Writing Fiction for Children: STORIES ONLY YOU CAN TELL [Hardcover]

Judy K. Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0252026861 | ISBN-13: 978-0252026867

Whether you're nurturing your first idea for a children's book or have a published book or two under your belt, Judy K. Morris will delight you, guide and inspire you, challenge and encourage you, and improve your chances of reaching the ultimate goal of every children's book author: your reader inside your story and your story inside your reader. A published author of both fiction and nonfiction for children, Morris draws on extensive experience teaching children how to write and teaching adults how to write for children. Here she combines concrete methods and step-by-step techniques with succinct rules of thumb: work at making your novel whole from the start; never underestimate the power of the plain truth; personality quirks are no substitute for character; and, doing a good job of writing usually means doing a good job of rewriting. Using judiciously chosen examples from successful children's literature, "Writing Fiction for Children" covers the building blocks of plot, characters, and setting and addresses common problems such as awkward plotting, oversimplifying, and taking a preachy or self-conscious tone. Pragmatic exercises stimulate writers to scour their experiences, sharpen their powers of observation, and capture the details, voice, and narrative energy that can bring stories vividly to life and keep readers submerged in make-believe. Loaded with practical advice and helpful exercises, "Writing Fiction for Children" is especially useful for anyone who aspires to write for children in the "middle ages" of eight to twelve. Children's books should be hopeful, thrilling, funny, interesting, touching, and a pleasure to read, Morris says. Above all, they must have something at stake that matters. While conceding that only the author can provide the spark of a story to tell, Morris offers invaluable guidance on the daily work of crafting, shaping, refining, revising, and publishing a children's novel.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Writing for children," says Judy K. Morris in Writing Fiction for Children, "means, above all, having a lively story to tell and an active central character to help tell it." Preachy tales are deadly, Morris says. That's why "some of the best-told stories grow out of parents' entertainment for their own children." Though Morris's book is geared toward the writing of fiction for 8- to 12-year-olds, her sensible, intelligent advice applies to the writing of books for younger and older readers as well. As children's lives become more circumscribed, Morris considers it increasingly important for children's authors "to help children imagine moving out of their constricted lives to make real choices and take effective actions." Morris helps by offering longer discussions about good children's fiction, shorter tidbits ("in writing, as in life, it's often necessary to shore up one's sagging middle"), and stimulating exercises. And if you get bogged down along the way, remember your goal: "A child, comfy in a chair, curled around your book and sinking into your story." --Jane Steinberg

Review

"Judy Morris's book is entertaining and intelligent, but the exercises make it extraordinary. They will help both novices and seasoned authors gain insight and move forward with their writing." -- Jane Leslie Conly, author of Crazy Lady!, a Newbery Honor Book "Lest anyone doubt that writing for children is both an art and a craft, here's strong evidence. An experienced writer and teacher of writing, Judy Morris leads would-be authors through the nuanced stages of developing plot, character, setting, structure, style, and voice. She combines practical exercises with specific examples from landmark fiction, underscoring the whole with a deep respect for children and the stories that engage them. For those aspiring to publish in the realm of children's literature, this book will prove a valuable companion." -- Betsy Hearne, author of Choosing Books for Children

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press (August 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0252026861
• ISBN-13: 978-0252026867
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,287,037 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a very helpful book, June 7, 2008

By 

Elizabeth Penworthy "pleasure reader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing Fiction for Children: STORIES ONLY YOU CAN TELL (Hardcover)

This guide to writing fiction for children is readable and practical, and contains a number of excellent exercises for generating ideas, clarifying characterization, working out plot details, and handling point-of-view problems. The book's advice is clearer and more specific than that in many other "how to write" books. This would make interesting reading for those fascinated by children's books as well as those who want to write them.

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-Written and Instructional, July 21, 2011

By 

Ohioan - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Writing Fiction for Children: STORIES ONLY YOU CAN TELL (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book on how to write fiction for children. It's well-written, easy to read, easy to follow, well-organized, and chock-full of examples, exercises, observations, and suggestions. Each of the many short chapters is helpful and worth reading at least twice. I particularly like Chapter Three, "How the Reader Moves Through a Story." And I particularly like the advice in Chapter Six: "Part of your job as a writer is to organize your story for clarity, smoothness, and accessibility as well as for pleasure and dramatic effect. When the underlying structure is solid, the solutions to problems of motivation, sequence, and transition can be found WITHIN the world of the story. You won't have to carpenter them on awkwardly from outside." If you're thinking of writing fiction for children, read this book.