Writing Genre Fiction

» Brian Tubbs - Platform?

What kind of platform/credential requirements exist for historical nonfiction for kids?

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» Jennifer Jensen - Platform?

In response to Platform? posted by BrianTubbs:
Hi, Brian. Thanks for asking the question. Most of my information comes from a workshop with Carolyn Yoder, the editor for the historical imprint, Calkins Creek Books, as well as the author's bios in the back of children's books and knowing some people who write biographies.
In general, there are no credentials or platforms needed to be a successful children's historical writer, just awesome research skills and the ability to tell a great story. The amount of primary research Carolyn looks for is more than I ever dreamed--if you say that George Washington had pheasant for dinner, you'd better have a reference somewhere that says he did, or that it was available and typical for someone like him. But the best research doesn't do any good if you can't tell a great story--gripping for children, who are often interested in things that we aren't, and bored by things that we think are cool. So you have to use language and syntax as well as subject matter and character development to keep them reading.
With that said, it may be easier to pitch a story idea if you are a historian or have a long-term hobby of a particular era. Expertise always makes a good impression. But a book must stand on its own, no matter who writes it, and once an editor is past your name and credentials, nothing else matters except the book.
Also, I didn't really discuss non-fiction in the articles because I'm specifically writing about fiction, but any quotes or dialogue in non-fiction need to have documentation--you can't make up conversations like they did a few decades ago.

For good examples of children's historical books, look at "The Printer's Trial" by Gail Jarrow (middle grade) and "By the Sword" by Selene Castrovilla (picture book).
If you've got questions about particular areas, I'd be glad to share Carolyn's comments. Do you have a project you're considering?

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» Brian Tubbs - Platform?

In response to Platform? posted by Writerrider:

I'm sorry. I meant to say "historical fiction" not "historical nonfiction." Brain cramp. And sorry I've been away for so long. The last couple of weeks have been crazy.

I'm considering SEVERAL ideas. I seem to do well in thinking up ideas. Not too well in actually writing them. Anyway, my historical fiction ideas are...

*a novel about George Washington in the French and Indian War (a somewhat neglected part of his life, yet one that it's pretty action-packed and seems perfect for drama -- this is, after all, the time he was most pining over Sally Fairfax, his best friend's wife)

*a novel about a Revolutionary War chaplain (which I might spin into a series of novels on chaplains in wartime - RevWar, Civil War, etc)

And then I've got some non-history related projects. Again, my problem is I quintiple-guess myself and have a hard time getting started.

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» peabody172 - Historical fiction dialogue

I have a question as to historical fiction dialogue. If there is a real person in the telling of an actual historic event, can any of the dialogue written be created? Example- the sea voyage of the mayflower. Can you have a real passenger converse, using undocumented dialogue, with another within the story you are telling? If not, then these passengers must be ficticious within a factual experience. Thanks

-- posted by peabody172

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» Jennifer Jensen - Historical fiction dialogue

In response to Historical fiction dialogue posted by peabody172:

I think the idea of historical fiction IS fictitious characters within a factual experience. I enjoy fictional characters whose lives interact with real people, but Jeff Shaara's Civil War books (God and Generals, for example) are prime examples of real people as the main characters.

The trick is to know the real people as well as possible so that their words and actions and attitudes fit with what we know about them. Extremely important in books like Shaara's, mildly important (IMO) if George Washington passes through town and says hello. So yes, you can make up a conversation with William Brewster talking to another passenger, but make sure to keep him anchored in his historical class and attitudes. And don't have him mention a woman he hopes to marry when he's already married!

Non-fiction biographies are where you need the actual words, either from primary sources like journals, letters, speeches, etc., or possibly from contemporary accounts of what they said, such as a friend's journal.

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