  It’s honestly been so long since I’ve written a blog post that I had to remind myself how. How do I begin?! Like all writing, it simply requires starting (or re-starting). May this blog post about beginnings also be the beginning of more regularly posted tidbits of writing inspiration to you, dear writer. Thank you for hanging in there with me. I’m happy to reconnect with you! But this blog post is not just about starting again. (cue Taylor Swift’s “Begin Again,” and feel free to listen to it as an added muse to this blog post!) It’s about beginnings that beg us to read more. Ones that start strong, and force us to flip that page. Ones that compel us to keep going, even though it’s way past bedtime, or we’re in the middle of another book, or we had something else really important to do…but too bad for that (and yay for this book with the brilliant beginning!). How do we begin like that? I spent a good chunk of this year revising a middle grade project into a chapter book series. To do so successfully, I dug back into my chapter book notes that I collected while writing the Teeny Houdini chapter books. I found the notes reviving – reminding me of things I “knew” but wanted to refocus on. And, then, I found myself adding to my notes, and doing a few more studies on recent chapter books that fit the bill of beginning in a really strong way, and begging me to read them through to completion. My studies focused on chapter books, and that’s what I’ll share below. But, these insights can be applied to middle grade writing, and older novel writing, as well as picture books. For picture books, you’ll want to do the following in the first one to two spreads, as opposed to the first chapter. And you’d also be wise to Dig Deep into Revision, too! To start strong, and give the reader a sense of what’s to come, I found that each of the first chapters in these un-put-downable books included two very clear things: 1. We know who the main character is, and we feel connected to them! 2. We know the plot! A clear problem is presented, and we are now invested in it being solved. If you’ve been around the blog, or attended my writing workshops, or gotten a critique from me, you’ll know that I like to ask questions to get you thinking! So here are the questions we want answered in the beginning (first chapter, or first two spreads for picture book): Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? What is their problem/goal? Here are the answers revealed in the first chapters of the mentor texts I used during my latest chapter book revision for my current work-in-progress. (Yes, I also referred back to Teeny Houdini: The Disappearing Act, because aren’t we always learning from ourselves and improving, too?! Also…how’d I do it?...remind me!) DORY FANTASMAGORY by Abby Hanlon  Who is the main character? Why do we care about them?* Dory, aka Rascal. She’s the baby. She’s always annoying her family, and spends most of her time living and playing inside her own head. *If that’s not the most true-to-childhood experience ever, I don’t know what is. I immediately feel for her and totally relate! What is their problem/goal? Her older siblings, Luke and Violet, try to scare her, and it backfires on them. *This ignites Dory’s imagination and it’s so funny and joyful. We must keep reading to see how it continues! SKUNK AND BADGER by Amy Timberlake, with pictures by Jon Klassen  Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? Badger! He loves rocks and privacy and not being bothered. He takes his work very seriously. Skunk! He’s carefree and impulsive. And he’s Badger’s new roommate. *Oh, how can we not relate to these two, and also feel the tension of these opposite in temperament characters now being stuck together as roommates?! Whether you’re more Badger or more Skunk, we feel for each of the characters, and also connect with them! What is their problem/goal? How is Badger going to live with Skunk? How is Skunk moving in going to disrupt Badger’s way of life? *And, as I needed to know…is Badger going to be nice to him?! THE STORY OF GUMLUCK THE WIZARD by Adam Rex  Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? Gumluck! He is a little wizard with the biggest heart! He cares deeply about others, and especially about pleasing others. He’s hardworking, and well meaning, but not great at reading others, or the seeing things from their perspective. *I immediately wanted to hug him! I felt his big heart right away, and that reeled me in. And then his lack of awareness of what’s actually going on – I felt for him, and was invested in his growth and his journey! We also meet another character in chapter one who makes us laugh (you’ll have to check out the book to find out!), and we feel connected to because *they get it! Are they a little bitter? A little curmudgeonly? You bet…that makes them all the more relatable. And, what a great way to build tension from the start when these two characters meet each other in this first chapter. What is their problem/goal? It is revealed that Gumluck’s secret is that he wants “to be crowned Harvest Hero at the Harvest Dance”. *But this seems unlikely given that no one in his town seems to actually like him or appreciate him (not even his new “friend”). I needed to read on because I was so invested in him achieving his dream, and also so aware of how far of a goal that was from where he stood. How was it going to happen?!  Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? Bessie Lee – she’s not “Teeny Houdini” yet, but she is the teeniest in her first grade class, the teeniest in her family, full of zippy energy, and eager to make a BIG impression! *We’ve all felt tiny at one point or another—whether physically, or simply not important enough, or visible enough to be noticed. Her energy is fun, and we want to see how that is contained, or NOT in the pages to come! What is their problem/goal? She’s determined to win the school talent show so that she can finally feel big! * I’ve heard from so many readers who connect to Bessie’s feeling, and it’s not at all to do with their small stature. So we feel for her, and we want her to succeed! Now that I’ve given you some examples, I’m putting you to work! Go grab any two character driven picture books, chapter books, or novels. If you have them handy, or can easily check them out form the library (they are very popular and have many books in the series!), I’d suggest trying this out on MAGIC TREEHOUSE #1 DINOUSAURS BEFORE DARK by Mary Pope Osborne, or THE NEVER GIRLS: in a blink by Kiki Thorpe. Only read the first chapter (or first two spreads if it’s a picture book). What are the answers to the questions: Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? What is their problem/goal? Finally, it’s your turn! Go back to your Work-In-Progress. Only read the first chapter (or first intended spreads of your picture book). Who is the main character? Why do we care about them? What is their problem/goal? Does your beginning reveal this important information? Does it beg us to read on? If not, you can also restart. The magic, I believe, is always in revision. Bring us a beginning that we never want to end. Happy Writing! -Katrina ✨  Katrina Moore writes in Georgia. She holds a M.A. in Teaching and taught elementary school for thirteen years in Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. Her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She is the author of the picture books, HOPE IS A HOP, illustrated by Melissa Iwai (Penguin/Dial, March 2023), SOMETIMES LOVE, illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz (Penguin/Dial, Summer 2022), ONE HUG, illustrated by Julia Woolf (HarperCollins/Tegen Books, Dec. 2019), GRANDPA GRUMPS, illustrated by Xindi Yan, and its companion, GRUMPY NEW YEAR (Little Bee Books, Dec, 2022), and the forthcoming CHANG;E ON THE MOON (HarperCollins, September '24), and THE STAR IN YOU (Macmillan/Roaring Brook, October '24). Her humorous TEENY HOUDINI chapter book series, illustrated by Zoe Si, star the magical, mischievous, mayhem-maker Bessie Lee. TEENY HOUDINI: THE DISAPPEARING ACT, TEENY HOUDINI: THE SUPER SECRET VALENTINE, and TEENY HOUDINI: THE GIANT PANDA PLAN are all available now (HarperCollins/Tegen Books).
When she is not writing, she is cooking without a recipe, painting outside the lines, adventuring, or snuggling up with her two kids, husband, pups, and of course, a cozy book. Connect with her on twitter @kmoorebooks or at www.katrinamoorebooks.com. Katrina enjoys traveling near and far to visit schools and students, as well as teachers, librarians, and aspiring writers. For inquiries about speaking, presentations, workshops, panel participation, or school visits, please see the author visit page and contact her to schedule a visit!
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 Hello, hello! It's been a HOT minute. Seriously. HOT. I hope you've been able to stay cool. I've been escaping to the beach and pool whenever I can. I've also made it part of my summer morning routine to sit right by the air conditioning vent with a ginormous pile of picture books (and my daughter, and my son, and my two huge dogs) all on my lap. Okay, so it doesn't stay cool for long. But it's snug in the best way. It's no secret that in order to write well, you have to read a lot of books in the genre that you write in. It's also common (and very good) advice that if you are trying to submit new work for publication, then you should be reading new books, so that you are up to date on what the market looks like right now.* So for this post, I'm focusing my examples on books that have published within the last two years (including my newest picture book, SOMETIMES LOVE, which just published this month!) In addition to reading a lot this summer, I've critiqued a lot of picture book manuscripts (which, by the way, is another highly recommended, and stellar way to get better at writing your own manuscripts!). During these critiques, I found myself asking the same questions over and over again. In this post, I'll share some of these questions, and show you some recent picture books that answer these questions exceptionally well, to help you dig deeper into revising your own picture book manuscript. *More on marketability of picture books on this previous blog post. Is this the best title for this story?
How can you create a clearer cause-effect relationship between what the character wants, and what happens as a result of their attempts to reach that goal?  I'm going to use my TEENY HOUDINI chapter books as an example here, again. Because this question was the one I struggled with the most while plotting out each of the books. In order to move your story along in a clear, linear, way, this question needs to be considered. In TEENY HOUDINI: THE GIANT PANDA PLAN, Bessie meets a baby panda and realizes that pandas are in danger. So she crafts a plan to help save them, and rallies her first grade class to do the same. But, as a result, she competes with her classmates to come up with the best plan, and mayhem ensues. At the lowest point, she's the farthest from her goal of saving the pandas, and it's all a result of the trouble she (and her classmates) caused along the way. Your Turn: Can you clearly connect the events in your story? A causes B causes C? Does every scene have the same energy/intrigue and passion as the opening scene? Where do you purposefully change this? For what effect?  C: Abi Cushman, ANIMALS GO VROOM, Viking, 2021  In Abi Cushman's ANIMALS GO VROOM! we immediately are hooked and want to take part in this guessing game. But we're going to be surprised when we turn the page! This pattern continues (all while building and showing a narrative through the art) throughout the entire book. It's the perfect suspenseful set up, and it carries us through the whole way. Your Turn: Are you changing the energy level as you move from one scene to the next? For what effect? Is there something another character could do, or an opportunity that presents, that would really endear to the main character's strengths to show us their growth and/or consistency?  In LALA's WORDS by Gracey Zhang, Lala is, in my opinion, perfect. She doesn't need to change (but the grown up around her does!), so she doesn't. Instead, we get a really satisfying moment(s) in the story where there is change. And, it reinforces Lala's behavior, her strengths, and the fact that she is perfect just as she is. You'll have to get the book to see for yourself. (This one also has one of the best under the jacket cover reveals. I love it so much!) Your Turn: Is there such a moment in your story? Or does your character do the changing? (Why?) Note: one answer is not better than the other. But one answer might suit the story you are trying to tell better. Is there a refrain that might serve this story well?  C: Jyoti Rajan Gopal and Surpiya Kelkar, AMERICAN DESI, Little Brown Young Readers, 2022  c: Jyoti Rajan Gopal and Supriya Kelkar, AMERICAN DESI, Little Brown Young Readers, 2022 In Jyoti Rajan Gopal's AMERICAN DESI, illustrated by Supriya Kelkar, the main character asks a question, "Which is the color of me?" Throughout the story, she explores this question beautifully. Not all stories need a refrain. But, when a story has one that works so well to carry the movement forward, and remind us of the character's struggle/goal, it's so lovely. Look at how beautiful this book is, too! Your Turn: Would your story be enhanced with a refrain? Where are the places where you make us have to flip feverishly to find out what happens next?
In Matthew Forsythe's MINA, he does this immediately! The opening spread introduces us to Mina's lovable character, then leaves us hanging. "Mina lived in her own little world where nothing every bothered her. Except for one thing." We need to know, so we turn the page. And then...and then... he makes us wait five more page turns before he lets us know "the one thing." During those five page turns, we are introduced to dad, made to laugh, and the tension from that initial suspense builds and builds until we reach a very satisfying, and yet more suspenseful answer. This book--every part of it, is masterful. Your Turn: How are you keeping us on our toes? Where are you leaving us in suspense? What could go wrong for this character? What's the worst thing that could happen?  c: Katrina Moore and Joy Hwang Ruiz, SOMETIMES LOVE, Penguin/Dial, 2022  Such a cruel thing to do! Torture your main character? Why would we do that?! Well, because we want our books to reflect the lives of our readers. And sad/bad/terrible things happen to all of us. How can we show them that they are not alone? How can we bring them on a journey with our character? How can we bring the story to a close with a truly satisfying ending? In SOMETIMES LOVE, by me and Joy Hwang Ruiz, our main character has to say goodbye to her dog. It's devastating. But this terribly sad, lingered upon moment, does lead to a very happy ending (and, in fact, it's the ending I wish I could have given myself in real life! That's the power of our stories. We *do* get to write the ending). Your turn: Are you raising the stakes for your character? Are you making it terrible enough for them? Are you delivering a satisfying and surprising ending? Where can you switch it up on purpose? Can you give us a response we don't expect, and also break from an established pattern in a way that is really humorous?
Scott Rothman does this expertly in ATTACK OF THE UNDERWEAR DRAGON, illustrated by Pete Oswald. He gives us three logical examples, followed by one that is unexpected, silly, and funny! "Cole had a lot ot learn. He learned how to sharpen Sir Percival's swords...spears...battle-axes...and knight pencils." It also makes us wonder, what does Sir Percival need all those knight pencils for? What are knight pencils? It's intriguing, but not distracting. Your turn: Where are you switching things up in your manuscript? Is there a way you can make this more surprising?  c: Rebecca Jordan-Glum, KITTY, Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan, 2022  Are you starting to sense a theme here? Surprises in the story hold our attention or re-engage us. Take a look at Rebecca Jordan-Glum's spread in KITTY to see how she does this. The text reads "so she grabbed the cat food and coaxed it back inside." This should give us relief. Whew. All is as it should be. Except that it's not! We see in the art that kitty has actually dashed outside, and a raccoon has come inside. Only Granny doesn't have her glasses on, so she can't tell that the wrong critter is in the house. Oh goodness. When I read this page to my six year old, his eyes grew huge. He covered his mouth to stifle a laugh, because he knew something that the main character did not. It was surprising, and so, so funny! And the start of major mayhem! Your turn: Where can you surprise us in your manuscript? What take away do you hope to leave the reader with?  Not all picture books need a message to impart! In fact, I would say that some of my favorite picture books do not have a strong, overt message. Rather, they leave me with a feeling, a wonder, a connection, a feeling of satisfaction. (I dive more deeply into satisfying endings here). So, then, if you're not hitting the reader over the head with a message, then what are you leaving them with? In Juana Martinez-Neal 's glorious book, ZONIA'S RAIN FOREST, we are introduced to Zonia, who we immediately love, her family, and her home, the rain forest. The rain forest calls to Zonia and we follow her as she ventures through it. By the end, we love her rain forest as much as she does. And so the last line of this manuscript is one that we feel. It's a call to action. It's powerful. Your turn: What's your last line? Is it delivering to your reader what you hope that it will? Overall, these questions have to do with intent and purpose. Why are you making this choice? What can you do on purpose to create the effect you want? What is it that you're really trying to do here? (By the way, these are also the same questions I end up asking myself while revising my picture book manuscripts). I hope this list of questions, as well as my Picture Book Revision Checklist, is helpful to you as you revise. **If you want the complete list of DIGGING DEEPER INTO PICTURE BOOK REVISION QUESTION, then make sure you're signed up for my (free) Writing Blog! I've sent/am sending the list to all Blog subscribers.** Do you have other questions you ask your manuscript/yourself often? What tried and true ways do you use to you improve your story when you know it needs something but feel stuck? Share in the comments below! Happy Writing! -Katrina ✨ P.S. *For those inquiring about manuscript critiques and editorial services, I offer a very limited amount, due to a full schedule. If interested, please use the form on my contact me page to reach out about availability and more.*  Katrina Moore writes in New Jersey. She holds a M.A. in Teaching and has been an elementary teacher for thirteen years. Her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She is the author of the picture books, SOMETIMES LOVE, a powerful and poetic exploration of love---from giving, to growing, to sometimes letting go, illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz (Penguin/Dial, Summer 2022), ONE HUG, illustrated by Julia Woolf (HarperCollins/Tegen Books, Dec. 2019), GRANDPA GRUMPS, illustrated by Xindi Yan, its forthcoming sequel, GRUMPY NEW YEAR (Little Bee Books, Dec. 13, 2022), the forthcoming HOPE IS A HOP illustrated by Melissa Iwai (Penguin/Dial, March, 2023), and more to come. Her humorous chapter books series, TEENY HOUDINI, illustrated by Zoe Si, star the magical, mischievous, mayhem-maker Bessie Lee. Books 1, 2, and 3 are all available now (HarperCollins/Tegen Books). When she is not writing or teaching, she is cooking without a recipe, painting outside the lines, or snuggling up with her two kids, husband, pups, and of course, a cozy book. Connect with her on twitter @kmoorebooks or at www.katrinamoorebooks.com.  Wow, it’s November. I’m not sure how that’s possible. On one hand, it still feels like 2020, and on the other, I could fill encyclopedias with how much has happened each month, day, and moment of this year. It’s been wonderfully busy—full of ups and downs, and all very dizzying. But...I’m finally readying myself to work on a big writing project that I set a goal to complete . . . LAST OCTOBER. Sigh. Was that a sigh and nod from you, too? Oh, good! I’m not alone. This, I know. In fact, if there’s one common thread among *everyone* these days, it’s probably that we need to give ourselves a little, or a lot, of grace. It’s okay. It’s okay. I keep reminding myself of this. Because in this time that I have not written THIS THING, I did write a handful of new somethings. Some of which are becoming books! Some of which are out *there* finding the perfect champion. Some of which were scribbles and scrabbles . . . and maybe, some day, something more. But now, it’s November. That’s two months before the new year. Next year is going to be busy-in-the-best-way for me. I have five books releasing in 2022—the three TEENY HOUDINI chapter books, and picture books, SOMETIMES LOVE, and GRUMPY NEW YEAR!!! So . . . I am setting a *new goal* for myself to start and finish THIS THING before the end of the year. (unofficially like the NaNoWriMo challenge, but I'm giving myself two months!) When I’m drafting, I purposefully do not read any books in the same genre/vein of what I am writing. I don’t want any voice except my own coming into the story. However, I *do* do some work beforehand to infuse myself with books that I love. Books that I’ve fallen head over heels for, whose essence I want to become infused into part of my subconscious so that it guides my writing in an intentional way. I make a point to choose a variety of books, from various authors, to study. What is it I’m studying? I’m seeking a tangible way to answer, What Makes Me Fall For A Book? And, after much research, it comes down to this: The author’s voice. What is a literary voice?! There are a lot of fancy and official definitions and resources to explain it*. To me, an author’s voice is their individual personality coming through their words. It’s distinct, palpable, feels alive, and yet, through their different stories, feels consistent. It’s the way *only they* can tell that story. It’s both full of them, and yet, fully open to become the reader’s story, too. Here are some notes for myself (and now, for you, too!) that I’ve taken from studying some of my favorite authors’ books:  Author: Kate DiCamillo What Captivates Me: characters are memorable, full of warmth and hope How? Use very specific, unique, quirky details Example: “Frank thought how mysterious the world was, how unexplainable and sometimes frightening. But to sit in the kitchen and read to someone he loved and to push back the darkness with a story—that was a wonderful thing.” - pg. 88, Franklin Endicott and the Third Key, Kate DiCamillo, Candlewick 2021
 Author: Tammi Sauer What Captivates Me: she creates extremely lovable characters that we want to be friends with; their struggles are very relatable and they have true to kid emotions Example: check out A LITTLE CHICKEN, illustrated by Dan Taylor, Sterling 2019 She shares Dot’s story in such a sweet, fun, pun-ny way that remind readers it’s okay to feel chicken, and when you need to, you’ll be brave. And what a perfect name for this adorable main character who feels too small to be brave!
Now it’s your turn. What makes you fall for a book? How can you capture those tangible elements and infuse them into your own writing voice? I’m rooting for you. Maybe yours will be the next book that I fall for!
Happy Writing! -Katrina ✨ *More Resources For You: How To Get Six Pack by Tammi Sauer “You need to feed your muse and writing ability.” - Tammi Sauer https://taralazar.com/2018/09/26/how-to-get-a-six-pack-by-tammi-sauer-plus-a-giveaway/ Six Golden Rules for Writing Middle Grade: “See through their eyes, not yours.” -Erin Entrada Kelly https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/6-golden-rules-of-writing-middle-grade How and When to Develop a Voice: https://literaryterms.net/when-and-how-to-develop-a-voice/
When she is not writing or teaching, she is cooking without a recipe, painting outside the lines, or snuggling up with her two kids, husband, pups, and of course, a cozy book. Connect with her on twitter @kmoorebooks or at www.katrinamoorebooks.com.
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AuthorKatrina Moore is an author and former elementary educator. She writes in Georgia. where her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She's the author of ONE HUG, GRANDPA GRUMPS, SOMETIMES LOVE, GRUMPY NEW YEAR, HOPE IS A HOP, and the forthcoming CHANG'E ON THE MOON (HarperCollins, 2024), and THE STAR IN YOU. (RBP/Macmillan, 2024), as well as the humorous TEENY HOUDINI chapter book series, starring the magic-loving, mischief-making Bessie Lee, and more. Connect with her on twitter! Freelance EditorKatrina has professionally critiqued over hundreds of picture book manuscripts at writing conferences she has presented at, through her work as a council member, mentor, and presenter for the Rutgers One-on-One-Plus conference, as a Critique Ninja, and through her freelance editing services. Her editorial work and services, attention to detail, and ability to bring manuscripts to the “next level” have been highly praised by editors, agents, published authors, and those receiving critiques. For more details, and to inquire about rates, contact Katrina.
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