Once again the editors of Writer’s Digest have published timely articles for children’s writers. In fact, in their March/April issue they have devoted a whole section to Writing for Kids + Teens.

In the first article, 10 Picture Book Pitfalls – and How to Fix Them, Marie Lamb points out the benefits of condensing your story into a sentence.  She notes that by forcing yourself to craft a one liner, you will prevent your story from going nowhere. Lamb also advises writers to imagine their story as told only in pictures and “if a more visually engaging story emerges, see how you might revise your manuscript accordingly.” Since I am also an artist, this comment gave me a lot to think about.

Regarding the middle-grade (MG) and young adult (YA) genre four agents answer four questions in the article 4 on 4.  This cleverly formatted article contains a lot of information.  The agents talk about the most important differences between MG and YA, what makes a standout writing for MG readers, and the common mistakes they see in the manuscripts submitted to them.

Ammi-Joan Paquette in her article A Whole New World talks about world building in MG and YA fantasy stories.  She advises writers on how to develop a “rich literary landscape for kids to get lost in.”  At the end of her article, she lists eleven books that in her opinion have excelled “in world building.”

In Get Schooled Teri Brown talks about author’s school visits.  In her article she advises authors on what makes a successful school visit and how to “get in the door.”  According to Brown, the first step is to find the appropriate contact at the school by calling the school office.  Then send the contact person an introductory email (sales pitch).  In the email Brown advises you to introduce yourself, tell them what you can offer, and direct them to your web site.