Full of both inspirational and practical advice, Writing Children's Fiction: A Writers' and Artists' Companion is an essential guide to writing for some of the most difficult and demanding readers of all: children and young people.

Part 1 explores the nature, history and challenges of children's literature, and the amazing variety of genres available for children from those learning to read to young adults.

Part 2 includes tips by such bestselling authors as David Almond, Malorie Blackman, Meg Rosoff and Michael Morpurgo.

Part 3 contains practical advice - from shaping plots and creating characters to knowing your readers, handling difficult subjects and how to find an agent and publisher when your book or story is complete.

...filled to the brim with so many new insights and hidden ancient wisdom about writing that I myself will be reaching for its guidance and its pleasures. * David Fickling *
The trouble with a book like Writing Children’s Fiction: A Writers’ and Artists’ Companion, is that it makes someone like me believe that they can write a children’s book. It is that good, and it is above all, that inspiring... Linda Newbery and Yvonne Coppard provide loads of good advice for the budding author, based on how they themselves go about writing...Along with their own tried and tested methods, they have invited the cream of British children’s authors to share their thoughts on what to do. Or not to do... There are so many tips, not to mention inspirational tales in Writing Children’s Fiction... Anne Fine, who has written the foreword, wishes she had had access to this kind of guide when she began, instead of doing it the hard way. * Bookwitch *
Coppard and Newbery give us a lively, informed, encouraging and timely ‘companion’ that combines the practical and the inspirational. -- Jan Lee * The Oxford Times *

Yvonne Coppard’s many novels for children include Bully and Not Dressed Like That, You Don’t! She also writes non-fiction for children and adults. A former teacher, Yvonne was for some years a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow and has extensive experience in teaching creative writing in educational and community settings.

Linda Newbery, winner of the Costa Children’s Book Prize for her young adult novel Set in Stone, writes for young readers of all ages. Her more than forty titles include The Shell House, Lob, Nevermore, Catcall and The Sandfather. She has wide experience of tutoring writing workshops for children, teenagers and adults.