Coaching KidLit
A podcast about writing and publishing good KidLit, hosted by Author Accelerator Certified Book Coaches Christy Yaros and Sharon Skinner. We talk about writing children‘s books.
Episodes
In this episode of Coaching KidLit, host Sharon Skinner welcomes Matt McMann, USA Today bestselling author of the middle grade spooky mystery series Monsterious. Matt shares his unique writing journey—from winning school writing contests as a kid, to a long career as a musician, and finally returning to writing with encouragement and guidance from his wife, bestselling author Lisa McMann.
Matt discusses the ups and downs of his pat...
Sharon and Christy welcome Guest Harshita Jerath, author of picture books such as "The Leaping Ladoo" and "Cooler Than Lemonade" to discuss how she blends elements from her Indian heritage with American experiences in her writing, creating stories that resonate with broader audiences while maintaining cultural authenticity.
Visti Harshita online at:
- Website: harshitajerath.com
- Instagram: @hjjerath
- Facebook: Harshita Jerath Boo...
In this episode of Coaching KidLit, host Sharon Skinner dives into the ins and outs of indie publishing with guest Natalie Wright. Natalie shares her journey from lawyer to successful indie author, discussing her writing process, character development, and the importance of a strong author platform. She offers valuable insights into creating emotionally resonant stories and building an engaged readership. Sharon and Natalie also em...
In this episode of Coaching KidLit, host Sharon Skinner, joined by guest Janet Fox, discusses various aspects of middle grade (MG) writing. Janet shares her writing journey, her passion for MG, and offers valuable insights on the craft of writing, particularly focusing on MG readers, character development, the importance of passion in writing, and tackling the challenges of writing mysteries and contemporary stories.
Sharon Skinner interviews Dianne White, an esteemed picture book author known for works such as "Blue on Blue" and "Who Eats Orange." They delve into Dianne's background, discussing her journey from being an elementary school teacher to becoming a celebrated author. Dianne shares insights on how her teaching career and love for languages have influenced her storytelling. The conversation also highlights the time-intensive nature of...
In this episode of Coaching KidLit, Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach Sara Gentry interviews Sharon about line level language and writing and revising KidLit. They focus on creating engaging language for picture books, establishing authentic middle-grade voices, and developing complex stories in young adult literature.
The conversation highlights the importance of sensory details, precise word choices, and character perspecti...
In this episode of Coaching KidLit, hosts Sharon Skinner and Christy Yaros discuss key aspects handling research with returning guest Laurie Calkhoven.
Laurie, an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, shares her extensive experience in writing over 50 books for young readers, including tips on conducting effective and organized research for both fiction and nonfiction.
She emphasizes the importance of using trusted sources, prim...
In this episode, host Christy Yaros and guest Sara Gentry dive into the vital role of community for KidLit writers. They explore various types of writing communities, from large organizations like SCBWI to intimate critique groups, and discuss how to choose the right community for your needs. Christy and Sarah share valuable tips on balancing free and paid resources, the benefits of connecting with fellow writers, and how community...
In this episode of Coaching KidLit, host Sharon Skinner talks with special guest Lori Alexander about writing and publishing nonfiction for children.
Lori shares her journey from writing picture books to nonfiction, highlighting her award-winning works on historical figures in science and medicine. She discusses her process of finding ideas, conducting deep research, and using narrative techniques to engage young readers. The episo...
Sharon and Christy talk with prolific writer and fellow Author Accelerator Book Coach Laurie Calkoven about the differences between various early KidLit categories, including picture books, early readers, and chapter books.
In this episode of Coaching KidLit, hosts Sharon Skinner and Christy Yaros dive into techniques for effectively telling stories that involve backstory, flashbacks, and flash-forwards.
They discuss the importance of understanding the narrative perspective in time and the challenges associated with various methods of integrating past events into the present storyline.
Practical guidelines are given on how to balance storytelling elem...
In this episode, Christy and Sharon delve into the art of getting character emotions on the page and explore effective techniques for showcasing characters in their unique worlds, setting character-specific rules, and crafting emotionally engaging narratives.
In this episode of Coaching KidLit, hosts Sharon Skinner and Christy Yaros dive deep into the concept of theme in KidLit writing. They discuss how to think about theme as the overarching idea of a book, touching on Cheryl Klein's concepts of experiential, emotional, and thematic points. The hosts emphasize the importance of connecting with the reader through characters' emotional journeys and how different themes can be explored at...
In this episode of Coaching KidLit, Sharon talks Picture Books with award-winning author/illustrator and Picture Book publishing guru, Michael Hale.
From the importance of open communication and trusting collaboration between authors and illustrators to the invaluable advice for aspiring creators considering traditional vs. self-publishing, this episode is brimming with inspiration and practical tips about creating book dummies, th...
In this episode of Coaching KidLit, Christy and Sharon dig into eleven great Writing Craft Books, why they like them, how they use them, and why you might want to check them out.
The discussions centers ways to use of craft writing books and materials when writing KidLit, including tools and approaches for character development, story structure, and effective editing.
Topics covered include:
- Editing with a plan
- Character develo...
In this episode of Coaching KidLit, Christy and Sharon discuss the process of writing and publishing emotionally challenging KidLit with guest, Karen Chow. Chow, a middle-grade novelist and engineer by day, opens up about her debut novel Miracle, in which she explores tough subjects such as cancer, grief, and emotional recovery. Chow shares her experiences from college until her book’s publication, as well as insights about her cre...
Christy and Sharon discuss writing routines and processes for writers navigating their creative journeys, including the need for flexibility, embracing imperfection, and finding joy in the process of creating a sustainable and personalized writing routine.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @CoachingKidLit
For more information about Sharon Skinner, visit bookcoachingbysharon.com or follow her on Instagram @sharon_skinner_author_...
In this special episode, Sharon takes a break while Christy nerds out with fellow Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach Sara Gentry, focusing on project management for writers. They discuss setting practical deadlines, recognizing personal workflows, and the importance of documenting progress. They also emphasize approaching the creative process with intention while being open to discovery.
02:44 Understanding the Complexity of...
Get set for a writing sprint with this motivating episode! Join writing coaches Sharon and Christy as they share tips to optimize writing sprints like NaNoWriMo.
Whether you're gearing up for a 30-day creative marathon or simply trying to make steady progress on your WIP, you'll gather insightful advice on planning, accountability, tracking achievements, celebrating small su...
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