Five Most Popular Places To Enjoy A Vacation With Children
By richpat1 | May 1, 2011
Deciding on the next vacation with your family can be a daunting task, especially when your choice of place does not interest your children. You might plan to visit Alaska, but your children could be longing for a trip to the Bahamas. The best option is to figure out where your kids wish to go this vacation and finalize a kid-friendly destination.
With the release of movies like ?Madagascar?, children have become all the more keen to travel through exotic and adventurous destinations. While Madagascar is not considered to be the most popular family destination, a trip to other places like Costa Rica or Kenya can prove to be an invaluable fun-filled learning experience, well within your budget. Costa Rica serves a dual purpose as your children can learn Spanish as they explore the lush green rain forests or erupting volcanoes. Even Kenya can be a good option, as the family can learn to speak a little Swahili while exploring the rare glimpse of the mass migration of the wild beasts. You can enjoy your vacation with children listening to the sounds from within the rainforests, as well as relaxing under the star-studded sky on a safari that would be certainly more interesting for the whole family.
Eastern cities like Beijing, Seoul and Bangkok are also part of the list of favorite destinations with children, in terms of adventure. The holiday can prove to be a learning and entertainment experience, as one can see the Great Wall and learn about different cultures. Different food, different money and an altogether different way of life can be highly entertaining for you. But, entry to the country could probably take a considerable amount of time, so plan your trip well ahead of time to ensure a smooth trip to your chosen destination.
European cities such as Italy have also gained tremendous popularity over the years, but a trip might be a little too expensive. However, the Western Europe country trips generally come with discounts and amenities. You can experience a different culture. You can explore the ruins of Pompeii and go on a Gondola ride in Venice or taste delicious Italian sweets in Florence. Most Western European families enjoy vacations to countries like Italy. This gives them an opportunity to explore their ancestors.
The Caribbean is the next best holiday spot with children. Basking in the sun, playing in the sand and swimming in the deep blue water are the local indulgences that also form the basic reason for a number of families visiting this place. The holiday spot is blessed with plenty of sun, sand and water. Jamaica is full of fascinating natural beauty that is breathtaking. With white sandy beaches, black volcanic mountains and deep red sunsets, the island has evolved into a tourist?s paradise.
Hawaii as a holiday destination is also very popular with a number of children visiting the place every year. It also offers sun, sand and water in abundance, along with all kinds of summer and water sport activities ranging scuba diving to swimming with the dolphins. You can also go whale watching. Besides having fun with your family, you can also acquaint yourself more closely with the volcanic geology of Hawaii.
No matter where you plan to go for your next family vacation, do not limit yourself. Always try to explore the place to its fullest and get as foot loose and fancy free as possible. Select a destination that will be stimulating and fulfilling for your entire family. But, do not forget to plan your trip properly, as a trip to the most fascinating destination too can be very stressful without proper planning.
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Jack Blacksmith often writes short articles on areas relating with Torrevieja and Benidorm. His abstracts on Alicante can be discovered on his webpage in addition to other web publications. |
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Children’s Stories - Submitting Manuscripts to Publishers
By richpat1 | April 29, 2011
First you must enjoy writing ? you are doing it for your own satisfaction. I?m sorry to have to inform you that you won?t make a J.K. Rowlings fortune even if you do find a publisher - and you may not. The competition is fierce!
If you haven’t read many children’s books since you were a child yourself, spend some time in the local library or big bookshop looking at what is on offer, what is being published at the moment. And read read read in your chosen genre!
Picture books are a very specialized skill. You need to know how they are put together, the number of pages (32), the number of words (under 500 preferably), the relationship between the words and the pictures. You can do a course or workshop, but unfortunately many don’t give you these details. If you are working on shorter novels (easy chapter books with lots of pictures, for early readers) or longer novels, you need to know who your audience is. If fantasy, know the parameters of your invented world, and stick logically to its rules.
Once your masterpiece is completed, before you even send it to an assessor, let alone a publisher, have someone proofread it for you, for typos, grammar, punctuation and the most obvious plotting flaws. You will be too close to it to see flaws.
It is invaluable to find out how a professional considers your work, and the easiest way is to go to a reputable manuscript assessment agency. You should get a report of several pages length, and often marking on the hard copy manuscript as well. Don’t be too discouraged by this. There is something to suggest in even the best manuscripts, so if you feel upset, put it away for a week or a month and then come back to it and consider everything suggested. Of course opinions differ, but you’d be wise to think carefully about corrections, and decide whether to incorporate them or not. You can include an excellent assessment or a recommendatory letter to publishers with your submission. This may get your manuscript off the slush pile. In fact it may not even be considered “unsolicited”. Publishers appreciate knowing someone else has read it. Today they cannot afford to spend as much on editors as they once did, so there is less time for nurturing potential, and for correcting typos too.
In the best of all possible worlds, you will find a literary agent to handle your work for you. They find markets, negotiate contracts, help the whole thing along. The bad news is that they are more difficult for a new author to find than an actual publisher is. Once you?ve been published they are eager to take you onto their books, but most won?t consider unknown writers for children. The reason is that they are paid only by a cut from your royalties, and they know how tight the children?s market is. They only take on manuscripts that they are sure they can sell.
Research publishers. Use a big bookshop, or a children’s one. Most large cities have a bookshop specifically for children ? search out yours. Work out which publishers produce work that is similar to yours in some way. Study review journals also, and join SCBWI (The Society of Children?s Book Writers and Illustrator) and perhaps a writing group as well.
To submit, your manuscript must look as professional as possible. Double spaced, one sided, paragraphs indented, a running header with your name and the title on. If you are doing the illustrations as well, you will need to make a mock-up of the book, with sketches for each page, and two openings in colour, as you will do them for the book itself eventually. Include a stamped addressed envelope for return. You might like to also include a stamped postcard for the publishers to return acknowledging receipt.
Phone and ask first what they are accepting, and check their submission guidelines on their website. At the same time, see if you can find the name of the children’s editor for addressing your cover letter. Should you make one submission, or use the scattergun approach? The most usual today is sending to several publishers at once. Editors expect this, even if they would prefer that they were the only publisher targeted. As they can take up to six months to reply, it?s better for the author to send it to several at once. Keep careful records though ? you don?t want to send it back to someone who has already rejected it!
The cover letter: You will need a writing CV or r?sum?. Mention that you are including an assessment. It is good to mention if you’ve had anything at all published - poem, article - or been commended in a competition. This gives you some credibility, even if the publications are not relevant to children’s work. Also mention the relevant societies you have joined. Remember that the cover letter is the first piece of your writing that the editor will read. It needs to be perfectly presented, and if possible a pleasure to read as well, and certainly will prompt the reader to go on to the text itself. Sometimes using a hook ? a catchy sentence from your work for instance ? is a good opening. And all this should ideally fit on one page! The number of words is always vital too.
If it’s a novel, you need to include a synopsis (many people find this the most difficult part of the whole undertaking). It is a pr?cis of the whole story, if possible taking only one page. Don?t leave anything as a surprise. The reader wants to know exactly where it?s going. If it?s a picture book text, or a short chapter book, you can include the whole manuscript instead (with notes to illustrators, if needed - see my example Yabby on the website); or if picture book with pictures the mock-up.
Keep your reject letters - keeping track of who you’ve sent it to and where it still is, is essential. You should ideally have a couple of manuscripts out at once, or at least be working on the next one, so that you’re not waiting desperately by the letterbox. And remember that you?re not a real writer until you?ve had your quota of rejection letters!
If you want to have your work published as a “trade” picture book but feel discouraged by how few are accepted, try some school readers first. These are marginally easier to get into. Find the educational publishers and see what series they are currently working on. Remember, The Cat in the Hat began life as a school reader.
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? Virginia Lowe. Dr Virginia Lowe has a PhD on young children?s responses to books. Her thesis has recently been turned into a book Stories, Pictures and Reality: Two children tell (Routledge). It is based on a reading diary kept of her son and daughter with books, from birth to about eight. She has been a university lecturer, a judge for the Australian Children?s Book Council Book of the Year Awards, and children?s and school librarian. Her manuscript assessment agency, Create a Kids? Book, has operated for ten years. Details about the assessment services, and about her book, on http://createakidsbook.alphalink.com.au |
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How To Write In The Children’s Market (Part 2)
By richpat1 | April 27, 2011
This is going to be my second article of many that I will be writing on how to break into the children?s writing market. This is going to be a considerably long series so keep checking back for updated posts.
Writing for kids can be one of the greatest ways to break into the writing field. You have such a wide range of readers from toddler to young adults. All you have to do is figure out what you want to write about and you?re on your way.
Chances are good that when you think of children?s books, picture books pop right into your mind. For the most part picture books are usually directed to kids from toddler to grade 4. One thing you have to keep in mind is that the book has to be appealing to the adults as well because they are the ones shelling out the money for them.
Picture books can range from a variety of different topics. You can have fiction, non fiction; they can be about animals, or about different people interacting with different stuff.
There is a basic format for picture books. Traditionally there 32 pages long. That includes every page from front to back. Because of the pictures your story usually has to be told in 14 pages of print. Another thing to remember is that you usually only has around 1000 words to use to write your story. So you have to get a good story in a small amount of space.
Picture books can be tough to write. So many people think that picture books are the way to go but soon find out that that?s not the case. You have to make sure that every word, picture and page has the most amount of detail that counts. You have no room for unnecessary content.
Just because you?re intended audience is youths doesn?t mean every word in your book has to be 4 letters long. Remember its going to be the parents for the most part that are reading the books to their youngsters. Also there is a misconception that all picture books must be rhyming. This is in no way true. As long as you develop a great story rhyming is nice but doesn?t really matter.
Chances are if you think about it then it has been written about already. That?s okay for you to go ahead but you have to find a fresh new way to present the idea. You have to make the publishers want to use it.
Don?t worry if you can?t draw. The editors want to first see if your book can stand on its own with out the pictures. If at that time they decide they like it they will hire an illustrator to help with the pictures. You have to remember that when you are writing a picture book it?s not only about the words. The colors and scenes have to be vibrant. They have to stand on their own.
Before you attempt to write your first picture book make sure you go to your local library or book store and read several different books by several different authors. No one wants you to plagiarize but by studying different styles you can than begin to develop your own style.
Dale Mazurek
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Dale is in the process of getting his first novel published and has been writing professionally on line for two years now. You can check out his ever growing blogs at http://stcajo-readshortstories.blogspot.com/ or http://relationshiptidbits.blogspot.com/ or http://fishingtutor.blogspot.com/ |
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How To Write In The Children’s Market (Part 1)
By richpat1 | April 24, 2011
In the next couple of months I will be writing a number of articles about how you can break into the children?s market of writing. This will be a considerably long series so I suggest you keep checking back for the newest post.
Writing children?s literature is a great way to break into the writing market. There is an opening for a wide range of topics because the readers range from toddler to young adult. It?s up to you to figure out what best suits your writing and your ideas. You just have to figure out what you want to write about.
Magazines
Magazines can be the perfect place to break in with your short stories. When you write in magazines it?s the perfect way to build your writing credentials and it also helps to establish you as a professional writer. You don?t just have to publish short stories either. You can publish poetry, verse, puzzles, fiction or non fiction. Books can take for ever to hit the market but with magazine articles you can have your work published in months if not weeks sometimes.
Magazines are a perfect place to get specialty pieces published. As we all know most magazines limit their focuses on specific content.
Magazines aren?t only limited in their content. The intended audiences of most periodicals are limited to particular age levels and genders. Babybugs intended audience is toddlers while the Keynoter is aimed at high school students. Boys Life is geared to boys and Hopscotch is a magazine for girls.
Some magazines devote entire issues to a focused topic or theme. It?s in your best interest to read a magazine that you intend to publish to. Make sure your familiar with the magazine and what kind of content it will accept. Make sure you understand the publisher?s contents. You also want to make sure you know when the magazine publishes. This way you can plan ahead with your stories.
Many writers have gotten their start by writing in magazines. Writing for children can definitely be the easiest genre to follow if you want to follow your dreams.
Dale Mazurek
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Dale is in the process of getting his first novel published. He is also a professional on line writer. You can check out 3 of his very popular blogs at http://stcajo-readshortstories.blogspot.com/ or http://relationshiptidbits.blogspot.com/ and http://affiliatemarketingfornewbies.blogspot.com/ |
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Plotting a Children’s Book
By richpat1 | April 21, 2011
In a previous article I explained the ideas behind some of my children’s books. Over time, I’ve trained my brain to be on “alert” for ideas and I discover a lot more ideas than I have time to put pen to paper or fingers to laptop.
Not all ideas are equal.
Some ideas work well and become books. Some ideas fail to develop.
So how do we take an idea and develop it into a plot for a children?s book? How do we work out what to write once we have the initial idea?
Here?s a basic plot outline:
1. A main character is introduced.
2. The main character?s problem is revealed.
3. Obstacles stand between the main character and their goal.
4. The main character reacts and new obstacles arise.
5. The main character reacts again and new obstacles arise. The tension is mounting.
6. All seems lost. But wait!
7. All is resolved as the story is brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
It?s important to remember that a plot is supposed to help the writer and reader. Don?t adhere too closely to the above plot outline if it hinders your writing.
Some writers prefer to work with a plot outline. Some writers don?t give plot a thought until they?ve finished the first draft. Do what works for you.
Let?s look at some important elements of plot.
The best plots come from characters. It’s a character’s personality, background and experiences that determine how he or she will react to certain situations, events or people.
As a writer, you can come up with an idea. Where your idea goes - the plot - depends on your characters. Every idea can go off in many directions. More on this in a minute.
A plot needs conflict or a problem to be interesting and entertaining. Sure, I can sit here and tell you the “plot” of my day. Ho hum! No one cares, other than me, and possibly my dogs.
However, if I go outside and find a lion in my backyard, you’d probably become interested in my day. My day has a conflict or problem. What am I going to do? How am I doing to solve this problem? Can I solve this problem? Or will I become lion lunch?
Okay, back to the character. Me. Imagine I’ve been abusing my dogs? Huh! They’re asleep on my bed. Anyway, imagine that I’m abusive to animals. You’d probably be rooting for the lion, hoping that I get my just desserts. Or hoping that the lion gets its just desserts. Me!
Now imagine that I’m a little old lady who takes in poor orphaned children and cats. Er small, domestic cats. You’d probably be rooting for me (and my brood), hoping that the nasty lion goes away hungry.
The direction this plot takes depends on the main character - their personality, background and experiences. Animal abuser or little old lady with orphans? The animal abuser might feed her dogs to the lions then try to escape. The little old lady would probably feed herself to the lions to save the orphans ? as a last resort.
Every character has motivation ? a reason to be in the story. The main character has motivation that the reader cares about i.e. the little old lady saving herself and her poor orphans from being lion lunch.
Sometimes it?s the motivation of other characters that become obstacles to the main character reaching his or her goal i.e. the next-door neighbour wants the old lady and orphans to move out and therefore tries to assist the lion. He probably put the lion there in the first place.
The best plots have tension. It?s the tension that keeps a reader involved in a story, that keeps them turning the pages. Most of us have had the feeling ?I need to know what happens next?.
The little old lady is about to be eaten. No, she?s not. Yes, she is. No, she’s not.
Keep building the tension. Your main character has a problem. They try to fix their problem. But the problem gets worse. They try to fix their problem. But problem gets worse. They try to fix the problem. Yay! They finally solve their problem.
As you can see, every scene in a plotted story follows logically from the previous one. Plot makes the scenes appear connected.
A picture book has simpler plots.
For instance, “Tom is afraid of water” then took that idea off in many directions. The plot of this children’s story comes from the character - Tom.
How Tom will react to being afraid of water depends on Tom’s personality, background and experiences. Other characters can become part of his problem or obstacles to resolving the problem.
I thought about water and related topics. Then I asked myself questions - to give me ideas.
I followed each of these ideas to see what could happen next. Hopefully, one of these possibilities will appeal to me and I?ll choose that one to work on.
Remember a plot is about a character with a problem. Make that problem BIG. And if your story begins to snooze, then give your character more problems.
As I mentioned earlier, one idea can go off in many directions. You may prefer to work with a list. This happens. Then this happens. Then this happens. You may prefer to work without a plot. Give your character obstacles, not yourself. Do what works for you.
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Robyn Opie. |
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Girls and Their Dogs - A Children’s Book Pick From the Writing for Children Center
By richpat1 | April 17, 2011
Wow! This is the ultimate book for any young girl who loves dogs. In fact, if this book had been around when I was about 8 or 10 years old, I would probably have slept with it under my pillow. At that time, dogs were the most important creatures in my world - as they are today to many young girls the world over.
Girls will love the stories about real dogs (and the girls who own them) that are just part of the great dog-related information in this jazzy new book from American Girl and Pleasant Company Publications. The book also includes links to online resources about dogs and special programs that involve dogs.
And girls will really have fun trying some of the recipes to create yummy treats for both dogs and their owners. They can whip up a batch of “Woof Woof Waffles” for their favorite dog - OR - try some “Puppycakes” (cupcakes decorated to look like dogs - you have to see these darling creations to truly appreciate the concept of puppycakes) for themselves and their “human” friends.
The book includes suggested names for pooches, doggie trading cards and mini-posters, and even tips for doodling a dog - creating cute pen-and-pencil pooches. A dog dictionary lets dog owners know just what their dog is trying to say when he yelps, barks, whines, or squeals. And dogs will appreciate their owners reading the section called “12 Ways to Love Dogs,” then following up with what they’ve learned.
Colorful photographs and other illustrations help make this book simply irresistible to dog-loving girls everywhere.
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Title: Girls and their Dogs Suzanne Lieurance is a children’s author, freelance writer, and The Working Writer’s Coach. Visit the Writing for Children Center at http://www.writingforchildren.com for more information about children’s books and other works for young readers, and also find out how to join the Children’s Writers Coaching Club. Sign up for The Morning Nudge - daily words of inspiration and motivation for writers at http://www.workingwriterscoach.com |
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Five Most Popular Places To Enjoy A Vacation With Children
By richpat1 | April 15, 2011
Deciding on the next vacation with your family can be a daunting task, especially when your choice of place does not interest your children. You might plan to visit Alaska, but your children could be longing for a trip to the Bahamas. The best option is to figure out where your kids wish to go this vacation and finalize a kid-friendly destination.
With the release of movies like ?Madagascar?, children have become all the more keen to travel through exotic and adventurous destinations. While Madagascar is not considered to be the most popular family destination, a trip to other places like Costa Rica or Kenya can prove to be an invaluable fun-filled learning experience, well within your budget. Costa Rica serves a dual purpose as your children can learn Spanish as they explore the lush green rain forests or erupting volcanoes. Even Kenya can be a good option, as the family can learn to speak a little Swahili while exploring the rare glimpse of the mass migration of the wild beasts. You can enjoy your vacation with children listening to the sounds from within the rainforests, as well as relaxing under the star-studded sky on a safari that would be certainly more interesting for the whole family.
Eastern cities like Beijing, Seoul and Bangkok are also part of the list of favorite destinations with children, in terms of adventure. The holiday can prove to be a learning and entertainment experience, as one can see the Great Wall and learn about different cultures. Different food, different money and an altogether different way of life can be highly entertaining for you. But, entry to the country could probably take a considerable amount of time, so plan your trip well ahead of time to ensure a smooth trip to your chosen destination.
European cities such as Italy have also gained tremendous popularity over the years, but a trip might be a little too expensive. However, the Western Europe country trips generally come with discounts and amenities. You can experience a different culture. You can explore the ruins of Pompeii and go on a Gondola ride in Venice or taste delicious Italian sweets in Florence. Most Western European families enjoy vacations to countries like Italy. This gives them an opportunity to explore their ancestors.
The Caribbean is the next best holiday spot with children. Basking in the sun, playing in the sand and swimming in the deep blue water are the local indulgences that also form the basic reason for a number of families visiting this place. The holiday spot is blessed with plenty of sun, sand and water. Jamaica is full of fascinating natural beauty that is breathtaking. With white sandy beaches, black volcanic mountains and deep red sunsets, the island has evolved into a tourist?s paradise.
Hawaii as a holiday destination is also very popular with a number of children visiting the place every year. It also offers sun, sand and water in abundance, along with all kinds of summer and water sport activities ranging scuba diving to swimming with the dolphins. You can also go whale watching. Besides having fun with your family, you can also acquaint yourself more closely with the volcanic geology of Hawaii.
No matter where you plan to go for your next family vacation, do not limit yourself. Always try to explore the place to its fullest and get as foot loose and fancy free as possible. Select a destination that will be stimulating and fulfilling for your entire family. But, do not forget to plan your trip properly, as a trip to the most fascinating destination too can be very stressful without proper planning.
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Jack Blacksmith often writes short articles on areas relating with Torrevieja and Benidorm. His abstracts on Alicante can be discovered on his webpage in addition to other web publications. |
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Writing for Children: Nonfiction for Magazines
By richpat1 | April 13, 2011
Nonfiction need not be dull; it includes a wide range of topics. It can include history, biography, personal essays, personal profiles, sports, biology, geology, geography, holidays ? the list really is almost endless. Anything that you find fascinating can be turned into a riveting nonfiction piece for young readers. Also, keep in mind that you can write for whatever age group you prefer, from the youngest toddlers to teens.
If you?re interested in writing for the magazine market, the following tips will help you get started:
Stay Focused
Magazine pieces are short, which means that you will not be able to cover all sides of your topic. Choose the one that most interests you and that you feel has the most readership appeal.
Spice it Up
One way to avoid an ?encyclopedic? feel to your article is to include quotes from experts, interesting quotes from your research, descriptions, and if appropriate, dialogue. Use the tools of fiction for a lively magazine piece.
Do the Research
This applies to both your article research as well as your market research. For your article, editors want to see a variety of resource materials. One entry from an encyclopedia will not make the cut. Use a variety of sources, and try to avoid those encyclopedia references. If possible, use both primary and secondary sources. If you are able to obtain a quote from an expert, that can also help sell your piece.
When doing market research use a variety of tools available to you, and do not forget the “hands on” approach. This means reading several back issues of your targeted magazine–reading a year’s worth is ideal. When fine-tuning your piece, be sure to follow the each magazine’s guidelines. This means staying within the word count, avoiding certain topics, and following any approaches listed. The following are some sources for learning more about the market and magazine guidelines. For up-to-date information, be sure to visit each magazine’s website, as many post their editorial guidelines as well as upcoming themes if applicable.
Online:
BOOST’s Magazine Database http://boost4writers.com/magazineguidelinesdatabase.htm
Jan Fields offers a great website: http://www.kidmagwriters.com/
Writer’s Market Online www.writersmarket.com
Books:
Children’s Writers & Illustrators Market, published by Writer’s Digest Books
The Best of the Magazine Market, published by the Institute of Children’s Literature (http://www.theinstituteofchildrensliterature.com/F9624/)
Lastly, be persistent! One common theme among published writers is that they do not give up. Find several target markets to begin with. If these do not work out, consider re-working the piece for a different age group, or give the piece a different slant. Whatever you do, keep writing and keep submitting. The nonfiction magazine market can be a great way to see your work in print. Yes, it takes focused effort, but it can be well worth it!
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How to Write a Children’s Picture Book
By richpat1 | April 11, 2011
If you are a parent or grandparent with young children around, you?ve probably read so many children?s picture books, and they look so simple to write, that you think, ?I can do that.? But what you may not realize is that hidden in the most popular children?s picture books are structures that give shape to the story just like a hanger gives shape to a shirt. If you want to write a successful children?s picture book, you need to know what these structures are and how to incorporate them into your own writing.
Let?s look at the most common structure in picture storybooks, called by the $25 name, ?The Symmetrical Picture Storybook Paradigm.? You are probably already familiar with the ideas of ?Beginning, Middle and End,? and ?Act I, Act II, and Act III.? The Symmetrical Picture Storybook Paradigm has a few important refinements to make on these ideas.
First of all, in most popular children?s picture storybooks, Act I and Act III are roughly the same length. That is the first way in which the stories are symmetrical.
And what about that long block that makes up Act II? It turns out that it is not just one long stretch of story ? it has its own structure: there is a Midpoint in Act II, and the First Half of Act II is about the same length as the Second Half of Act II. This is the second way in which the stories are symmetrical. Another important part of the Paradigm is the Plot Twist. At the end of Act I is a turning point or Plot Twist that leads to Act II, and at the end of Act II is a turning point or Plot Twist that leads to Act III, the resolution.
The big surprise about how to write your own story when incorporating the Paradigm is that you do not write it the same order that the finished story is read. That is, you do not start at the beginning and write straight through to the end. Rather, you start at both ends, and work your way toward the middle!
You can read all about the Paradigm, and follow step-by-step instructions for using it to write your own story, in the book How to Write a Children?s Picture Book by Eve Heidi Bine-Stock. It is available from Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
This book shows you that no matter how carefully you labor over a story’s tone, word choice, plot, character, setting, theme and style, you must have a thorough grasp of its structure for it to succeed.
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10 Survival Tips For Taking Young Children Camping
By richpat1 | April 8, 2011
“Let’s go camping!” With those few simple words you are instantly a hero to your children. To ensure you remain that way during the camping trip, you better make sure you have planned well and are prepared for all types of contingencies. Along with lots of snacks and back-up rain gear, bring along these 10 activities and suggestions to keep your children occupied and happy while camping.
Scavenger hunt - Depending on the age(s) of your children this can be as simple or complicated as you would like to make it. For younger children that you want to keep close to the campsite, make sure you take a good look around before sending them off to hunt - make sure the items can be found close-by.
Nature book - Fold 5 sheets of construction paper in half and staple them together along the fold to create a nature book that your children can fill full of keepsakes. In a bag, put in a glue stick, tape, and some writing instruments and encourage them to find interesting treasures to put in the book or draw pictures of.
Baby wipes - Never stop buying baby wipes just because your kids are no longer in diapers. These little wonders make life a lot easier when out in the wilderness - or even around the house.
Getting to sleep - If your children are too excited or a bit nervous about sleeping in a tent, go for a slow drive around the campgrounds until they fall asleep in the car. And then execute the trick every parent must master - the transfer of a sleeping child into bed (or in this case a sleeping bag). Or you can lay down with them until they fall asleep and then make your escape.
Board & card games - Everyone needs down time, even when camping. Don’t forget to bring the classics along - Monopoly & Uno were always favorites in my family. Invite your camping neighbors over to join in and make some new friends.
Fresh Ice Cream - Yes, hot chocolate and smores are the traditional camping treats, but why not shake things up a bit with this recipe for homemade ice cream in a bag.
Disposable Cameras - Buy each child their own disposal camera. Give them an assignment to take pictures of during the trip (how many different birds, trees, or rocks can you find). Or have them take a picture of an object and then a really close-up picture of the same object for a fun game to have at home - having to guess what the close-up picture is of.
Flashlights - A flashlight is not just to scare away the dark, you can put on a shadow show with one from inside the tent or behind a tarp instead of telling spooky stories around the campfire.
Music - Bring a battery-powered CD player for night time. The sounds of nature are beautiful but if you aren’t used to them they can be scary. Soothing music will help mask all the sounds that might scare or wake-up the kids.
Toys - Most tent campgrounds have a foundation of dirt. Bring shovel and pails and any other outdoor toys that will keep the children busy right by the tent. Buy a bucket of dinosaurs and hide them in the dirt around the site and then send out the little explorers on a dinosaur expedition.
Along with these 10 ideas, have fun, let the kids run free and don’t forget the bug spray.
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Harmony is a Freelance Writer based in British Columbia, Canada. She is author of the blog Writer In The Making (http://writer-in-the-making.blogspot.com). |
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