If you’ve ever thought of becoming a children’s writer, that is, writing books or magazine articles for children or teens, you’re not alone. Many people want to write for children, and mistakenly think it’s easier than writing for adults. But if you’ve ever tried to get your work published, you know how wrong that assumption is.
Did you know it takes an average of 5-10 years to truly make a career out of children’s writing? And even then, only the “lucky” can make enough to quit their day jobs. Still, when you want to write, when you need to write, when writing is in your blood and you know you can’t go a week without putting pen to paper, the work and the wait is worth it.
If you’ve written a manuscript and would like to send it out, here are some things you’ll need to do first:
Join a critique group – Critique groups are valuable in providing feedback on your story. Some groups meet in person while others meet online. Seek out a group that specializes in your genre and join them. If you’re not interested in joining a group, at least have a writing partner, that is, someone who writes the same genre as you who you can exchange manuscripts with. Friends and family are great, but they’re always going to love your work. If you’re going to get serious about your writing, you’ll need other eyes to look over your work.
Consider SCBWI – The Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrator’s is a wonderful organization for writers and illustrators to gain information and to connect with others. They do charge an annual fee but it’s well worth it.
Attend a writing conference – There’s no better way to get you excited about your new endeavor than to attend a writing conference. You’ll meet other writers or illustrators, make contacts, and get to interact with agents or editors you otherwise would not have access to. And one of the perks of writing conferences is that editors often allow you to submit your manuscript to them after the conference, even when they are a closed house (only accept manuscripts from agents).
Network! – There are many online list serves for writers and illustrators. Some focus on fiction, while others focus on non-fiction. Check out Yahoo Groups and type in “Children’s Writers.” These list serves are free and allow unpublished authors to interact with published authors and even editors online. Another site that’s wonderful for children’s writers is www.verlakay.com . You have to check it out if you’re interested in writing for kids. She even offers a nightly chat where you can mingle with writers, illustrators, and editors online.
Read – Yes, it’s a good idea to read about writing for children. Some of my favorite books are, The Complete Idiots Guide to Publishing Children’s Books, by Harold Underdown, The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children, by Nancy Lamb, and The First Five Pages, by Noah Lukeman. You’ll also want to pick up the latest copy of Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, by Alice Pope. This book lists publisher’s submission guidelines, and is updated yearly.
Write! – Write every day if you can, even if it’s only for ten minutes. As with all things, the more you practice the better you get, so write!
I hope this information has proven helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to comment below or to send me a private message.
Children’s writing is a wonderful career to embark upon. Personally, it brings me great joy. I hope it will bring you the same happiness. Happy writing!