A Must Have Craft Book- Writing Irresistible Kid Lit

It’s possible I have a writing craft book addiction. I can’t get enough. One of the things that I love most about writing is that success isn’t random, or luck, or sheer talent. It’s a craft, it can be learned. If you’re willing to work at it- you will get better. I’m often asked at conferences how people can get better. My best advice is to read. Read a lot. My second piece of advice is to understand how books are put together. How they’re crafted.

If you’re looking to write middle grade or young adult you need to add Writing irresistible Kid Lit to your craft shelf. The book has a blend of concrete examples and practical exercises that takes you from thinking about how to make your book better, to steps to make those improvements. The book is accessible enough for someone who is just starting out, but has enough meat to satisfy a more experienced writer.

What I enjoyed most about the book was the examples. (Full disclose: Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood was included- and trust me this is company I’m happy to join) I’m someone who learns better by example so I found this helpful. Not to mention it added to my to-be-read list.

The book was written by Mary Kole, a Senior Literary Manager at Moveable Type, and the author of the KidLit blog. The book is a bit like having the opportunity to sit down with an agent for a heart to heart about why some books sell and some don’t. Picture yourself kicking back with a cocktail in a swank NY bar and being able to talk books and publishing with someone who’s worked in the biz. This book is like that- but you have to bring your own cocktail. On the upside you don’t have to get dressed up to read it.

November 1st, 2012