By Mary Rodd Furbee
1. Consider why you
want to write children's books.
If you want to write books for children, it helps to be a little
crazy. I developed a passion to write nonfiction biographies for
middle-school children about four years ago. My daughter's
experiences made me realize that there were hardly any children's
books on America's founding mothers. It hit me, hard: This was what
I had to write. There was a need. The subject was fascinating. I
knew I could do it, and found the prospect exciting. If you have a
similar passion, perfect. If not, perhaps you are meant to do
something else. It's hard to write books, harder still to write
books for children. It's difficult to get published, and you'll
face a lot of rejection.
2. Don't expect to
make big money or make it quickly.
Writing books for children is like starting a business. You must
invest both time and money. I hoped to make money writing my first
books, but I didn't. Four years and six published books later, I
still haven't made as much money as I could have in most
professional writing or editing positions. It's the rare children's
book that hits the bestseller list or wins a Newbery Award, and the
rare full-time children's writer who makes a living.
3. Read children's
books.
When I decided to write biographies of women in American history, I
read biographies, histories, books about writing biographies, and
lots of middle-grade fiction and nonfiction. It's amazing what you
can learn by reading the books you want to write - be they board
books for infants and toddlers, picture books, early readers,
middle-grade novels or young adult nonfiction. Read the best
authors - over and over. If you can, take a class in children's
literature or writing for children.
4. Learn everything
you can about writing for children.
Read articles, visit websites, join writers organizations, and buy
a few all-important books (see resource list below). Join the
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCWI).
Belonging gives you an edge when you query a publisher, and they
hold useful conferences and workshops. All this will cost some
money, but it's an investment in future success.
5. Find out which
publishers are interested in the kind of books you want to
write.
Do some research. Books in Print is a good resource. It's available
through libraries in database and book form. The Children's Book
Council publishes an annotated list of children's book publishers
(send a 6x9 self-addressed stamped envelope with postage for three
ounces and $2.00 to the address listed at the end of this article.)
Literary Marketplace, Writer's Market and Writer's &
Illustrator's Guide to Children's Book Publishers and Agents list
detailed information about the types of manuscripts publishers seek
and how to submit. I also browse in bookstores and at
Amazon.com.
6. Follow
publishers' guidelines.
Once you've identified potential publishers, read their submission
guidelines - carefully. Then obey them - religiously. Some
publishers want submissions to be exclusive; others accept
simultaneous submissions. (That means you can send it to other
publishers at the same time.) Some want to see the entire
manuscript; others want an outline; still others want sample
chapters. Call editors only if the submission guidelines specify
that you may. It's a good idea to call receptionists at the
publishing houses to make sure the editors listed are still there.
While you're at it, double-check the spelling of names.
7. Be a
pro.
Submissions should be error-free-and gimmick-free. Double-space.
Use page numbers. Use paper clips and/or rubber bands, not staples.
Don't use colored paper or fancy binders. Entire books have been
written about properly formatting your document: If you are unsure
how to proceed, read one.
8. Include a
dynamite query letter.
A query letter is a pithy, enticing pitch about the book and about
you, the author (in that order). Books about writing and getting
published usually feature query letters. Read them for ideas, but
don't imitate. Be yourself - your best self. Write, revise, and
proofread as many times as it takes to make your letter shine.
Below is the beginning of a query letter I used. I followed this
with concrete information on page length, target audience, and my
writing experience. (If you have no experience, don't apologize for
it; just leave that part out.)
Dear Ms. Smith,
During the American Revolution, colonial women sewed flags, tore
sheets into bandages and threw garlands at the feet of victorious
generals. But they did so much more. Wealthier married and widowed
women had significant power on the homefront. Middle-class women
owned and managed newspapers, printing houses, taverns and boarding
houses. Poorer women labored doubly hard as indentured servants and
slaves while their menfolk were off waging war. Frontier women
tilled the soil, shot the game and fought off native raids in what
historians dubbed the "Battle for the Back Door." Women in all
walks of life - couriers, spies, army cooks, nurses - traveled with
and cared for soldiers fighting on the frontlines. They were
helpmates and heroes, loyalists and patriots, upper-crust
Easterners and earthy frontiers women, peace- and war-making
natives. It's a rich and diverse history, yet largely untold in
children's books about the Colonial and Revolutionary War
era.
9. Be prepared to
wait.
John Wiley & Sons, which published my book Outrageous Women
of Colonial America, contacted me one year after I sent a query
letter and a one-page proposal! Others took three to six months to
send rejections. Rather than getting miffed, I wrote and submitted
proposals for other books, signed a couple of contracts with
smaller publishers, and got busy writing.
10. Join a writers
group or start one.
Without the support of my fellow writers, I would never have become
a published children's book author. Writing is solitary, and
everyone needs encouragement and feedback. My local group
(Morgantown Writers Group) gave insightful feedback on my very
first manuscript: Anne Bailey: Frontier Scout (to be published this
fall by Morgan Reynolds). I also found encouragement at the West
Virginia Writers summer conference at Cedar Lakes. In fact, I won a
prize for that same first manuscript in the WVW annual contest,
which made me realize: Gee, I guess I must be good at this! Do
yourself a favor: Join a group or start one. Happy
writing!
Mary Rodd Furbee is a clinical instructor at West Virginia University (WVU) School of Journalism. Her books for children and adults include Outrageous Women of Colonial America and the forthcoming Outrageous Women of the American Frontier (John Wiley & Sons). For more information, visit her website: www.mfurbee.com.
Resources:
Books and
journals:
Publishers Weekly
Literary Marketplace
Writer's Market
Writer's & Illustrator's Guide to Children's Book Publishers
and Agents
Organizations:
The Children's Book Council, 568 Broadway, New York, NY,
10012.
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustra- tors, 8271 Beverly
Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048. Email: www.sbwi.com
Websites:
Children's Writing website: www.write4kids.com
Librarian Today: www.todayslibrarian.com
Bookwire: www.bookwire.com
Publishers Weekly: www.publishersweekly.com
Literary Marketplace: www.literarymarketplace.com
Bookweb: www.bookweb.org
School Library Journal: www.slj.com
Institute of Children's Literature:
www.institutechildrenslit.com/index.htm
Children's Literature Web Guide:
www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/index.html