Thinking of Writing an Early Reader?

 

 

 

Contributed by Karen Cioffi, Children's Writer

 

 Early readers are short books designed for children just beginning to read independently. 

These books should have 32 pages and usually 300-500 words. They can go up to 1200 words and 48 pages, depending on the child’s reading level. And as they build a bridge between picture books and chapter books, early readers should be divided into chapters. The book size should also be more in line with chapter books, usually 6X9.

Early readers play a vital role in bridging the gap between picture books and chapter books, typically catering to readers aged 4–8. 

While creating early readers can be rewarding, it presents unique challenges for authors. This article delves into the pros and cons of writing early readers, highlighting examples to illustrate their impact on young audiences.

BENEFITS OF WRITING EARLY READERS

-Fostering a Love for Reading
Early readers are an important tool in fostering a love for reading in young children. By crafting engaging, age-appropriate stories with simple vocabulary and repetitive sentence structures, authors provide children with a sense of accomplishment. Completing a book builds confidence and  encourages an exploration of literature.

Example: Dr. Seuss’s "Green Eggs and Ham" is a mere 50 words yet captivates readers with its rhythmic text and humorous plot. Its simplicity makes it approachable for beginners, while its whimsy ensures lasting appeal.

-Contributing to Literacy Development
Early readers help children develop fundamental literacy skills, including decoding, fluency, and comprehension. By balancing familiar words with new vocabulary, authors can gently challenge young readers without overwhelming them.

Example: The Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems features short sentences and relatable scenarios, making it an excellent tool for practicing expressive reading and understanding story structure.

-Lifelong Learning
Books for early readers often introduce themes of problem-solving, friendship, and resilience, laying a foundation for character development. Authors have the opportunity to influence young minds.

Example: In Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad series, the protagonists navigate everyday challenges, teaching lessons about patience, kindness, and teamwork.

-Creative Challenges for Writers Lead to Creativity
The constraints of early reader writing—limited vocabulary, short sentence structures, and concise storytelling—force authors to think creatively. These restrictions often result in clever, tightly woven stories that are fun to read and write.

Example: Laura Numeroff’s "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" uses a cause-and-effect structure to create an engaging and memorable story, demonstrating the power of simplicity.

DISADVANTAGES OF WRITING EARLY READERS

-Strict Structural Constraints
The rigid rules of early readers can be daunting for authors. Limited word counts, simplified language, monosyllable words, short sentences (averaging 5-10 words), use of sight-words, and an emphasis on phonics and repetition leave little room for elaborate storytelling or linguistic flair.

For instance, an author who thrives on complex narratives or poetic prose might struggle to adapt their style to the requirements of this format. Striking a balance between simplicity and storytelling depth can be a significant challenge.

For a list of Dolch sight-words, visit: https://dolchword.net/by-grade-alphabetical/

You might also get a copy of "The Children’s Writer’s Word Book" by Alijandra Mogilner. It gives the grade level for a large number of words. I use this book often.

-Limited Target Audience
Early readers have a short shelf life for individual readers, as children quickly outgrow them. This makes it harder for authors to build lasting relationship compared to writing for broader age groups.

Example: While books like Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie are beloved by young readers, their audience typically moves on to chapter books within a year or two.

-Risk of Oversimplification
In striving for simplicity, authors may inadvertently create books that feel monotonous or uninspiring. Stories that are too repetitive or lack emotional depth may fail to engage readers fully, undermining their potential impact.

For example, while phonics-driven books can improve decoding skills, some titles sacrifice storytelling in favor of adhering to word patterns, leading to less engaging stories.

-Market Saturation and Competition
The market for early readers is highly competitive, with many established authors and publishers vying for attention. Breaking into this space can be challenging for new writers, particularly when competing against known brands and franchises.

Example: Renowned series like The Berenstain Bears and Clifford the Big Red Dog dominate bookshelves, making it difficult for new titles to stand out.

-Illustration Dependency
Early readers rely heavily on illustrations to support the text and provide visual context. While this enhances the reading experience, it also means authors must collaborate with illustrators or publishers to effectively convey their message.

-Striking a Balance
Despite the challenges, writing early readers is a fulfilling endeavor for authors committed to nurturing young readers. By focusing on storytelling elements that resonate universally—humor, relatable characters, and engaging plots—authors can create memorable books that meet the developmental needs of their audience.

CONCLUSION

Writing early readers shapes the foundational experiences of young readers, influencing their relationship with literature and learning. 

While there are challenges writing in this genre, the benefits far outweigh them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, working ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach (picture and chapter books). If you need help with your story, visit Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi. 

You can check out Karen’s books HERE.

You can connect with Karen at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karencioffiventrice 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kcioffiventrice/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karencioffikidlitghostwriter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenCV

Tips on writing Kid’s Mysteries

Abi foresees new ghosts who might appear to
her in the third and final book of the
Abi Wunder series: Secrets of the Heart.
Illustration by Danika Corrall

By Linda Wilson   @LinWilsonauthor

If you want to write a children’s mystery story, you can find the basic how-to’s by doing a simple Google search: How to write a children’s mystery. AI offers an amazingly thorough and accurate description. I posted a copy at my desk to remind me to stay on track in my own mystery writing. Also helpful is to take a course on writing children’s mysteries and keeping a “Mystery” file to collect articles, blog posts, etc. on the subject all in one place.

When it actually came to writing mysteries, I found that I couldn’t follow a cookie-cutter description. I had to find my own way. In this post, I describe the highlights of my journey.

Holding Back

Holding back details of the mystery became the most important consideration for me. In the first few drafts, I gave away answers to questions my plot and characters brought up too soon. Keeping my readers guessing took careful sweeps (more than one) through the story to find information that I needed to hold back. Then later, to find the right place to reveal the answers.

The Main Plot

Secret in the Mist: An Abi Wunder Mystery is a ghost/mystery story. The ghost appears three times to Abi and Jess, the main characters. Significant clues are left each time.

• When the ghost first appears, she leads Abi and Jess to an old farmhouse. Why?
• A: Through some searching and trial and error, Abi and Jess discover that the ghost lived in the old farmhouse. An internet search reveals nothing about the ghost, so for a while this is the only piece of information they can find.
• Next time they see her, she waves a handkerchief that has her initials embroidered on it. Is the ghost simply saying good-bye or trying to confirm her identity?
• A: The ghost confirms Abi and Jess's guess of the ghost’s name by showing them her initials. Her initials match other hints of the ghost's name. The ghost’s identity is confirmed.
• The last time, the ghost leads them to a friend’s farm. Why?
• A: Abi and Jess learn that the ghost was engaged to be married to a past relative of the farm’s current owners. This information leads them to piece together why the ghost has returned, and finally, how they can help her.

In my last post, I discuss how this book, Secret in the Mist, began with a detailed outline, which immediately became obsolete as I wrote. The points I made in that post were discoveries made during the writing that were not included in the outline. Does that make me a pantser? A writer who writes as their stories come to them (off the seat of their pants, some might say)? In the end, Mist became a mixture of both, outlining and pantsering. Please refer to my post for a more detailed description: Writers On The Move: Writers: Will Outlining Your Story Save Time?

There is one more book to go in the Abi Wunder trilogy: Secrets of the Heart. My deepest desire is to write the book from an outline. I do believe outlining can cut time. But this will need much thinking and planning ahead of time. That includes as much foresight as possible in holding back fun and enticing details to keep readers guessing, and revealing these details in the right place later on. For children's mystery writers, this effort will go a long way in offering our readers the greatest impact and enjoyment.

Reading and writing with my
personal fan club, always there
to offer their support!

Linda's two new releases are Botas Altas, the Spanish version of Tall Boots, translated by Graciela Moreno and Adriana Botero, and Cuna en la Naturaleza, the Spanish version of Cradle in the Wild, translated by Adriana Botero. Visit Linda at https://bit.ly/3AOM98L.

Feel It to Manifest It: How to Step Into Your Success as a Writer Now

by Suzanne Lieurance

Feeling the success you wish to have as a writer is key to manifesting it.

The Law of Assumption, Law of Attraction, and even neuroscience back this up —when you feel successful, you act like a successful writer, and your reality shifts to match that.

Here’s how to embody that success now: 

#1. Start Your Day Like a Successful Writer. 

What would a successful writer do first thing in the morning?

Maybe they wake up excited about their project, journal ideas, or sip coffee while reviewing their goals.

Design a morning routine that aligns with the writer you aspire to be. 

 

#2. Immerse Yourself in the Feeling of Having "Made It." 

 

Close your eyes and imagine: You’ve just hit a bestseller list, landed a dream publishing deal, or built a thriving author business.  

 

How do you feel?  

 

Confident?  

 

Excited?  

 

Relieved?  

 

Hold onto that feeling as you write today. 

 

#3. Surround Yourself with Success Cues. 

 

Change your environment to reflect the success you’re calling in: 

 

Create a “future you” email inbox folder where you save messages from readers (real or imagined). 

 

Design a fake book cover and set it as your desktop wallpaper. 

 

Keep a success journal, recording as if your biggest wins have already happened. 

 

#4. Talk and Think Like a Successful Writer. 

 

Instead of saying, "I hope to be published one day," say, "I'm building a successful writing career." 

 

Shift from "I'm struggling with writing today" to "I'm in the process of creating something amazing." 

 

#5. Take Action with the Energy of Success. 

 

Write as if your work already matters to thousands of readers. 

 

Show up consistently, whether that’s posting online, engaging with your audience, or improving your craft. 

 

Take bold steps—pitch that agent, self-publish with confidence, start that blog. 

 

#6. Feel Gratitude for the Success That’s on Its Way. 

 

Every time you write, say, "Thank you for the opportunity to create."  

 

Celebrate every milestone, no matter how small.  

 

Did you write 500 words?  

 

That’s proof you’re a real writer.  

 

#7. Use a Success Meditation or Affirmation Practice. 

 

Before writing, close your eyes and affirm:   

 

I am a successful writer.   

 

My words impact and inspire readers.

 

Opportunities flow to me effortlessly.   

 

Let yourself feel the truth in those statements. 

 

#8. Reframe Rejection as Proof of Your Success. 

 

Every great writer has rejections.  

 

Instead of seeing them as setbacks, view them as signs you’re in the game.  

 

Say, "This means I'm on the path successful writers walk." 

 

#9. Visualize the Life You’re Creating Daily. 

 

Take a few minutes each day to live in the reality of your future success.  

 

Picture yourself signing books, seeing glowing reviews, getting paid well for your words.

 

Feel it now and watch how reality starts to shift in your favor. 

 

Success starts with how you feel about yourself as a writer.  

 

When you embody success in your mindset, emotions, and daily habits, the results will follow.

And now, for more writing tips delivered to your e-mailbox every weekday morning, get your free subscription to The Morning Nudge.

And don't forget to listen to our new Law of Attraction for Writers podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Suzanne Lieurance is the author of over 40 published books and a Law of Attraction coach for writers. Visit her website for writers at writebythesea.com.

  

Why Self-Publishing Books Aren't in Bookstores

By Terry Whalin (@terrywhalin)

I’m involved in a couple of online writing groups and no matter how many times you say it, there seems to be a broad misconception about self-published books. These books simply don’t appear inside the brick-and-mortar bookstores.

Please don’t misunderstand me. These self-published books have their place in the market—particularly if you have a means to sell the books to individuals or companies. For example, if you speak often and would like to have a book to sell in the back of the room, you can easily get a self-published book to use in these situations. Just don’t expect to sell your book to bookstores.

Recently a well-meaning author celebrated his first printed book, which was self-published. He was holding it in his hand—always exciting. He was plotting a strategy to get his book in as many bookstores as possible and asking for help from other authors in the group. If you are going down this path, it shows a clear disconnect with the realities of the market.

Here’s a bit of what I told him. “Congratulations on your book release and I celebrate with you—but after more than thirty years in this business and over 60 books in print—and working as an acquisitions editor over the last thirteen years—I am going to have to give you a bit of a reality check. You will struggle and find it almost impossible for brick-and-mortar bookstores to stock your self-published book. It’s one of those messages that the self-publishing places don’t tell you (they want to get your cash and get your book in their system). Yes, your book is listed on Amazon.com (easy for anyone to do) but getting it into the bookstores is a completely different story. 

I’ve been telling writers for years about the ease of getting a book printed—now getting it into the bookstores and ultimately into the hands of consumers, that’s another story.

“Retailers dislike self-published books. Every retailer that I’ve talked with about this issue (and I’ve invested the time to talk with them) has countless stories about the difficulties of these books. They have re-stocking problems and problems with the quality of the products (typos, editing, etc.).

“Here’s the real test for you: go to your local bookstores and ask them if they are carrying any self-published title on their shelves. Go to the big box stores like Barnes & Noble or Books A Million as well as your mom and pop smaller independent bookstores. The answer will surprise you. I will be surprised if you find a single self-published among any of the thousands of books.”

We can’t say it often enough—the bookstore market is a closed system—that deals with distributors and large and small publishers. It’s why we work hard to get our books into the traditional publishing marketplace. It’s why you go through the effort and hard work to create an excellent book proposal or book manuscript or novel, then sell that idea to a publisher. Then your book is available in any bookstore—and can have the possibility of sitting on those bookshelves. It’s a free country and you can feel free to expend the effort and energy to market to bookstores and try and place your book. From my experience and others, it will be frustrating and likely not sell many books. I believe your marketing efforts are better served in other markets (outside the bookstore).”

No matter what I write, several of you are going to take the leap into self-publishing. Here’s several action steps if you go this route:

1. Work with an experienced editor to create an excellent book.

2. Use a professional cover designer and people to format and produce a book where every detail looks like something from one of the big five traditional publishers. This means including elements like endorsements and words on the spine of the book (including a publishing logo on the bottom of that spine). Many self-published books are missing key elements which become striking signals they are self-published such as leaving off the barcode or doing this code improperly (without the price). 

3. Keep working consistently to grow your audience. As I’ve mentioned in the past, work daily on increasing your platform and reaching your audience. You need to try new avenues to market and sell your book. For example, in recent months, I have been using PodMatch which is connected to over 90,000 podcasts. I’ve booked or been on over 60 podcasts. I continue to pitch podcast hosts and appear on their shows.

4. Continue to learn all you can about publishing. Get a free copy of my Book Proposals That Sell and study the publishing insights in this book. 

5. Never give up on your book. As the author, you have the greatest interest and passion for your book. This statement is true no matter whether you are traditionally published or self-published. Always be looking for new opportunities to write or speak about your book.

This last point is something I try and model with my own books. For example, I continue to promote and use the radio interviews I recorded for my Billy Graham biography which has been in print for over ten years. Each author needs to be actively telling new readers about their books—whether they are carried in the bookstores or not. 

Tweetable:

Why are self-published books rarely inside bookstores? This publishing insider gives you the details. (ClickToTweet)

W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in California. Get Terry’s newsletter and a 87-page FREE ebook packed with writing insights. Just follow this link to subscribe. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including  Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams and Billy Graham. Get Terry’s recent book, 10 Publishing Myths for only $10, free shipping and bonuses worth over $200. To help writers catch the attention of editors and agents, Terry wrote his bestselling Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Connect with Terry on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Writing: Mixing It Up with Tropes

 

Contributed by Margot Conor

I have lately been experimenting. I mostly write Science Fiction and Fantasy. But I do tend to mix tropes most of the time. Recently I have been trying a few new subgenres.

An author in a critique group told me she liked my Magical Realism style. And I had to admit I didn’t know what that was. When I searched for authors that are known for it and discovered they are some of my favorites. Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Isabel Allende. I suppose we are inspired by the authors we love.

After reading about what characterizes Magical Realism, I wrote a few short stories with that trope in mind. Consciously leaning into that style, I was pleased with the results.

Magical Realism combines realistic settings with fantastical or magical elements, treating the supernatural as commonplace within the narrative. Key characteristics include a realistic setting, the matter-of-fact inclusion of magical elements, a blurring of the lines between reality and fantasy, and often, a focus on everyday characters in dream-like, or unbelievable situations which are treated as normal.

While researching tropes I saw a few others I decided to experiment with.

One is something called slipstream. Which I also had never heard of. This has the distinctive quality of defying traditional genre boundaries, by mixing sci-Fi, and Fantasy with psychological or philosophical fiction. It explores deeper themes of societal or technological change, and the breakdown of paradigms. It employs strange and uncanny situations. Encourages the bending of reality with surreal settings or circumstances. It is otherwise described as “the familiar strange, or the strange familiar.

I had never written in the Steam Punk subgenre until recently either, I wrote a short story titled Magic Wants to Be Used. I love the characters and the world I created enough to possibly serialize it. This story’s main character is a teenager named Xandra who has a forbidden form of mechanical magic.

I also recently compiled a small set of nine fantasy stories featuring dragons. I’ve been writing fantasy for a while but oddly never touched the dragon lore sub-genre. I am not sure it is still as popular as it once was, but it was fun to write.

There are a few writers in one of my writers’ groups who write romantic fantasy. I know that any sort of romance genre is extremely popular now, and an easy genre to build a loyal following with. But other than inserting a few flirtations into the speculative genres I write, romance seems to be near impossible for me to write.

I seem to have found my favorites, and I’ll stick with them. I encourage writers to explore as I have been doing, just to see what might inspire you. Every now and then it is good to step outside what we usually do and explore a slightly different direction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Margot Conor has been writing for as long as she can remember, but it wasn't until the COVID lock-down that she had enough time to dedicate to the craft and bring something to completion. Having finished her first novel, she went through the grueling two-year process of editing. Now she has jumped into the author's world with both feet. Margot's debut multiverse adventure novel, Inverse, is available on Amazon.

She's spent the last year attending many writing retreats, seminars, and writers' events. She also listened to presentations specifically on the topic of publishing and book marketing. She will be sharing what she learns with the reader. Learn more about Margot at https://margotconor.com/

 

 

Look what Adam Cohen of WinningWriters ran today;  it’s a day I really needed a boost (I brought my husband home from the hospital today so it was a an upper at just the right time! Those of you who subscribe (see the right column to subscribe if you haven’t alrady!) know that I have used WinningWriters’ newsletter to find reliable, vetted contests for years and that I highly recommend their own #NorthStreetBookPrize for the added value they offer to those who enter.  His warmth and high standards come through in all his ads and projects.  Thank you, Adam! 

THE GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION BOOK PROPOSAL From the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series This short book, now in its second edition, is the result of Carolyn Howard-Johnson's extensive work with clients who hate writing book proposals and hate learning how to write them even more. She found herself coaching them through the process rather than doing it for them, for who could possibly recreate the passion an author feels for his or her own book better than the author? In doing so, she found she had written a booklet—not a tome—that took her clients only about thirty minutes to absorb. Voila! The Great First Impression Book Proposal was born, and you can get it for as little as $2.99 at Amazon.   CONTENTS 1.  Getting Past Our Own Arguments—and Past Gatekeepers' Resistance 2.  Getting Started: The Short Way to the Gate 3.  Your Overview: How To Make Jaded Gatekeepers Want More 4.  The Details: How To Make a Gatekeeper Open the Door for You 5.  Making It Easy: Quick Formatting and Editing Do's and Don'ts 6.  The Clincher: Keeping the Gate Wide Open 7.  Checklist: Is Your Great First Impression Proposal Ready for Its Closeup? Available in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audio formats BUY ON AMAZON UNSOLICITED ENDORSEMENTS "When I first reviewed Carolyn Howard-Johnson's small book, little did I realize how dog-eared my paperback copy would get over time. I've been through it and bookmarked it so many times that it's tattered beyond belief, but I cannot get rid of it. It appears that Ms. Howard-Johnson has also released it in an updated edition, and that's why my review predates this one. And please note that now The Great First Impression Book Proposal is available as a Kindle edition...If you're an aspiring writer in any genre, it's well worth it." —John Williamson, Top 1000 Amazon Vine Reviewer "'This is a really smart proposal,' was one comment from an agent who went on to sell my nonfiction book to a publisher. The 'smartest' thing about it? I used Carolyn's guide to write it!" —Treacy Colbert, medical writer and author of End Your Menopause Misery "I just finished reading The Great First Impression Book Proposal. I like your style and encouragement. I was a bit intimidated about finishing my book proposal. I was thinking it had to be stiff and boring. I even have dialogue in it. I thought I'd have to cut it out. Now, I'll probably leave it in." —Wanza Leftwich, author, blogger "I love [The Great First Impression Book Proposal]! My husband was amazed at all the info crammed into this short book. You could have charged a lot more. I just re-vamped my proposal to follow the guidelines in it for my latest book." —Myrna Lou, palmist, psychic, author "Marketing is never easy...Well, it might be if you follow the easy steps Carolyn Howard-Johnson offers up in The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need to Know About Selling Your Book in Thirty Minutes or Less. Howard-Johnson's bulleted lists are superior. They're easy to understand, easy to implement, and even easier to read. (She means it when she says thirty minutes or less). She gives us even more: A list of other resources on book proposals. I will recommend this book to all of our authors and potential authors at Ladybug Press." —Georgia Jones, Editor in Chief, Ladybug Press and NewVoices, Inc. BUY ON AMAZON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Carolyn Howard-Johnson has been an instructor for UCLA's world-renowned Writers' Program for nearly a decade, a columnist and staff writer for the Salt Lake Tribune and the Pasadena Star News, and has appeared on hundreds of TV and radio stations nationally and locally. As a publicist for the Eleanor Lambert Agency in New York, she took part in the creation of the first "10 Best Dressed List" with Christian Dior.   Carolyn was honored as the California Legislature's Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment, received her community's Character and Ethics award for promoting tolerance with her writing, and was named to Pasadena Weekly's list of "San Gabriel Valley women who make life happen". She presents at writers' conferences nationwide. Her own writing as a novelist and poet has informed the advice she gives to authors regarding sales and genre. Carolyn has worked with Winning Writers for years as a co-sponsor of the North Street Book Prize, helping winners promote their books. View her many offerings for writers on her website.

Letting What You Love Battle Writer’s Block

Letting What You Love Battle Writer’s Block

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson, multi award-winning author of the 
HowToDoItFrugally Series of Books for Writers

 

Writers’ Block is a malady many complain of. To cure it, writers have been known to write about it. But I think there’s a better way to tackle it. The ancient Greeks sought advice from the Oracle at Delphi but also inspiration. The Chinese did the same with the I Ching; the Egyptians the Tarot, the American Indians the Medicine Wheel, and the Scandinavians the Runes. Many today follow the Zodiac. All are more than superstition if only because we use them to better examine our own needs. When we know ourselves better, we are more creative.

 

A few Christmases ago my son and his wife gave me a book that included a set of cards—flash cards of sorts by Naomi Epel. When I use this kit I often think of my friend David Cho. He is Fung Shui Master to the Stars who coordinates people’s Chinese Zodiacs with the Chi in their homes and more. Like his clients, I found myself thinking more positively, even thinking in new directions, when he did his magic with a weird fountain made from a cattle trough and introduced it for good luck near our front door. It fits beautifully with the antique implements I use to from my polygamist great grandfather’s farm I use to decorate my front porch with. It was an exercise in learning to “own” my own past.

 

I once took the time to explore hieroglyphics, something that must have been difficult for even the Egyptians to read given the lack of punctuation and no firm left-to-right rules (or right-to-left, top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top rule, either!). There is something about the symbols that affect thinking, including the symbols you are reading in this moment.

 

I am convinced that following my inclinations made me a better writer but also inspired the first edition of my The Frugal Book Promoter, now in its third edition and the flagship book of my HowToDoItFrugally Series of Books for Writers.

 

Aside from steeping myself in any topic that intrigues me which is a magic worker like none other, I find it works better when I do it with a pen and Post-it notes at hand. I write down anything that occurs to me and plop those notes into a Wedgewood sugar bowl that once belonged to my grandmother. You’ve never heard of “found poems?” When you fill a favorite container with scrappy phrases, go back through them and you’ll always find a poem there. Sometimes it’s just a suggestion. Other times several of those notes get strung together to make a complete poem. After I’ve assembled the lines, all I have to do is go back in a few weeks for a hard look and a harder edit.

 

Here are some other aids that will help writers and others from being their most creative in all kinds of ways.

 

Write something that helps another author. Send them a blurb (praise) to use to in marketing. Or write a review and post it on Amazon. Nothing works better to slay writers’ block than gratitude. If you need a starter for that project, check out The Art of Assssment: How to Review Anything  by Magdalena Ball at her site, The Compulsive Reader. Writing about the books we are reading inspires and saves that step of having to come up with a theme or storyline. Her book will get you started reviewing books, films, movies, restaurants and other stuff. And she assumes no prior reviewing experience!

 

When I visit museums I take my copy of A Describer’s Dictionary by David Grambs. When I run across new phrases and words that curators use in their descriptions and catalogs, I jot them anywhere I can find space on the title pages, the margins, etc. of this book. I’ll soon run out of space. I’ll probably just start stuffing it with Post-its!

 

I love to use “rules” of grammar. Rules are way different from laws; they’re ready-made inspiration for writing something new and a different. My penchants for that inspired  or anything my own The Frugal Editor (now in its third edition!) as a way to break rules creatively.

 

Let me introduce a web-friend of mine, Roberta Allen. Her book never fails to make me happy. I’ve never seen it in a how-to book on curing writers’ block, but I swear happiness is the best curative! It’s the The Playful Way to Serious Writing by Roberta Allen.

 

Of course there is always this classic approach to writer’s block: It’s Jenna Glatzer’s Outwitting Writers’ Block  with tips for writer’s block…er…inspiration…and it sets an example with lovely nonfiction prose.

 

Or, yeah. We can always try the “tried and true” methods of the ancients. The Greeks and Egyptians got a lot of things right; it couldn’t hurt to follow their lead.

 

MORE ABOUT THE WRITERS ON THE MOVE
AND “FIRST CHAPTER PLUS” COLUMNIST

 

Howard-Johnson is the recipient of the California Legislature’s Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment Award, and her community’s Character and Ethics award for her work promoting tolerance with her writing. She was also named to Pasadena Weekly’s list of “Fourteen San Gabriel Valley women who make life happen” and was given her community’s Diamond Award for Achievement in the Arts.  Carolyn writes nonfiction for writers, poetry, and fiction and has studied writing at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom; Herzen University in St. Petersburg, Russia; and Charles University, Prague. She will soon celebrate two years dedication to writing for the @ReaderViews’ fun flip e-magazine First Chapter Plus edited by Suzanne Violante. Neither she nor Karen Cioffi, founder and editor of this #WritersontheMove blog have never contributed to my own very rare attacks of writers’ block by asking me to hue (on cue!) to a holiday theme or specific topic! Just knowing I have a column to do each month is the little nudge required to get inspired.