I love writing. I love teaching. I love teaching writing. I love listening to writers talk about their manuscripts. I love problem solving with writers. I love the delicacy and boldness of writing. These tips are things I’ve learned over the years that have held me in good stead and kept me going through the hard dry times. I hope they help you.

And hey, they are only a minute long. Click Here.

As adults writing for children, we have to be wary of writing from the adult perspective. We have to avoid preachy, teachy tones. We have to stop of ourselves from writing narratives that are full of adult lessons and knowledge. We have to find language that is kid friendly. Would your ten-year-old protagonist think: she didn’t want to be a burden to her aunt? Or does it sound more apt for her to think: she didn’t want to heap one problem on top of her aunt. In other words, keep your kid hat on. Stay true to the teen’s heart and language. Your young reader will know instantly when you donned your adult hat.