Bestselling, award-winning author Alice Kuipers has published fourteen books for young readers, including 40 Things I Want to Tell You and the Polly Diamond series. Her work has been published in 36 countries, and she works as a writing coach for The Novelry. She lives in Saskatoon with her four children. www.alicekuipers.com

“Spark is a lovely, wise, yet humble book.”—Jeanette Lynes, author of The Apothecary’s Garden

• IntroductionYou as a Storyteller, You as a Writer How This Book Works The Books I’ve Written Create Your Writing Life Now   PART 1. PREWRITING  1. IdeasBeing Open to IdeasFive Tips to Be Open to IdeasObservationQuieting the Inner CriticDigging Deep for StoriesFreewriting: Joy and Fear Regular Writing Lost Ideas Chapter 1 Exercises Practical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It Further  2. Roots My Reading Life Reading Like a Writer The Reading Lists Chapter 2 Exercises Practical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It Further  3. The Options for Writing for Young Readers: Overview Publishing Your Book for Young Readers Should You Write This Story? Thinking about Your Book for Young Readers Good Initial Rules when Writing for Young Readers A Note on the Rules Finding Your Possible Audience Chapter 3 Exercises Practical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It Further  4. The Options for Writing for Young Readers: Specifics for Picture Books and Chapter Books From Picture Books to Chapter Books Picture Books: All Types Board Books Picture Books, General A Note on Rhyme Notes on Illustration The Challenges and Opportunities of Picture Books Easy Readers Chapter Books Polly Diamond Graphic Chapter Books Chapter 4 Exercises Practical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It FurtherPicture Book Chapter Book   5. The Options for Writing for Young Readers: Middle Grade and Young Adult Books From Middle Grade to Young Adult Middle Grade Young Adult New Adult Taboo Topics—or Not? Challenges and Opportunities for Writing Middle Gradeand Young Adult 66Genre 66World Building 69Three Possible Ways to Begin World Building What Is Structure and How Does It Work? Chapter 5 Exercises Practical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It Further  PART 2. WRITING  6. Finding Time and Finding Your Flow Flow Goal Setting Clarity of Goals Concentration and Distraction The Place Where You Work Process Chapter 6 Exercises Practical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It Further  7. Storytelling Sense of Story Becoming a Ghost Transformed My Greatest Writing Weakness Pantser or Planner Useful Words as You Think about Your Story Architecture Central Dramatic Question Chronology Flashback Language: Cadence, Rhyme, and Rhythm Narrative Outline Plot Point of View Scenes Theme Tense Voice Chapter 7 Exercises Practical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It Further  8. CharacterWhere Do Characters Come From? Act and React Character Flaws and Layers Character Desires and How to Use the Interview Characteristics, Habits, Body Language, and Speech Diversity in Your Characters Physical Attributes Tips for Writing Physical Description Other Key Characters Bit-Part Characters Tips for Writing Your Cast Chapter 8 Exercises Practical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It Further  9. Scenes and Settings Scenes The Four Elements of a Scene Description Writing Description Action Writing Action Dialogue Writing Dialogue Interior Monologue Writing Interior Monologue Chapter 9 Exercises Practical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It Further  10. Drafting Your Book Magic and Moments The Slump in the Middle Tips for When You Get Stuck EndingsChapter 10 ExercisesPractical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It Further  PART 3. REWRITING  11. Editing The Break Developmental Editing Developmental Edits: Picture Books Developmental Edits: Chapter Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult Rewriting Line Editing Ten-Point Line-Edit Checklist Finding a Reader Hiring an Editor Chapter 11 Exercises Practical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It FurtherPacing/Structure Characters   12. What Happens Next? The Nitty Gritty of Traditional, Hybrid, and Self-Publishing The Traditional Route Self-Publishing 7 Questions to Ask Yourself as You Decide Rejection Abandoning Agents Tips to Find an Agent Querying Query Letter and Submission: Final Tips Chapter 12 Exercises Practical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It Further  13. Your Writing Life Social Media and Your Platform Library and School Visits Parenting and Responsibilities Tips for Juggling Responsibilities and Writing Confidence and Writer’s Block Tips for When Your Confidence Flags and You’re Feeling Blocked Final Words Chapter 13 Exercises Practical TaskWriting: 10 MinutesWriting: 30 MinutesTaking It Further  Places to Go: Further Reading Picture Books to Get You Excited Chapter BooksYounger Chapter Books Older Chapter Books Graphic Chapter Books Middle Grade Younger Middle Grade Classic Middle Grade Series for Younger Middle Grade Older Middle Grade Series for Older Middle Grade Graphic Novels for Middle Grade Readers Young Adult Young Adult for Ages 12 and Up Series for Ages 12 and Up Older Young Adult Series for Ages 14 and Up Graphic Novels for Young Adult Readers Books about Writing that I Love Places to Go Online