Interested in writing and publishing children's books....but how do I get started?

Question

I have always loved reading children's books, and feel (and have heard from others) that I'm creative and quite a good storyteller. But how do I get started? Do I need to get an agent? Do I contact publishers? I have so many good ideas, but I don't know where to bring them all. Please help!

Answer 1

Yes, you have to write, and you have to read, and read what children are reading today. But I'd like to add some answers to your main questions.

First thing you need to do is join the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. http://www.scbwi.org/ Then go to one of their conferences. Other tips, from an article I wrote: http://www.underdown.org/basics.htm .

No, you don't need an agent. Many people get started without one. More on agents for children's book authors: http://www.underdown.org/agents.htm .

You can contact publishers directly, once you are sure you're ready to do so. Here's an article with some tips: Getting Out of the Slush Pile, at http://www.underdown.org/slush.htm .

Get some good books on writing. Here's a list from my site: http://www.underdown.org/books-about-writing.htm .

That should get you started. I'm a children's book editor, with a web site with many other articles, so please stop by and browse.

Answer 2

You have some pretty good answers here already, but I'd like to put in my two cents and start with trying to answer your question.

You're asking what you should do with all of these great ideas and who to bring them to. My answer to that is that you don't have to bring your ideas to anyone- you have to actually write the book or story. The truth is, agents and publishers will want to see a manuscript, a rough draft of a product, not an idea or concept.

Once you have your story (and illustrations if you have them) then you can begin the hunt for an agent or publisher. Some publishers will only accept manuscripts from agents, others will accept them from you directly. It really just depends on how the publisher does business.

There are some good books out there on writing, publishing, agents, and everything else involved with this. One of them is the Childrens Writers and Illustrators Market.

-BD

Answer 3

First, do your research. Go to your local library's Children's Department and ask to see some of the book review journals.

Whatever you do, DON'T just write a book and go looking for a publisher. You need to know what publishers are looking for and writing childrens books (and getting a good illustrator) isn't easy. It's a discipline like anything else and it would behoove you to do as much research as possible before you spend a lot of time writing. Your local library will have LOTS of material for aspiring writers. I can't encourage you enough to pour over these books and absorb every detail.

I work in a major metropolitan library and one of my duties is our annual Local Authors Exhibit. Every year we get submissions from people who undoubtedly think they are good storytellers, illustrators, etc. Unfortunately, many of these people need a lot of help (and a tad bit more humility).

Worse, these people fall prey to vanity publishers - companies that will publish ANYTHING by anyone as long as the author is willing to foot the bill. These authors THINK they're good storytellers, often because family and loved ones tell them so. But don't kid yourself - everyone thinks they have a great story, script or screenplay inside them just waiting to come out.

The other thing you should consider is taking writing classes at your local community college. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you're a great talent waiting to be discovered. You might be, but the odds are against it. Few writers are naturally talented just as few doctors, concert pianists or painters are naturally talented. To mangle one of Einstein's great quotes, "Success is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration."

One advantage to taking classes is that your professor will probably have some experience in the business and is best suited to give you publishing advice. The other important thing about school is that it will allow you to network with similar individuals.

Whatever you do, don't give up. Writing is like any other discipline and the road is often filled with (surmountable) obstacles. Only through determination, a willingness to learn and a openness to the editing process, can anyone hope to be successful in the writing business.

Good luck!

Answer 4

No No No - don't worry about agents or publishers or anything like that.

If you want to write then there are two incredibly important and simple things that you must do every day like clockwork:

Write
Read

That's it. You will get more information on writing children's books by reading 15 of them than you will in reading writing guides. If you need to brush up on your grammar or your characters, scenes, etc., you could benefit from a writer's guide or journal. But you'll get more out of reading published material. This will tell you:

What do kids read?
How do children's writers write that's different from adult books?
How long should the books be (get to know about word totals - most children's books are 55,000 - 90,000 words unless you're J.K. Rowling (joke!)).

Try reading a children's book you really like and write a chapter in the style of the author.

Reading is important so you know what your audience wants, but the single most important part is writing. If you want to write then write. It sounds simplistic but it's not - try it - for a week.

Ramble over - try this:

Pick your favorite story idea - this is for a short story (3,000-6,000 words), not a novel - don't start with a novel!!!!!!!

Write a very short outline for the story idea.

Who are the characters? List the major ones with a few distinguishing traits.

Where does the story take place?

What are the scenes? Books and stories consist of a series of scenes. This is an important concept.

Once you have this fleshed out in your mind or on paper, then write the story. This is the hard part - if you haven't done this before, trust me, it's not easy. But it gets easy with practice.

I'd love to give you a hand if you're interested. I've written a bunch of stories and started a novel where I kind of backed myself into a logical corner.

Drop me a line.

FP

Answer 5

Birth 1 Lily Else Birth 2 Esmae Rose Birth 3 Phoebe India and Alvie Dylan Birth 4 Emma Jade Birth 5 Jacob Phoenix Birth 6 Rachelle Imogen Birth 7 Harper Olivia And Poppy Eden Birth 8 Jasmine Pearl Jessica Skye Reece James Max Jacob X

Answer 6

write the book and go on google to find a publisher

Answer 7

Get a good story line, then write the story, talk to some people, call around, and hopefully, they'll find your story intriguing! Good luck and best wishes!!