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Kirsten W. Larson

What's in your notebook? + Keeping Readers Hooked webinar ($25)

Published 8 months ago • 2 min read

Hello friends!

We are finally having some lovely spring weather here in SoCal! I recently took a five-mile hike to soak up the sun (right). It always improves my mood! I needed the break, as life has been super busy helping my high school senior make decisions about where he'll be attending college next fall. Ack!

A new journal (center): I swear by these Paperage lined notebooks, which come with an elastic band, built-in bookmarks, and a storage pocket. Mine always includes monthly and daily to do lists, story ideas and places where I play with drafts; notes on webinars; and non-writing things too (workout logs, notes from meetings with the accountant, travel planning, etc.) I leave 2 or 3 pages at the beginning for a table of contents that I add to as I go, and I number my pages, so I can easily find information later. In the back, I set up a list of Successes and Surprises by date so I can remember (and appreciate) these at the end of the year. It's a kind of minimalist bullet journaling. (See this post from Michelle Cusolito about what bullet journaling is). Here's an example is what my kitchen sink table of contents looks like:

Let me know...Do you keep a writer's notebook? What's inside?

Next webinar: "Keeping Readers Hooked" (April 10)

Have you ever read a picture book where each page and paragraph carried a subtle sense of anticipation, pulling you deeper into the story? Where you felt you just had to keep reading to discover what was going to happen next? That’s the power of microtension—small moments of suspense that keep readers engaged. One of the best ways to create microtension is by hinting at what’s happening rather than giving it all away in overly descriptive topic sentences and “tells.” In this blog post, I give examples of small line edits that boost microtension to keep readers engaged.

Microtension is one element I'll discuss in my next webinar on April 10, "Keeping Readers Hooked." Learn more and sign up here! It's just $25. Recordings available for 30 days.

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Happy spring! Read on for more news and offerings below.
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Kirsten

Inside this newsletter:

  • Join me for Write. Submit. Support. (a mini MFA, now starting in APRIL)
  • Reimagine Insiders Office Hours for April 11: Nonfiction Endings
  • Next podcast drops April 4 featuring Ann Koffsky discussing school visits (plus get the March Kamalni Hurley transcript)
  • April 2025 "New in Nonfiction" List (106 titles)

Join me for Write. Submit. Support. for nonfiction

Ready to take your nonfiction to the next level? Write. Submit. Support for Nonfiction offers expert guidance, a supportive community, and accountability to help you refine your work and get it submission-ready. Join me this spring—learn more and sign up here. (NOTE: This course has been delayed by one month. We now start in April. It's not too late to join!)

April 11 Insider Office Hours: Nonfiction Endings!

How do we end our nonfiction books with a bang? In our April live office hours, Reimagine Insiders will dive into this essential craft skill with live coaching, examples, and discussion. Join this paid community (on Payhip) for just $5/month to access this session, enjoy an archive of videos and craft posts, plus get discounts on webinars and critiques—sign up today! Learn more here.​

Next podcast episode, plus transcript

Tune in for the next episode of the Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations podcast (on Youtube as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.) with author/illustrator Ann Diament Koffsky dropping April 4. This episode is PACKED with helpful info about booking and presenting school visits. I'd appreciate it if you rate and review on Apple podcasts to help other nonfiction fans discover the show.

​Get the full transcript for my March interview with author Kamalani Hurley here. Listen to her episode here.​

New in Nonfiction

Roundup of April New Releases

Here's the latest roundup of the newest juvenile nonfiction books released by 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.

Read more from Kirsten W. Larson
Kirsten and Nils Larson in front of the NASA X-59

Hello friends! First, a bit of fun family news. On Oct. 28th, my husband made the historic first flight of the X-59, a prototype experimental aircraft designed to test whether we can make future aircraft quieter so we can (someday) fly supersonic across the U.S. I got to sit next to the control room and hear and watch everything. It was so cool! Check out the NASA video below. Post flight! Attending educators conferences From left to right: In the Little, Brown book at NCTE, signing books for...

8 days ago • 3 min read
This is a picture of author Kirsten Larson with fans at the Barnes and Noble story time for THIS IS HOW YOU YOU KNOW

Hello friends! Behind the scenes: Society of Experimental Test Pilots banquet at Disney; with fabulous friends at my B&N event; visiting our older son for Parent's Weekend at UC San Diego. First, a huge thank you for all the outpouring of support for This Is How You Know, illustrated by Cornelia Li. It was such a joy to see so many friends at my Barnes & Noble Story Time (center) as well as my LA County Library event where we made oobleck and did other STEAM activities. From the bottom of my...

about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Kirsten reading her new book THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW to kids

Hello friends! Left to right: With fellow authors Dana Middleton and Nell Cross Beckerman; with young readers at story time at Once Upon a Time Bookstore in support of Science Saturday. As you have undoubtedly heard, my next picture book, This Is How You Know , illustrated by Cornelia Li, is out now from Little, Brown. I just hosted two events and have two more coming up. If you are local, I hope you'll join me. Signing and Storytime at Barnes & Noble - Palmdale at 11:30 a.m. October 4th....

2 months ago • 5 min read