Want to write a picture book? Or improve the ones you’ve written? This guide offers detailed instruction, exercises, resources, encouragement and more to turn your ideas and works-in-progress into ready-to-submit manuscripts. It also includes interviews with leading children’s book editors and industry professionals who provide insights and advice from their side of the desk. An indispensable resource for beginners, those who want to improve their craft, and teachers of writing and children’s literature.
Clearly and concisely written with straightforward advice and a plethora of specific up-to-date recommendations, Writing Children’s Books For Dummies provides step-by-step information on everything aspiring children’s book authors need to know—from researching the current marketplace to developing story ideas, strengthening writing skills, dealing with editors, and submitting proposals and manuscripts to agents and publishers.
Writing teacher and children’s book author, Darcy Pattison (www.darcypattison.com/books) explains the craft of writing children’s picture books. Why format matters, how to appeal to kids and parents, writing a read-aloud friendly book, and more. Tips on marketing your manuscript to publishers.
Molly Bang’s brilliant, insightful, and accessible treatise is now revised and expanded for its 25th anniversary. Bang’s powerful ideas—about how the visual composition of images works to engage the emotions, and how the elements of an artwork can give it the power to tell a story—remain unparalleled in their simplicity and genius. Why are diagonals dramatic? Why are curves calming? Why does red feel hot and blue feel cold?
How Picturebooks Work is an innovative and engaging look at the interplay between text and image in picture books. The authors explore picture books as a specific medium or genre in literature and culture, one that prepares children for other media of communication, and they argue picture books may be the most influential media of all in the socialization and representation of children.
Six prominent children’s authors, including Maurice Sendak, Rosemary Wells, and Jack Prelutsky, agree that to enter the worlds that children inhabit, you must possess the magic word – honesty.
Picture book author Ann Whitford Paul provides the background knowledge necessary to write picture books, which will appeal to editors, agents and children. Topics covered include researching the picture book market, creating characters, point of view, plotting and tips on writing rhyme.
With input from more than 70 authors, editors, publishers, and librarians, Facklam and Thomas show you: what makes a marketable idea and how to find one, research methods that editors love, designing a compelling plot around your true story, crafting query letters that work, and much more Adopt their strategies as your own and watch your writing career flourish.
Topics include common myths about children’s writing, children’s book categories, elements of successful stories, manuscript format, submission strategies, contract negotiation, the publishing process, career building, and children’s writer resources. Also included are specialized subjects such as querying for multiple manuscripts, promoting a first book, and self publishing.
In Writing Magic, Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine shares her tricks of the trade. She shows how you can get terrific ideas for stories, invent great beginnings and endings, write sparkling dialogue, develop memorable characters—and much, much more. She advises you about what to do when you feel stuck—and how to use helpful criticism. Best of all, she offers writing exercises that will set your imagination on fire.With humor, honesty, and wisdom, Gail Carson Levine shows you that you, too, can make magic with your writing.
In The Magic Words, editor Cheryl B. Klein guides writers on an enjoyable and practical-minded voyage of their own, from developing a saleable premise for a novel to finding a dream agent. She delves deep into the major elements of fiction―intention, character, plot, and voice―while addressing important topics like diversity, world-building, and the differences between middle-grade and YA novels.
Mary Kole’s candid commentary and insightful observations, as well as a collection of book excerpts and personal insights from bestselling authors and editors who specialize in the children’s book market, are invaluable tools for your kidlit career.
If you want the skills, techniques, and know-how you need to craft memorable stories for teens and tweens, Writing Irresistible Kidlit can give them to you.
From finding story ideas and creating character sketches to plotting, writing dialogue, editing, and revising your work, you’ll learn how to complete a manuscript and prepare it for submission. Whether you want to write picture or chapter books, fiction or nonfiction, poetry or plays, Seuling helps you master the different genres and capture a child’s interest and imagination, from the early years to young adult. Her fully revised guide also covers the major developments in book publishing, including vital information about using the Internet to research the market and contact publishers.
Here are the remarkable critical speeches and essays of world-renowned author Katherine Paterson. Featuring selected essays originally published in Gates of Excellence and The Spying Heart, this collection also includes the complete acceptance speeches for her two National Book Awards and two Newbery Medals, plus a new introduction and eight speeches never before published in book form.
With the same perception, wit, and generosity that characterize her fiction, this much-honored writer shares her ideas about writing for children, as well as her passion for reading, her spiritual faith, and her conviction that the imagination must be nourished. Her words will touch all those who care about literature and the lives of children.
POEM-MAKING is a handbook of the mechanics of writing poetry. In a clear, understandable tone it introduces children to the different voices of poetry; types of rhyme and other elements of sound, rhythm, and metrics; and some of the most common forms of poetry.
Libby Gleeson is one of Australia’s most successful writers for young children, the author of 15 novels. As she embarked on her third “Hannah” book, she decided to keep a journal, from which this book developed. Gleeson takes us on a journey into the heart of literary creation, examining all aspects of writing and language.
“Writing for children – whether it’s in the form of picture books, beginning readers, chapters books and novels, or nonfiction – requires a unique skill set: The ability to speak to children on their level. You Can Write Children’s Books, 2nd Edition, provides you with the instruction and exercises you need to shape your ideas, develop your writing, and sell your work!
“Honest and precise… everything about writing for children there is to know.”
—Jane Yolen, author
Here is the comprehensive guide to writing, publishing, and selling for the ever-expanding and always exciting children’s market—now in a new and updated third edition.
Carefully-developed writing exercises, checklists, and targeted reading lists to get and keep writers writing and illustrators illustrating; In addition to the following all-new material: Updated case histories and reading lists; Brand-new writing and illustrating exercises; Online tools and resources for research; An expanded section on illustration; Information on communicating with and making submissions to publishers.
Writing for kids is fun and rewarding–if you can break into the fiercely competitive world of children’s book publishing. With this guide, you’ll learn how to write and promote a children’s book that will impress any publisher. Whether you have a basic idea or a manuscript ready to go, you’ll find all you need to build a successful career as a children’s book author.
If you have the desire to write for kids, imagination, and the will to learn how to write professionally, then you are holding the book that can show you how to write for and sell to today’s children’s market. Based on the authors’ successful teaching and writing experiences, this classic book (now in its third edition) offers a practical guide to publication, complete with information and advice on special writing problems, projects, and research and reference materials aimed at writing for the young reader.
Agatha Rodi Books 