Seems like anytime I do a book signing, I meet some pretty cool people who tell me they’ve always wanted to write a children’s book, but they just don’t know where to begin. I love to share my passion for writing and I hope to inspire others, so I’m offering these tips here for anyone who has ever dreamed of becoming a children’s book author. Good luck and happy writing!
1. First, go to the website for The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators: http://www.scbwi.org
2. Buy (or obtain at your library) these books:
The Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market, by Alice Pope (around $18.00 on Amazon.com) which is an absolute necessity for finding potential publishing houses where you can submit your manuscript and/or illustrations.
3. Do your homework. Before you even put pen to paper or type the first word on your computer, spend some time at your local bookstore researching what’s out there, what types of books different publishers prefer, what subjects have been/haven’t been done already, what age group you are writing for, what style/language other authors are using…basically, what works and what doesn’t.
4. Become familiar with the author/illustrator/publisher relationship. One of the first questions I’m asked by someone who is interested in writing is “Do I need to find an illustrator?” The answer is no. The publisher will always find an illustrator who they think will fit the style of the manuscript. Sending a manuscript to a publisher with illustrations you’ve had done by a friend or a friend of a friend is taboo and is a hallmark of an inexperienced writer. Concentrate on making your writing shine. Leave the illustrations to the publisher.
5. Take a writing class at your local adult education school, university or community college, or online. You’re never too old to go back to school, especially if you need some pointers on crafting your story, dialogue, plot, characters, etc. This will give you the foundation for your writing and the confidence to move ahead. Along these same lines…
6. Learn the rules of writing for children. It might look easy because children’s books can sometimes have so few words. Don’t be fooled. Children are intuitive. They are picky readers. They can spot poor writing faster than the turn of a page. Be especially careful if you write poetry. You may have a wonderful story but if your rhyme or meter is off, your manuscript will flop. This is why learning your craft and having your work critiqued before you submit is essential. I’ve found this checklist to be the most helpful for new writers: http://upstartcrowliterary.com/blog/?p=811
7. Read blogs and industry publications like Publisher’s Weekly, Children’s Writer and Writer’s Digest magazine. Do a google search of children’s literature blogs–there are hundreds of them out there, or check out some of the ones I follow in my sidebar.
8. Spend some time around children. What age/audience appeals to you most? Get inside the head of one of your potential readers. What might he/she be thinking or saying? Can you hear that child’s voice in your writing?
9. Decide if you want to pursue getting an agent. Another question I’m often asked is, “Do I need an agent?” My answer, unfortunately, is that I don’t have an answer. Some writers feel that they need an agent to have work submitted to the right editors. Some writers would rather submit their manuscripts on their own. This is called sending in an “unsolicited” manuscript. You are submitting your manuscript to what’s called the “slush pile” (basically, the pile of mail that editorial assistants sift through and read for potential publication). There are still books that are plucked from this pile every year and published—I know, my first book was published this way. The fact is, more and more publishers will only accept submissions through an agent and it can be just as difficult to sign with an agent as it is to get a book contract. You may expend lots of energy pursuing an agent when you could be spending that same time developing your writing and submitting your work on your own to publishing houses that are open to unsolicited manuscripts. But the advantages of having an agent are many: an agent can be instrumental in placing your work, negotiating deals and cultivating your career as an author. Seek input from published authors, writing groups, conferences, workshops, etc. before you decide what to do. You may come to your own conclusions based on your particular needs, manuscript and situation. If you’d like to start your search for an agent, here’s a great website that includes a searchable database of literary agents: http://www.agentquery.com/
10. Write (and not just for kids!). Start a blog. Join Twitter. Submit articles to your local newspaper. Volunteer to edit the school newsletter. Do all of this while also writing your novel or picture book, of course. Anything you do to practice your writing skills is energy well spent. If you blog or tweet, you will increase your exposure as a writer, which will enhance your online presence. You will want to include a brief summary of all of your writing experience in a cover letter to a prospective editor or agent.
11. Join a critique group. There are both online and face-to-face critique groups. You can find these by joining SCBWI or by doing an online search. The feedback you get from fellow writers is invaluable. You’ll have to spend some time critiquing other writers’ manuscripts, but the effort is worth it. Here are some tips for critiquing: http://www.writingforward.com/polished-writing/critiques-2/how-to-provide-helpful-critiques-to-other-writers Also, if you’d like to submit your writing to a peer-review website, try http://figment.com/
12. Revise. I will often write something and put it away for months (or even years). When I come back to it with fresh eyes, I can see where I need to make changes. Be open to these changes. Sometimes they come to you in the middle of the night. Sometimes they never come at all. Polish your manuscript so it is PERFECT before you send it. It might be your only chance to get it under an editor or agent’s nose and you want it to shine!
13. Submit. Keep track of all of your submissions with a log (i.e., date sent, which editors, agents, responses, etc.). Be sure to mention that it is a multiple submission if you send it to more than one editor or agent. Follow the strict guidelines for submitting your manuscript in the proper format.
14. Wait. Sorry to say, but this is the hardest part of the process. It can take up to a year sometimes before you hear back from editors or agents. Hopefully, if you are patient, you will get some positive feedback, if not a contract for a book!
15. My last and most important tip: Never pay anyone who promises to publish your manuscript for a fee unless you decide to self publish (again, proceed with caution here). There are many scam “editorial” services and agencies out there masquerading as publishers. Just do a google search of “scam publishers” or visit this website: http://www.writerbeware.com for more information about how to protect your work (and your wallet) from being ripped off. There’s also a great blog on the website. My best advice is to educate yourself before you give away a dime of your hard-earned money.
Got any of your own ideas to share?
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