Writing Lesson Plan - A Children's Writing Lesson Plan For Beginners

Since many aspiring children's book writers are also teachers, it might be a good idea to offer some advice in a familiar format -- a writing lesson plan. We'll develop this plan step-by-step.

LESSON ONE:

Let's start our adventure with a look at the categories of children's books:

Writing Lesson Plan - A Children's Writing Lesson Plan For Beginners

* Picture books -- In its broadest definition, a picture book is a book in which the illustrations play a significant role in telling the story. Under this umbrella are several types of books:

1. Baby Books -- For infants and young toddlers, these books are generally lullabies, nursery rhymes, fingerplays, or wordless books. The length and format varies with the content.

2. Toddler books -- Very simple stories for ages 1-3 (under 300 words) familiar to a child's everyday life, or concept books (teaching colors, numbers, shapes, etc.) Books are short (12 pages is average) and the format can be board books (sturdy paper-over board construction), pop-ups, lift-the flaps or novelty books (books that make sounds, have different textures, etc.) See the "Max" series of board books by Rosemary Wells (Dial).

3. Picture books -- Traditionally, picture books (also called "picture story books") are 32-page books for ages 4-8 (this age may vary slightly by publisher). Manuscripts are up to 1500 words, with 1000 words being the average length. Plots are simple (no sub-plots or complicated twists) with one main character who embodies the child's emotions, concerns and viewpoint. The illustrations (on every page or every other page) play as great a role as the text in telling the story. Occasionally a picture book will exceed 1500 words; this is usually geared toward the upper end of the age spectrum. Picture books cover a wide range of topics and styles. The list of Caldecott Medal winners, available from your library, is a good place to start your research. Nonfiction in the picture book format can go up to age 10, 48 pages in length, or up to about 2000 words of text.

4. Early picture books -- A term for picture books geared toward the lower end of the 4-8 age range. These stories are simple and contain under 1000 words. Many early picture books have been reprinted in the board book format, thus widening the audience. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Philomel) is an example.

As we continue our writing lesson plan, we step up to a slighty older age group:

* Easy readers -- Also called "easy-to-read", these books are for children just starting to read on their own (age 6-8). They have color illustrations on every page like a picture book, but the format is more "grown-up" -- smaller trim size, sometimes broken into short chapters. The length varies greatly by publisher; the books can be 32-64 pages long, with 200-1500 words of text, occasionally going up to 2000 words. The stories are told mainly through action and dialogue, in grammatically simple sentences (one idea per sentence). Books average 2-5 sentences per page. See the "Amelia Bedelia" books by Peggy Parish or other "I Can Read" books published by Harper Trophy.

* Transition books -- Sometimes called "early chapter books" for ages 6-9, they bridge the gap between easy readers and chapter books. Written like easy readers in style, transition books are longer (manuscripts are about 30 pages long, broken into 2-3 page chapters), books have a smaller trim size with black-and-white illustrations every few pages. See "The Kids of the Polk Street School" series by Patricia Reilly Giff (Dell) or the "Stepping Stone Books" published by Random House.

* Chapter books -- For ages 7-10, these books are 45-60 manuscript pages long, broken into 3-4 page chapters. Stories are meatier than transition books, though still contain a lot of action. The sentences can be a bit more complex, but paragraphs are still short (2-4 sentences is average). Chapters often end in the middle of a scene to keep the reader turning the pages. Look at the "Herbie Jones" books by Suzy Kline (Puffin) and the "Ramona" books by Beverly Cleary (Morrow).

* Middle grade -- This is the golden age of reading for many children, ages 8-12. Manuscripts suddenly get longer (100-150 pages), stories more complex (sub-plots involving secondary characters are woven through the story) and themes more sophisticated. Kids get hooked on characters at this age, which explains the popularity of series with 20 or more books involving the same cast. Fiction genres range from contemporary to historical to science fiction/fantasy; nonfiction includes biographies, science, history and multicultural topics. Check out some middle grade novels from the list of Newberry Medal winners at your library to get you started.

Our final stop for this writing lesson plan is one of the hottest areas of publishing:

* Young adult -- For ages 12 and up, these manuscripts are 130 to about 200 pages long. Plots can be complex with several major characters, though one character should emerge as the focus of the book. Themes should be relevant to the problems and struggles of today's teenagers, regardless of the genre. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton defined young adult when it was first published in 1967; the Newbery Medal award list also contains many worthy titles. A new age category (10-14) is emerging, especially with young adult nonfiction. These books are slightly shorter than the 12 and up category, and topics (both fiction and nonfiction) are appropriate for children who have outgrown middle grade but aren't yet ready for the themes (fiction) or who aren't studying the subjects (nonfiction) of high school readers.

Back with Step 2 of our writing lesson plan soon! In the meantime, visit http://cbiclubhouse.com to learn about the right way to write stories and submit them to children's book publishers.

Writing Lesson Plan - A Children's Writing Lesson Plan For Beginners
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Laura Backes is the Publisher of Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's Book Writers. Want to learn how to become a successful children's book author? Come hang with the Fightin' Bookworms at http://cbiclubhouse.com Whether is writing picture books, chapter books, young adult novels, finding children's book publishers -- or anything else -- you'll find all the answers at the CBI Clubhouse!

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How To Write A Thank You Letter After An Interview - A Simple Formula for Uniqueness

Sending a thank you letter is as important as interview preparation. But they're tough to write, so people either tell themselves that not sending one doesn't matter, or they procrastinate until it's too late and almost pointless anyway. But anyone who tells themselves that foregoing a fundamental rule of etiquette doesn't matter, not only taints themselves in the mind of the interviewer, but misses two additional opportunities to sell.

A thank you letter is an additional sales piece. As I've said before, you're selling a product and the product is you. So beyond the reason of etiquette, the letter sells you as a polite person who recognizes that the interviewer gave them something valuable: time and consideration.

A fundamental rule of sales is to keep the product in front of the buyer and reinforce its benefits. So beyond the etiquette, the letter gives you ample space to comment on what you liked about the company, why your skills are of benefit to them, and how much you're interested. If something wasn't tied up, or was left unsatisfactorily, you should use the space to further address the issue.

How To Write A Thank You Letter After An Interview - A Simple Formula for Uniqueness

When you miss the opportunity to reinforce your skills and tie them to the job requirements, you miss a chance to sell. When you fail to address a concern or answer a question and leave it to fester in the mind of the interviewer, you've failed to overcome an objection. And if a buyer has an objection to the product, if it isn't addressed, the likelihood of the sale is slim.

The third opportunity missed by skipping the thank you letter is the chance to keep your name in front of the buyer. Read newspapers? Watch TV? See the same ads over and over and over again? It's somewhat the same principle - if you keep your name in front of the hiring authority, they're more likely to remember you.

Thank you letters are one of the reasons it's important to take notes during an interview. Not only does it show good attention to detail, it saves you from having to scrunch your face up trying to remember some of the information you learned about the company and position during the interview. Because if you met with three separate people during one visit to the company, that's three thank you letters....three different thank you letters.

So let's look at how to create one of these so that it becomes a less odious task.
First paragraph Open with the obligatory thank you and include how you enjoyed the meeting. Say why. Maybe the people you met were exceptional. Perhaps their company philosophy was exactly what you had hoped for. Or they need to overhaul a department and you can't wait to sink your teeth into it because that's what you've got a stellar track record of doing. It doesn't matter. Pick something out, and put it down. But make it real. Second paragraph What took place during your interview? Pull out a piece of information that pleased you, say what it was, and tell them why. For instance: I was particularly pleased to find that X company/the opportunity/your management style has/was/is/does whatever. This is exciting because...... . You can expand on whatever it is for a few sentences by elaborating: how it relates to something you've experienced and liked -- or didn't like. Discuss a particular aspect of the job you find appealing and reiterate why you'd be successful at it or how long you've been performing it or how similar it is to something you've done in the past. Third paragraph You can add a similar paragraph if the second was fairly short. Or you can wind it up if it was a bit lengthy. If there was something that came up that needed clarification or about which they were dubious, address it and clear it up here. Fourth paragraph Wind it up. Re-iterate your interest. Be enthusiastic! Leave the job speak behind. If you really want to be hired, let your interest shine through. There's nothing wrong with coming right out and saying, "I'd love to work with X company!"
Caution: Don't start every sentence with "I". It may be the easiest way to write the letter but it's not only repetitive, it's a turn off and egotistical. This process is about you getting a job, but it's about what they get out of it if they hire you.

If you really want the job, the letter will be easy to write because it will contain genuine impressions and sentiments. If you choose to skip the letter, perhaps you don't care if you're hired or not. But make that decision yours and withdraw from the process instead of letting the decision be made for you.

How To Write A Thank You Letter After An Interview - A Simple Formula for Uniqueness
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Prior to starting her firm, VisionQuest, Judi Perkins was a search consultant for 25 years in both the contingency and retained market, including a short stint in the temporary and local permanent placement markets. She has owned her own firm and successfully assisted numerous repeat clients in hiring all levels of management. To sign up for her newsletter and learn thousands of powerful concepts to find your perfect job go to http://www.findtheperfectjob.com.

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Magazine Article Writing - How to Persuade, Entertain, and Educate Your Readers at the Same Time

Persuade, entertain, and educate your readers -- this is your main goal if you're writing articles for magazines. Here's how you can make that happen:

1. Educate your readers. Ensure that you have in-depth knowledge on the topics that you're discussing. It's best if you have relevant first-hand experience so you can offer your readers with valuable, quality information. Don't forget to do your research so you can obtain ample information and supporting data. Make sure that you do not leave any stone unturned. If you're not an expert on the subject matter, interview some people who are. Doing this will make your articles sound more powerful.

2. Persuade your readers. If your main goal is to get your readers to believe in something, you've got to develop high level persuasion skills. It will help if you effectively present an argument to prove your point. It's also not a bad idea if you present testimonials or opinions of other people who are experts on the subject matter or who have had first-hand experience.

Magazine Article Writing - How to Persuade, Entertain, and Educate Your Readers at the Same Time

3. Entertain your readers. A lot of people are reading magazines simply because they would like to be entertained. Don't let them down. Start by writing your articles using friendly, conversational tone. Offer related stories, examples, and real-life experiences. Inject humor and visuals whenever you see fit. Don't forget to make your articles easy on the eyes. Present each of your idea using very short paragraphs. Use subheadings and bullet list whenever possible. If your articles run for more than 2 pages, I suggest that you highlight the most important information that you're giving out so your readers will easily find them.

Magazine Article Writing - How to Persuade, Entertain, and Educate Your Readers at the Same Time
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Sean's training is specifically geared towards advanced marketers who are already making money online and want to increase their market share through innovative and cutting edge methods.

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Writing a Newspaper Article - What to Include

Have you ever wanted to write for your local paper? Seeing your byline, or name, in an article is definitely something to be proud of. Though many people might be intimidated with writing a newspaper article, it is actually fairly simple, as long as you follow some general rules in writing.

What are the things included in a newspaper article? There are certain things that a writer must be aware of, in order to write the article well; effectively reaching out to the readers. Keep in mind that a newspaper article should be entertaining and yet must also be able to educate the readers.

The first part of the article should already capture the readers right away. You must be able to present the main details of the story-including the five W's: who, what, when, where, and why, as well as how. This should immediately convey to the readers what the whole article will be about. This part is called the "lead."

Writing a Newspaper Article - What to Include

You should be able to give enough background information to your readers; try to know who your audience will be, and what they know about the news you are presenting. A writer should never assume that the audience already has some knowledge about what he or she will be talking about. A brief background of the topic will usually suffice.

Because newspaper articles present facts, it should be done in a straightforward manner, free from biases. A writer must always have a critical as well as an objective eye. A writer's sources for the facts should be clearly stated in the article and properly documented.

Your writing should also be direct to the point, without frills and avoiding flowery words. The article should be able to present things clearly and directly, though not in a dry manner. After presenting the main information about the article, the writer must follow the pyramid format, where information is presented from the most important down to the least, so that the readers will get the most vital part of the news right away. This, then, should draw the reader into reading the rest of the article.

Sometimes, using direct quotes may help the writer convey his message to the audience better. When interviewing people, a writer may want to incorporate a line or two into his or her article. This can be a great help to the writer, as this will give the story more depth and feel. Sometimes, what an interviewee says also encapsulates the main gist of the news item, so quoting him or her will greatly aid in writing. However, using quotations too often will have the opposite effect-it will result in an article which seems as if the writer did not research or think thoroughly about; simply putting in others' thoughts and opinions. Learn how to use them well, but do not use them liberally.

After writing a newspaper article, you should check it for some errors. Make sure that everything is grammatically correct, and that there are no misspelled words. No one wants to read an article that is filled with errors, be it technical or factual. So make sure that you always edit your work before submitting or publishing it.

Writing a Newspaper Article - What to Include
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How To Write A Summary Of An Article

Are you looking for how to write a summary of an article? If so then this article is for you. Writing article summaries can be made incredibly easy if you have a template to follow. When I write articles for my business, I always make sure to include the main keyword phrase that I am trying to rank high for.

When writing your article summary, you want to wrap up exactly what it is that your article is about. Your article summary should be no more than 2-4 sentences long. Any longer than that and people will think that they're reading some of your entire article. The summary is supposed to be a short blurb about what your article is about - so keep that in mind.

You don't have to hire a freelancer to learn how to write a summary of an article. You can do it yourself. First of all it shouldn't be that long to begin with because people are fast readers, and are not interested in reading a long article especially when they're on the go.

How To Write A Summary Of An Article

So when writing your article, don't make it too long - and the same thing goes for your summary. Your summary should include your main keyword phrase so that you can rank high for whatever keyword term that you're targeting. Make sure that your article has a keyword density of about 2-3%, as this is a good number to strive for.

Hopefully you learned some insightful tips on how to write a summary of an article.

Good luck with writing your article summary.

How To Write A Summary Of An Article
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Writing Articles For Publication - What You Should Know

Most articles are written for publication, either online or in print. Many people are writing articles for publication, especially on the Internet. Some of these articles are great to read; others are just total waste of time for those who write and those who read them. Some of these horrible articles come about because writers refuse to follow certain basic rules regarding writing articles for publication. Here are some of these basic principles.

Draft your articles first

The first thing to do when writing articles for publication is to draft them. The draft could be done in any format: as a text file, word file or handwritten (which is actually getting outmoded). This allows you to put down all the ideas in your mind quickly as they come to you. You then have them ready for editing and proofreading. You must always resist the temptation of publishing your articles prematurely. This temptation is great because publishing articles on the net could just take a few minutes.

Writing Articles For Publication - What You Should Know

Edit and proofread

The next step is to edit your article and proofread them. This should not be done immediately after drafting your article. It is ideal that you wait for at least a day or two before editing your article. This is because the ideas are still fresh in your mind, and you are somehow excited just after finishing drafting. You will not be critical in your reading. But after a day, you will be able to discover the omissions and spelling and grammar mistakes you made. You will even realize that some of your sentences should be redone. If you don't want to wait, then you can let someone do this for you. You cannot avoid this when writing articles for publication.

Make articles interesting to read

When writing articles for publication, you should bear in mind that the reader is not obliged to read. It is an essay for your High School or College teacher who must read whatever boring piece you produce in order to award you marks. You will have to entice your reader to read. This means that your article should be fun to read. You must know how to capture your reader and make him/her stay with you until they finish reading. Even if you are writing about very serious topics, you can still find ways of adding fun to it.

Your style should match your content

The style of writing you choose is a very important part of writing articles for websites. There are certain topics such as "How-to's" which will demand the use of the conversational/instructional style. You can't write pieces of this nature in a third person neutral style. Your style makes the article easy to understand.

Remember that writing articles for publication is a serious business. If you want to improve your readership, then you can't take the above points for granted.

Writing Articles For Publication - What You Should Know
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Stan Ashton is a marketeer and specialists in the marketing and supplying of high quality information products to entrepreneurs and small businesses globally. A management consultant since 2003 I also have a Diploma in training and development.

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