How Place Fuels Creativity
You can get away without a strong sense of place in some stories, but most middle graders need the anchor it provides. Imagine Harry...
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John Hearne
Jan 28, 20223 min read
My Publication Journey
Here’s the story of how ‘The Very Dangerous Sisters of Indigo McCloud’ went from being the germ of an idea to becoming a real book, with...
John Hearne
Jan 21, 20224 min read
Which are the most disgusting children’s books?
Roll out the snot, the filth and the fart jokes. If there’s one thing kids love almost as much as being terrified, it’s being grossed...
John Hearne
Jan 14, 20223 min read
Who (or what) are the best creatures in children's books?
I’m not talking here about beasts and monsters, but about the more benign varieties of creature, the strange, enchanting and mysterious...
John Hearne
Jan 7, 20224 min read
How to Write Great Dialogue
‘What is the use of a book,’ thought Alice, ‘without pictures or conversation?’ In this, the very first paragraph of Alice’s Adventures...
John Hearne
Dec 17, 20214 min read
The Power of Gentle Beginnings
We’re always supposed to start the tale in media res, right? Drop the reader into middle of the action like a commando abseiling from an...
John Hearne
Dec 10, 20213 min read
Creating cliché-free Bullies
Bullies. A standard feature of childhood, and so a standard feature of children’s fiction. I’m still amazed by the numbers of clichéd...
John Hearne
Dec 3, 20213 min read
Who are the most Misguided Parents in Children’s Books?
I’m not talking about the downright horrible ones here. Forget the likes of Matilda's parents, and forget too the guardians and...
John Hearne
Nov 26, 20214 min read
Four Things Every Writer Must Do
These are the four non-negotiables. Drop any one and you instantly reduce your chances of producing publishable work. 1. Read in the...
John Hearne
Nov 19, 20213 min read
What’s the Secret Ingredient in Great Children’s Fiction?
Here are some opening sentences to great children’s books: · ‘Coraline discovered the door a little while after they moved into the...
John Hearne
Nov 15, 20213 min read
Who are the Best Sidekicks in Children’s Fiction?
Pity the poor sidekick, destined to tramp by the hero’s side, taking all the risk but reaping few of the rewards. In reality however, the...
John Hearne
Nov 5, 20214 min read
Harry Potter and the Three Act Structure
It’s a curious contradiction at the heart of great story-telling. We seek originality in all things: character, plot, setting, action,...
John Hearne
Oct 29, 20214 min read
Writing Great Villains for Children’s Books
Part of the reason writing villains is so much fun is that it’s one of the few legitimate ways of giving vent to your own neuroses, spite...
John Hearne
Oct 21, 20213 min read
The 5 Nastiest Female Villains in Children’s Books
The Other Mother was huge – her head almost brushed the ceiling of the room – and very pale, the colour of a spider’s belly. Her hair...
John Hearne
Oct 7, 20214 min read
Creating Great Children’s Characters – 5 Top Tips
What makes great characters great? Is it that they’re heroic, or clever, or villainous or quirky? I don’t think it’s any of these things....
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