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Whether you are a children's writer who is trying to break into the publishing world or a seasoned writer looking to improve on your skills, this clip is a must see. Check out this video that offers an informative crash course on how to submit a manuscript to a publisher.
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Children's book publishing in the U.S. nets over $3 billion a year.
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Fact:
Books are needed for all genres and age groups (from board books for infants to full-blown novels for teens).
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Fact:
As of 2005, over 6000 new juvenile books were published annually.
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Fact:
The majority of hardcover sales are to school and public libraries, but there is also a strong market for kids' books (both hardcover and paperback) in large bookstore chains.
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Fact:
The information for Fast Facts was found in The Giblin Guide to Writing For Children, by James Cross Giblin
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Be Specific
Use detailed words for children. Instead of simply saying "dog," use a word that paints a clearer picture of the dog. Is it a Great Dane, Poodle or Chihuahua?
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Show Instead of Tell
Kids will become easily bored with a story that simply tells them what is happening. Let them see them characters in action and hear them speak.
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Make Characters Fit Your Audience
Children relate best to characters who are close to their age group and share similar feelings, fears and experiences. Keep the age of the audience you're targeting in mind when developing your characters.
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Write Tight
When writing for children, writers must learn to get in, tell the story and get out. Avoid over flowery words and phrases. Keep paragraphs fairly short.
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Make the Child Protagonist Solve the Problem/Conflict
Keep the adult interference in solving the story's conflict to a minimum. Allow the child protagonist to discover solutions and work through problems on his or her own. Kids like to read about other kids taking action.
