Product Description

The Writer's Guide to Crafting Stories for Children offers detailed information and an in-depth examination of storytelling and story structure. Books on writing for children sell exceedingly well, so it's surprising that no other book focuses on this important aspect of the craft.

Using examples from classic and contemporary sources, Nancy Lamb explores all the key elements of children's storytelling, from point of view to structure to plotting and pacing.

Taking a hands-on approach, Lamb uses worksheets, exercises, and checklists to show writers how to capture and keep a young reader's attention, whether the topic is fact or fiction.

* The newest addition to the Write for Kids Library!
* Unique topic--focuses specifically on storytelling and structure
* In-depth instruction features checklists, exercises and quotes from the pros
* Lively design--open and inviting, easy to browse, with recurring icons and illustrations throughout

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21936 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781582970523
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

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.

About the Author
Nancy Lamb has published more than 40 books for children and adults, including the award-winning One April Morning: Children Remember the Oklahoma City Bombing. She is an editor as well as a writer and a faculty member of the Big Sur Writer's Workshop. Lamb lives in Venice, California.

Customer Reviews

Among the very best texts on writing
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

More of a lion than a lamb...
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.

More than just children's books - answers all questions
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.