Creating Characters Kids Will Love

by Alphin, Elaine Marie

• ISBN13: 9780898799859
• ISBN10: 0898799856
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-09-01
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books

Summary

From fiction to nonfiction, short stories to full-length books, the key to creating engaging stories for kids is developing vivid characters. Veteran children's author Elaine Alphin gives readers concrete tips for bringing your characters to life, including: How to observe real kids and bring their life onto the page; How to remember your own childhood and make it a part of your story; How to use the elements of characterization as the basis for conflict and action. With examples from successful children's books and exercises throughout, this book is a must-have for both the beginning writer and those more experienced in the children's book field.

Author Biography

Elaine Marie Alphin, author of 11 children's books, has won numerous awards, including the ALA Recommended Book award, the SCBWI Magazine Merit Award for Fction and Nonfiction, as well as the Virginia Best Book award

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(6)
PART I Characters in Search of a Plot
Believable Kids on the Page: Finding Story Characters	7	(14)
Remember the Child You Were: Creating a Character Journal	21	(14)
See Dick and Jane: Observing Real Kids	35	(12)
Turn Real Children Into Characters: Transforming Fact Into Fiction	47	(14)
PART II Give Those Characters the Story They Need
Is It a Story Yet? Character Growth and Plot Development	61	(12)
Two Problems in One: A Character's Internal Problems	73	(10)
Who's Telling the Story?: Point of View	83	(18)
Short Characterization for Short Stories?: Short Fiction	101	(10)
Complicate Your Character's Life: Book-Length Character Development	111	(12)
PART III A Story in Search of a Cast
Exceptional Characters: Heroes and Villains	123	(10)
The Rest of the Gang: Secondary Characters	133	(16)
Animals, Aliens and Series Characters: Special Characters for Special Situations	149	(14)
Keeping Grown-Ups in Their Place: Adult Characters	163	(14)
PART IV Bringing Nonfiction to Life
Characters from Life: Real-Life Kids	177	(8)
Grown-Ups Kids Would Love to Meet: Adult Role Models	185	(10)
Voices From the Past: Kid-Friendly Biographies	195	(14)
Truth in Fiction: Fictional Characters From History	209	(12)
Epilogue	221	(2)
Index	223