|
|
|
|
 |
Children's Fiction
Top Three Tips for New Children's Writers
So you want to write a children's book
but don't know where to start? The first thing you must do
is spend time researching the market. The Writers' & Artists'
Yearbook is a good starting point and is an absolute 'must'
for the new writer. It is, basically, a directory of publishers
and their requirements but it also has a very good section
in it specifically on writing for children. Aside from this
guide there are a number of specialist children's book magazines
on the market, general writing magazines and books on how
to write for children. It is also worth spending time in your
local bookshop looking at the most recently published books
and, also, studying publishers' catalogues (available direct
from individual publishers).
Once you have thoroughly researched the
market (and I do mean thoroughly) you will be aware that different
publishers publish different types of books. For example,
there is no point in sending a picture book to a publisher
that only publishes teenage fiction and vice versa. Targeting
your work is my second big tip. Don't make the mistake of
writing something and then sending it out to all and sundry
in the hope that someone will take it. Study individual publishers'
requirements carefully and then adapt any ideas you may have
to fit in with those requirements. This doesn't mean that
you can only approach one publisher with one idea. Very often
an idea will suit several different publishers but - and this
is important - it isn't going to suit every publisher, so
be selective.
Which brings me onto my third tip - approach.
It may sound like common sense but do make sure that any manuscript
you send to a publisher is presentable. By that I mean that
it has to look professional. It should be typed on one side
of A4 sheets of paper. It has to be clean. Pages should be
numbered but not joined together in any way. To keep a manuscript
together some sort of folder should be used. Your manuscript
should be accompanied by a brief covering letter and you should
enclose return postage if you want your manuscript returned
to you. If your manuscript is longer than about 15,000 words
it is perfectly sufficient to send the first few chapters
accompanied by a one or two page synopsis. If your manuscript
is a picture book for much younger children it is not necessary
to send illustrations unless you are a professional illustrator
yourself. All children's publishers have their own banks of
illustrators and will match an illustrator of their choice
with your text.
Finally - although this isn't really
a tip - do be prepared for rejection. Children's publishing
is an incredibly competitive field and, except for the lucky
few, not well paid. Rejection of your work is not a personal
slight and I truly believe that if you believe in your story
you will, eventually, find success.
This text was prepared by Louise Jordan. Louise runs The Writers' Advice Centre for Children's Books, which provides a full support service for new writers. The Writers' Advice Centre Books can be contacted via:
The Writers' Advice Centre, 16 Smiths Yard, Summerley Street, London SW18 4HR.
Tel. 0797 9905353
Web. www.writersadvice.co.uk
|
|
|
|
|
