Behind the Books: What the Heck Is Gamification?
In June, I presented at a very special event—the first-ever conference dedicated to children’s nonfiction. Held on the SUNY New Paltz campus, the Twenty-first Century Nonfiction Conference offered unique opportunities for writers, artists, editors, designers, art directors, packagers to talk shop. It was truly inspiring. In a great workshop, author and app creator Roxie Munro […]
Behind the Books: Focusing a Manuscript
As nonfiction becomes more creative and more visually dynamic, authors are realizing that structuring the ideas they want to share in a unique, engaging way is at the heart of crafting a nonfiction manuscript. Before we write a single word, we think long and hard about structure (focus and organization) and design (format, layout, and […]
Take a Look: A Spider’s Perspective
A couple of weeks ago, Kate Narita suggested another great point-of-view idea. Why not also write a journal entry from the spider’s perspective? I liked the idea so much that I’m trying it today. “I’m really enjoying stretching out in the sun this morning. It’s been such a rainy week. I can finally build a […]
Behind the Books: Turning Stucture on Its Head!
When I begin writing a new book, I usually start off using one of the traditional structures I discussed here. But somewhere in the back on my mind, I’m thinking, thinking, thinking. I’m plotting, scheming, wondering—how can I make the ordinary into something extraordinary? How can I surprise and delight my readers? How can I […]
Behind the Books: “Building” a Book
It’s a great time for nonfiction. We can be wilder and more creative than ever before. Because the Internet makes straightforward facts so readily available, it pushes children’s nonfiction authors to go farther and deeper in our research and our writing. Nonfiction writing has three key elements: structure, voice, and word choice. I’ll talk about […]