How to Write a Children's Book and Get It Published

by Seuling, Barbara

• ISBN13: 9780471676195
• ISBN10: 0471676195
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-11-22
• Publisher: WILEY

Summary

Your one-stop guide to writing and selling books for children Get the tools you need to: Develop story ideas that work Strengthen your writing skills Improve your work habits Write for different age groups Look at your work critically Submit proposals and manuscripts Find the right publisher for your work Understand and negotiate contracts Work with agents and editors Join the writing community Do you dream of becoming the next J. K. Rowling? Are you excited about writing for children but have no idea how to begin or where to send your material? Now, respected children's writer Barbara Seuling gives you the essential steps to getting published in the competitive, exciting world of children's literature. 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. Seuling even discusses recent successes such as the Harry Potter series, as well as the growth of Amazon.com. Complete with updated lists of writing organizations, marketing information, and recommended reading, this is the only guide you need to start writing, get published, and touch the lives of children.

Author Biography

BARBARA SEULING is the author and illustrator of more than sixty books for children, including the popular chapter book Oh No, It's Robert and its sequels, as well as picture books including Winter Lullaby, illustrated by Greg Newbold, and Whose House?, illustrated by Kay Chorao. She worked for nine years as a children's book editor for major publishing houses. Seuling is also the director of The Manuscript Workshop in Vermont.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	v
Introduction	1	(4)
PART ONE A Closer Look at Children's Books
You, the Children's Book Writer . . . Maybe	5	(7)
Defining Your Goals
What Is a Children's Book?	12	(10)
The Variety of Books Published Today
How to Become an Expert	22	(8)
Getting to Know Children's Books
Lessons from the Past	30	(9)
A Short History of Children's Books
PART TWO Developing Your Ideas
Where Did You Get That Idea?	39	(8)
How to Find Ideas and Work with Them
Sabotage Made Easy	47	(10)
Procrastination and What to Do about It
Learning Your Craft	57	(8)
How to Become a Better Writer
PART THREE Writing Your Book
What You Need to Know and Do
Writing Picture Books	65	(13)
Writing Easy-to-Read Books	78	(5)
Writing Early Chapter Books	83	(3)
Writing Fiction	86	(18)
Writing Nonfiction	104	(9)
Writing in Verse	113	(5)
Writing Plays	118	(11)
PART FOUR Selling Your Book
Who Cares?	129	(12)
Queries and Proposals
Submitting Your Manuscript	141	(14)
Presenting Yourself to a Publisher
For the Writer Who Is Also an Illustrator	155	(10)
What the Illustrator Needs to Know
Changing Markets	165	(14)
Finding the Right Publisher for Your Work
PART FIVE A Publisher in Your Future
Out of the Slush Pile and into the Fire	179	(11)
What Publishers Do
Your Editor---Friend or Dragon?	190	(4)
Working with an Editor
Joining the Writing Community	194	(33)
Taking an Active Role
APPENDIXES
I Book Lists	201	(1)
II Reviews	202	(1)
III Children's Literature---History and Criticism	203	(1)
IV References	204	(1)
V Marketing Information	205	(1)
VI Books on the Craft	206	(3)
VII Services, Studies, and Support	209	(3)
VIII Even More Titles by Genre	212	(15)
Index	227