Kidlit Distancing Social #22 Replay – Candice Ransom, Author of 150+ Children’s Books

Candice has written more than 150 books, including 18 books for The Boxcar Children series, The Time Spies series and the Sunfire series. She wrote the Dungeons & Dragons novel, Key to the Griffon’s Lair. Her work includes picture books, easy readers, middle grade fiction, biographies, and nonfiction. Laura and Candice discuss her fascinating career, and then open the floor for a freewheeling “Ask Us Anything” session!

Kidlit Distancing Social #14 – Eileen Robinson on Middle Grade Fiction for Boys

In this episode, we welcome Eileen Robinson, publisher at Move Books, a small press that focuses on middle grade novels for boys. MG for boys is a hot and growing market, so this is a very timely topic.

Eileen’s had an accomplished and varied publishing career including work in acquisitions and development, pub planning, leveled reading, audio books and more.

Understanding the “New Adult Fiction” Category

by Jane Choate     What is new adult fiction?   New adult fiction bridges the gap between young adult and adult books. It typically features protagonists between the ages of 18 and 26. The label was first used in 2009 when St. Martin’s Press hosted a contest looking for stories that could be marketed […]

Writing for Children & Teens: Simple Steps to Understand Your Readers

No matter the age of your reader, knowing your audience is key.  Knowing their tastes, their needs, their wants, their expectations is vital in penning the kind of stories that will touch their hearts and minds. Jane Choate is here to give you some easy steps to truly understand your readers.

Book Categories for Children from Picture Books to YA

Children’s book categories encompass children from birth through their teen years. Here’s how the age groups break down, and how each category is written.

Watch Your Tone!

Tone is one of the trickiest issues for many writers. In this piece, veteran author Jane McBride explains it all, simply and elegantly.

Writing Is Easier When You Stop Trying So Hard

Struggling to make progress with your writing? Maybe you need to step back and take a breath. Here’s how…

Teens Review What Works, What Doesn’t in New Books

In this article from School Library Journal, five reviewers, ranging in age from 12 to 15, give their thoughts on the latest books from popular authors. A must-read for anyone writing middle grade and young adult fiction.

Writing the Modern Fairy Tale: Use a Twist

Give classic stories a new twist to create modern fairy tales for children and teens.

Know Your Genre Before You Write

If you’re new to writing, sorting out all the different fiction genres, and figuring out where your writing fits, can be a daunting task. In this video, our Writer’s Coach Teresa Funke explains the various writing genres and how to choose which genre is right for you.