Write For Toddlers: How?

Have a question? Agree, disagree,
with me? Leave me your opinion.

This post will address writing
for toddlers. Specifically, pre-
school age children.

Picture books are geared toward
this age group.

There are three categories of
picture books. The age groups
are: two-six, six-ten, ten and up.

Picture books are thirty-two pages
long.

Direct or target the age group
you're addressing.

Toddlers are interested in
pictures, color. Big pictures
should surround a simple story.

"What do you mean by simple
story?" You asked.

A story about sharing a toy, fear
of a loud noise, or why nap time
is important.

Toddlers like stories that are
fun, surprising, and humorous.

A toddler refuses to share a toy,
for example. Turn it into a story.

Take a look at my story idea.

It revolves around how a child
shared his toy. He/she allowed
others to play with his/her toy.
The toy disappeared, and the
children hunted for it.

In the end, the story
character found out
that it was more fun
sharing.

A possible start follows.

"Wanna play with my bear?"
Randy asked Sam.

Sam grabs the bear, bounces it.

"I want it back."

Sam runs. He's chased by
other children.

Sam laughs. He spins around,
hides in one room and then
another. He slips in a closet,
tips out. He finds himself
scrunched down in a bath-tub,
but the toy had disappeared.

How would you write it?

The second story start is a
toddler afraid of the noise
vacuum cleaners make.

Dan stares at his mother as
she opens the closet. He backs
away. She pulls out the monster.

"Too loud." Dan ran to another
room.

His mother goes behind him.

"It can't hurt you." She smiled
at him.

She brings the vacuum cleaner
to him. It accidentally...

Continue the story.

Finally, a nap time story
possibility.

"Not sleepy." Zack yawned.

"It's bed-time." Zack's mother
said.

"No, no."

I have an idea to help you
fall asleep...

Your Idea?

Also, toddlers like to interact
with the book.

A sing-along book to teach
counting is a way to hold
the toddlers attention.

Now, it's a good idea to
visit book-stores. See what's
on shelves, and the types
of books publishers are
buying.

Put your ideas into
stories, books.

The Poet: Awaken It

Have a question? Agree, disagree,
with me? Leave me your opinion.

Awaken the poet in you by reading
the works of other poets. Take note
of their style. How is imagery used?

Imagery is the descriptions selected.
The mental pictures you want to
float through minds when your
poems are read. They stimulate
the reader's imagination.

Tickle the imagination, and it
filters in other senses.

Metaphors and similes allow the
reader to feel, see, and experience
your poems.

Metaphors finds a similarity between
two unrelated things.

Let's look at examples of metaphors.

Susie is an eagle.

Susie is called an eagle, because
she's smart. It's a comparison
between Susie and the eagle. It's
creative, and more interesting for
the reader.

Gary is a bull on the run when it
comes to painting. I tried to
compromise on the color, but he
wouldn't listen.

The bull describes Gary. A
similarity is found between Gary
and the bull.

Critique my poems.

I Stand

I'm rooted a tree
Years of storms
Have stabilized my resolve
I bloom from harsh world winds

=====================

Choice

My choice is success
Not to sit and wish
But a turtle to a goal
Reaching it in time

==================

Similes compares two dissimilar things.
Also, similes describes by using like or
as. Specifically, one thing is like or as
another.

Examples of similes follow.

1. Tim is as thin as a stick person.
2. The rain tapped at my window pane
like a pecking bird.
3. His skin was like leather.
4. Belle's hair is black as coal.

Look at similes used in poems.

Flint
An emerald is as green as grass,
A ruby red as blood;
A sapphire shines as blue as heaven;
A flint lies in the mud.

A diamond is a brilliant stone,
To catch the world's desire;
An opal holds a fiery spark;
But a flint holds a fire.

Christina Rossetti
1830-1894



Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112392/simileclassics.html

========================================

Good People Rise

The corrupted hearts of a few
use confusion like a joke-
boost about their deeds,
but good people rise above them.

=======================================

Start writing poems by describing
a friend, family member, pet, or
an interest.

Write about an experience in
your life. Perhaps, a news head-
line, story.

Think about how you feel about
a friend, the experience, pet,
or story.

Write down everything about it.
Add metaphors, and similes.
Keep the words that best depicts
it.

In other words, poems must
be critiqued too.

Now, it's time to awaken the
poet in you.

Writing Goals: How To Reach Them?

Have a question? Agree, disagree,
with me? Leave me your opinion.

Every goal needs a plan.
It's not enough to say,
"I'll write when possible."

"Why?" You asked.

Time will never be found to
write. There will be
more important activities
in your life, and you'll push
writing aside.

"One day, I'll write that book."
You declared.

You have to take an action,
not just talk about writing a
book.

The day will never
come.

Sit down. Plan out
the time for writing.

Will you write in the
morning? Before others
awake in your house,
apartment, or living-space?
Perhaps, just before bed
is best for you. Pre-dawn
is more appealing to write?

The point is to find time
for writing. It's important
to write, at least, two hours
per day.

It must become a habit.
When possible, write more
than two hours everyday.

Is there something you
need to start?

Do you need to
get a refresher course?
Colleges offer them
online, offline.

My blog is stuffed
full of writer related
information.

The link is
http://critiqueandwrite.blogspot.com.

What will you write?
Fiction? Non-fiction?

"I'm not sure." You
shared.

Try writing about the
topics that interest
you.

Pet care have a special
meaning to you? Share
your thoughts, experiences,
on the subject.

A certain illness? Do
research. Find out more
about it.

Take small steps.
There's no need to
write a novel, at first.

Start-off with
writing a short story.

Do you prefer to
write an essay?
Greeting cards?

Business related information
is more your style? Begin
writing about it.

Here's an idea. Take an area
that isn't covered, and write
an essay. Or, jot down
information on a topic you
feel isn't written about enough.

There's no hurry.
Sample. See where
your niche is.

Niche is your place.
The writing works
well with your creative
flow. You and this
field is one, your
thing. It's a reachable
goal.

A reachable goal is
one that's right for you.
It's comfortable, and
attainable.

Let's look at a goal
that's not reachable,
unrealistic.

A plan to write a
novel in three days
is unreachable.

It would put unnecessary
stress on you. I'm sure
other areas in your life
would suffer too.

In other words, a writing
goal must fit into your life-
style.

Sometimes, you have to
re-arrange, stop, something
to have time to write. Avoid
a trip to the club, for example.
Instead, scribble notes on a
subject.

In order to reach a writing
goal, you have to plan for
it.

Title For A Story: How?

Have a question? Agree, disagree,
with me? Leave me your opinion.

Right Title

The right title grabs the reader's
attention. It's the title's job.

Titles ask questions, throw-
out statements, and enlighten
readers with information.

Story Title

I'm going to discuss how
to title your story, fiction.
It has to spark an interest
for the reader.

The goal is to keep the
title within the three-to-five
word range. One or two
word titles are effective too.

Creative Titles

Titles must be creative.

"How do I pick the right
title?" You asked.

The title does more than
hint at what the story is
about. The title sums-up
your story.

The title involves joy, sorrow,
hate, or sadness. Likewise,
the title should fit the genre.
A thriller, for example, requires
a different title than one for
a Western.

Adapt the title to your
story.

"I don't get it." You shared.

How To Pick The Right Title?

Sit down. Read through your
story slowly. Jot down words
that describe it.

Which words, combination of
words, best describe your story?
Select words to stir-up the reader,
and display your creativity to an
editor.

You want readers to say, Hmm.
What's that about? Or, it sounds
like I'll enjoy reading the story.

Title Example

Let's look at a title for a story
about a character who claims
someone is following him or
her. A few friends of the
character trailed him/her
to catch the alleged stalker.

Friends weren't able to
catch, see, him or her.

"Who wanted to do that,
and why?" One friend
asked.

Is the character making it up?
The character wants more
attention from someone?
Possibly, the character is
insane.

Possible Titles

What is the best title?

1. Followed

or

In The Shadows

2. Stalked

or

Is Someone Looking?

3. Dark

or

When Darkness Descends

Pick the best title from the
examples above. On a scale
of one to three, pick the best
titles. One is the best suited
title, and three the least suited
for the story.

Best Titles

I'll select what titles are
best as well.

1. In The Shadows

2. When Darkness Descends

3. Is Someone Looking?

Did your choices match
mine? What were your
selections?

Reasons For My Choices

My story is a mystery, possible
thriller. So, my title has to
reflect it.

My title choices are eye
catching enough to grab
the reader's attention, and
show my creativity to an
editor. I want the title to
ignite fear, concern.

My titles meet the three-
to-five word criteria.

Conclusion

Use these easy steps
to write eye catching
titles.

Note

I welcome differing
opinions.