Writing and Illustrating Children's Books for Publication

by Amoss, Berthe; Suben, Eric

• ISBN13: 9780898797220
• ISBN10: 0898797225
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1995-09-01
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books

Summary

Learn about writing and publishing children's books from two professionals ... who are on opposite sides of the desk. An acclaimed author/illustrator shares creative tips and insights, to help you with ideas - recognize them when you see them; format - package your book for the "right" reader; theme - express what your story is really about; and illustration - make pictures tell the tale. A distinguished editor shows you the publisher's decision-making process from the inside out. Learn about submission - make your product irresistible to editors; revision - polish your story until it shines; acceptance - your "life after publication"; and rejection - persevere until publication. Presented in a lively, usable format, this book combines supportive advice with engaging true stories of publishing hits and misses, exercises, checklists, reading lists, and more. These tools comprise a method that can help you write a publishable children's book manuscript in a short time. As a special bonus, the authors bring you words of wisdom from Caldecott Medalist Emily Arnold McCully, The New York Times Children's Book Editor Eden Ross Lipson, Founder and Director of New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts Auseklis Ozols, and many other top authors and children's book professionals.

Table of Contents

Introduction	4	(2)
Promises	6	(6)
The Child Within: Ideas and Getting Started	12	(7)
What Is It?	19	(9)
Where, Who, When?	28	(11)
Making Every Word Count	39	(10)
Illustration	49	(32)
Sending It Off, Submitting a Manuscript	81	(8)
Rejection and Revision	89	(8)
Editors and Agents and What They Look For	97	(7)
Is There Life After Publication?	104