Customer Reviews

Creating Characters Kids Will Love

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What do you do when you don't feel like writing? You go online and review your favorite writing books on Amazon.com!

Creating Characters Kids Will Love is really a must-have for the wanna-be children's writer. This book and "Story Sparkers" (also available here--look for the set and save money!) are the best write-for-children guides I own, and I own nearly every one on the market!

The fun large format makes this book feel sort of like a workbook (though it really isn't), and it's easy to just flip to a section and start reading some helpful info without starting at the beginning. This is how I find myself reading this books much of the time (I get stuck writing and take a break by just reading some advice out of one of these). There's some very good stuff here, and lots and lots of recommendations for books and magazines to read, if you're the kind who'll actually go find the stuff!

This book concentrates on character development, with some how-tos on plot structure and conflict (as they relate to character development!) thrown in. Also, if you're interested in writing true stories or maybe historical fiction, there are chapters for you. All in all, it's really a good read. Even if you don't relate to the author's own examples of writing, you'll come away with a better idea of what kids (and publishers) expect in your manuscript. Good luck!

This is a very good source book for any one who wants to write for children, or have a main character that is a child.
It really makes you think and gives you very good insights on children. It's also very easy to read and enjoyable.

I'm very glad I ordered this book as an interlibrary loan instead of buying it. What a disappointment it was, from the disturbing cover art to the 50's clip-art illustrations to the hodge-podge, disorganized text. In a series of repetitive, higgledy-piggledy chapters, the author recommends the reader read specific children's books in order to "notice" a single thing about them (eg "See how Gene and Phinny are best friends--who turn out not to know each other at all") and gives assignments which mostly have to do with keeping a journal of memories from one's own childhood... and then she makes one of the most appalling errors I've seen in the literature on children's literature.

On page 125, she writes that Harry Potter is "bullied by Malloy and Snipes". Now I can understand not liking Harry Potter enough to read it, but in that case, why use it as an example? And surely the name of Snape, if not Malfoy, has entered the zeitgeist by now to the extent that most people know it? This was where she finished losing me.

She began losing me on the page where she suggested that the hopeful writer visit a school and ask lots of questions about the children's daily schedule. I've worked in the public school system. A person who did this would probably excite quite a bit of suspicion and might end up getting a visit from the police.

The book may contain material that is new to a beginner, but the difficulty of ferreting it out may daunt some readers. The last section of the book is on writing nonfiction, which may not be of much interest to those who have chosen to read a book on creating characters.

I recommend this book to anyone thinking about writing for children and anyone who currently writes for children. The book starts with the basics and builds towards the end. It is easy to understand with plenty of exercises to get those wheels spinning. Great for those interested in picture books, middle grade and young adult novels. A must have for a writer's library!

This is more like a class than just a book. It's full of great information and practical exercises to put them into place right away. I spent a few days reading it and doing the exercises and found it invaluable.