Introduction xix You as a Storyteller, You as a Writer xix How This Book Works xx The Books I''ve Written xxiii Create Your Writing Life Now xxv PART 1. PREWRITING 1. Ideas Being Open to Ideas 3 Five Tips to Be Open to Ideas 5 Observation 6 Quieting the Inner Critic 8 Digging Deep for Stories 9 Freewriting: Joy and Fear 10 Regular Writing 12 Lost Ideas 13 Chapter 1 Exercises 15 Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further 2. Roots 19 My Reading Life 20 Reading Like a Writer 22 The Reading Lists 24 Chapter 2 Exercises 26 Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further 3. The Options for Writing for Young Readers: Overview 29 Publishing Your Book for Young Readers 29 Should You Write This Story? 31 Thinking about Your Book for Young Readers 33 Good Initial Rules when Writing for Young Readers 35 A Note on the Rules 37 Finding Your Possible Audience 37 Chapter 3 Exercises 39 Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further 4. The Options for Writing for Young Readers: Specifics for Picture Books and Chapter Books 41 From Picture Books to Chapter Books 41 Picture Books: All Types 43 Board Books 43 Picture Books, General 44 A Note on Rhyme 45 Notes on Illustration 46 The Challenges and Opportunities of Picture Books 48 Easy Readers 51 Chapter Books 52 Polly Diamond 53 Graphic Chapter Books 55 Chapter 4 Exercises 56 Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further Picture Book 57 Chapter Book 57 5. The Options for Writing for Young Readers: Middle Grade and Young Adult Books 59 From Middle Grade to Young Adult 59 Middle Grade 61 Young Adult 63 New Adult 65 Taboo Topics--or Not? 65 Challenges and Opportunities for Writing Middle Grade and Young Adult 66 Genre 66 World Building 69 Three Possible Ways to Begin World Building 69 What Is Structure and How Does It Work? 72 Chapter 5 Exercises 75 Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further PART 2. WRITING 6.

Finding Time and Finding Your Flow 79 Flow 80 Goal Setting 82 Clarity of Goals 84 Concentration and Distraction 88 The Place Where You Work 88 Process 89 Chapter 6 Exercises 90 Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further 7. Storytelling 93 Sense of Story 93 Becoming a Ghost Transformed My Greatest Writing Weakness 94 Pantser or Planner 96 Useful Words as You Think about Your Story Architecture 97 Central Dramatic Question 97 Chronology 98 Flashback 98 Language: Cadence, Rhyme, and Rhythm 98 Narrative 99 Outline 99 Plot 100 Point of View 102 Scenes 104 Theme 104 Tense 105 Voice 107 Chapter 7 Exercises 108 Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further 8. Character 111 Where Do Characters Come From? 111 Act and React 112 Character Flaws and Layers 113 Character Desires and How to Use the Interview 115 Characteristics, Habits, Body Language, and Speech 116 Diversity in Your Characters 118 Physical Attributes 119 Tips for Writing Physical Description 120 Other Key Characters 121 Bit-Part Characters 121 Tips for Writing Your Cast 122 Chapter 8 Exercises 122 Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further 9. Scenes and Settings 125 Scenes 126 The Four Elements of a Scene 127 Description 127 Writing Description 130 Action 131 Writing Action 133 Dialogue 134 Writing Dialogue 135 Interior Monologue 137 Writing Interior Monologue 138 Chapter 9 Exercises 139 Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further 10. Drafting Your Book 143 Magic and Moments 145 The Slump in the Middle 147 Tips for When You Get Stuck 150 Endings Chapter 10 Exercises Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further PART 3. REWRITING 11. Editing 157 The Break 158 Developmental Editing 160 Developmental Edits: Picture Books 160 Developmental Edits: Chapter Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult 163 Rewriting 166 Line Editing 167 Ten-Point Line-Edit Checklist 168 Finding a Reader 170 Hiring an Editor 174 Chapter 11 Exercises 175 Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further Pacing/Structure 177 Characters 177 12. What Happens Next? 179 The Nitty Gritty of Traditional, Hybrid, and Self-Publishing 179 The Traditional Route 180 Self-Publishing 182 7 Questions to Ask Yourself as You Decide 183 Rejection 185 Abandoning 189 Agents 193 Tips to Find an Agent 194 Querying 195 Query Letter and Submission: Final Tips 197 Chapter 12 Exercises 198 Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further 13.

Your Writing Life 201 Social Media and Your Platform 203 Library and School Visits 204 Parenting and Responsibilities 205 Tips for Juggling Responsibilities and Writing 206 Confidence and Writer''s Block 208 Tips for When Your Confidence Flags and You''re Feeling Blocked 210 Final Words 211 Chapter 13 Exercises 211 Practical Task Writing: 10 Minutes Writing: 30 Minutes Taking It Further Places to Go: Further Reading 213 Picture Books to Get You Excited 213 Chapter Books 215 Younger Chapter Books 215 Older Chapter Books 216 Graphic Chapter Books 218 Middle Grade 218 Younger Middle Grade 218 Classic Middle Grade 219 Series for Younger Middle Grade 221 Older Middle Grade 221 Series for Older Middle Grade 223 Graphic Novels for Middle Grade Readers 223 Young Adult 224 Young Adult for Ages 12 and Up 224 Series for Ages 12 and Up 225 Older Young Adult 226 Series for Ages 14 and Up 228 Graphic Novels for Young Adult Readers 228 Books about Writing that I Love 229 Places to Go Online 229.