Writing Challenge Based On Special Literary Time

Note the National Picture Book Writing Week contest page at http://paulayoo.com/napi. If that's your type of writing, give it a try (participating when it's time, or doing it as a writing challenge you give yourself). OR if you write something other than picture books, try a writing exercise that inspires you based on a special day or month designated for some other type of writing. For example: Novel Writing Month, Poetry Month, a Favorite Author's Birthday, or an anniversary year based on the time of publication of one of your favorite children's book. Good luck.

Writer Profile and You

In a variation of an actual contest posted somewhere, write a six word or six sentence profile or memoir of a well known children's writer; then write one of yourself as the writer you are or are aiming to be.

Challenge - ''Politics'' Not As Usual

See the writer's challenge: "Letters from the White House" at http://www.readingrockets.org/books/fun/writingcontest. In a variation of this challenge, write a short story, poem, or letter, written from a young person's point of view. The young person should be someone connected to the First Family or someone who has had a direct or brief moment of contact with the Presidential Family. It can be a writing by an actual young First Family member from the past or present. Include something of importance to the young writer about the historical time in which the chosen First Family lives or has lived. You may also write something from the viewpoint of another young person who is or was somehow in contact with the young members of the First Family. It may be, for example, a young person whose relative works at the White House, or someone from the public who wants to tell a young First Family member a special concern, with the hope that this concern will be handled.

When Thinking Of Something To Write

Some librarians and editors sometimes suggest subjects that writers should write about for young readers, because not much has been written on these subjects. Sometimes, too, these people suggest subjects that have been written about too much, and writers should avoid them. Dare to Take Up This Challenge: Find a subject one of these people suggest writers should avoid because they have been written about often, then brainstorm and come up with a new unique angle that only you have thought of, then write something fictional or nonfictional using this angle. Dare to send it out to show that there are an infinite number of ways to write about subjects that have often been written about - AND keep in mind that maybe you have discovered one of the great ways to write on this subject.

A Halloween Writers Challenge

Write a story featuring your young main character, and maybe her or his friends, going trick or treating, or to a party, and wearing costumes that show the protagonist and friends "dressing up" as literary characters. In the story include a reason why the protagonist (and maybe each friend) chose that literary character, and what adventures or consequences happen at the party, or while trick or treating, because of those choices. [This challenge is a variation, for children's writers, of a commentary in a newsletter email sent by powells.com - an online book store]

A Challenge From A Historic Children's Author

In a Preface to one of her writings, noted nineteenth century children's author Louisa May Alcott wrote, in part: “There is a sort of fate about writing books of travel that it is impossible to escape.... It is vain to declare that no inducement will bribe one to do it, that there is nothing new to tell, and that nobody wants to read the worn-out story... Sooner or later the deed is done, and not till the book is safely shelved does peace descend upon the victim of this mysterious doom.... The only way in which this affliction may be lightened... is to make the work as cheerful and as short as possible...[with the author confining herself or himself] to the personal haps and mishaps, adventures and experiences, of her [or his] wanderers." Think about what Louisa wrote, considering "books of travel" as more than travel books, and considering as characters the "wanderers" she mentioned, then accept the fate/challenge that she suggested to you -- her fellow writers -- and write a story with your unique touch while following her philosophy as stated above.

Another Writing Challenge for Children's Writers - How Does Your Character React to Setting?

Suppose your young character wakes up one morning in a strange place and has no memory of who s/he is or what her/his life was like before that day. What is this place? What might be important about this place, in general, and to the young character? How might 3 things the character finds in her or his pocket (which you should identify) be tied to the loss of the memories and help her or him regain those memories or her/his identity, or some sense of who s/he is? [Comment: You might think that an Amber Alert would help this young character get back to where s/he belongs, but consider how s/he might help herself or himself aside from this, or why the Amber Alert might not apply to her or his situation]