A new story is like a sand storm. It sweeps you up in a dust of ideas. When you are inside the storm, you can’t see through it. You don’t know how good it is – your eyes are closed, your ears are full of dust and you’re wandering into the story like someone lost in that storm.
I’m often contacted by new writers about writing for children and writing picture books. So I thought I’ll put together a few resources I can share whenever I’m asked. To… Read more »
A picture book needs a narrative, a story that has all the elements of a good story – a beginning, middle and end, the middle escalating action and the resolution satisfying.
Sometimes an idea will pop-up as a concept. For example, the monsoon rains were a big part of my growing up. I used to be terrified of getting lost in… Read more »
It’s often easy to make the story happen to a character rather than the character shaping the story.
Bored? Not able to start a story? Here is a trick I use. I can’t start a story unless I find the most appropriate name for my character. Sometimes I… Read more »
I panicked. I couldn’t see the woods for the trees anymore. I couldn’t even see the tunnel in the darkness, let alone the light at the end of it.
I’m a working children’s author. That means I write books but also go into schools with my books to talk to children about reading and writing for pleasure. I’m also… Read more »
I usually write picture books and short fiction. I love the short form. Even if I rewrite and edit the same picture book manuscript or young fiction story about 25… Read more »
Come and get some story starters that will help you write delightful new stories. Having read all of the story starters, here are some examples. When the skies darkened and… Read more »