canva image By Kourtney LaFavre Hey Everyone! I'm glad to be here sharing about...drumroll please... back matter! As a self certified nerd, I always love exploring back matter in books. The purpose of back matter in kidlit is to add interesting tidbits that maybe didn't fit into the narrative. It's an incredible opportunity to incorporate more information that enriches and expands a books appeal. I'm going to share some fantastic examples that range from simple to complex in both nonfiction and fiction.  I got too excited doing the research so I have LOTS of examples for you! Here we go ..read more

by Bryan Patrick Avery I got stuck a few weeks ago. It happens to every writer, eventually. Characters refuse to cooperate, dialogue sounds like something created by poorly programmed AI, or plot points get swallowed up by gaping plot holes. So, what to do when this happens to you? I found the answer to my latest literary crisis in an unexpected place: Japanese comics. Yonkoma, sometimes called 4 Koma, is a comic strip technique popularized in Japan which has become a staple in comic strips. The intent of Yonkoma is to tell a story using four panels of equal size and structure. This gives e ..read more

By Melissa Stoller This is a great month to skip, dash, and MARCH toward ideas! Here are a few exercises to help inspire your next story or to add details to a current manuscript:   1) Write out the word “MARCH” and then brainstorm thoughts that spring to mind. I think about marching in parades. I also remember Jo March from the novel Little Women. Finally, I visualize months of the year. Does anything on your list inspire a story idea?  2) Jot down some childhood memories of activities you remember doing in the month of March. For me, there was often snow in March, and ..read more

Canva Image By Shirin Shamsi I’m so thrilled and honored that the wonderful Mira Reisberg invited me to write for BLOGFISH. I’m excited for all that 2023 holds, and to see what unfolds in the coming months. March signals the arrival of spring. It brings with it optimism and hope. This March will be extra special, as it’s also the month of Ramadan, which is the 9th month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Growing up in the UK, my parents were Pakistani immigrants, at a time when there were few. Even teachers knew little about my culture or background. There was no representation in the books I r ..read more

Photo by canva By Kourtney LaFavre I'm so happy to be back and sharing about one of my loves: STEM and STEAM books! STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. STEAM includes an “A” for Arts. STEM is the more prevalent acronym used in education. From an author, educator, and mom perspective, my favorite STEM/STEAM books are those that make me feel something, things like wonder, excitement, curiosity, and inquisitiveness. Let's look at a few recent picture books that left me feeling "something special" after reading. First up is Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as ..read more

by Bryan Patrick Avery Have you ever wanted to try a new genre of story? Maybe you need to fix some problems with a current piece and don’t know where to start? I may have the solution for you: write a short story. Short stories are, by definition, short. This means that you can try things out without spending too much time or energy. They’re perfect for trying out new things, getting to know your characters, or even just trying to figure out if you like that idea that’s been bouncing around in your head. This month, let’s look at two shorts stories of mine that I think have helped me become ..read more

by Melissa Stoller ​This February, whether or not you celebrate Valentine’s Day, think about the themes of friendship and love and try to find ideas filled with heart. Here are some prompts to get you started: List five friends or family members. Write down some of their attributes that you love. Next, jot down five places you have visited together. Finally, imagine a situation such as the first day of school, losing a tooth, learning to ride a bicycle, taking a vacation, or even celebrating Valentine’s Day. Mash together some of these categories and create an idea based on your heart-fil ..read more

Photo by Canva By Jennifer Swanson As an author of almost fifty books for kids, I’ve written biographies, history, concept books, branded books and series, but my main focus is on STEM books for kids. I love what I do! Being a nonfiction children’s author is so fulfilling and exciting. Kids LOVE nonfiction! I’m often asked if I have advice to aspiring nonfiction authors. In response, I came up with these five tips. 1. Where do I find a topic? Anywhere! Start with something that interests YOU. After all, you are going to be spending a lot of time with this topic as you research, write, edit ..read more

by Bryan Patrick Avery It’s a new year and, for many, that means trying new things. A lot of my friends in the kid lit community and considering trying their hands at writing a graphic novel. My advice is always the same: “Do it!” As a kid, I loved reading graphic novels (yes, graphic novels count as reading). The Uncanny X-Men and Detective Comics were among my favorites. When I started writing for kids, I knew that, one day, I wanted to write at least one graphic novel. I wrote my first, and it’s currently on submission. I plan to complete my second this year. So, for any of you who may be ..read more

Happy New Year! Cheers to creativity in 2023!   Here is an exercise that will hopefully help you set intentions and formulate concrete plans to start off the upcoming year with ideas and writing goals.   Write out numbers 1-23 with a line next to each.   1  _________________________________ 2 _________________________________ 3 _________________________________ 4 _________________________________ 5 _________________________________ 6 _________________________________ 7 _________________________________ 8 _________________________________ 9 _________________________________ ..read more