Writing for Children and Teens: A Crash Course, Updated in 2022

Hello, WFCAT fans,

The pooch crew has been hard at work on an update of the Crash Course that started it all! Strap on your helmet. Buckle up! Writing for Children and Teens: A Crash Course has been updated in 2022. Please note: this link is an Amazon affiliate link and all proceeds go toward the crew’s kibble.

For those of you who are new to the site or know someone who needs to learn the ins and out of how this works, please share this great news with them.

Read More

Free-tique Free-for-All on Facebook Live (3/20/20) 4 PM Central – VIDEOS POSTED

UPDATE 3/21/20: The event videos are now posted! If we missed your question or ms, please email cynthealiu AT gmail DOT com and let Cynthea know! Here are the links (2 videos), enjoy!

Part 1: #1 – 28 (PB, CB, MG and YA) https://www.facebook.com/cliubooks/videos/499764837380803/

Part 2: #29 – 41 (PB) https://www.facebook.com/cliubooks/videos/149848876277801/

UPDATE AS OF 3/19 12:30 PM: We forgot to include a big option for you.

Read More

How To Format Your Manuscript

THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO ALL CHILDREN’S BOOK MANUSCRIPTS – INCLUDING PICTURE BOOKS.

Here’s what I do in Microsoft Word. (If you need a visual, an example is included in the book version of my Crash Course.)

Font and Paragraphing

  • 12 point font. Times New Roman. (Courier is another acceptable option – but that font hogs up the paper). Whatever you do, please don’t try to flag the attention of an editor by using splashy font.
Read More

To Draw or Not To Draw?

If you’re like many people you’ll wonder where you’re going to get that illustrator for your book. STOP RIGHT THERE. Unless you are a professional illustrator, do not try this at home, folks! This is the great thing about a writing career. You don’t have to know how to draw! So remember: writers write. Illustrators illustrate. For once something makes sense. Whooopee! I bet I know what your next question might be..”

Read More

Another Major WFCAT critique event is coming to this website next month!

Yup, you heard it. Jump on my email list here if you want to be the first to be notified when Cynthea, the pooches and her hungry and slightly fishy crew are ready to gnaw on your manuscript. All major event notices for this event will go out by email so everyone can stay in the game and play. Also this event will be celebrating something very special to Cynthea, so you know that this will be SUPER FUN, SLIGHTLY STRESSFUL, BUT WILL ALSO BENEFIT HUMANITY.

Read More

How to write a eulogy (one real person’s take even though this has little to do with children’s book writing or maybe it does?)

Hello WFCAT fans, I’m going to commit a huge SEO faux-pas here and write this article about eulogies because I’m getting older, and it just seems like people I know are dying everywhere. Facebook is a disaster for me. It used to be my happy place, but now I find so many sad things happening to my peers with the loss of their loved ones that I feel compelled to try to help as a writer.

Read More

Welcome 2018!

For those of you with big writing goals this year, I congratulate you on challenging yourself to such a feat. Me too! I’m also running a few one-on-one-coaching courses this year that I hope to roll out in 2018. If you would like to learn more about how to sign-up, please sign up for my paid critique list at bit.ly/wfcatlist as the first notice will go out there.

Read More

Attention: WFCAT Fans! Important opportunity you will not want to miss!

Hello everyone – both newcomers and long-time fans, I am about to make you an offer you can’t refuse via my free-tique and paid-tique email lists. PLEASE, sign up for the email list if you have not already, as this opp is first-come, first-serve. You will not want to be slow to pull the trigger on this one. An all-important email will go out later today via the email lists with instructions on what to do.

Read More