Robert Louis Stevensen on Writing

You remember Treasure Island, right? First published in 1883, it's been around for a long time. Wouldn't you love to hear what Stevensen might have to say to you on the topic of writing? Well, you can.

Robert Louis Stevensen has written an ebook. Nevermind that he died in 1894. You know technology these days. And his ebook is free.

Did you know that Treasure Island was his first novel? (He had been published previously in non-fiction) He was 30 when he started to write the book, and despite illness wrote at the rate of a chapter a day.

In the ebook, Stevensen talks about writing in general, but also about how he came up with the idea for Treasure Island. Believe it or not, it all started with a map his stepson began. He also explains how he pulled threads from other books he read to create his characters. Long John Silver is actually based upon a famous person he was close to.

Go here to download the book. The website offering this resource is the online presence of the esteemed Children's Book Insider Newsletter. While there is a small cost to access all the great information for writers of children's books, here are links to some of the resources they offer for free. If you like it, consider signing up.

Ebook: The Greatest Children's Writing Success Secret

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Article: Four Secrets of Great Writers

Video: Seven Tips for Children's Book Writers

Article and Video: Five Minutes to Your Own Blog

Podcast: What Reviews Look for In Children's Books

Podcast: What Writers Need to Know to Succeed

Article: Definitions of Children's Writing Genres