$300 Writing Prize Focuses Kids on Gender Equity

"He would need some magic spell or potion to change himself from a 'Harry' to a 'Harriet,'" joked Nimmo, who is an expert on entertainment for children and young adults.





"Describing how the famous boy wizard would behave as a witch would be enjoyable for author and reader alike," Nimmo said. "And it is just the kind of fun, witty and creative submission our judges are looking for."





Nimmo, author of the emerging "Mustard Twins" fantasy series, says that trends in literature aimed at young people risk trapping kids in what he calls a "kind of reading time-warp."





"Certainly, where representations of gender in fiction heroes and characters are concerned, kids' books lag way behind today's society," he said. "A lot of popular fiction reflects outdated stereotypes of masculine and feminine roles. And books aimed at children and young adults share much of the blame. I am not only talking about mainstream books either, but Newbery and Caldecott medal winners as well."





To challenge the status quo, Nimmo is encouraging contestants to describe how a favorite fiction book or story hero would act or react in a dramatic situation. But there's a twist: Entrants are first required to swap the hero's gender role or characteristics.





With the contest, Nimmo hopes to positively attune parents and kids alike to the subtle messages being transmitted through popular entertainment.





"Readers - especially younger ones - are constantly being exposed to values that are completely out of step with modern times," he said.





Studies show that, from Harry Potter to Artemis Fowl, boys outnumber girls about four to one in books and TV shows, including those written by women. Furthermore, Nimmo points out, even books with female or gender-neutral names in their titles frequently revolve around a male character.





Why should parents be concerned?





"Society's values are largely transmitted to children through fiction," Nimmo said. "It is therefore important that parents be aware that self-esteem and personal development are influenced by the sort of book and story heroes we emulate as kids."





Nonetheless, Nimmo said, there are things parents can do to sensitize kids to the issue.





"Make sure to include books in your reading selection where individuals are portrayed with distinctive personalities irrespective of gender, where achievements are not evaluated on the basis of gender and where individuals are logical or emotional depending on the situation," he said.





To encourage young people to challenge the conventions in stories and books written for them, Nimmo is offering a $300 cash prize, plus signed copies of his latest novel, "The Ancient Egyptian Ennead," which tells the story of two spunky teenage female heroes and their exploits in ancient Egypt in the time of the pharaohs.

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Ways Of Writing For Money: Profitable Writing Ideas

There are many way to make money from writing, but getting started can be challenging. Writing for money can mean both fiction and non fiction. It can mean anything from 500 word articles for the internet to 100,000 word novels or text books. The opportunities are wide and varied but making a start can be daunting.

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Creative Writing Techniques

Creative writing techniques are what are required when writing a children's book. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to write a children's book. If you look through a few pages of some children's books you may laugh and think, "I can do that." then maybe you can get inspired with ideas to start your own project.

There are generally only three age groups for children's books, the 3-7 year olds listener/readers the intermediate readers 8-12, and the teenage readers 13-18. Spend time looking at children's books and looking at their titles and book covers at your local library to give you ideas.

A really simple story can keep young readers quickly turning the pages to find out what happens next. Provide your readers with plenty of action to keep them enthralled. Try to learn different writing styles for children it can be a real eye-opener. Experiment with this until you find your comfort level.

It is important to use different creative writing techniques in all your formats. There are many different kinds of writing from newspaper and magazine articles right through the spectrum to writing novels and books on a multitude of different subjects. It's imperative that you study to keep improving your writing.

You must make yourself comfortable and be where you will not be disturbed so you can focus properly on improving your writing skills. I would recommend to you that you should set aside at least 30 minutes a day for your writing. You should allow nothing to get in the way and prevent you from writing every single day, by practising every day you will improve your writing skills.

The realism is that the only way to really improve your skills is to write. Reading will help to improve your vocabulary and also the understanding of the written word. Within the written language there are phrases and structures that don't appear anywhere else and understanding these will improve the body of your writing.

Structuring your creative writing techniques is a must at all times. When you begin to write start to share what you've written. It's possible that you may receive some criticism, but some of it may well be constructive or maybe not but that's life.

Write down bullet points to give you a thought for the next few lines or paragraph basically you are setting up topics for the next few hundred words. You need to select a structure this is the order that you will get your points across to create compelling stories.

You always need a good headline or subject line that is relevant to what your subject project is to make it interesting for your readers to carry on reading. Now that you have got their attention you can deliver the bones and meat of the message you are trying to get across.

As you get the inspiration to get your writing done you will then feel more creatively satisfied as a result. Try to identify the really important issues to you about your writing and prioritise your writing time. Try to split the information throughout your document to make it easier for the reader to mentally absorb. Writing a book involves an important balancing act between the vision that you have and want and the words that you put onto the pages that you write.

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Writing Book Reviews - Fiction

A book review describes, analyzes, and evaluates the quality, meaning, and significance of a book. It should not retell, and it is not a book report or a summary. A review is a commentary. Although no "right" way to write a review exists, some essential information is needed in each. Fiction and non-fiction books have differences not only in the content but also what components should be in a review. Let's look as some suggestions to consider when writing a book review for a book of fiction. I will use one of my books in the examples.

First of all, do not give away the story, climax, ending of the book. Do use occasional quotes from the book to support or explain points made in the review.

The first paragraph should include the title of the book and the author's name. Sometimes publishing information such of ISBN, publisher, type of book, and general subject matter is noted.

Example of a first paragraph: The Base Stealers Club, by V. Gilbert Zahel, follows the progress of a middle-school-aged baseball team as it plays its way to a championship. A part of the team also help solve a mystery plaguing the community. Published by 4RV Publishers, ISBN: 978-1-84728-220-0, the book appeals to those who interested in sports, mystery, and adventure.

Other points to be covered, in different paragraphs, are as follows:

Characters: Are the characters flat or round? A round character is multiple dimensional. Round characters make a story line more interesting and believable; therefore, the analysis of the author's use of three-dimensional characters or flat characters is important.

Example of character portrayal: Ryan Scott not only is an excellent athlete, but he also cares about others. He helps find the thief in the story; then he wants to help the young man who stole money from locker rooms. An instance where he acted as peace maker on the team is shown in the following excerpt: Ryan stood beside Colby, slipping his arm across the shorter boy's shoulders. "Hey, Colby, settle down. Josh is just repeating what he heard. I've heard my dad say the same thing about some criminals." With a slight smile, Ryan turned to Josh. "Josh, what does the preacher say about forgiving? What have we learned in church about forgiving others?"

Theme: The theme of a book may not be written word for word, but the review should note how the author reveals or develops the theme or themes. Mention whether you, as the reviewer, agree or disagree with the author's theme(s) and why.

Example of theme: The author gives support for moral values and actions through the book. Yet, the message isn't preachy or blunt, but the theme flows throughout the story. The author's opinions are solid and are ones that young readers need to realize and learn to accept.

Plot: Are the various elements of plot handled well? The elements of plot include introduction, conflict, climax, and conclusion.

Example of plot: The Base Stealers Club introduces the conflict, the problem in the first two chapters of the book, both the start of the games leading to a successful season and the missing money in locker rooms. The suspense intensifies as the team plays and tries to help find the thief. The climax is unique, as is the reaction of team members.

Author information: V. Gilbert Zabel, who also writes under the name Vivian Gilbert Zabel, for adult level books, and Granny Zabel, for children's books, played baseball and helped coach a baseball team. Her interest and background in the sport, as well as with children, can be found in the pages of this book.

Give a brief summary of the book: Give an overview, but do not give away the plot climax or conclusion.

Example of summary: The Jonesville Chargers, a baseball team of middle school-aged boys, pursues championship dreams and the solution of a mystery plaguing their team.

Give your opinion of the book: Tell how the book affected you. Say whether or not the book is interesting, entertaining, or memorable. Would you recommend the book to readers? Why or why not?

Example of opinion: I enjoyed The Base Stealers Club because I became swept up in the chronicling of a team's season, games and attempt to find a thief. This book will appeal to readers aged ten to fifteen who love baseball. Young sports fans will be better for having read the book.

Important note: Having correct grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and other components of good writing are as important in a review as in writing a book. Reviews are a form of writing.

The suggestions can be arranged differently or combined, and some others can be added. Some can be eliminated, but most of the information needs to be somewhere in the review.

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Creative Writing - Writing Fiction

Creative Writing can be overwhelming, especially if you are a novice attempting to come up with the perfect idea for your first novel. There are so many great writers, so many stories have already been told, and new ones are being published every day. You may feel intimidated and think that there may not be any stories left to tell.
How will yours differ? Can you write something that will be praised or will it just be a pale lookalike in the eyes of your peers? Where will you end up in the never ending stream of wannabe storytellers?

Every idea that comes to mind is criticized, cut down and thrown out with the trash.

Space and Time:

Your mind wanders off through the universe, in search of new planets or aliens, ideas begin to take form, moons, stars, spaceships, you've seen it too many times, give up, and warp back to reality, wondering if there ever lived a worm in a wormhole.

Underwater:

Now that's an idea! Underwater cities - taken, man-eating sharks - taken, mutating fish, mermaids, submarines, you're drowning, and decide that you really didn't want to get your feet wet anyway, as a giant squid hangs you up to dry off.

Fantasy:

That's got to be easy, it's just make believe, imagination... You can have mad beasts, winged horses, fairies, even talking animals, a few wizards maybe...oh no, you forgot the magic words, and you spilled the potion on your draft.

Romance:

Tears come to your eyes as you think up the scenes to the best love-story ever, who could write a romance novel if not you. You live and breathe it every day. Waiting for prince charming to knock on your door, ready to throw yourself into his arms and hide your tear stained face at his muscular chest. You take his hand and ride off into the horizon and as the sun sets you become one.

Creative Writing gives you power! You have the entire known and unknown universe at your fingertips. You have the power to manipulate, to build and create, to do anything.

Anything and everything - do you feel that power?

You and only you can tell the story!

Create alternate universes, non existing planets, beings never imagined before. Cities, rivers, forests and mountains unknown to man, uncharted lands lie before and beyond you. People or aliens, different races and species, with fiction there are no boundaries or limits. You are the creator!

Mad, evil, loving, dumb, they are putty in your mind's eye, add or take away. Make them all suffer for eternity or let them live happily ever after. Give them the breath of life or send them to their death. They laugh, they cry, you are in control. Life and death are in your hands!

Did you ever think that creative writing could be so empowering?

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Should You Attend an MFA Program in Creative Writing?

You have always wanted to become a writer and have considered getting a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing but aren't sure if you want to invest the time and money.

The question: Should I apply for a Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing?

The answer: It depends.

Instead of leaving it there, let's examine this in detail and see if we can work through a process for making a good decision about whether or not an MFA program is right for you.

Creative writing (both fiction and creative non-fiction) is something that many of us want to do well, and if we can get paid for it, so much the better. While an MFA in creative writing is not required for success as a writer, focused study of the art and craft of writing will help most people. Of course, as I write this, there is a minority of writers - some with MFAs - who will say that an MFA program will hurt certain writers and detrimentally alter their specific style or creative uniqueness. While that may be true in a few cases, as a rule, most of us would benefit from focused training and awareness of writing that will come as part of an MFA program. An MFA program is a big investment in time (2-5 years depending on full or part-time attendance, and whether it is a traditional or low-residence program), and in money (from $15,000 - $35,000 for most programs).

In order to figure out if an MFA program is right for you, you have to seriously consider what your ultimate goal as a writer is. For example, an MFA in creative writing will benefit almost any writer in five ways:

1. It will make you feel like a writer and identify yourself as a writer. (This may actually be the most important thing an MFA program can do for a writer.)

2. You will have time to write, and you will in fact have external and internal deadlines imposed on you - you will have to produce material.

3. You will learn to give and receive well thought out criticism of a piece of poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction (depending on your program orientation).

4. Your writing will improve - if you work at it - because you will focus on improving your skill as a writer and will receive continuous, close feedback on how you are crafting specific work.

5. You will likely make some contacts through the program that may help you in submitting polished work, and, if this is your objective, finding employment in teaching or publishing.

Thus, most MFA programs will improve your writing and will give you a "terminal degree" that will allow you to either teach creative writing or work in publishing. A terminal degree means that the MFA is the accepted top-degree in the field of "creative writing", and is the degree you need to teach at the college and university level. While there are a number of programs offering Ph.Ds in creative writing, the MFA is the mainstay and you don't need a doctorate to teach or find employment.

All of the above are good things, and I would not want to talk anyone out of going down the MFA route if that is what they want, but if your goal in not academia or publishing work, then an MFA may not be the right route for you. There are as many (or more) successful writers without MFAs as there are with MFAs. Now, let's examine some other routes to improving your writing that do not result in MFA degrees.

First, you have to examine critically, and as objectively as possible, where your specific level of writing is at, and what your weaknesses are. This critical self-assessment will allow you to work to find training and mentorship outside of an MFA program to improve your skills. Options to improve your writing are many, but a few are:

- Reading books on craft.

- Attending short workshops and classes (either online or in person).

- Attending a course in writing (this can be at a local college, community center, or a writing center.)

- Finding a mentor who is a more experienced writer or an editor.

- Joining or forming a critique group (this can be online or in person).

- Write a lot and try and improve with each piece you write.

Let's face it, MFA programs are expensive and they take time. But for some, they offer the structure and the time needed to improve your writing and reach your goals. However, if you have a modicum of self-discipline and the internal fortitude to critically assess your weaknesses, you can design a program of seminars, conferences, and classes to make similar improvements that you would in an MFA program.

Graduation from an MFA program does not guarantee success, but no creative endeavors does. An MFA program (and I caveat this with saying, a "good MFA program") will offer a pre-travelled path to improve your writing and gain the confidence and contacts to get you started as a writer. That said, in the end, you still have to sit down and write. An MFA program won't do this for you. You have to get your butt in the chair and put words down on paper or up on your computer screen.

In the end, the decision on attending an MFA program or working on your own to improve your writing is a very individual one. Every writers situation will be different. However, with some focused thought and self-analysis, you can make the decision that is right for you.

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6 Starter Tips For Writing Children's Stories

"I'd like to write a children's story someday!"

Ask just about any adult that likes children and you'll find many of them saying those exact words.

If you happen to fall into the category described above, you may find these tips helpful in getting you moving in the direction to write that children's story. Whether your story is still sitting in your notebook or is an inspirational thought still in your head, these starter tips may be just the ticket to get you motivated.

Six Starter Tips for Writing Children's Stories:

1. Spend a lot of time around children. You can pick up a lot of information by just observing children's mannerisms and how interact with other children. Especially notice how they pick up objects and how they hand toys, blocks, and dolls to others in the group.

2. Visit the children's section at your local Library. Spend some time perusing children's books by looking at their titles and book covers. Glance through a few pages and you'll chuckle and think, "I can do that." You'll get inspired with ideas.

3. Choose an age range that you would like to write for. Generally speaking there are three age ranges for children's books, the 3-7 listener/reader, the 8-12 intermediate reader, and the 13-18 teenage reader. Experiment till you find your comfort level.

4. Think about if you'd like to write Fiction or Non-Fiction. Some writers prefer fiction and think that non-fiction is boring, but it is very possible to write non-fiction in a very intriguing manner. Non-fiction does not equate 'boring' when you're creative.

5. Read Parenting Magazines: Parenting Magazines are loaded with information, reading trends, and what parents are buying and reading for their children. You can get ideas for your own stories just by reading their articles.

6. Take writing classes or join a children's writers group. Learning writing styles for children's writing can be a real eye-opener. You'd be surprised to find there is a lot of valuable information to learn at these places. Not to mention the friends you'll make.

These ideas are very basic, but they may be just that little push you needed to get inspired to write that children's book you've been meaning to write. Here's an excellent resource; the link to the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators to guide you on your writing path http://www.scbwi.org/

Then...Watch out, because if you thought you didn't have the time to write that children's story, you will be amazed that with inspiration, you will make the time!

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Writing for Children: How I Broke Into the Children's Market

"Oh, I've always wanted to write for children!"

I hear it all the time, whenever I reveal that I'm a published author of children's books. Always the starry-eyed look, the slightly wistful expression, and the inevitable, "That would be so fun!"

Fun, indeed. All the fun of slaving over getting just the right word, of collecting rejection slips, of wondering if new authors really can break into the children's market.

There is a way -- if you are willing to exercise some flexibility in your writing.

Take a stroll through the children's non-fiction section of your local library and look at the newest books you see there: books on jet planes, hot air balloons, holiday crafts, bicycles, helicopters, race cars, and more -- some of them with my name on them.

Welcome to the world of the School and Library Market.

How the School and Library Market Works

Budget cuts or not, libraries need a constant supply of new books. Library books get a lot of hard use, and the most popular titles wear out quickly. Even the nonfiction section, the part of the library that many people think is "boooring!" gets a lot of use as kids look for books to help them with reports, or books on their favorite hobbies and interests.

When librarians pull worn copies of well-loved novels off the shelf for replacement, they may get new copies of the same title. But in the nonfiction section, old, worn, or outdated books get replaced with new books with up-to-date information.

Where do they get these books? From publishers that specialize in the school and library market. These publishers produce new titles and entire new series every year to meet librarians' needs. This also means that they need authors to write new titles ever year.

These aren't books that are going to be sold in bookstores, nor are they going to make any best-seller list, so don't expect high royalties. In fact, most school-and-library books are written on assignment on a work-for-hire basis. This means that the work is purchased outright from the author. The publisher retains the copyright and all rights to the book. This might sound like a raw deal, but consider that librarians want up-to-date nonfiction titles. This means that the book you write this year may not stay on the backlist more than five or six years. These aren't books that would earn a great deal in royalties. However, that same publisher will need a new title on the same subject in a few years. If your work satisfied the editors, they may ask you to write the new book.

Approaching School and Library Publishers

So how do you find publishers that specialize in the school and library market? Start again at the library. Look through the shelves for the newest books and note the names of the publishers. You can also ask the children's librarian if you can browse through their book catalogs. Get the addresses and website of the publishers, then see if they post author guidelines on their websites. You can also find educational publishers in the Children's Writers Market, which is widely available in bookstores and libraries.

Once you have a list of potential publishers, read their guidelines and follow them carefully. There are two ways to approach school and library publishers. One is with a book idea of your own. Many will accept submissions of fiction and nonfiction manuscripts, and will pay an advance and royalties. The other way is to send a resume that lists your published works (if any) and pertinent experience (any education experience you have is helpful), along with samples of your writing (sometimes called "clips"). If the editors like your sample, you may get a phone call or an email from an editor asking if you would like to accept an assignment. Which approach you use depends on the publisher. Their guidelines will state whether you should send a manuscript, or if you can send a resume and writing sample.

If you get an assignment, be sure to ask plenty of questions to clarify the editor's expectations. Make sure you're clear on due dates, and be prepared not only to meet the due dates, but beat them. Ask if there are sample books from the series that you can see before you start writing. There won't be if the series is new, but there may be a similar series that can serve as a model. If other authors are working on other titles in the series, ask if someone else has a due date before yours, and if you can look at their outline. This helps preserve consistency in the series. Educational publishers usually have extensive guidelines to help you write according to their style, and often have outlines from which authors work.

Then go to work doing your research and writing the best book you can. If the editors are pleased, expect more assignments in the future!

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Secrets of Writing Children's Fiction - 5 Easy Steps to Help You to Succeed

Many people carry the misconception that children's literature is easy to create. It is often thought that storylines can be much more simplistic than adult fiction, that language can be unelaborated and that characters don't have to be particularly three-dimensional. And in many ways this is true. Storylines for children's fiction do not have to be as complex as those used in adult fiction, language must be construed relatively simply, and characters do not need to come with all the baggage and background life stories that adult literature demands. But what is forgotten is the complexity of the reader for which one is writing for when they write children's literature.

A child sees the world in a very different light to most adults. That world needs to be captured and represented in children's fiction. To represent such a world through fiction is hugely challenging, and I take my hat off to all who do it successfully!

As with any form of writing, there are several steps that you need to follow when planning and writing a children's book. You need to do your research, you need to develop a storyline or plot, you need to create the primary characters and you need to ensure that the ending of the story will be satisfactory to the reader. Alongside these key steps, there are two additional areas that need to be thought about when creating children's literature:

- Language
- A Contemporary Setting

Let's discuss these in turn!

Language

The mark of a great writer - their ability to use brevity successfully! Children's novels are, by their very nature, short. A picture book will be carrying a few hundred words as a maximum; a book for a six year old reader will be coming in with a word count of around 1,000 words. Such a small word count leaves you without any room for error - EVERY WORD COUNTS. Let me say that again, EVERY WORD COUNTS! Every use of punctuation or grammar, every description, every sentence uttered by a character, every sigh, breath, movement, decision or thought has to be 100% correct. When you are working with a word count of 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000 words, EVERY WORD COUNTS.

Contemporary Setting

The need to understand and potentially use a contemporary setting for your storyline does not mean that your children's book has to be set in the 'here and now'. Children's stories based in Medieval Times or in Out of Space (for example) are still hugely popular and successful. But.., a storyline should maintain a contemporary feel. Perhaps the easiest way to achieve this is to focus the text around a contemporary issue that affects 'Today's Children'. Think about divorce, same-sex families, bullying, step-families, illness, the internet, drugs, alcohol, sexual relationships, violence, or modern technology, and see how each of these key issues could be brought into the make believe world of your children's fiction piece.

Summary - The Main Steps to writing Children's Fiction

1 - Research. Know your market. Read current children's fiction releases for the age group you are interested in writing for.
2 - The plot or storyline should have a contemporary feel
3 - Use a mixture of creative language and speech to bring your characters to life. They must be instantly visible to the young reader.
4 - Ensure the ending is satisfactory. Ensure all issues are resolved by the last page...don't leave your poor reader hanging!
5 - Edit and re-edit the language until you are happy with the usage and placement of every single word!

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