VS Grenier ~ Award-Winning Author, Speaker & Podcaster

Last week, I talked about the basic understanding of what a picture book is. Today, I want to cover the plotting, vocabulary and readability of picture books. To rhyme or not to rhyme? One of the greatest questions is should picture books rhyme. That’s totally up to you. If you do decide to write a picture book in rhyme, make sure to the sentences short. There are two rules to writing a book in rhyme: Reduce the distance between beats. Reduce the number of beats. Here are some things to think about if you do choose to rhyme your book: Does rhyme enhance the story? Does rhyme come easily to you? Is there rhythm and meter to back up the rhyme? Does the rhyme make the story sound trivial in any way? Could the same story be told just as well in prose rather than in verse? If the answer is YES to the last questions, you will probably be more likely to sell the story if you write in prose. Of course, how tight the rhythms should be will depend on the moo...

Come join the hosts of The Writing Mama show this Monday January 21, 2013 at 2pm EST - 1pm CST - Noon MST - 11am PST as they chat with author Jack Remick. Hosts VS Grenier and Irene Roth will be talking with Author Jack Remick about his lastest book Gabriela and the Widow published by Coffeetown Press. They will also talk about writing and publishing as well. Gabriela and The Widow is the story of Gabriela, a 19 year old Mexican woman who migrates north (to El Norte) where she meets a dying 92 year old woman, The Widow. The novel is their story. “As you grow thick, I grow thin,” says the widow, portending the secret of immortality that will overtake both women. ISBN: 978-1-60381-147-7 Places available for sale: Gabriela and The Widow is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com. After January 15, 2013, it will also be available in multiple eBook and 6x9 trade paperback editions on BN.com, the European Amazons and Amazon Japan. Jack Remick is a poet, short ...

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Arnita is the youngest of 12 children. She learned early in life about family dynamics and the concept of sharing. After graduating in 1983, with a degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, Elizabeth married Shadi and they have been blessed with four fabulous children. Her love for the Lord has opened her eyes to a world in need and ignited her compassion for those who are less fortunate. She and her husband founded and continue to manage Welcome The Children; a non-profit organization that funds and supports children who are experiencing the reality of poverty. Elizabeth Arnita has designated all of the proceeds from her book sales to support WTC. VS: Liz, I want to thank you for being my guest here on The Writing Mama today. My first question is...What do you do to help balance your writing life with your family life? Arnita: If I would have chosen to be an author earlier in life this would absolutel...

“To say that most writers who want to write for children want to write picture books is only a slight over generalization.” ~Tracey E. Dils (You Can Write Children’s Books) Most writers think of picture books when they hear children’s books. A good many writers think writing a picture book is easy because there are few words and the pictures tell most the story. However, as simple as it is to enjoy a picture book, it is one of the most difficult to write.  The Market and Audience: Many think the audience (readership) and market are the same, but truth be told, this is not the case with picture books. Even though picture books are written for preschool to elementary aged children, they are not the ones buying picture books.  What does this mean to you as a writer? You need to know adults are your target market when it comes to promoting your picture book. This also means your story needs to not only appeal to children, but also to the adult buyer. It sho...