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Kirsten W. Larson

Download the Nancy Churnin podcast transcript, plus 106 new nonfiction titles inside

Published 5 months ago • 2 min read

Hello friends!

Happy fall, y'all! My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary at Disney's Napa Rose Restaurant (left) while we were at the resort for my husband's Society of Experimental Test Pilots conference. The kids normally travel with us, but they had their own competing plans this year. So, I took that opportunity for a Disney day with two of my besties, Lourdes (center) and Cynthia (right) in the center picture by Lourdes.

In writing news, I pantsed my way through the first draft of my Finlay Donovan-style rom-com thriller (70,000 words). I've already begun revising it at the story level using Jennie Nash's Inside-Outline approach. Learn more about the Inside-Outline here. ​

My friend Nancy gave me this awesome candle (pictured right), which helped motivate me to get to "The End" of my novel. The candle would make a great gift for a writer friend! If you search "Smells like she's writing a bestseller," you'll find lots of options on Etsy.

This month's question is: Do you prefer your Halloween movies spooky or sweet? I definitely prefer sweet (and funny) over scary. "A Hubie Halloween" with Adam Sandler was a recent favorite (Netflix).
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Until next month, happy writing and revising!
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Kirsten

Inside this newsletter:

  • Transcript link for Episode 2 of Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations with Nancy Churnin
  • Best-selling nonfiction book hooks (Insider Community discussion)
  • Learn with me at NCTE (Nov. 22-23) and Crash Course in Craft (Nov. 2)
  • November 2024 "New in Nonfiction" List (106 titles)

New podcast episode, plus transcript

Don't miss episode 2 of Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations (on Youtube). Nancy Churnin (Rainbow Allies, illustrated by Izzy Evans) provides a helpful reframe on how to approach sources and experts. Don't have time to listen? Get the transcript here​.​

In the Insiders Community

Two people in my paid community recently asked for an analysis of the best-selling nonfiction hooks. Analyzing several sources, I found the following topics and approaches to be some of the hottest sellers.:
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1. Disasters and major conflicts
2. Celebrities and famous figures
3. Sports
4. Timely Topics/Underrepresented Voices
5. Comparisons and competitions
6. Gross-out humor and weird facts
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Want more hooks plus the full analysis (including sample books) and tips for applying these ideas to you own work? Join my Insiders community. Aside from monthly posts and videos, discounts, and live Zooms, Insiders have a brand-new opportunity -- a chance to submit questions to upcoming podcast guests. Learn more about the community here.​

Learn with me!

NCTE 2024 Boston

Headed to Boston for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Conference 2024? I hope to see you there. Here is my schedule:

Friday, Nov. 22, 3:30-4:45 PM: Teaching with the 2024 Charlotte Huck and Orbis Pictus Award Books (Room 205A)

Saturday, Nov. 23, 12:30 to 2:30 PM: Children's Book Award Luncheon (Room 210B)

Crash Course in Craft

Have you ever purchased a book to learn the craft of writing books for kids, but aren't sure how to best put it to use? Here's a chance to learn from the authors themselves! Get a sneak peek of what I'll be covering on my website, along with the example books I'll use.

New in nonfiction

Roundup of November New Releases

Here's the latest roundup of the latest juvenile nonfiction books from U.S. publishers. You'll find the full list of 106 books in Edelweiss by clicking the link below.

My books

Kirsten W. Larson

Let's Reimagine Nonfiction!

Think nonfiction kids' books are boring? Think again! I'm a writer, teacher, and writing coach dedicated to helping students reimagine their true stories, turning them into captivating reads. Subscribe to my newsletter for tips, new releases, and more.

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