Write What THEY Know: Using Your Character's Passions to Develop Voice (Part 1) by Katie Van Ark

My first time at critique group, I soaked up my fellow writers' compliments on my “voice” in my figure skating romance. Though I was new to writing, I'd already heard the art-versus-science debates over this elusive aspect of craft. Well, I thought, I didn't need to worry about if voice could be taught or if it required natural talent. I already had it. Then came novel number two, and my critique partners said: “These characters sound... just like your first characters.”

As I looked back over my draft, I had to agree they were right. I didn't have voice. I'd only given my voice to that first set of characters. Unable to skate competitively myself while pregnant with my first daughter, I'd followed the old advice to “write what you know” and poured out my longing for the ice into The Boy Next Door. Expressions like “see you later, figure skater” and “smooth as ice, that move” had glided onto the page. Now they were back to haunt me like instant replays of a bad fall.

As a reader, I've always been drawn to stories with strong voice and the realization that maybe I didn't have voice after all hit hard. But as a skater, I was used to getting back up. I brushed myself off, deciding that if I didn't have voice, then I was going to learn it. However, I seemed stuck in an ice rut. My MFA program advisor was telling me my newest hero's voice sounded like a girl and the voice muse was ditching practice. (Case in point in these last two sentences, right?)

Then an illustrator friend and fellow SCBWI member, Kathryn Dilley, surprised me at dinner one night with a confession. As a child, she had never thought she could draw until a classmate explained that the skill was all about looking at the world a different way. Kathryn went on, trying to explain how artists see negative space, but her words had sidetracked me: looking at the world a different way. Developing voice was about seeing the world my character's way. My skating lens had given my first characters their voices. Could different lenses help me develop different voices?

Think about meeting people at a party, the way they come to life when you bring up one of their favorite subjects. Miranda Kenneally scored a touchdown using her heroine's passion for football to develop her voice in her young adult romance, CATCHING JORDAN. Jordan confesses her feelings for football in the very first paragraph: “I once read that football was invented so people wouldn't notice summer ending. But I couldn't wait for summer to end. I couldn't wait for football. Football, dominator of fall – football, love of my life.” However, Kenneally also weaves football completely into Jordan's words. How would someone who loves football think about time? Not as after dinner but as “before Monday night football.” Jordan's grass isn't green, it's like “lying on Astroturf, only without the rug burns” and her feeling of emptiness is “a playbook without plays.”

In I'LL MEET YOU THERE, Heather Demetrios used Josh's military experience as a lens for the brief sections told through his perspective while flavoring Skylar's world with her passion for art and specifically collage. And of course passions aren't limited to sports or other hobbies. People are often passionate about their families and cultural backgrounds, and both of these can influence their word choices and tone as well.

In the next part of this series, I'll give you an example of how I applied a new lens to improve the voice in my own work in progress, but in the meantime I'd love to hear about some of the books that have voices you love. Please share!

Katie Van Ark lives in Michigan with two little girls who love mud, a cat that thinks it's a dog, and a very patient husband. The Boy Next Door, a YA figure skating love story, is her first novel. Visit her online at katievanark.com or on Twitter @kvanark.

Thank you, Katie! This article was first published in the Romance Writers Report (RWR) by Romance Writers of America (RWA), and Katie revised it for this blog series.

Wishing everyone a fun holiday weekend and a smooth start to school. We'll see you back here next Friday for Part 2 of Katie's series on developing voice. 

Another round of Hugs and Hurrahs are right around the corner. Remember to send your good news to Patti Richards at pgwrites5@gmail.com.

Cheers!

Kristin Lenz

Things I Learned While Writing a Trilogy by Melanie Hooyenga

I recently published the third book in my YA trilogy, The Flicker Effect, and this release was far more stressful than the previous two. Writing a novel—not to mention publishing it—is a huge accomplishment, and I could have used this advice to avoid unexpected bumps along the way.

Planning to write a trilogy, or already in the middle? I hope this helps!

It’s very very important to keep a character bible.

When I wrote the first book, FLICKER, I hadn’t planned to write a trilogy. It was only after I finished that I realized it had series potential, and I’d neglected to take some very important notes while during the writing process. Case in point: Mid-way through the first draft of the second book, FRACTURE, I couldn’t remember my main character’s last name. I didn’t remember even GIVING her a last name. But since I never kept track of that HUGE detail, I had to skim through ALL OF FLICKER to make sure. Nope, I never called her anything beyond Biz, and her BFF Amelia refers to Biz’s dad as Mr. Biz.

I started a loose guide at that point, but with FADED, the third book, I ran into the same problem. I don’t spend a lot of time naming secondary characters—I often write the first name that pops into my head—so when a new character from chapter three resurfaces ten chapters later, there’s very little to help me recall that person’s name.

It’s difficult to promote books 2 and 3 without giving away THE BIG THING from books 1 and 2.

While working on the back cover copy for FADED, I was faced with this challenge: how do I refer to the BIG HUGE LIFE-CHANGING EVENT that was the climax of the previous book without giving away the ending to those who haven’t read it? You need to hook readers so they’ll want to read it, but for someone who’s never read any of my books, I don’t want them to skim through the descriptions of each one and be disappointed.

My solution? I stuck with vague details that focus on a big event that opens the book, with a few hints of trouble to come:

Biz didn’t think life could get worse after after the tragic events that surrounded her last flicker, but when she accidentally flickers on her eighteenth birthday after doing shots of vodka—she’s forced to face the consequences of her actions in a way she never imagined.

When an anonymous email threatens to reveal her secret, Biz must decide if flickering is all it’s cracked up to be, or if she needs to stop. Forever.

Generic adjectives like “tragic” and phrases like “forced to face the consequences” may not be the most elegant solution, but they allow a glimpse of what’s coming without giving away the ending of book two.

Ending a trilogy is much bigger than ending a stand-alone book.

Concluding a book has always been a challenge for me. I don’t want the ending to be trite or clichéd, or worse, leave readers feeling unsatisfied (well, except for the end of FRACTURE which was definitely a cliffhanger), and I often struggle with finding the perfect way to end a story.

Well, multiply that times a hundred for ending a series. Based on my outline, I was still several chapters from The End when I realized, “Hey, I’m already in the end.” Story lines that started in FLICKER were wrapping up without me realizing it (this is the stuff we writers say that annoys non-writers) so I had to back-track and make sure ALL the loose ends were tucked neatly away. The character arcs from books one and two had to close as well. As my husband teases me: ALL THE THINGS. There was a lot more than I expected, but I’m happy with how it came together.

You’ll both dread and look forward to saying goodbye to your characters.

FADED was published in June and I’ve said goodbye to Biz, Cameron, Amelia, and my new favorite character Quinn. They’ve been with me since 2010 and while it makes me sad to let them go, I’m excited to get to know the characters in my next book. I still need to do character development projects to learn what makes them tick (I know Cally loves to ski, but what’s her favorite subject in school, or her least-favorite food?) and I’m a little nervous I won’t love them the same.

Then again, they say there’s always a special place in your heart for your first love.

Melanie Hooyenga first started writing as a teenager and finds she still relates best to that age group. She has lived in Washington DC, Chicago, and Mexico, but has finally settled down in her home state of Michigan with her husband Jeremy. When not at her day job as a graphic designer, you can find Melanie attempting to wrangle her Miniature Schnauzer Owen and playing every sport imaginable with Jeremy.

Learn more at http://www.melaniehoo.com/ 

Coming up on the Mitten blog: We're heading back to school with a 3-part craft series on Voice, and Patti Richards is collecting your good news for another round of Hugs and Hurrahs. Email Patti at pgwrites5@gmail.com.

Cheers!
Kristin Lenz

SCBWI-MI Conferences: Looking Forward and Back

Registration is now open for the SCBWI-MI Fall Conference - Homegrown Talent on October 3, 2015 in Dexter, MI. The jam-packed day will feature a variety of presentations for writers and illustrators, as well as editorial critiques and portfolio reviews. 

Maybe you've already registered and are looking forward to the event (like me!) or maybe you're questioning if it's worth your time and money. Betsy McKee Williams attended the SCBWI-MI Hook of the Book conference in May, and even though the primary focus was on an amazing illustrator (E.B. Lewis), Betsy took away many lessons as a writer too.

A Writer Learns from Illustrators at Hook of the Book by Betsy McKee Williams

I’m writing middle grade novels and, while I am also interested in writing picture books, I will never be an illustrator. So I debated registering for Hook of the Book. But this conference was so close (only 10 miles from my home) and, thanks to the generosity of Thomson-Shore publishers, so affordable. And I love to learn. So I went.

I am so glad I did.

E.B. suggested that SCBWI might be called the Society of Children's Storytellers, and introduced himself as the one who "writes the pictures." 

He started his talk with a metaphor: Some of us speak English, some French or Italian, and illustrators speak Visual Language. I found this metaphor very apt, because I spent much of the day translating his advice to illustrators into words for novelists, and building conceptual bridges between words and illustrations.

Here are just a few examples.

E.B. spoke of perspective, of the angle from which we view the illustration. Are we at the characters' level? Or do we view the characters from below or from above? How far above? And how does the perspective affect our connection to the characters and to the story?

And I thought about point of view: first person, close third, omniscient...

E.B. told illustrators not to have a character look directly at readers, because doing so "breaks the wall." 

And I thought of avoiding second person point of view.

E.B. told illustrators to keep the light source consistent. He showed us images of outdoor scenes where the light and shadows were not consistent with having one sun in the sky.

And I thought of avoiding "head hopping," and of revising for consistent point of view.

E.B. and Matt Faulkner both discussed technical aspects of how they illustrate, answering questions about the steps they take from sketch or storyboard to finished illustration.

And I thought an analogy for writers might include an outline. (But I wouldn't know... I confess that I don't start with one.)

Both illustrators shared specific ideas for illustrating characters to convey personality and emotion, and for showing setting.

And I thought of much specific advice to writers on writing dialogue and showing character emotion*, and of my struggle to select only the best bits from my extensive (excessive?) research, to show historical setting without subjecting my readers to info-dumps.

Leslie Helakoski's presentation gave me a great overview of qualities to look for in published picture books, and to build into my own texts. And the QA session gave me helpful insight into how illustrators work with authors. (The short version: most work separately.)

E.B. spoke of revision, and of the love of the process. He told us to allow ourselves to make mistakes: "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which to keep."

Those words certainly apply to writers as well as to illustrators.

At the start E.B. said that, just as we in the western world read words from left to right, we read pictures in the same way. While I think I knew that truth before the conference, I came away a much more sophisticated reader of images. And I learned a great deal about how illustrators compose and arrange images to tell a story and to hook the reader. 

Novelists and illustrators both seek that hook!

Betsy McKee Williams lives in Ann Arbor, where she balances writing for children with a full time job and coordinates local Meet Ups for SCBWI.

The next Ann Arbor Meet Up is August 29th, 10-12:00 at the Ann Arbor District Library. Shutta Crum will speak about adding "extra value" to PB manuscripts. She will also collect new or like-new books to be donated to the Martin Co. library in Kentucky.

Here's everything you need to know about the fall conference:

SCBWI-MI Fall Conference 2015: Homegrown Talent

Learn ​from ​the ​amazing ​talent ​grown ​right ​here ​in ​Michigan! ​ This ​will ​be ​a ​jam-packed ​one ​day ​conference ​held ​at ​ Thompson-Shore ​in ​Dexter, ​Michigan ​on ​Saturday, ​October ​3, ​ 2015. ​Open ​to ​all ​who ​are ​interested ​in ​creating ​literature ​ for ​children, ​it ​includes ​a ​limited ​number ​of ​onsite ​portfolio  ​reviews ​and ​written ​editorial ​critiques. ​It ​is ​going ​to ​be ​ an ​event ​that ​blossoms ​with ​enrichment, ​community, ​and ​fun. ​ Join ​us!

For information regarding the Homegrown Talent Conference access the links below!

• Homegrown Talent Faculty
• Homegrown Talent Schedule of the Day
• Homegrown Talent Critiques
• Homegrown Talent Portfolio Reviews
• Homegrown Talent First Pages
• Homegrown Talent Scholarship Opportunities
• Need a Hotel?

Conference will be held at Thomson-Shore: a book publisher, printer, and distributor
7200 Joy Road
Dexter, Michigan 48130

(Thomson-Shore is a 100% employee owned book publisher, printer, and distributor located in Dexter, Michigan. The venue lies 18 minutes west of the heart of Ann Arbor, an hour and a half east of Kalamazoo, two hours from central Grand Rapids, and five or so from da' UP, eh.)

Register HERE!

Coming up on the Mitten blog: Writing a Trilogy, a September back-to-school 3-part series on Voice, and another round of Hugs and Hurrahs. Please send your good news to Patti Richards at pgwrites5@gmail.com. 

Have a great weekend!

Kristin Lenz

Road Trip to Toledo by Charlie Barshaw

Thursday June 25, 7 am, and I try to rouse Ruth. As usual, she’s stayed up way too late, this time finishing the dummy for a picture book she’s worked (off and) on for almost two years and sending it to her agent. Ruth asked for another half hour of rest.

So, we set out for our road trip to the Toledo Library close to an hour later than planned, but still managed to meet two of our loose-knit party in the underground parking garage. There we met Kirbi Fagan (an SCBWI-MI illustrator) and her college drawing professor, Anne Garavaglia. Soon afterward, just inside the building, we met Susan Zonca, and once on the second floor in the children’s wing, we met up with Kara Marsee and her two sons. It was Kara’s original MichKids post at the end of May that sparked the idea for this day children’s art and camaraderie.

The Toledo Library Main Branch is a cathedral to books. A docent on the first floor pointed out where the original library used to end. The outside wall now stands as an indoor monument, and the ceiling windows flood the interior with natural light, even on a rainy day.

Different size doors, charming art and sculptures at the library

The children’s wing on the second floor abounds with clever touches: doors of different heights line the walls, and 3-D sculptures of dinosaurs and Greek masks on the endcaps. The noses of two vehicles emerge from the walls, one a gold Cadillac from a book of the same name by Toledo native Mildred D. Taylor . The other is the front half of a Jeep, with three startled sheep sculpted (in baa-relief, says Ruth) on the wall behind, to celebrate Nancy Shaw’s classic SHEEP IN A JEEP. In both, young riders (and readers) can pose for photos.

Quick-draw Barshaw draws Nancy Drew

Lining the walls, donated artwork from many Michigan illustrators brighten the room. RA Leslie Helakoski’s FAIR COW graces one wall near artwork from Lori McElrath-Eslick. Wendy Anderson Halperin, Mark Crilley, and many other familiar names invite you on a treasure hunt of discovery.

Kirbi Fagan wears the same color palette as Lori Eslick’s painting next to her

We set out for the Toledo Museum of Art at lunchtime and dined in the four star-rated cafeteria. (Tasty food, low price.) Afterward, we made our way to the second floor (kid’s books seem to end up on the second floor in Toledo) where we found a room dedicated to animal artwork on loan from the Mazza Museum.

The museum exhibit ended in July, but Mazza, on the campus of the University of Findlay, exhibits children’s book art year-round, and is well worth the trip.

We each drifted off then, back to our daily lives, but for a few magnificent hours, we bathed in the magnificence of children’s book illustration.

We still have a few weeks of summer left. If you have an idea for a fun road trip, mention it on the MichKids listserv and SCBWI-MI’s Facebook page. It just takes one spark to start a creative fire.

Charlie Barshaw is a writer who devotes considerable time and energy to our SCBWI-MI chapter. He coordinates conferences and meet-ups, and frequently contributes posts for the Mitten blog. 

At the moment, he's recovering from a health scare that landed him in the hospital this week. Have no fear, he's back home and on the mend and surrounded by a swarm of loving friends and family. He doesn't know his blog post is being published today, but we thought it'd be a welcome surprise.

Surprise him some more by sharing your well-wishes and appreciation in the comments.

Cheers!

Kristin Lenz

Writer Spotlight! Meet Ken Rahmoeller

It’s time for another Writer Spotlight here on the Mitten! Today’s distinguished guest may be the very first chemist/children’s writer I have ever had the privilege to meet. 

Ken Rahmoeller is a true Midwesterner, having grown up in Missouri and Illinois. He moved to Michigan after college with his native-Michigander wife, and has been here ever since. His only two complaints about Michigan are that it’s too cold in the winter and there aren’t enough castles! I guess too cold depends on your perspective (polar bears might think it too warm), but I'll agree with Ken about the castles.

Welcome to the Mitten!

Mitten:  When did you start writing for children or otherwise, and how did you know it was something you wanted to do?

Ken: As strange as it may seem, ten years ago I had absolutely no interest in writing.  None.  It’s so difficult for me to take my thoughts and put them down on paper in a coherent manner, I avoided writing as much as possible. I’ve written numerous research papers and technical articles for work, but I never enjoyed it. But after reading the final Harry Potter book many years ago, I began wondering how Rowling might go about writing another book in the series.  I wrote down a few ideas, which grew into paragraphs, which coalesced into scenes, which blossomed into chapters…  I suddenly realized how much I loved writing fiction, especially whimsical and humorous fiction aimed at the younger (or young at heart) audience.  It’s still a struggle to get the words down on paper, but I enjoy telling my stories so much I don’t care.

Mitten: How did you find out about SCBWI and how long have you been a member?

Ken: While searching for critique groups in the Detroit area, I learned about the SE-

Mitten Meet Up group, so I joined SCBWI so I could attend. I’ve been a member for nearly two years and am quite happy I joined. I’ve met so many wonderful, supportive people.

Mitten: What genres are you most interested in and why? Picture books, middle grade, YA, chapter books, poetry, nonfiction?

Ken: Definitely middle grade and YA. I enjoy writing humorous, quirky stories and I believe those kinds of stories work best in those genres. On the other hand, YA has become kind of edgy these days, and I don’t believe I’d be very good at writing those kinds of stories.   

Mitten: Tell us about your publishing journey. Are you pre-published or published, and if so where?

Ken: I’m pre-published, partly because I’m a very slow writer and partly because I’m working on three stories at once. (shakes head)  Right now I’m pushing to finish at least one of them by the end of the year. Wish me luck!  

Mitten: Many of us have a job other than writing for children. Tell us something about what you do outside of writing.

Ken: I’m a research chemist during the day, and I’ve taught a few college chemistry courses at night. When I’m not interacting with my wife or teenage children, I spend my time redecorating my writing space as an alchemist’s lab.   

Mitten: How does this occupation inform your writing?

Ken: I write fantasy, but I think fantasy is best when it draws on, and is enriched by, laws of science. And as a chemist, I have plenty of rules from which to draw.   For example, one of my stories involves alchemy.

Mitten: Where do you get most of your writing ideas? Do you write them down, keep them in a computer file or just store them in your memory?

Ken: They come to me at the oddest times, so I have to jot them down immediately, because I’ll lose them if I don’t. Fortunately, my phone has a voice recording option, so I can save ideas that occur to me as I drive to and from work.  All these bits and pieces get dumped to a huge file on my computer. I peruse that file every once in a while just to fire up my imagination.

Mitten: We all have favorite writers that inspire us. Name two of yours and why you like them.

Ken: Obviously, J.K. Rowling would have to be one of them. After all, without her books, I never would have begun my journey as a writer. The other would probably be Brandon Sanderson. He writes adult fantasy and his voice is so relaxed and smooth I study his books to learn how he does it.

Mitten: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received as a writer for children? 

Why?

Ken: Don’t think you can learn everything you need to know as a writer in a couple of months. It’ll take years of practice and reading books on craft to get where you need to be. And don’t try to go it alone.  Nothing is more important than working with other writers. You learn so much that way. 

Thanks for having me!

My pleasure Ken! Thanks for stopping by! 

To learn more about Ken and his writing journey, visit him at:

hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/ or connect on Twitter @chemistken

Overcoming Fear by Christina Fecher

When I was 13 I knew exactly what I was going to do when I grew up … become a newspaper journalist. At that ridiculously awkward time in my life (overly large glasses, braces and an untamed mop of curly hair), I was so self-conscious and shy that just thinking about talking to those so-called “popular” kids would cause me to break out in a cold sweat.

So how in the world would I pull off that career? It’s laughable to think about the previous dichotomy between my passion and personality.

Despite all the unfortunate characteristics I possessed in those formative years, I was not lacking in the stubborn department. Lord knows I was determined to be a reporter at a major metropolitan newspaper.

There was just something magnetizing about the written word and sharing stories with others. I’d like to believe it was my timid demeanor that helped me take refuge in my writing, perfecting my voice and style.

I’d like to believe it gave me the confidence to achieve my dreams, ultimately earning me accolades as an award-winning reporter with The Detroit News before switching gears into corporate communications and public relations.

You’re probably wondering what this has to do with you: accomplished and aspiring Michigan children’s book authors. Believe it or not, it does.

Like so many of you, I’ve dreamed of writing a book my entire life. Even though I’ve always been a writer, I just wasn’t sure I had the skills to springboard to that next level. How could I compare to Deborah Diesen, Sherri Duskey Rinker or Kathy-jo Wargin?

That dream always felt unreachable.

Besides, as a mother of two active littles with a loving husband and successful professional career, who had the time to chase grand dreams?

That’s the excuse I’d been telling myself for years. That is, until I took the plunge earlier this year and finished my first children’s picture book manuscript. Inspired by my children, it’s a humorous story that I hope to one day physically hold in my hands and share with others.

I haven’t received any offers … yet. But, I feel very accomplished because I finished my first manuscript. It’s half the battle, right? And now that I’ve done that, I feel like I’ve opened a creative floodgate to see ideas at every turn.

Patience isn’t one of my strong suits, but I can truly say that this process is fun and educational. I may not be as awkward as I once was, but I am certainly still stubborn (just ask my husband!) and willing to do what it takes to see this dream to fruition.

Realistically, fear was the biggest reason I hadn’t put the effort in before.

Fear I didn’t have the time. My schedule is already stretched thin, but whose isn’t? Timing will never be perfect. So, I vowed to make the time, because I deserve this for myself. I’m proud that I’ve taken the time to reach for that next goal.

Fear of the boring idea. I never thought that I was truly special, but I do have a lot to say. I regularly jot down family memories or child-rearing issues we’ve overcome to kick-start the creative writing process.

Fear of rejection. I’ve started pitching my first manuscript, and received a handful of pleasantly-worded “thanks, but no thanks” rejections. I know this is to be expected, but it’s still disappointing. My very supportive husband kindly reminds me that I only need one “yes.” It’s exactly what I need to hear.

Fear of the mommy guilt. This is the big one. As a mother who works full-time outside of our home, I love my family time because they are the other half that makes me whole. It’s not easy to divide my time with work let alone make time for myself to write. I feel selfish and guilty. I want to spend what little time I have with them while they still think I’m the coolest person on the planet. I find time while they’re napping or after bedtime. I don’t need to carve out a huge chunk; I feel satisfied when I can touch a project a few times a week. Deep down I know I shouldn’t feel guilty because doing this for me shows them it’s OK – dare I say it, even healthy – to do things for yourself every now and then.

I can’t say that my fears are fully cured. But, I now have a healthy understanding of them and a manageable way to move forward. I’m relieved that my dream of becoming a children’s book author has nagged me over the years.

Here’s to a great journey!

Christina Fecher is a former reporter at The Detroit News, who now handles corporate communications and public relations in West Michigan where she lives with her husband and their two children. She’s a new member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Thanks, Christina! Coming up on the Mitten blog: Patti Richards is busy preparing another Member Spotlight. Who will it be? Please join us next Friday.

Buffy the Poetry Slayer

Buffy Silverman is a longtime SCBWI member and former assistant Regional Advisor for the Michigan chapter. This spring, she participated in the 2015 March Madness Poetry event through the website Think, Kid, Think and advanced to the sixth and final round. Facebook friends cheered her on and dubbed her, “Buffy the Poetry Slayer.” I asked Buffy to tell us more about the experience.

Here's Buffy:

This is the fourth year of the March Madness Poetry tournament, and my third year participating in it. I was initially drawn to the tournament because it offered what motivates me best in my writing: a deadline!  Every "authlete" in the tournament is given 36 hours to write a poem that uses an assigned word. Then the public, school classes, and fellow authletes vote for their favorite poem. The winner of each match goes on to face another authlete.

I managed to win several matches in past years, but I was quite surprised to find myself competing in and winning the finals this year. The experience was both exhilarating and exhausting--especially since I had some school visits and a trip scheduled during the tournament. There's nothing like returning to your hotel room after a full day of speaking and forcing your brain to get in gear! But I managed to write six poems during March that I would not otherwise have written. A couple of them are probably worth revising at some point. And I greatly appreciated all the enthusiasm and support from my Michigan pals who followed the madness.

How did you get started writing poetry, and how do you continue to improve your craft?

I did not consider myself a poet or think about writing poetry when I began writing for children. Like many moms who read picture books morning, noon, and night, I was drawn to writing fiction picture books. Since I had taught biology and been a naturalist, I eventually found my way to writing nonfiction (and started getting published regularly!) For the past several years my nonfiction writing has led me to writing nature and science-inspired poetry. Twenty-five years after my first attempts to write for children I think I have discovered my writing path (although I would hesitate to call myself a children's poet, and continue to write a lot of nonfiction.)

What has most helped me understand children's poetry and learn to write it is reading a lot of great children's poetry books. I often look at writing a poem as similar to solving a puzzle--when I keep tinkering with a poem, I get closer and closer to writing something that is satisfying. I'm lucky to belong to two critique groups that give wonderful feedback--an in-person group called The World's Greatest Critique Group, and an online group that focuses on children's poetry.  

What advice can you give to a writer who wants to better understand poetry or get started writing poetry?

I think that the best way to learn about children's poetry is to read a lot of it. A few of my favorite children's poets are J. Patrick Lewis, Joyce Sidman, Douglas Florian, Deborah Ruddell, and Barbara Juster Esbensen. Go to the library and discover what children's poets speak to you. Analyze the rhythm and rhyme scheme of poems that you admire and use them as a model for your own poetry. Read a few craft books and experiment with different poetic forms. I've learned a lot from Myra Cohn Livingston's Poem-Making: Ways to Begin Writing Poetry and Ralph Fletcher's Poetry Matters. You can also join a welcoming community of children's poets and poetry lovers by reading Poetry Friday blogposts (the weekly round-up of Poetry Friday blogs can be found at http://kidlitosphere.org/poetry-friday/.)

What's next for you?

I'm working on a new series of poems right now, and I've got several nonfiction books in the works with Lerner Publishing. And I'm still hoping to achieve my original dream of having a picture book out in the world!

Buffy Silverman is the author of more than 70 nonfiction books for children.  Her poems, stories, and articles are featured in poetry anthologies, popular children's magazines, and educational resources. To learn more about her writing please visit: www.buffysilverman.com