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Writing for Children

Institute for Writers

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Do you want to learn how to write for children? The Institute of Children's Literature has taught hundreds of thousands of aspiring writers, and the director of ICL is the host of Writing for Children. Bestselling children's author Katie Davis focuses on the craft of writing for children: how to write a children’s book, how to write for children’s magazines, how to get paid, and get published. There are listener questions, with answers from the experts at the Institute, plus hard-to-find res ...
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Author Katie Davis hosts Brain Burps About Books as a "fly on the wall" show. It's all about the craft and business of publishing, now including all genres––not just children's books. Interviews with experts cover publishing, creating, promoting, and writing them. Are you an aspiring writer who'd like to know the inside scoop on how others got their books published? Kid's books? Indie books? Non-fiction? Or are you already published and want to hear how to make your book trailer? Maybe you'r ...
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Presenting Fearless Portraits, stories of women leaders, innovators, and trailblazers. Some of them are well-known, some are obscure, all of them worked to make a difference in the world. In each episode, you’ll learn the story of an amazing changemaker in the time it takes to drink your morning coffee. Fearless Portraits is hosted by Dan Landau, a New Jersey-based visual artist who repurposes maps and other items with ink drawings and intricate papercutting to create portraits of people and ...
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“I smiled in the face of bigotry.” Shaymaa Ismaa’eel Muslim who stood up to Islamophobia with joy The Art: Ink drawing of Shaymaa Ismaa’eel flashing a bright smile and peace sign while wearing an orange hijab. She’s drawn on a map of Washington, DC, where she encountered the anti-Muslim protestors that inspired her smile. The Story: It was a warm s…
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“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne Frank Author The Art: Ink drawing on a map of Amsterdam, Netherlands. The rooms where Anne Frank and her family and the others spent 25 months hiding from the Nazis are now a museum and it is located to the left of her eyes. The Story: Born in 192…
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“I contemplated how sorrow, frustration, and anger wove together with courage, resiliency, and hope, and how the art might speak to this gravity.” Michaela Goade First Native American illustrator to win the Caldecott Medal The Artwork: Ink drawing of Michaela Goade on a map of southeastern Alaska. She is holding an open copy of We Are Water Protect…
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I’ve been working hard collecting new stories and drawing portraits of amazing women that will be coming to your podcast feed for Season 2 in the new year. But for now, here is an interview I did this week with John and Rachel, hosts of the YaJagoff! show on Pittsburgh’s Q92.9 FM about the Fearless Portraits art project.…
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“Redemption! I was grabbing the air, I got so excited I was afraid I might die or something.” Dr. Katalin Karikó Biochemist who pioneered mRNA, the technology behind the successful COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. The Artwork: Ink drawing on a map of Philadelphia, PA. The University of Pennsylvania where she did much of her resea…
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“I interested Miss Alice Ball… in the chemical problem of obtaining… the active agents in the oil of chaulmoogra. After a great deal of experimental work, Miss Ball solved the problem.” Dr. Harry Hollmann Writing about chemist Alice Ball and her groundbreaking cure for leprosy in a scientific journal The Artwork: Ball’s portrait in the Fearless Por…
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“It’s definitely an old boys’ club, and so obviously for us coming in as opposite, we definitely were looked at as not just not belonging, but really incapable of being successful.” Robin McBride Co-founded McBride Sisters Wine Company with Andréa McBride, the largest Black-owned wine company in the US The Artwork: The McBride’s portrait in the Fea…
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“It is never a waste to try something and fail.” Masako “Ma-chan” Wakamiya (若宮正子) Octogenarian app developer The Artwork: Ma-chan’s portrait in the Fearless Portraits project consists of an Ink drawing on a map of Kanagawa, the prefecture she lives in, just south of Tokyo. She’s seated on the floor next to a traditional Japanese short-legged table …
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“I do not like that the front pockets of girls jeans are fake.” Kamryn Gardner First grader who asked Old Navy to make jeans with pockets The Artwork: Gardner’s portrait in the Fearless Portraits project consists of an Ink drawing of her holding her new pocketed jeans on a map of northern Arkansas. Bentonville, where she lives is located just over …
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“There is only one thing worse than coming from the lab to a sink full of dirty dishes and that is not going to the lab at all.” Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu (吳健雄) Experimental physicist, known as the “First Lady of Physics” The Artwork: Wu’s portrait in the Fearless Portraits project consists of an Ink drawing on a map of Manhattan, New York City. Columbia…
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“Economics should be about caring for real people.” Janet Yellen First female Secretary of the Treasury First female Chair of the Federal Reserve Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors First person to hold all three roles The Artwork: Yellen’s portrait in the Fearless Portraits project consists of an Ink and colored pencil drawing on a map of Sa…
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“If you are independent, you will never be afraid to be alone or to leave a job.” Brenda Landau Businesswoman The Art: Brenda’s portrait in the Fearless Portrait project consists of an ink drawing of her, on a map of Guatemala. Her hometown of Salama, Baja Verapaz, is visible on her neck. The Story: The day after New Year’s, 2021, Brenda Landau wen…
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“Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.” Maggie Kuhn Elder rights activist & founder of the Gray Panthers The Artwork: Maggie Kuhn’s portrait in the Fearless Portrait project consists of an ink drawing of her Ink drawing on a map of Philadelphia, PA, where she lived and worked. The Story: In 1970, Maggie Kuhn was working a job she loved at the…
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“I classify my research as where equity meets science. The people who are really going to need [smart sutures] will not be able to afford them. So, I decided to make something cost-effective.” Dasia Taylor Inventor The artwork Dasia Taylor’s portrait in the Fearless Portrait Project consists of an ink drawing on a map of Iowa. Her hometown of Iowa …
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“My office hours are any and all hours of the day and night.” Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte First Native American to earn a medical degree The Artwork: Picotte’s portrait in the Fearless Portrait project consists of an Ink drawing of her n an 1886 map of Nebraska; the Omaha Reservation is marked on top right side of her head. The portrait is based o…
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“When you have a diverse team, you get different perspectives that help you succeed. It’s about having a team that has lots of ideas and grabbing the best one—that’s what diversity brings you.” Admiral Michelle Howard Highest ranking female officer in US Navy history The artwork: Howard’s portrait in the Fearless Portrait project consists of an Ink…
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“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” Cornelia “Corrie” ten Boom Member of the Dutch resistance, evangelist, and author Artwork: Ten Boom’s portrait in the Fearless Portrait project consists of an ink drawing of her on a map of the Dutch city of Haarlem. There is a red dot near he…
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“If you’re so proud of America’s history, look at the downsides too. Own it just like you own how we won the Revolutionary War.” Iris Haq-Lukolyo Fifth grade student The artwork: Iris Haq-Lukolyo’s portrait in the Fearless Portrait project consists of an ink drawing of her holding a copy of the magazine with her article in it, while wearing a T-shi…
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“I longed to arrest all beauty that came before me.” Julia Margaret Cameron Photographer The artwork: Ink drawing on a map of the Island of Wight, UK, based on a self portrait by Julia Cameron. Her home in Freshwater is located on the left side, above her head. The story: Julia Cameron began career as a photographer relatively late at the age of 48…
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“If I perish, I perish.” Queen Esther Biblical queen of Persia The Artwork: Esther’s portrait in the Fearless Portrait project consists of an Ink drawing of her on an 1843 map of Persia and surrounding region. The portrait is based on 19th and early 20th century painter Kate Gardiner Hastings’ painting called “Esther.” The Story: Haman, the highest…
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“People said I should be banned from posting photos of myself because I’m too ugly. So, I’d just like to commemorate the occasion with these 3 selfies.” Melissa Blake Writer and disabilities activist The Artwork: Blake’s portrait in the Fearless Portrait project consists of an ink drawing of her, based on one of the selfies she defiantly posted, “t…
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“You can be whatever you set your heart and head to be, and don’t let anybody tell you can’t be, because 1,078 women pilots did it in WWII.” Annelle Henderson Bulechek Aviator, WASP Artwork: To represent the WASPs in in the Fearless Portrait project, I’ve drawn WASP squadron leader, Betty Gillies, in white ink, on a blueprint of a P-47 Thunderbolt …
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“There was no choice but to be a pioneer.” Margaret Hamilton Mother of software engineering Artwork: Hamilton’s portrait in the Fearless Portrait project is based on an iconic photograph of her standing next to a stack of binders about as tall as she is. These binders contained the computer code she and her team wrote for the Apollo Mission. I’ve d…
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“Lozen is as my right hand, strong as a man, braver than most, and cunning in strategy. Lozen is a shield to her people.” Victorio, Apache chief and brother of Lozen, warrior and medicine woman The Artwork: Lozen’s portrait in the Fearless Portrait project consists of an ink drawing of her based on one of the rare existing photographs of her. I’ve …
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“In this day and age, I’m shocked that someone still doesn’t know the difference between ‘you’re’ and ‘your.’” Kate McCue Cruise ship captain Artwork: Ink drawing on a NOAA nautical chart of the waters around the eastern tip of Puerto Rico, an area that cruise ships often travel around. The story: For Kate McCue, captain of Celebrity Edge, a 1,004-…
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“You are not lesser just because you're a girl.” Megan Rapinoe American professional soccer player Olympic gold medalist (2012) Two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner (2015, 2019) Artwork: Ink and colored pencil drawing on a map of Paris, France, where she won her second FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019. The Story: Gender-based pay inequality is a ch…
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“I may be the first woman in this office. But I won’t be the last.” Kamala Harris First female vice president of the US Artwork: Harris’ portrait in the Fearless Portrait project consists of an ink drawing of her giving her victory speech, on a map of the United States. The story: Following days of election drama, on Saturday, November 7, all the m…
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“People say, ‘Why doesn’t someone do something about that?’ And then they realize they are someone.” Pat “Action Nan” Smith Grandmother who cleaned beaches every week for one year The artwork: Ink drawing of Pat Smith picking up trash, drawn on a map of Cornwall, UK. The story: Pat Smith was living an ordinary life in 2017 as a business owner and g…
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“I’m someone’s daughter too.” Alexandria “AOC” Ocasio-Cortez US Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district Artwork: AOC’s portrait in the Fearless Portrait project consists of an ink drawing of her giving her floor speech calling out the misogyny in Congress. She’s wearing a bright red blazer with matching red lipstick— something she…
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“That's the history of the world. His story is told. Hers isn't.” - Dolores Huerta American labor leader and civil rights activist I want my daughters to pursue lives where anything is possible and they can be whatever they want to be. But if they never see someone like them do it first, how will they know it’s an option for them? After all, if the…
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AN INTERVIEW WITH HANNAH HOLT In this rebroadcast, we talk with Hannah Holt, a children’s author with an engineering degree. Her books, The Diamond & The Boy (Balzer+Bray) and A Father’s Love (Philomel) weave together her love of language and science. When not reading or writing, you can find Hannah running marathons and hiking mountains. We talk a…
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FOUR WAYS TO LEARN TO LOVE NONFICTION Many writers view nonfiction as less: less creative than fiction, less fun than fiction, less interesting to kids than fiction, and definitely something they want to do less often. Some will accept the possibility of writing a little nonfiction to break into publishing, but do not like the idea of doing it stea…
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LAUNCHING A STORY FROM A TITLE Chances are you fall into one of two camps when it comes to titles: You either love creating them or you dread trying to think up something clever that will catch a reader’s eye. Thanks to Jan Fields, today we’re going to have some fun creating titles. So much fun your new titles just might launch a new story.…
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TOP THREE NARRATIVE NONFICTION MISSTEPS Nonfiction is basically broken into two broad types. Expository nonfiction describes, explains, and informs. Narrative nonfiction uses story elements to convey a factual experience. Narrative nonfiction tells a story through carefully researched, factual recounting. Not all nonfiction books are strictly expos…
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INTERVIEW WITH A CONTEST JUDGE In this rebroadcast, we interview frequent ICL contest judge and longtime instructor Nancy Coffelt. As well as being a multi-published picture book author and illustrator, Nancy is a fine artist and has been showing in galleries across the country since 1984. Her work is included in personal, public and corporate coll…
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TIPS FOR YOUR WRITER WEBSITE Every author needs a website—yes, even if you're not published yet. In the Internet age, your website acts as your online business card for readers and even prospective agents and editors. In this rebroadcast, we discuss tips for keeping your website user friendly and keeping them coming back for more.…
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5 QUESTIONS ABOUT AUTHOR PLATFORM A while back I sent out a one-question survey. Writers could submit any one question about author platform and marketing. I learned a ton from reading all the questions that were submitted, but there were definitely some common themes. Today, we’re diving into the five most common questions writers have as they sta…
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INTERVIEW WITH VICTORIA BOND Victoria Bond is a writer and professor. Her novel, Zora and Me, co-written with T.R. Simon, won the John Steptoe/Coretta Scott King Award for New Talent and was nominated for an Edgar Award in the category of Juvenile Fiction, as well as being a Junior Library Guild Selection. Victoria holds a MFA in poetry. The occasi…
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FINDING YOUR CHILDLIKE VOICE Voice is the number one thing that can make or break your children’s story. So, let’s see how to find a childlike voice that appeals to your audience. Readers love dialogue. It lightens the page, making the whole story feel easier to read. It allows us to hear the characters directly, helping us to know them. And it is …
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