Peter Lopez Jr.'s Blog: Xulon Press Blog , page 27

The Best Writing Tool You Aren’t Using

Everyone knows about a certain digital pinboard, known as the procrastinator’s best friend, the party planner’s go-to inspiration, and the foodie’s favorite recipe archive. But, as a writer, have you ever thought about how you can use Pinterest to develop your scene descriptions, hone your style, and actually see your characters take shape? Here are just some of the ways to use Pinterest for authors.

 1. Online Inspiration Board

From characters to settings, there is no better way to write with powerful sensory detail than to be looking right at your inspiration. Think about creating boards for your protagonist, antagonist, and even other main characters so you can develop them as round, multi-dimensional people. What is their style? What clothes do they wear? Is their abode a warm, bohemian cottage on a hill or a high-end penthouse outfitted with cold stainless steel? Create boards for settings and pin different vantage points, bird’s-eye views, and other images that will give you, and your readers, a unique perspective of the scene.

2. Book Cover Ideas

Conveying the design in your head to the graphic designers can be difficult for both parties, but having a visual to point to changes everything. From font to imagery to general formatting, finding concrete examples will make sure the design process is easier for everyone—and that you end up with the look you want. This is a less obvious, but incredibly valuable way, to use Pinterest for authors.

3. Theme and Topic Starters

Pinterest is absolutely loaded with quotes and images that are perfectly suited to spark your next great writing idea. Build a board with any interesting, provocative, or stimulating quotes or images you find. Whether you use it for daily writing exercise or it unfolds into your next novel, you can surely find inspiration on the thousands of Pinterest boards dedicated to meaningful ideas, photography, and illustrations from all over the world.

4. Writer Admiration

Keep a board dedicated to writers whose styles you love. You can include their work and notable quotes, or anything that reminds you of them. Delve into their lives; figure out what motivates them and what signifies their style. Creating an author study will help you discover your own preferences and apply them to your writing.

5. Marketing Your Book

If you have a blog and don’t have a Pinterest account, you need to get pinning. Creating your own images and pinning them isn’t difficult, and it immediately gives you a huge audience who just might follow that picture back to your blog and—who knows—buy your book. Need ideas on what to pin other than your own blog pictures? Create a board with titles that have similar writing styles, themes, and genres as your book and point out that if they like these, they will love your work. Pin writing or lifestyle quotes that resonate with you and relate to the topics you frequently write about. Think about who your reader is and pin for them.

Remember your pinning etiquette: make sure that you are giving credit where it is due for all images you use.

Take some time to look through Pinterest for more ideas and find some fellow writers to follow. Network, connect, and have fun with your pinboards—and then start writing, armed with your new tools of inspiration. Which of these is your favorite “Pinterest for authors” tip?

The post The Best Writing Tool You Aren’t Using appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

15 Things Every Writer Needs On Their Desk

Painters need a canvas, paint, paintbrushes, and a rolling landscape begging to be painted. Musicians need an instrument, quarter notes on sheet music, and an audience to play for. What do writers need to create their artistic medium of choice?

Obviously, a writer needs paper, pen, and an idea. We know it’s not that simple though, right? Writers need inspiration—but how you go about tracking down and bottling that inspiration is different for everyone. Some writers are basic; they need a dictionary and thesaurus for unsticking their brain, and that’s it. Other writers need a desk with a window view and lots of coffee. Here are our editors must-haves for creating the ultimate writing environment!

1.) Dictionary and thesaurus

These two resources are beneficial when the word you want is on the tip of your tongue but you just can’t figure it out, or you need to check the correct usage of affect vs. effect—again.

2.) Live plants or fresh flowers

Plants not only help improve indoor air quality, but they can also help decrease stress and increase productivity. If you’re not the green thumb type, try picking up a fresh bouquet from the grocery store. Worst case, you’ll have some pretty flowers on your desk.

3.) Chicago Manual of Style

Considered the industry standard in the book world, the Chicago Manual of Style is one of the best resources for a writer. Not only does it contain all the writing rules you ignored in high school, but it also provides everything you need to know about quoting sources, producing a bibliography and what to expect during the production of a book.

4.) Notebook and favorite writing utensils

You’re going to need empty pages to write down all those brilliant ideas your book isn’t ready for yet. Use a scratch pad or notebook to record a thought or idea you’ll need for a later scene, to draw scenes or characters, or just to doodle when you find yourself stuck.

5.) Elements of Style

This book is a great, pocket-sized reference of all things writing and grammar. It’s a lot less intimidating than the Chicago Manual of Style and you’ll find this quick reference guide is chock full of knowledge.

6.) USB coffee mug warmer

There is nothing worse than taking a sip of coffee you thought would be hot, but is now cold. These amazing USB warmers plug right into your computer and keep your coffee or tea warm until the last drop. Then it’s time to brew more!

7.) Your favorite mug to sit atop your warmer

We all have that favorite coffee mug, right? Maybe it has a funny quote, or you bought it on the best-vacation-ever, or it’s the cat-shaped cup your best friend gave you—your writing desk needs a coffee mug that makes you feel good.

8.) Inspirational photos or quotes

Most of the writers I know can’t write in a closet-of-a-room with bare walls. So add a sign over your computer that says, “Write” in a beautiful font, or print out gorgeous garden photos from Pinterest; either way, find inspirational photos and quotes that lend to your creative vibe.

9.) Desk lamp with daylight bulbs

Good lighting, and the right light bulb, will change your writing process. We love daylight bulbs because they light the room as if the sun is shining through a window.

10.) Goal board for your book

Memo boards are still cool for writers, we promise. Stick your outline up there, along with the main theme of your book. If you’re writing fiction, use it as a place to collect images of what your characters might look like or images of your book’s setting.

11.) Glass of water

It’s not just for athletes. Hydration is always key, no matter what.

12.) Essential oil diffuser and a few essential oils that aid the writing process

Scents can trigger memories. Scent can alter our mood by decreasing stress, or lending to productivity. If you’re feeling uninspired or sleepy, citrus scents are great. Lavender helps with stress, which may come in handy during those tense self-editing moments. Keep a diffuser nearby and add a few drops of your favorite essential oils when you need a boost.

13.) Daily planner

Keep track of your writing schedule and progress in one place. If you write a couple days a week, record your word count at the end of each writing session; you’ll see just how much progress you’re making.

14.) A few of your favorite books

Keep some of your favorite or prettiest books close. The more inspiration you can work into your writing space, the more places you give your eyes to wander and your mind to drift when it’s trying to work out a detail of your book.

15.) Metaphorical trophies

Every writer has a run-in with self-doubt; keep something close that will remind you just how awesome you are, whether it’s a diploma, a medal from a marathon you ran, or a picture of your fully-grown, self-functioning children. You’ve already accomplished great things—writing a book is going to be the next one!

You’ve found your flow, you have all the things you need. So, what’s next? Get to writing! If you are looking for some more tips on how you can hone your craft, check out 6 Tips to Make Your Book a Page-Turner.

The post 15 Things Every Writer Needs On Their Desk appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

Why Do Authors Pay Per Word For Editing?

Many authors often ask us, “Why do editors charge per word for their services?” This is a valid question with an answer that may come as a surprise.

I’ll do my best to explain this without getting too complicated. Editors charge per word because any time an editor edits a manuscript they read every word. Regardless of whether they end up making a correction to it or not.

It’s more than just reading.

They don’t just stop there. The editor does a lot more than just read every word. Every word is interpreted and dissected within the sentence to analyze what the author is trying to communicate. Then they determine if each word is the right word for what the editor interprets as the author’s intention for the book.

Authors may often think paying per word is too much, but each and every word in your manuscript (including all of the small “a’s”, “of’s”, and “I’s”) has three purposes behind it:

Syntax Purpose: the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.
Mechanical Purpose: the correct spelling and grammatical use of the word.
Placement Purpose: focuses on the overall flow of the manuscript; does it fit well with the tone? Does it communicate the theme correctly and consistently?

Editing often goes deeper than the surface.

Furthermore, editors sometimes, in higher levels of editing (such as with Xulon’s Developmental Edit) will have better ways to say things than what the author has already written. So, by paying per word, you’re paying for the editor to make that judgment call on what is the best way to say and communicate your intention to best suit the reader.

Remember: an editor oftentimes reads your book not only as an editor, thus looking for the things mentioned above, but they read your book as a reader. So if they’re fixing something, or perhaps asking you to fix something and further elaborate, it’s for the purpose of your readers.

The post Why Do Authors Pay Per Word For Editing? appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

4 Reasons Your Book Needs An Introduction

Introductions are really important when you first meet someone. It’s what lays the foundation for how you each come across. The same applies to introductions in books. When a reader isn’t properly acquainted from right the start, the rest of the conversation can get pretty awkward.

Here are four reasons why you need an introduction section to start your book off on the right page. (Sorry: silly book pun!)

To tell readers what they are going to be reading.

This is probably the biggest reason to have an introduction in your manuscript. Readers aren’t mind-readers (and neither are editors). In order to keep the reader engaged, you need to convey your message right from the get-go. Your introduction gives readers the foundation and what they’ll gain from the book.

Opportunity to share the background of the book and the author’s expertise in the subject matter.

If your manuscript’s topic is in a scholastic field, or special interest field, an introduction gives the author a chance to detail his/her expertise in the manuscript’s topic and even discuss how the book’s idea originated. Demonstrating your expertise early on for the subject matter will legitimize the content for readers.

Prepare readers for sudden changes in the manuscript.

Nothing is more of a head-scratcher than when a flashback happens and the reader isn’t prepared for it. Use the introduction as a form of literary warning to readers that flashbacks could occur or that the narration could switch from one person to the next. Readers will thank you immensely for it!

Like the first bite of cake, it makes the start of the book that much sweeter.

Think of your introduction as a piece of cake. When you take your first bite of a piece of cake, you begin to form ideas in your mind on what the rest of the cake will taste like. Treat your introduction the same way. You want readers to enjoy that first glimpse about your book so they are motivated to continue reading.

See your manuscript’s introduction as a great way to establish a bond with your readers and inform them of the exciting time they will have reading your book.

The post 4 Reasons Your Book Needs An Introduction appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

6 Tips to Make Your Book a Page-Turner

Have you ever read a book you just couldn’t put down? Have you ever stayed up way past your bedtime because you just couldn’t stop reading? Can you imagine your book capturing a reader like that?

Here are six tips that can make your book a page-turner:

1. Write about something you are passionate about. Prayer, evangelism, your story or testimony — whatever has the most meaning to you. Passion is always the key ingredient to great writing and is very contagious.

2. Develop a compelling theme overflowing with meaning. Pick a solid message or strong story for your book and let that guide your writing. A book that stays on point keeps the reader involved.

3. Make an impact with your first sentence. Start with an opening that sparks curiosity or makes the reader ask questions. Referred to many writers as a hook, your book should begin with elements that pull the reader right into the middle of your story or teaching.

4. Use the power of story. Nothing draws people into a theme like a story does. Don’t just “tell” the reader what you want them to know. Wherever possible, provide stories that illustrate what you mean.

5. Leave out the parts people skip. A book that goes on and on to make a point is one people will skim over or even put down. Concentrate on your reader and think about what they want to read. Sometimes it means leaving things out.

6. Hire a good editor to polish your book. Behind every best seller stands an editor who helped develop the book’s flow. Don’t skip this important step to making sure your book reads well.

Remember you can lean on Xulon Press to help make your book as strong as it can be. Make the decision to write and get started by downloading your FREE Publishing Guide.

The post 6 Tips to Make Your Book a Page-Turner appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

10 Steps to Becoming a Highly Effective Writer

Writing and procrastination might stereotypically go hand-in-hand, but no one has ever written a book by procrastinating. The only way to write a book is to write. It’s a crazy concept—I know. But if F. Scott Fitzgerald procrastinated on The Great Gatsby, none of us would even know such a book existed.

So, how do we reverse procrastination, start putting words on paper, and cross the finish line? Let’s break it down. Here are 10 habits you can adopt to become a highly effective writer.

Become a reader. The best writers are the best readers. Read anything and everything you can get your hands on—especially bestsellers in your genre. Do you plan on writing a self-help book, but haven’t read one in a while? It’s kind of hard to reach your target audience when you don’t know what they’re into. Reading isn’t about copying; it’s about learning and discovery.
Observe your world. Technology has made it so easy to ignore the world around us. We can so easily turn off real life and tune in to our social media feeds or emails, but by doing that, we lose the ability to observe. Some of my best ideas and free-writes come from quiet moments in which I’m watching the world move around me. Sit on a park bench on a beautiful afternoon. What do you see? Write it down. 
Set goals. Goal-setting is so important for life in general, but it’s important for writing too. Are you thinking about writing a book? In order to achieve big goals, we need smaller goals to get us there. The standard book-length for non-fiction books range from 60,000 to 75,000 words. But look at it this way: 75,000 words over the course of two months is a mere 1,250 words a day. Sound a bit easier to achieve? That’s because it is easier. 
Protect your time. Once you figure out your big goal, it’s time to start protecting your time. How do you protect your time? First off, you have to make time. Writing has to become part of your life, not something you do when you’re bored. It should become another one of your regular habits. Just as you build your work schedule into your day, you must build writing into your day or week. Decide how many times a week you’re going to write. Then, decide how many hours on each of those days you’re going to write. Put these blocks of time on your calendar. 
Find your writing space. This one may take some trial and error, but it’s important to find a writing space that works. Maybe it’s a local coffee shop. Maybe it’s the dining room table or a home office. Wherever your writing space may be, it should be a comfortable temperature, well-lit, and the right noise level.
Set and keep boundaries. Just like protecting time is important, it’s also important that family members and friends respect the boundaries of your writing time as well. If you have a block of time for writing on Tuesdays for two hours before bed, it’s important that no one interrupts that time: no dishes, no laundry, no “can you come here real quick.” Shutting off the world for a bit is important for efficient writing.
Take care of yourself. Hydrate, get enough sleep, squeeze in a workout, use prayer or whatever helps you feel calm, clutter-free, energized and focused. When you’re at your best physically, there are fewer obstacles to your creativity.
Get online. Use a website like Scrivener or Reedsy to house your writing. This also gives you a place for collaboration if you want to ask others to help you write, edit, or get feedback on your work.
Keep readers in mind. Some say to write for yourself; others say to write with your readers in mind. The writing process should actually be a little of both. You have to write something you’re going to enjoy writing. Otherwise, you’ll never finish. You also have to keep your readers in mind. Invest time in your writing if you want readers to invest their time in reading your work.
Build a team. This one especially applies to those who want to publish a book: I have yet to meet a writer who can also perfectly edit their own book, design their cover, typeset their entire book, and create a marketing plan. It’s so important to build a team of experts in each field, and it’s equally important to let them do the work they know how to do best. As a writer, your job is to write, revise, and work with an editor on revisions. It’s a partnership that takes both parties to create a positive experience. Build a great team and enjoy the experience, instead of feeling weighed down by stress.

Writing a book is no easy feat. Ensuring you’ve enlisted a handful of good habits can help you cross the finish line. Which of these habits have you already been doing and which ones will you start doing moving forward?

The post 10 Steps to Becoming a Highly Effective Writer appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

Writing Tips for Poets

Here at Xulon Press, we regularly see wonderful collections of devotional and creative poetry. Poetry is an art form that pours from the heart, encompassing a wide range of passions, from joy and thanksgiving to sorrow and grief. While poetry is both beloved and reviled, many readers feel uncertain about how to interact with such a subjective genre.

Poets themselves often struggle with the balance between artistic license and necessary structure when penning their poems. To help navigate these difficulties, we have a few basic poetry tips for how to write and publish your best poetic work.

Clarifying Your Intentions

Many of the poets we work with mention their lifelong dream to publish. Keep in mind that while you’re fulfilling your dream, your writing should be for your reader’s enjoyment in addition to your own personal fulfillment.

Poets also often feel compelled to introduce their work, explaining their passion for writing and their desire to use their God-given talent, such statements put their desire to publish at the forefront of the reader’s mind as opposed to the poems at the heart of the book. As a result, these types of introductions, intended to sway readers to buy a copy, may do the opposite.

As you write, keep the reader’s experience in mind. Write from a unique point of view, but in an accessible and enjoyable manner. When it comes to introducing your work, consider letting your poems speak for themselves. Or, ask a fellow poet to contribute a foreword to discuss the merits of your work.

Organizing Your Poems

Many of the poetry collections we see are compilations of an entire lifetime of writing. These manuscripts are often organized chronologically in the order of writing. Some have no intentional organization to speak of. But failing to provide a clear thematic connection from poem to poem can make your collection difficult for readers to understand and enjoy.

Organization provides a helpful framework upon which your work can shine all the brighter. Try organizing your collection into part sections by theme or topic. For instance, a book of poems written after the death of a loved one could be organized using the five stages of grief. A book of devotional poetry could be organized by the attributes of God. The options are endless!

Writing with Consistency

Some poets like to mix and match writing styles within their collections, placing a haiku next to an acrostic poem followed by a sonnet. While poets have creative license to determine which style (or lack thereof) to apply to their poems, maintaining some consistency gives the reader a smooth and measured reading experience.

Even if you would like to experiment with different styles of poetry within your collection, consider grouping them by style. Once you’ve selected a style for a poem, use it consistently throughout each stanza. If your poetic framework calls for a certain rhyming structure, adhere to it faithfully. Having each beat land properly in its meter creates a pleasing and steady rhythm for your reader to enjoy.

Formatting Poetry

Poets have free rein to visually organize their work in ways that writers of prose can’t. Indentation, centering, line breaks, and other formats are fair play for the poet’s creativity. But keep in mind that the overuse of such visual scrambling can be overwhelming to the reader, and each use lessens the impact.

When using unconventional formations for your poems, ensure that you have a compelling reason to do so. Is it important for you to insert a tabbed space between two words? Does it add meaning to the poem to hang letters vertically down the page? How does it help to center the poem rather than left-justifying? Test yourself with these questions before mixing up your poetic organization. Your reader will thank you for doing so!

The post Writing Tips for Poets appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

Developing Backstory for Your Novel

The backstory is an extremely important step in writing a well-developed story. Developing your protagonist’s history leading up to the story in your novel paints a picture for the reader. The way in which that backstory is used and incorporated into your novel is just as important though.

When developing backstory, record it in a separate document from your manuscript. In that space, tell yourself about your protagonist. Who is he? What are his likes/dislikes? Is there an inciting moment led him to the current state of his life that readers will find him in your novel? What are his wants and needs? What motivates him? Is he stubborn? Self-righteous? A people-pleaser? You, as the writer, need all this information out of your head and on paper before you begin writing.

The reason I suggest writing backstory in a separate document is due in large part because most first-time writers will warm up their writing by filling the first few chapters with backstory. But backstory doesn’t belong there. Those first chapters are the most valuable real estate in your entire book. Placing backstory at the beginning of a novel is the equivalent of starting a conversation with, “I have a story to tell you, but before I can tell you that story I’m going to bore you with another story that explains why this story took place.” Those first few chapters are vital in capturing readers’ attention, and the only way to do that is through action. Avoid including backstory here at all cost.

Weave It In

The most beneficial way for developing backstory is through dialogue and flashbacks. Weave in backstory exactly where you need it, and the most authentic way to do so is by inserting it into characters’ conversations, flashbacks, and memory recall. Let your protagonist tell her own story as she discovers the answers herself.

For instance, you could tell readers at the onset of your novel that your protagonist was abandoned by her father at a young age and as an adult, she can’t trust any man enough to let him love her. A stronger approach, however, would be to have your protagonist develop self-awareness as her storyline progresses and use it to tell her own backstory. Then, her backstory lends to a path of discovery and maturation in your novel. 

Put It In the Prologue

There may be a small percentage of information readers need to know before chapter one begins. If this is the case for your story, put only the most pertinent backstory into a prologue. This alleviates starting chapter one with backstory, but it also places your protagonist’s historical information at the beginning of your novel where readers can find it if they choose to read it.

Do understand, however, that readers may skip the prologue and dive right into the first chapter. So, frame your first chapter in a way that the prologue isn’t a mandatory read to understand the opening pages. Your prologue and first chapter do not need to connect to one another.

Delete It

Once your first draft is written and you’re working on rewrites and revisions, do a close scan of the areas you placed backstory. You may discover that the historical information was more necessary for you, the writer, to understand a character’s motivation. Readers don’t always need the same information. Where you are able to, go ahead and delete backstory. The more backstory you can cut, the stronger your story will be. A great plot or subplot shouldn’t need a ton of backstory to support it.

If you’re still unsure if you have included enough backstory in your novel, make that one of the specific questions you ask your beta readers. Your test readers will be able to tell you if future readers will need more or less backstory to understand characters.

Do you currently have backstory bogging down your first chapter? Cut and paste it into a separate document (it’s not worthless information) and, instead, write an action-packed first chapter that hooks readers.

The post Developing Backstory for Your Novel appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

Writing Attention-Grabbing Back Cover Copy for Your Novel

Your front cover design is what sparks a reader’s attention. The back cover summary of your novel will help book buyers decide if they want to purchase and read your book. To capture book shoppers’ attention, you’ll need a good hook. The challenge, however, is doing that with such limited space.

How to do it

Sell it. If you’re familiar with the phrase “elevator pitch” that is the same approach you should take to your back cover. You have a brief window of time to sell your novel from the time a potential buyer picks your book off the shelf to the moment he or she decides to purchase it or put it back. The trick is, you won’t be standing next to your book to sell it, you must rely on your back cover copy to do that for you.
Keep it between 150 to 200 words. The industry standard word count for back cover copy is between 150 and 200 words. This shakes out to roughly five to eight sentences, depending on sentence length. With a small amount of words to convey your story, there are key points you need to include.
Introduce the protagonist. First and foremost, you must tell readers who your main character is and what he or she truly cares about (motivation). Be sure to include the inciting incident that forces the protagonist’s hand.
What are the stakes? Communicate what the protagonist stands to gain or lose. Tell potential readers what could stand in the way of the protagonist getting what he or she wants.
Avoid backstory. Don’t weigh down or take up valuable space within your book’s summary with backstory. Your book summary needs to be as engaging and action-packed as it can be. This will help hook the reader’s attention and get them to purchase your book.
Don’t give away the whole story/ending. While it’s important to give enough detail to convey what your novel is about, you also don’t want to give too much away. Ideally, your back cover should leave potential readers wondering, “What’s going to happen?”

What’s Next for Your Novel

Test your finished back cover copy with potential readers and ask for their honest feedback. Do they want to read the whole book now? Was there enough mystery to draw readers into the book? You’ll know if your book summary is a smashing success or falls a bit flat based on feedback from your reviewers. At that point, you can then revise it based on their suggestions.

Need help writing your back cover summary? Contact us at 1-866-381-2665 to learn about our back cover copy service.

The post Writing Attention-Grabbing Back Cover Copy for Your Novel appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.

How to Write for Kids When You Aren’t One

While often thought to be easy, writing for children of any age is more complex than writing a book for adults. The reason for that is due in large part to the specificity of each reading level. A picture book with less than five hundred words will occupy a toddler, but a first grader will better interact with a book that is considered an “easy reader,” and shows signs of a plot and loveable characters.

By the time children are in second or third grade, they’ll have graduated to early chapter books, which will need stronger plot points and easy to read sentences that also help them learn new, age-appropriate vocabulary words as well. Middle school age kids will need a fully developed plot and characters they can relate to in order to stay interested. Once in high school, teenagers should be reading young adult to adult level books that deliver a powerful and appropriate theme, incorporate subplots with the overall plot, and are enjoyable to read.

Becoming Their Favorite Author

So, how do you make sure your book becomes the next big hit? Start with a unique story, then use these tips to write a book that kids will love:

Know your target audience.

Having a unique story idea is only the beginning. From there, you must decide which children’s audience is the best fit. Your book needs to fall into one of these categories:

Picture books (Ages 0–3)
Easy reader books (Ages 4–7)
Early chapter books (Ages 6–9)
Middle school grade books (Ages 8–12)
Young adult books (Ages 13–18)

Read a lot.

The most important aspect of writing a book for any children’s audience is to first read as many books as possible in the reading level you selected above. Educating yourself about what the market provides for young readers in that reading level is valuable. Also, take note of book cover design. Kids, like adults, gravitate toward book covers; so, your book cover must be able to compete for their attention as well.

Choose an appropriate theme/message.

The theme used in a young adult novel will be more mature than one conveyed in early chapter books or middle school age books. Whether your book’s theme is family, making a big life choice, finding good friends or something else, deliver it on a level that your target readers will be able to understand, process, and talk about with an adult.

Word choice is important.

Remember that your vocabulary as an adult is far more advanced than the vocabulary of a third grader and even a student in tenth grade. Pay special attention to your word choice and how many words you use in each sentence. Always aim to use one strong word in place of two or more words. Match the vocabulary in your book to what your target audience is capable of reading and comprehending.

Use Flesch-Kincaid grade level assessment.

I highly recommend using the Flesch-Kincaid grade level assessment to check your book’s reading level. This assessment computes the average sentence length, the average length of words, word difficulty level, and the total amount of words in a piece of writing. Based on those averages, the assessment will tell you which grade level readers will need to be in to understand your book.

If you use Microsoft Word, you can turn on “readability statistics” under spelling and grammar preferences in the main menu. You can also use this free readability checker to assess your text.

Entertainment is key.

Children read purely for enjoyment, so your storyline must be full of excitement, adventure, mystery or another tactic to keep young readers engaged from the first page to the last.

Be subtle.

Just as kids can sniff out hidden vegetables in their dinner, they can also pick up on an adult preaching to them. Be subtle in how you deliver your message on right and wrong or good and bad. Hiding the lesson doesn’t mean kids won’t process it—they will. It just means they won’t be cognizant of it while they read.

Test it with your target audience.

The last step left is to test your book with readers in your target audience, also known as beta readers. Ask young readers specific questions to gain the most feedback possible. These questions are a great jumping off point:

Did you like reading this book?
What was your favorite part of the story?
Did you like when _______ happened?
What did you like/dislike about [insert specific character]?
Was the [insert antagonist character’s name] scary?
Is there something you didn’t like about the book?

Interested in publishing your children’s book? Visit our website to learn more about our publishing services.

The post How to Write for Kids When You Aren’t One appeared first on Xulon Press Blog, Christian Self-Publishing.