GreatStorybook

Actionable Information and Creative Inspiration for Writers and Illustrators. From Baby Books to YA Novels.

The 20 Best Books for Baby

This entry is part 9 of 14 in the series Chazda Bookshelf

There are so many options on the market for baby books, how do you know what is quality? Here’s my list of the BEST – and why.

Story Starter Writing Exercise

This entry is part 11 of 15 in the series Creative Exercises

Get your weekly dose of Wednesday Inspiration. Get over the hump and back into your writing chair! This week: story starter exercise.

Community Theatre: A Love Story

This entry is part 2 of 9 in the series Theatre

From Guest Blogger C.S. Griffel: “Mark Twain wrote, ‘To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence.’ I have both in surprisingly large amounts. But in truth, had I known what I was getting myself into at the beginning, I’m not sure I would have done the thing at all.” Read more from GSB’s newest contributor!

Perspective Creative Exercise

This entry is part 12 of 15 in the series Creative Exercises

BRAND NEW! Get your weekly dose of Wednesday Inspiration. Get over the hump and back into your writing chair!

About Word Count & Page Count

This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series Writing Terms

Get access to a comprehensive listing of the industry’s standard word count and page count for your manuscript. All genres, all age groups.

Types of Copyrights: what you need to know

This entry is part 2 of 4 in the series Writing Terms

Get to know the nine different forms of copyright and what they really mean. Don’t sign anything until you do.

Ten Rules of a Creative Writing Group: Get it together

For anyone who has considered organizing or joining a creative writing group, there are some serious points to pin down right from the beginning. In fact: ten things. If you are already in a writing group and have not gone over these important points, do so right away.

Character Names: What is ACTUALLY in a name?

This entry is part 3 of 7 in the series Characters with Character

Naming characters is important. But can a character’s name influence plot points or drive character? Absolutely.

An Interview with Jo Marshall: Bringing nature to story and story to nature

This entry is part 7 of 10 in the series GSB Interviews, Interesting People

Lilac is her favorite color, salted butter popcorn and Diet Coke are her indulgences, and she insists on wearing her old blue loafers even though a hole in the right shoe lets water in every time she wears them.

The Great Big Lie About Being Creative

As a teacher and writer and someone who likes to design things and create art (especially for stories), it always saddens me when I hear someone say, "I have no artistic talent," because I know what it really means. It means that in their childhood, they made...