By Sharon Giltrow

When we share a laugh with someone, we share their experiences and feelings. It helps us to connect. As a writer, connecting with your reader is essential. It's also the #1 thing that hooks children in and keeps them reading.

When I wrote my debut picture book BEDTIME, DADDY! I wanted to connect to my readers, by sharing a laugh. So, I included as much humour and heart in my story as I could. I also wanted the adults and children who were reading BEDTIME, DADDY! to share a laugh and connect.

Here are some of my favourite humorous pages from BEDTIME, DADDY! with illustrations by the amazing Katrin Dreiling. I hope we can share a laugh and connect over the coming year.

How do I write humorous stories? I keep my eyes and ears open for funny ideas. Especially the funny things that children say and do. Children are hilarious. My idea for BEDTIME, DADDY! came from my own children. One night my son was stalling bedtime. So, his dad  jumped into his bed and said “Okay then you can put me to bed.” Bedtime is not usually a funny time of day, but when it is a child who is putting their parent to bed, then that’s funny. Then I researched all the things that children do to stall bedtime. From that research, I chose the funniest stalling techniques, ramped up the humour added some heart and Hey Presto, comedy gold.

I hope that my future blog posts, which will feature humorous Aussie books, will help you to connect with the people you share them with.  

Share a laugh and connect with someone today.

BIO:
Sharon Giltrow grew up in South Australia, the youngest of eight children, surrounded by pet sheep and fields of barley. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband, two children and a tiny dog. Sharon has taught for all of her career. Previously a teacher of children who are hearing impaired and Deaf-Blind, she now teaches young children with Developmental Language Disorder. Her humorous debut PB BEDTIME DADDY! was released May 2020 through EK books. Sharon’s humorous follow up picture book,  GET READY, MAMA! Is due to be released through EK books in 2022. Awarded the Paper Bird Fellowship for Writers in 2019, Sharon used this time to write her early middle grade book SAMARA RUBIN AND THE UTILITY BELT. Samara is due to be released in 2021 through Clear Fork Publishing’s new imprint &MG. Sharon is also a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy,

by Bryan Patrick Avery

At the beginning of every year, we make new year’s resolutions, set goals, and make vision boards. Maybe we want to get that latest novel finished, learn to write in a new genre, or get our debut book out into the world. Whatever your goal (or goals) this year, I’ll pulled a few books off my shelf that can help you get started in the right direction.

Ready
Unless you’re a complete pantser (no judgement here), your first step in any new project is to put together a high-level view of your story. For many us, that means creating a story spine. Though often attributed to Pixar, due to its use of the concept, the story spine is actually the creation of Kenn Adams. An award-winning playwright, Adams documented the story spine concept in his book HOW TO IMPROVISE A FULL-LENGTH PLAY: THE ART OF SPONTANEOUS THEATRE. 

The book focuses on theatrical improv, but the concepts are applicable to any type of storytelling. I won’t go over the story spine here but check out Adams’ book which not only lays out the concept but give examples of how to use it to flesh out a story from beginning to end. Whether you’re writing picture books, middle grade, or YA, this book can help you create a well-structured story that will resonate with readers.

Set
Even the greatest (and most well thought-out) ideas can fall flat with readers if they aren’t well executed. This is where craft comes in. If you’re looking for a single resource that can help you hone your craft as a writer, check out Cheryl B. Klein’s THE MAGIC WORDS: WRITING GREAT BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS. Klein brings her vast experience as an editor of books for children to this book, covering everything from rough guidelines on word counts to plotting your stories. 

One of my favorite chapters in the book focuses on voice. With a series of explanations and exercises, Klein breaks down creating a maintaining voice in your writing into digestible chunks that will make it easier to apply to your work. If you’ve got a plan for a story you want to work on, or you’re revising something already in progress, check out THE MAGIC WORDS. You will, undoubtably, find something that will help make your writing stronger.

GO!
There’s more to building an author’s career than writing. Social-networking, agent-hunting, and promotion all play a key role in your success as an author. Given the complexity, it can be difficult to know where to start. Enter THE BUSINESS OF BEING A WRITER by Jane Friedman. Focused on the notion that writing is a business, Friedman sets out to teach writers who to survive, and thrive, in the publishing world. After setting the stage by showing what the writing life is like, THE BUSINESS OF BEING A WRITER dives into an overview of the publishing industry, how to get your work published, and what to do once it gets published. 

I have many writing books in my home library. This is one of the few that dives deep into how to turn a love of storytelling into a long-term career. The section on creating an author platform is worth the cost of the book all on its own. Still, don’t miss Section 5: How Writers Make Money. If you want to turn your storytelling into a profitable business, this book is for you.
 
Well, that’s all for now. Happy New Year and have a magical month.

​Write your observations, questions, ideas, bits of dialogue, doodles, and more, either in a notebook or on your phone or computer. Try to find and capture several new story ideas today, this week, and this month.

1. Pick a few manuscripts that you will revise over the next few months. They can be new or old. View them with fresh eyes, and don’t be afraid to completely revision the stories if necessary.
2. Resolve to read three new kidlit titles each week this month. Study the books and note what works and what doesn’t work. Think about how these mentor texts can inform your writing.
3. Perhaps try writing in a different genre – if you usually write fiction, try researching for a non-fiction story. Or perhaps if you usually write picture books, try writing a chapter book or middle grade novel!
4. If you are ready to submit to agents and editors, make it a goal this month.
5. Spend time with your critique partners – renew your commitments and double down on your critiques. Or create a group to work with and enrich your writing life. 
6. If you are marketing a book, find new ways to get your message out there. Review your social media, and think outside the box in terms of publicity methods, virtual school visits, other speaking engagements, guest posts on kidlit blogs, and more.

Let’s all make the most of the start to a new year! Cheers to creativity and to continued writing success in 2021! 

BIO:
Melissa Stoller is the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection - Return to Coney Island (Clear Fork Publishing, 2017); and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush, Ready, Set, GOrilla!, and Sadie’s Shabbat Stories. (Clear Fork, 2018 and 2020). Melissa is a Blogger and Course Assistant for the Children’s Book Academy, a Regional Ambassador for The Chapter Book Challenge, a Moderator for the Debut Picture Book Study Group, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, and a founding member of The Book Meshuggenahs. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer and editor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and long beach walks.

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