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
Take
a look around at all of the links for upcoming conferences and links to
resources for writers and illustrators. Seriously consider joining, as
this is the industry-wide source for events, networking and educational
opportunities, critique groups, publishing trends—you name it, it’s
here. If you join you can attend local, regional and national
conferences where you can meet other aspiring writers and have your work
critiqued by editors and agents. When you have your manuscript
critiqued at one of these conferences, you can usually submit directly
to the editor or agent who did your critique. This is extremely helpful
because many publishing houses only accept manuscripts submitted through
an agent (see more on agents and submissions below).
2. Buy (or obtain at your library) these books:
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books, 3rd
Edition, by Harold Underdown ($12.89 on Amazon.com) which provides an
overview of the industry, submission process, and just about everything
else you’ll need to know to get started (also, check out his website:
http://www.underdown.org. He’s got lots of interesting articles and links on the children’s publishing industry).
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?
