Without authors of children's books, where would we be?Authors of children's books inspire and educate young people by sharing their wonderful gift with words. You may have questions such as how they got their start, what motivates them, and how they come up with ideas for their stories? Find out more about what inspires Judy Blume. The answers to these questions are often elusive. But there are a few things that you can be sure of: 1) Writing good quality literature is hard work. It's a craft that requires serious discipline, and a lot of patience. For example, it took Katherine Paterson and Janet McNaughton years before they published their first novels. Mem Fox acknowledges that the picture books she's written are really very hard work! Yet many writers such as David Almond would tell you that what they do is their life's passion, and they wouldn't even describe it as work!
2) Writers often like to hear from their fans, praise or criticism. You may not receive a personal reply--but you may be surprised! You'll also feel good knowing that you passed on your compliments. They especially like to hear from their young fans. Some such as Bruce Lansky often make school visits as well. Also, if you aspire to be published, you can learn a lot from studying your favorite writer's style. What about the fantastic stories of Philip Pullman, Gregory Maguire, or Susan Cooper? Also, if you have the opportunity, you can ask them questions about how it's done. 3) Let's not forget that it's not all about the words--there are some extremely talented illustrators and photographers without whose artwork a picture book would just be ho-hum. Some multi-talented writers, such as Maurice Sendak, William Steig, Bruce McMillan, and Tove Jansson have done both! 4) Many writers find inspiration for their stories, such as Owl Moon by Jane Yolen or those by Michael Morpurgo or Astrid Lindgren, in their personal experiences. Remember the suggestion to write what you know? It obviously works! 5) Writing for young people is difficult at times but it is one of the most fulfilling jobs on the planet. So let's get started exploring the biographies of some authors of children's books. You might find some new favorites among those we have listed on the site!
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