Joan Swanson Author

  Hello Again Fellow Writers, As a writer it was very hard for me to learn the art of getting the point across in a small amount of words.  Picture books are designed for the small child who can’t read yet, but enjoys being read to.  Their attention span is very small and you need to write so your point comes across in that time span.  So the rule of thumb is to try to write a picture book in 500 words or less.  There is a small amount of wiggle room, but as a new writer you should probably stick to around that count.  How do you do it…

  Hello fellow writers, Keep your eyes open and actively look around you.  An idea can pop into your head at anytime.  So my advice is to keep a small notebook, your phone or iPad handy at all times.  What about when you sit down to watch your child’s favorite show or cartoon?  Look at the characters in that show.  Who is not really represented there.  Which character sits in the background as a supporting character.  Isn’t it time for that character to stand out and become the hero instead? Watch those interactions between your kids on the playground, in a classroom, or at a sports event.  When they say…

When I began to write, I have to say I knew very little about writing.  I was an avid reader so I thought, “I can do that.”  Well, little did I know how much really went into writing a book.  I started my book by over describing scenery.  I hit all the senses, smell, sight, sound, and touch.  The scene descriptions went on for pages.  Those eloquent words turned the beginning chapters into a really boring start to what would have been a really great idea for a mystery. So as any writer will tell you, it was back to the drawing board to revision.  Every editor, publisher, or agent…