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

Barbara Seuling

Description

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.
Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

PART ONE: A Closer Look at Children’s Books.

1. You, the Children’s Book Writer . . . Maybe
Defining Your Goals.

2. What Is a Children’s Book?
The Variety of Books Published Today.

3. How to Become an Expert
Getting to Know Children’s Books.

4. Lessons from the Past
A Short History of Children’s Books.

PART TWO: Developing Your Ideas.

5. Where Did You Get That Idea?
How to Find Ideas and Work with Them.

6. Sabotage Made Easy
Procrastination and What to Do about It.

7. Learning Your Craft
How to Become a Better Writer.

PART THREE: Writing Your Book
What You Need to Know and Do.

8. Writing Picture Books.

9. Writing Easy-to-Read Books.

10. Writing Early Chapter Books.

11. Writing Fiction.

12. Writing Nonfiction.

13. Writing in Verse.

14. Writing Plays.

PART FOUR: Selling Your Book.

15. Who Cares?
Queries and Proposals.

16. Submitting Your Manuscript
Presenting Yourself to a Publisher.

17. For the Writer Who Is Also an Illustrator
What the Illustrator Needs to Know.

18. Changing Markets
Finding the Right Publisher for Your Work.

PART FIVE: A Publisher in Your Future.

19. Out of the Slush Pile and into the Fire
What Publishers Do.

20. Your Editor—Friend or Dragon?
Working with an Editor.

21. Joining the Writing Community
Taking an Active Role.

APPENDIXES.

I. Book Lists.

II. Reviews.

III. Children’s Literature—History and Criticism.

IV. References.

V. Marketing Information.

VI. Books on the Craft.

VII. Services, Studies, and Support.

VIII. Even More Titles by Genre.

Index.

Sujets

• Authorship
• Writting
• Disciplines
• Language Arts
• Writing
• Author

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 06 janvier 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781118045879
• Langue: English

Extrait

Table of Contents
 
Title Page
Dedication
Copyright Page
Acknowledgments
Introduction
 
PART ONE - A Closer Look at Children’s Books
 
Chapter 1 - You, the Children’s Book Writer . . . Maybe
 
GOBBLE UP BOOKS
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 1
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
Chapter 2 - What Is a Children’s Book?
 
BABY BOOKS (0 TO 15 MONTHS)
BOARD BOOKS (1 TO 3 YEARS)
PICTURE BOOKS—FICTION (2 TO 7 YEARS)
PICTURE BOOKS—NONFICTION (2 TO 7 YEARS AND UP)
PICTURE BOOKS FOR OLDER READERS (7 TO 12 YEARS)
EASY-TO-READ BOOKS (5 TO 7 YEARS)
EARLY CHAPTER BOOKS (7 TO 10 YEARS)
MIDDLE-GRADE FICTION (8 TO 12 YEARS)
MIDDLE-GRADE NONFICTION (8 TO 12 YEARS)
TEENAGE OR YOUNG ADULT FICTION (12 YEARS AND UP)
TEENAGE OR YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION (12 YEARS AND UP)
NOVELTY BOOKS
POETRY
PLAYS
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 2
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
Chapter 3 - How to Become an Expert
 
THE BUSINESS OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS
STUDY THE PUBLISHERS
BROWSE THE BOOKSTORES—ONLINE AND OFF
REVIEW THE REVIEWERS
THE CHILDREN’S BOOK COUNCIL
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 3
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
Chapter 4 - Lessons from the Past
 
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 4
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
PART TWO - Developing Your Ideas
Chapter 5 - Where Did You Get That Idea?
 
MAKE NOTES
CLIPPINGS
USE YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES
BORROW IDEAS FROM OTHERS
FOCUS ON ONE IDEA
BRAINSTORM
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 5
 
Chapter 6 - Sabotage Made Easy
 
ESTABLISH PRIORITIES
WRITE EVERY DAY
GETTING STARTED
WRITE REGULARLY
HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD I SPEND ON WRITING EACH DAY?
BUILD UP YOUR CONCENTRATION
SHAKE OUT THOSE KINKS
GOOFING OFF
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 6
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
Chapter 7 - Learning Your Craft
 
DEVELOPING STYLE
AVOID CLUTTER
REVISION
FEEDBACK
FURTHER STUDIES
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 7
 
PART THREE - Writing Your Book
Chapter 8 - Writing Picture Books
 
KEEP THE STORY SIMPLE
THE CHILD’S-EYE VIEW
NOT NECESSARILY HUMAN
THE STORY MUST STAND ON ITS OWN
JUMP RIGHT IN
BE HOPEFUL
FIND THE PAGE-TURNING POINTS
READ GOOD PICTURE BOOKS
THE VERY YOUNG READER
A FEW TABOOS
ANIMALS THAT TALK
READ YOUR STORY ALOUD
CUT AND PASTE
CHECKLIST—PICTURE BOOKS
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 8
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
Chapter 9 - Writing Easy-to-Read Books
 
AVOID THE TEXTBOOK SMELL
KEEP IT MOVING
ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE
CHECKLIST—EASY-TO-READ BOOKS
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 9
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
Chapter 10 - Writing Early Chapter Books
 
MEATY STORIES
FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
SINGLE IDEA
MEASURING THE WORLD
CHECKLIST—EARLY CHAPTER BOOKS
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 10
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
Chapter 11 - Writing Fiction
 
PLOT
CHARACTERS
SUBPLOTS
BACKGROUND
BEGINNING AND ENDING
THEME
ACTION
VIEWPOINT
DESCRIPTION
CONFLICT
WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE
TAGS
SUSPENSE
DON’T GIVE AWAY TOO MUCH
WRITING UNDER A SERIES NAME
A STRONG BOND
LENGTH
CHECKLIST—NOVELS
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 11
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
Chapter 12 - Writing Nonfiction
 
ZERO IN
NO NEED TO SUGARCOAT THE FACTS
DISTILL THE INFORMATION
EXAMINE NONFICTION
FACTS INTO FICTION
A GOOD TITLE
WHERE TO RESEARCH
KNOW WHEN TO STOP
KEEP GOOD RECORDS
CHECKLIST—NONFICTION
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 12
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
Chapter 13 - Writing in Verse
 
STRONG ATTRACTION
NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS
READ GOOD POETRY
BE YOUR OWN CRITIC
REACH DEEP WITHIN YOU
MAKE A CHOICE
CHECKLIST—POETRY
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 13
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
Chapter 14 - Writing Plays
 
POPULAR SUBJECTS
PLOT
BARE BONES
BEGINNING, MIDDLE, AND END
CHARACTERS
FLEXIBLE CAST
DIALOGUE
ACTION
SETS
COSTUMES
PROPS
READ PLAYS AND BOOKS ABOUT PLAY WRITING
MARKETS
CHECKLIST—WRITING PLAYS
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 14
PLAY MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER
 
PART FOUR - Selling Your Book
Chapter 15 - Who Cares?
 
SNIFF OUT THE COMPETITION
WHO CARES?
QUERY LETTER: STRAINING THE SYSTEM
SHOW YOU’RE ON THE BALL
SELL YOUR SUBJECT
SAVE IT FOR ANOTHER TIME
SYNOPSIS
PROPOSAL
SAMPLE CHAPTERS
OVERALL VIEW
BE PASSIONATE
SELECT FEW
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 15
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
Chapter 16 - Submitting Your Manuscript
 
AGENTS
ON YOUR OWN
FORMATTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT
MAKING CORRECTIONS
COVER LETTER
EXTRA MATTER
WHEN IT’S READY TO GO
DON’T SEND ILLUSTRATIONS
POSTAGE
ROUTING THE MANUSCRIPT
WAITING FOR A DECISION
MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS
BOOK PACKAGERS
INTEREST IN FURTHER WORK
COPYRIGHT
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 16
ORGANIZATIONS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER
 
Chapter 17 - For the Writer Who Is Also an Illustrator
 
STORYBOARD
DUMMY BOOK
MASTER YOUR SKILLS
STUDY OTHER ILLUSTRATORS
SHOW YOUR WORK
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 17
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
OTHER ILLUSTRATORS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
 
Chapter 18 - Changing Markets
 
FAT FUNDS
POP-UP BOOK GLUT
SERIES
HEALTHY INDUSTRY
ELECTRONICS EXPLOSION
E-PUBLISHING
E-BOOKS
PRINT-ON-DEMAND
WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT?
RIDING THE WAVE
LEARN THE MARKET WELL
MARKETING GUIDES
THE NET
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 18
SOURCES OF INFORMATION MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
PART FIVE - A Publisher in Your Future
Chapter 19 - Out of the Slush Pile and into the Fire
 
READERS’ REPORTS
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
MULTIPLE REVISIONS
REJECTIONS
CONTRACT
EARNINGS
SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 19
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
Chapter 20 - Your Editor—Friend or Dragon?
 
BE FLEXIBLE
WHEN YOUR EDITOR LEAVES
IN PRODUCTION
PAGE PROOFS
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 20
 
Chapter 21 - Joining the Writing Community
 
BOOK TALKS
BOOK PROMOTION
SELF-PROMOTION
START SOMETHING
CHECKLIST—TAKING AN ACTIVE ROLE
SUGGESTIONS—CHAPTER 21
SOURCES OF SUPPORT MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
 
APPENDIX I - Book Lists
APPENDIX II - Reviews
APPENDIX III - Children’s Literature—History and Criticism
APPENDIX IV - References
APPENDIX V - Marketing Information
APPENDIX VI - Books on the Craft
APPENDIX VII - Services, Studies, and Support
APPENDIX VIII - Even More Titles by Genre
INDEX
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

To Sue Alexander, who’s been there from the beginning, and for Miriam Altshuler, who saw it through its rebirth, with love
Copyright © 1984, 1991, 2005 by Barbara Seuling. All rights reserved
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey Published simultaneously in Canada
 
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Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and the author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
 
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
 
Seuling, Barbara.
How to write a children’s book and get it published / Barbara Seuling.—Rev. and expanded.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-471-67619-5 (paper)
1. Children’s literature—Authorship. 2. Children’s literature—Authorship—Marketing. I. Title.
PN147.5.S46 2004
808.06’8—dc22
2004004691
 

 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
There are many people responsible, directly or indirectly, for helping in the preparation of this revision: the many writers—some of whom have become highly respected children’s writers—who have told me that my book helped them get a strong start; the publishers who responded to my request for reading copies of books; Sandy Asher, Sue Alexander, Cathy Nichols, Katherine Gleason, Paula Morrow, and Sara McGhee, for their advice and help in areas I know little about; students past and present who have made me look like a good teacher by thei