Faculty Profile

Focus on the Family

Jesse Florea

Jesse Florea has worked at Focus on the Family for nearly 17 years. During that time he’s been the associate editor for Breakaway magazine (teen boys), editor of Clubhouse Jr. magazine (4- to 8-year-olds) and developer and editor of the “Focus on Your Child’s Tween Ages” newsletter for parents of 8- to 12-year-olds. For the last 12 years, he’s been the editor of Clubhouse—Focus’ magazine for tweens. After growing up in Boulder, Colo., he earned bachelor and master’s degrees in communications from Wheaton College, Ill. Professionally, Jesse has written or co-written several books (including Adventures of Average Boy: Growing Up Super Average, The One-Year Devos for Sports Fans and The One-Year Everyday Devotions all with Tyndale House Publishers), and thousands of newspaper and magazine articles. He lives with his wife, Stephanie, and two teenagers, Nate and Amber, in Colorado Springs.

Teaches

Do's and Don'ts of Writing for Children

Kids crave fun, energetic, playful storytelling, yet many manuscripts are dry, predictable and preachy. By following these do’s and don’ts you’ll have a better chance of writing something that will entertain a child and catch an editor’s eye. Plus, you’ll receive the inside scoop of what kinds of stories Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines are looking for.

Begin and End With a Bang
Strong Leads and Conclusions

Studies show you have less than 20 seconds to grab a reader’s attention. An intriguing lead may be the difference between publication and rejection. This workshop will look at different types of leads. It will also help you stop your story at the right place. Note: All attendees are encouraged to bring a first page from a manuscript that will be read anonymously and critiqued during the session.