CKT's Top Tips

The CKT 'Top Tips' page contains tips from the cream of Australian children's literature. These 'tips' are what they live by as an author.

For those who aspire to reach the literary heights these authors have reached, every piece of advice is invaluable.

Jackie French's Top Tip

'Think! The most beautifully written story is boring if it's ideas are boring. Best seller lists always have at least one book so badly written it makes you cringe to turn the page, but you do keep turning, to find out what happens next. You don't need one inspiration to write a book, but at least ten thousand, twisted and plaited together'.

Jeff Kinney's Top Tip

'I'd recommend to anyone seeking to become a cartoonist or illustrator to copy someone else's style, to see how it's done. Then you'll have a tool to help you create your own unique style.'

Kate DiCamillo's Top Tip

The more human you are, the better writer you will be.

Andy Griffiths' Top Tip

'Many fledgling writers misplace a lot of energy worrying about how to get their writing published. That energy is much better spent using writing to deeply explore yourself and the type of stories that only you can tell. Try to find the types of stories that you get a delicious thrill out of writing whether or not they eventually get published.

Terry Denton's Top Tip

'I find I need to be constantly drawing and reading.'

'I do life drawing, sit playing with paint, browse ideas from other artists that I can steal and work at my art constantly.'

Aaron Blabey's Top Tip

I don’t know. It’s different for everyone. There’s no formula or magic bullet.

All I can say is, my work improved – and became much more popular with children - when I wrote the following two phrases on my studio wall –

Margaret Wild's Top Tip

Read, read, read! If you read wonderful books, your own writing will improve because you will be inspired to try harder and write better.

Emma Quay's Top Tip

It is the wandering mind which seems to come up with ideas for stories. I, and many other writers and illustrators, seem to get most of my ideas whilst on public transport. It must be something about having unstructured time, when thoughts are free to roam.

Lucy Cousins' Top Tip

Create a world that you love yourself, and your enthusiasm will shine through.

Jules Faber's Top Tip

Tenacity is your greatest weapon.

You are the hero of your own story. If you give up after a single rejection, all is lost. You must combat it, get back up, dust yourself off and try again. And again. And again. Until you are victorious.

Sarah Davis' Top Tip

Your first idea isn't necessarily your best idea...it's just your first idea. And you think of it first because... it's obvious. And obvious ideas are ...boring!

Wendy Blaxland's Top Tip

Read the writers who make you catch your breath, learn as much about the world of writing and publishing as you can, and then write, write, write. Write from your heart the work that only you can create.

Susanne Gervay's Top Tip

'Get into the culture of children’s writers, otherwise you will flounder as there’s so much to learn in this profession. Join your local writing group. Create your own critique group. Do some classes. Belong to writers’ organisations. Get online to Creative Kids Tales and children’s book blogs. Follow your favourite authors and illustrators'.

Jen Storer's Top Tip

Get playful!

Commit to letting go and relaxing.That’s when you’ll tap into your unique gifts and talents.

Katrina Germein's Top Tip

Don’t rely on your favourite childhood books to know what makes a good story today. Read contemporary stories for inspiration but remember what it felt like to be a kid.

Judith Rossell's Top Tip

Write about what you love, and write the story that you would have loved to read when you were a kid.

Stephan Pastis' Top Tip

To always entertain yourself when you write. Write the story you want to read. Make yourself laugh, cry.

Christopher Cheng's Top Tip

As well as all the other great tips mine would be - KEEP A JOURNAL. It’s your Ideas Book. Do you have a great idea? Scribble it down in your Ideas Book.

R.A. Spratt's Top Tip

Write to your audience. Tell them a story.

Deborah Abela's Top Tip

'As you write ask yourself: Is this sentence earning its place in my story? Could the story exist without it?

Is it adding something the reader doesn't already know and drawing them towards the climax?'

Jack Heath's Top Tip

"Forget about genre and focus on emotion.

What do you want the reader to feel in this scene? Scared? Longing? Amused? Disgusted? Fascinated?"

Michael Salmon's Top Tip

Create your own private fantasy world: a Middle Earth or a Narnia, where only you may enter.

A place where ideas and images grow freely until they’re ready for the outside world.

Nick Falk's Top Tip

Don’t worry whether what you’re writing’s good, bad or not silly enough, just keep writing. The journey of writing is the fun bit. The destination is just what happens at the end!!!

Paul Jennings' Top Tip

'Think of a weird or unusual idea which the reader can't resist'.

'Use short sentences to hook the reader in and to make the story sound tense and exciting'.

'Short paragraphs are easier for the reader'.

Janeen Brian's Top Tip

Check each page of writing.

How many senses, besides that of SIGHT, have you used? Remember we have FIVE!

Shaun Tan's Top Tip

Finish!

Ursula Dubosarsky's Top Tip

Try to finish whatever it is you've started - whether it's a story, a poem, a song - whatever it is.

I found that I learned the most about writing from finishing drafts.

Justin D'Ath's Top Tip

Nowadays writer needs to have very thick skin and a huge amount of self-belief and dedication to their calling – and it should be a ‘calling’, cos if you don’t love it you’d be better off – financially and mentally, driving taxis.

Sally Murphy's Top Tip

Persist!

You need to persist with finishing a draft.

Then, persist with the editing and revision process.

Dianne (Di) Bates' Top Tip

'Finish what you start. And then edit it to within an inch of its life'.

Bill Condon's Top Tip

'The thought of spending hours staring at a computer screen is very daunting, so I set myself small goals. I use an oven timer and set it for a half an hour. My aim is to write until the timer goes off. It's a short enough time to make it achievable and I have a sense of satisfaction when I go the distance. Whenever I do this I nearly always want to keep going when the half hour is up. This works for me. Give it a try'.

Paul Collins' Top Tip

'Perseverance. A manuscript has never been published by staying at home'.

DC Green's Top Tip

‘Write! Writers write. Writers write every day, in fact, even if just for half an hour, so the writing becomes a habit. The more you write, the more your writing improves, and the more dizzying your word counts will become. In other words, apply bum glue liberally to your computer chair. It’s that simple!’

Jacqueline Harvey's Top Tip

'Create characters that you love spending time with. Whether they are the heroes or the villains you have to enjoy writing them. This helps create authentic voices and makes them believable'.

Adam Wallace's Top Tip

'Write and write and write and read and read and read and listen and watch and see and hear and write and write and have FUN and throw away any need to be perfect and write some more and read some more and most of all don't be scared to try ANYTHING! Changes can always be made'.

Tania McCartney's Top Tip

'Whatever you do, write what you love. Write what resonates with you. Write with originality and your own voice. Don’t try to copy, don’t assume, don’t ruin your creative spark by worrying what people will think or what you feel publishers might like. Listen to your heart and remember that original thoughts come from risk-taking and fearlessness. Heartfelt originality (along with tenacity, excellence and hard work) is the key to success in any creative field'.

Aleesah Darlison's Top Tip

‘Never ever give up on your writing dream. I faced many rejections before I was published, and still do, in many different forms. But you never know what (acceptance) will be waiting for you around the corner. So, whatever you do, keep on writing and submitting and thinking positively. Throughout all of this, your writing will be improving and so will your chances of publication.’

Tristan Bancks' Top Tip

‘Have the courage to write the kind of book that you love to read. Write from your gut, not from your head. Don’t think two drafts. Think sixteen. The best writing workshop you can do is to read a really well-written book. And ignore me entirely. Make your own rules.’

Belinda Murrell's Top Tip

'Five tips which all begin with P! They are:

Passion – write what you love. Write from your heart. Don’t try to follow trends. Write for yourself and have fun doing it!

Mem Fox's Top Tip

‘DO ’show’ and do not ‘tell’: try to reveal action and character through what the characters say and do.’

Sue Whiting's Top Tip

‘Being a writer involves more than the time spent at the keyboard. Being a writer inhabits you. It becomes a way of life. You must observe – really observe. Listen. Experience. Live. Feel. Read. Be open, challenging. Curious. And when you put pen to paper, you need to have a story to tell – one worth telling, not matter the genre. Then it's your job to tell it with heart and absolute honesty, letting your wonderful self shine through onto the page.’

Oliver Phommavanh's Top Tip

‘My tip is to carry a notebook and everyday, write down 5 ideas/observations. No matter how ordinary or mundane they may be. Some days you may have more, but have at least 5 things down everyday. Get your mind to anticipate gathering and absorbing things around you. Once a month, look back and see what ideas have stuck or what can be used for your stories. It's okay if the ideas lead to nowhere, it's all about training the creative mind!’

Sally Rippin's Top Tip

‘When writing for children, I find authenticity is created by remembering yourself as a child rather than observing children from the outside. Remember how you felt at the time and don't trivialise these emotions with an adult's perspective. What can seem unimportant to an adult can be earth-shattering to a child.’

Michael Gerard Bauer's Top Tip

‘Write about the things that are important to you. The things that move you in some way, whether that be to laughter or tears or maybe even anger. And go for long walks by yourself. Seriously. And as you walk, let your mind go free to wander off on pathways of its own choosing.

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