Ask an Editor: How to Write a Graphic Novel

Tags

Andy Narwhal, Comics, Graphic Novels, script writing, writing tips

“Ask an Editor” is a forum wherein SCBWI members submit questions that are answered as part of our quarterly Kite Tales blog.

Hi Andy – I enjoy graphic novels and want to write one but don’t know how to make the jump. (I write YA.) Any suggestions? I’m not an illustrator.

—Will, Los Angeles

The ‘Reality’ of Writing: How Reality TV Can Improve Your Books – Episode 3

Tags

authors, editing, middle grade, publishing, reality TV, TV writing, Twist My Charm, writing tips

by Toni Gallagher

Toni with the Fiji crew – field producing Under One Roof

Welcome back to our third and final “episode”! In my earlier articles, I shared how the wild and wonderful world of reality TV can help authors improve their stories, but now it’s time to face two of the toughest challenges of all: editing, and accepting notes.

The ‘Reality’ of Writing: How Reality TV Can Improve Your Books – Episode 2

Tags

Andy Cohen, cliffhangers, dialogue, middle grade, plotting, reality TV, SCBWI members, scenes, writing tips

by Toni Gallagher

Andy Cohen with Toni’s Book!

Have you ever wondered why you sometimes can’t turn off a reality show? Sure, they have colorful cast members and outrageous premises, but producers need to craft every episode, scene by scene, to hold a viewer’s interest. So what does it really take to create scenes that satisfy?

Comedy Writing Tips for Authors from a Stand Up Comedian and Animation Screenwriter

Tags

authors, character development, comedy, humor, improv, plot, SCBWI members, stakes, writing tips

by Jorjeana Marie

I sat next to a somewhat distracted woman on an airplane recently. As she was settling, she asked me why I too was headed into the desert. 

For comedy. 

“In the desert?” 

Yeah. Everyone needs to laugh right now. 

Publicity & Marketing: A Case Study – Part 6

Tags

authors, indie-publishing, marketing, publicity, publishing, reviews, SCBWI community, SCBWI members, self-publishing

by R.S. Mellette

So was it worth it? Hiring a publicist. Spending $20,000 to promote Kiya And The Morian Treasure, from a traditional publisher that’s no bigger than a self-published author? Let’s look at the numbers. 

The ‘Reality’ of Writing: How Reality TV Can Improve Your Books – For Real!

Tags

editing, kidlit, plot, reality TV, SCBWI members, structure, writing tips

by Toni Gallagher

Reality TV might be a guilty pleasure for many, but believe it or not, there are storytelling secrets in those wild, dramatic, and silly shows that can truly improve your writing. How do I know? 

Well, I had two middle grade novels published by Random House while I worked as an Executive Producer on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills! And after working for almost 30 (gulp) years in the business, I have seen how the rules of reality TV can punch up a story in need. Hopefully, the things I’ve learned can help you too.

Getting the Most Out of Critique: The Art of Listening

Tags

critiques, kidlit, SCBWI community, SCBWI events, SCBWI members, writing tips

This weekend on June 12th, SCBWI-L.A. will be hosting its annual Critique Day which is open to all members of SCBWI. Creatives from all over the tri-regions (and beyond) will have the opportunity to share their work with each other in a safe and structured environment. It is one of the best places to get started when taking those first steps into honing your craft without having to fully commit to a class or pay for a workshop. This event is always free to our members. (Registration for this year’s event is now closed, however, so be sure to check back on the regional page for next time!)

But we’re here to talk about getting the most out of that critique. For first timers it can be nerve-racking just having someone else read your work, but for the seasoned pro it might be a testing ground for an experimental piece. Both need open and honest feedback about the work, but with only a few minutes to read and talk about each piece, how can we best make use of that time?

When the Writing (or Drawing) Gets Tough: How to Plow Through the Block

Tags

authors, editing, illustrating, illustrator tips, illustrators, writing, writing tips

You may have heard about writer’s block, or have gotten stuck mid-way through a story or a sketch. Maybe you’ve redrawn the same scene multiple times only to have to throw away the paper after you’ve erased right through it. These times can be tough, and it’s hard to pick up that pencil and keep going. But that’s what you’ve got to do.

Interview with YA Authors Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren

Tags

cowriters, cowriting, Faith McClaren, Horror Hotel, paranormal, path to publication, supernatural, Victoria Fulton, YA, YA Horror

Los Angeles writers Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren are an award-winning coauthor duo. In their YA, Horror Hotel, the YouTube-famous Ghost Gang—Chrissy, Chase, Emma, and Kiki—visit a haunted LA hotel notorious for tragedy to secretly film after dark. They expect it to be just like their previous paranormal huntings (spooky, but harmless) yet soon wonder if they will survive the night.

CHRISTINE VAN ZANDT: Welcome to Kite Tales! I couldn’t put down your new YA, Horror Hotel. What inspired you to write a scary book for a YA audience as opposed to an adult one?

10 Inspiring Kite Tales Quotes from 2021

Tags

Amy Rubinate, authors, Elana K. Arnold, Eric Smith, Erin Dealey, Henry Lien, illustrators, inspiration, Jorjeana Marie, Kristen Nordstrom, LeUyen Pham, Rieko Mendez, Sara Schonfeld, SCBWI community

Photo by Tairon Fernandez on Pexels.com

Another year has flown by, and while we have borne the loss of some great creators and publishing influencers, we still have a tremendous community of children’s book writers, illustrators, and translators to look towards for inspiration. We have had many words of wisdom shared on Kite Tales this past year and it is a great pleasure to share them again with you now.

Writing for children requires grit and self-reflection; a sense of play and an openness to the changing world. As creators, we can find inspiration in change and embrace our own strengths and weaknesses to make something greater than we thought possible. Take heart and have patience, we are all on this journey together.