiction Masterpiece Choosing a Great Nonfiction Topic Testing Your Topic Outlining Your Creative Nonfiction Common Creative Nonfiction Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them) Writing Exercises for Creative Nonfiction
8 Part 4: Making Your Story Sparkle Chapter 14: Editing, Revising, and Formatting Your Way to a Happy Ending Your Revising Checklist: Getting Major Story Elements in Order Fine-Tuning Your Text: Editing Important Areas Formatting Basics: First Impressions Matter
