How to Create Memorable Characters in Picture Books, Part 5

Memorable characters are those that seem real to the reader. Try these tips to bring out the “real” in your characters.

            Give specific details in a character’s development. Maybe he loves pancakes and wants  

pancakes every meal or she wants to wear only polka dots.

What are the character’s physical attributes? A character can be unusually built: extremely tall or short for the age group. How can these traits benefit or hinder the character? In many picture books these are depicted in the illustrations. But if the physical traits impact the problem the character is facing, they should be revealed in the text.

Verbal traits also distinguish the characters. A lisp due to missing front teeth works for a young child. Some kids use catch phrases. Listen to kids talking. “Awesome,” “like,” and “very” are words frequently used.

A character’s special interests should mirror those of the audience at a particular age. Does the character love to ride a bicycle or swim? The little boy in FORTY WINKS loved to read a book that he thought was magical. When the monster living in the closet would not share the book, the boy faced a dilemma: confront the monster or never read the book. What did it take to make the character react the way he did? Motivation + emotions = reactions. Figure out what motivates the character, add a dose of emotions, and let the story evolve.

I am never concerned if my book is more appropriate for a boy or a girl. My preference is to allow the reader to decide what s/he wants to read.

Next week, I’ll discuss more ways of creating memorable characters.

 

Call for Submissions for Young Writers:

Young Writers Magazine. We actively seek the work of extremely talented teenage writers. Browse the site and see for yourself. 

Submission guidelines at http://www.youngwritersmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/ 

Call for Submissions for Adult Writers:
Ashland Creek Press is currently accepting submissions of book-length fiction and nonfiction on the themes of the environment, animal protection, ecology, and wildlife — above all, we’re looking for exceptional, well-written, engaging stories.
We are open to many genres (young adult, mystery, literary fiction) as long as the stories are relevant to the themes listed above.

Submission guidelines at http://ashlandcreekpress.com/about/submissions.html

Nancy Kelly Allen has written 40+ children’s books and a cookbook, SPIRIT OF KENTUCKY: BOURBON COOKBOOK. Check out her blog at www.nancykellyallen.com

       

 

Know Your Audience, Part 1

In a recent post, I discussed writing to meet the needs and wants of a target audience. One of the most effective ways to target an audience with writing is to talk with members of a particular age group and simply ask what they like to read. Feedback is literary gold because the answers are authentic. Whether you talk with one or many, enjoy a friendly discussion on types of reading material and topics. The need of one may be the need of many. 

Knowing you audience is the key to the voice of the piece. Does an eight-year-old protagonist sound like an eight-year-old? If the answer is no, further revision is necessary. Imagine you were in an automobile accident. The way the character relates the details should be different according to the person s/he is talking with. If the character is talking to the police, a more serious tone would work. If telling friends, more humor may be expected. In fact, the character may brag to friends that he darted into traffic and tell the police that he stumbled.  

Either way, the character should mirror the actions/reactions and speech of a child the same age. The first question to ask is Who is reading or listening to this book? Adapt the content accordingly.  

Call for submissions for Adult Writers

Writing for Animals Nonfiction Anthology. Ashland Creek Press is currently accepting nonfiction submissions for a new anthology, Writing for Animals: An anthology for writers and instructors to educate and inspire.

From Franz Kafka’s Report to the Academy to Karen Joy Fowler’s We Are Completely Beside Ourselves, animals have played a central role in literature. Increasingly, writers are playing a central role in advancing awareness of animal issues through the written word.

And yet little has been written about the process of writing about animals—from crafting point of view to voice. Writers who hope to raise awareness face many questions and choices in their work, from how to educate without being didactic to how to develop animals as characters for an audience that still views them as ingredients. We hope to address these issues and more with a new collection of articles, by writers and for writers—but most of all, for the animals.

We seek articles from authors and educators about the process of writing about animals in literature.* Our focus is on including a mix of instructional and inspirational articles to help readers not only improve their work but be inspired to keep at it. Articles may be previously published and should not exceed 10,000 words.

The deadline is January 3, 2017. Accepted submissions will receive a stipend of $100 plus a copy of the finished book upon publication.

Submission guidelines at http://ashlandcreekpress.com/about/submissions.html