The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children (Write for Kids Library) [Paperback]

Nancy Lamb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2001 | ISBN-10: 1582970521 | ISBN-13: 978-1582970523 | Edition: 1st

Create Unforgettable Stories for Kids!

You dream of writing stories that children respond to–the kind they come back to again and again. Nancy Lamb can help you achieve that dream. She mixes insightful advice for mastering storytelling with dozens of examples that illustrate a variety of plot-building techniques.

Nancy's instruction covers everything from format and content to setting and characterization. She also draws from a range of children's classics, including Where the Wild Things Are, Charlotte's Web and Bridge to Tarabithia to explore and illuminate the unique nature of children's literature.

Nancy also shares writing tips and tricks accumulated through years of successful storytelling–invaluable advice for crafting fiction that resonates with children of all ages, from 4 to 14 and beyond.

Editorial Reviews

Review

For four years, I have been searching for a book to use as a text . . . finally I have found one. -- Ann Paul, children's writing instructor, UCLA Extension

For four years, I have been searching for a book to use as a text...finally I have found one. -- Ann Paul, children's writing instructor, UCLA Extension

I think it is the best book on the craft of writing that I have ever read. -- Andrea Brown, literary agent

It's all here—everything you need to know . . . a 'must have' for every novice or professional writer. -- Janet Zaren, children's book reviewer for the Palisadian-Post

It's all here—everything you need to know...a 'must have' for every novice or professional writer. -- Janet Zaren, children's book reviewer for the Palisadian-Post

From the Author

The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stores for Children is the how-to book I always wanted to read but never could find.

This book deals with fundamentals. I explore story ideas and writing and structure. What makes a character memorable and what it is about certain children’s books that makes readers keep turning the pages. I discuss beginning, middle and end; premise, theme and tone; dialogue and point of view; conflict and structure; plot and subplot. I also talk about the importance of choosing a voice that enhances your story and the power of using the five senses to add texture and authenticity to that story.

This is a book about basics...a book that shows you how to apply what you learn to your own writing in easy-to-follow, step-by-step detail.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books; 1st edition (September 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582970521
• ISBN-13: 978-1582970523
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,885 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nancy Lamb is the author of 43 fiction and non-fiction books for adults and children. She is also the author of The Art and Craft of Storytelling and The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children. Lamb serves on the faculty of the Big Sur Writing Workshop and the Big Sur Children's Writing Workshop. She taught at the Hariette Austin Writing Program at the University of Georgia, and recently taught a master class in Singapore for the Media Development Authority. In addition to writing and teaching, she is also an editor and story strategist.

Nancy has joined the faculty of a new online learning site for writers, www.ScribblersUniversity.com, along with authors Ellen Hopkins, Andrew Smith, Arthur Slade and many others to help writers to become published, and stay published.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

140 of 143 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among the very best texts on writing, May 4, 2003

By 

Dr. Charles Connor (Athens, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children (Write for Kids Library) (Paperback)

Some months back I received unbidden a copy of The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children. Looking at the "for Children" part of the title, I briefly considered it for possible use as a reference for any of my students who might be interested in writing children's books. I put the book on the shelf and forgot about it. Finding myself recently in search of something that might deal intelligently with plot, I picked the book up and gave it the consideration I should have when it first fell into my hands. I found in it not a book for the writing of children's literature, but perhaps the most lucid, accessible, well organized, relevant, complete and credible work on fiction writing in my entire collection of texts on writing. I found my own ideas said better than I can say them myself. What is said in this book resonates with so much validity and clarity that I am sorry that I have wasted so much of my time and my students' time trying to teach without this text. I have corrected that situation by reorganizing the reading materials for my workshops, making The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children a required reading and a central part of our discussion.

Charles Connor, Director
Harriette Austin Writing Program
The University of Georgia

53 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More of a lion than a lamb..., September 14, 2006

By 

Lia Keyes (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children (Write for Kids Library) (Paperback)

When I decided to write this review I went to my shelves to count how many "how-to" books I had bought over the years before I came across this one. The answer is 106. Pity I didn't know earlier that what I was looking for could be found between the covers of Nancy Lamb's "Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children."

Every sentence has earned its place in the book; there is nothing that you can afford to skim. Yet all is delivered with warmth, humor, wit and wisdom. The advice is practical and specific. Every question that I wanted to ask, and quite a few that I didn't know I should have wanted to ask, was answered with clarity and authority.

The exercises, in particular, ask that you read suggested examples of children's literature that have successfully pulled off the particular skill you are trying to master. Ms Lamb guides you through the questions you should be asking yourself as you read, and then shows you how to turn those questions to your own manuscript. This is the technique used by university level writing programs across the country.

So do yourself a favor - buy this book. In fact, buy a couple of back up copies because your writing friends will 'accidentally' walk home with yours and any copy you manage to keep hold of will fall apart from overuse.

It's a one volume MFA in Creative Writing for Young People.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just children's books - answers all questions, May 29, 2005

By 

J. B. MCKEE (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children (Write for Kids Library) (Paperback)

I write for a weekly deadline and have thought more about book writing in recent years. Having grandchildren located 1000 miles away moved me to think about writing for children. These reviews convinced me to make this book a part of my library. It is so much more than I expected.

This book is for all beginning writers, not just writers of children's books. Ms. Lamb remembers her questions as a beginning and experienced writer. She knows the process and teaches it in an engaging manner. This is a book that I intend to read over and over to ensure that it becomes a part of my writing life. Thank you Ms. Lamb.