How Place Fuels Creativity
You can get away without a strong sense of place in some stories, but most middle graders need the anchor it provides. Imagine Harry...
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John Hearne
- Jan 28, 2022
- 3 min
My Publication Journey
Here’s the story of how ‘The Very Dangerous Sisters of Indigo McCloud’ went from being the germ of an idea to becoming a real book, with...
John Hearne
- Jan 21, 2022
- 4 min
Which are the most disgusting children’s books?
Roll out the snot, the filth and the fart jokes. If there’s one thing kids love almost as much as being terrified, it’s being grossed...
John Hearne
- Jan 14, 2022
- 3 min
Who (or what) are the best creatures in children's books?
I’m not talking here about beasts and monsters, but about the more benign varieties of creature, the strange, enchanting and mysterious...
John Hearne
- Jan 7, 2022
- 4 min
How to Write Great Dialogue
‘What is the use of a book,’ thought Alice, ‘without pictures or conversation?’ In this, the very first paragraph of Alice’s Adventures...
John Hearne
- Dec 17, 2021
- 4 min
The Power of Gentle Beginnings
We’re always supposed to start the tale in media res, right? Drop the reader into middle of the action like a commando abseiling from an...
John Hearne
- Dec 10, 2021
- 3 min
Creating cliché-free Bullies
Bullies. A standard feature of childhood, and so a standard feature of children’s fiction. I’m still amazed by the numbers of clichéd...
John Hearne
- Dec 3, 2021
- 3 min
Who are the most Misguided Parents in Children’s Books?
I’m not talking about the downright horrible ones here. Forget the likes of Matilda's parents, and forget too the guardians and...
John Hearne
- Nov 26, 2021
- 4 min
Four Things Every Writer Must Do
These are the four non-negotiables. Drop any one and you instantly reduce your chances of producing publishable work. 1. Read in the...
John Hearne
- Nov 19, 2021
- 3 min
What’s the Secret Ingredient in Great Children’s Fiction?
Here are some opening sentences to great children’s books: · ‘Coraline discovered the door a little while after they moved into the...
John Hearne
- Nov 15, 2021
- 3 min
Who are the Best Sidekicks in Children’s Fiction?
Pity the poor sidekick, destined to tramp by the hero’s side, taking all the risk but reaping few of the rewards. In reality however, the...
John Hearne
- Nov 5, 2021
- 4 min
Harry Potter and the Three Act Structure
It’s a curious contradiction at the heart of great story-telling. We seek originality in all things: character, plot, setting, action,...
John Hearne
- Oct 29, 2021
- 4 min
Writing Great Villains for Children’s Books
Part of the reason writing villains is so much fun is that it’s one of the few legitimate ways of giving vent to your own neuroses, spite...
John Hearne
- Oct 21, 2021
- 3 min
The 5 Nastiest Female Villains in Children’s Books
The Other Mother was huge – her head almost brushed the ceiling of the room – and very pale, the colour of a spider’s belly. Her hair...
John Hearne
- Oct 7, 2021
- 4 min
Creating Great Children’s Characters – 5 Top Tips
What makes great characters great? Is it that they’re heroic, or clever, or villainous or quirky? I don’t think it’s any of these things....
THE BLUNT BLOG:
A Resource for People Who Write for Children
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