Learning Craft From Children’s Authors
When researching and writing my first MA Writing for Young People essay, I made two observations: my peers and I were overwhelmed with how to go about it and, through the process, I learned more specific and applicable techniques for the craft of children’s writing than I had from craft manuals. To...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elen Caldecott & Lucy Cuthew
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Leaf Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/article/view/102 |
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| _version_ | 1850267736572166144 |
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| author | Sarah Dyer |
| author_facet | Sarah Dyer |
| author_sort | Sarah Dyer |
| collection | DOAJ |
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When researching and writing my first MA Writing for Young People essay, I made two observations: my peers and I were overwhelmed with how to go about it and, through the process, I learned more specific and applicable techniques for the craft of children’s writing than I had from craft manuals. To write my essay, I utilised my knowledge of teaching essay structure to teens. I share the process I took to create my Writing for Young People essay in order to illustrate how a scholar can apply the same steps to their own interests. Steps that I discuss include developing a focus question, reading and researching, collating observations and making conclusions, and outlining, drafting, and polishing. Though some of the steps I offer seem obvious, I collect them to support new scholars in efficiently writing an essay and to support them in unlocking a way to learn from children’s authors. Throughout I model from my own essay, sharing the strategies I learned about using animal companions to develop the protagonist in Middle Grade novels. I end with one example of how I have applied what I learned to my current manuscript.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1045d2ee7ee042efbd5a47d0f4a7f73b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2753-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elen Caldecott & Lucy Cuthew |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Leaf Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-1045d2ee7ee042efbd5a47d0f4a7f73b2025-08-20T01:53:41ZengElen Caldecott & Lucy CuthewLeaf Journal2753-69202023-12-011210.58091/etn8-3525Learning Craft From Children’s AuthorsSarah Dyer When researching and writing my first MA Writing for Young People essay, I made two observations: my peers and I were overwhelmed with how to go about it and, through the process, I learned more specific and applicable techniques for the craft of children’s writing than I had from craft manuals. To write my essay, I utilised my knowledge of teaching essay structure to teens. I share the process I took to create my Writing for Young People essay in order to illustrate how a scholar can apply the same steps to their own interests. Steps that I discuss include developing a focus question, reading and researching, collating observations and making conclusions, and outlining, drafting, and polishing. Though some of the steps I offer seem obvious, I collect them to support new scholars in efficiently writing an essay and to support them in unlocking a way to learn from children’s authors. Throughout I model from my own essay, sharing the strategies I learned about using animal companions to develop the protagonist in Middle Grade novels. I end with one example of how I have applied what I learned to my current manuscript. https://ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/article/view/102academiaessaycharacter developmentanimal companion |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Dyer Learning Craft From Children’s Authors Leaf Journal academia essay character development animal companion |
| title | Learning Craft From Children’s Authors |
| title_full | Learning Craft From Children’s Authors |
| title_fullStr | Learning Craft From Children’s Authors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Learning Craft From Children’s Authors |
| title_short | Learning Craft From Children’s Authors |
| title_sort | learning craft from children s authors |
| topic | academia essay character development animal companion |
| url | https://ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/article/view/102 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahdyer learningcraftfromchildrensauthors |