Writing

“A loud pop filled the air and the horse shied. Lucy stared into the astonished face of a dragon, dominated by a pair of bushy eyebrows over large eyes swirling with jewel tones.

“No, no, no,” Samo was saying as Dee came around the side of Samo’s cart thirty minutes later. “You must bring your arm forward like you’re throwing a ball as hard as you can.”

The hoofbeats stopped. There was some heavy breathing but no sounds of alarm.“Dee? Come out from those bushes. You called us.” A familiar voice that resonated like an oboe rang out.

Children’s literature has long captivated readers with its timeless stories, unforgettable characters, and magical worlds. Within these narratives, we often encounter classic tropes – recurring themes or motifs that have become familiar over time.

Converting common tropes is a great way to give children’s literature a fresh, modern twist. Learn how to challenge traditional narratives and create unique stories for children.

In this post we will discuss eight more ways children’s literature can be more inclusive and imaginative by breaking away from common tropes. Let’s empower young readers with a fresh perspective! This is part of a series on How to Write Children’s Books.

Samo raised a threatening fist. Smoke rose from Try-el’s nostrils as he said, “You’ve just proved my point.” Excerpt from the Caves of Wonder

Over a thirty-eight-year period he wrote forty-seven novels, eighteen works of non-fiction and numerous short stories and articles. He had his first book, Macdermots of Ballycloran published in 1847 and his last book was released in 1885, three years after his death. All while he lived an otherwise full and busy life.

It’s a quick post this week to say that I have a new story up on Wattpad and I’d love you to take a look at it. Click on the in-post cover and it will take you straight there.

Urban fantasy is one of my favourite genres and my next middle grade novel is such a beast. Often, the hardest part of writing a book is getting started in the first place. Here are ten prompts to get your creative juices flowing!