How to Become a Published Children's Author

[MarloG]

  

1. First you must have a very strong desire. This journey is going to take patience, perseverance and passion. Trust me on this.
2. Write
3. Become a SCBWI member. SCBWI stands for the Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrators, and if you’re serious about pursuing your dream, you will join.  www.scbwi.org
4. Write
5. Think ‘story’. Don’t think ‘message’. Editors don’t want a message, they want a good story with strong characters.
6. Write
7. Attend a conference, writing workshop, class. Would you expect to play great tennis without ever learning to how to swing a racket? Of course not! It’s the same with writing. It takes cumulative knowledge and practice, like anything else.
8. Write
9. Join a critique group. Use your local SCBWI to find or start a group near you.
10. Write
11. Read a Blog. I have links to great Blogs in the sticky posts. Read Editorial Anonymous and you will learn much!
12. Did I say, write?
13. READ, READ, READ! One of the best ways to become a good writer is to become a prolific reader. Want to write picture books? Then read picture books. Middle-grade series?  Then read those. Hanker to write a YA (Young Adult) novel? Then guess what you need to read.
14. You guessed it, write.
15. Don’t use the Internet to search for publishers until you have this: The Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market (and get the very latest edition). If the publisher is not in the book, then they are probably a self-publishing service. My advice to you: if ANY agent or publisher asks you for money, RUN.
16. Re-write. Hah, you thought I was going to say write, didn’t you?! But part of writing is re-writing.
17. And re-writing…
18. And re-writing…
19. And editing
20. Get a professional opinion. Share with your crit group, writing class, enlist an editor (like me!)
21. Write your cover/query letter using some of the resources I have listed under the Cover and Query Letters post.
22. Be prepared for rejections. Hey, we ALL get them. You’re not going to quit at the first ten rejections are you?! Or the first fifteen? Or the first fifty... You’re made of tougher stuff than that! YOU have a DREAM.
23. Write.
24. If you have any specific questions, put them on my Ask the Editor post.

[Grami]

Good advise, Marlo

Breaking into the children's market is not an easy thing to do. Congratulations on your successes!

Blessings
Grami

[abbysmom1218]

THANK YOU FOR THIS GROUP AND THIS POST!!!  I just started a children's book series but  I had no idea how to go from there!

[MissyAnn760]

Thanks for the information!  I wish I had found this before I sent my first book to the publisher!  I got one rejection, but I'm going to review your information and try, try again!  Many thanks for your insight ...

[SANDYCAT]

WOW- THIS POST IS FANTASTIC- THANK YOU SO MUCH - I'M JUST GETTING STARTED.

[lovingmommy]

I'm just getting started and this is very useful ...thank you so much!!!!!

[wvcoffeechick]

One thing that I have learned is, writing a book is the easy part. Publishing is the hard part!

[Janethuderski]

Okay

I read, read, read, and I've almost finished with the write and rewrite and rewrite and rewrite part. I've belonged to the SCBWI organization for two years now (though I have to admit I'm not very active in it...I just read their mailings.) I haven't even tied to send my story to a publisher cause I am afraid of the rejection and I am not made of tougher stuff-though I know that I should be. I'm really hoping and dreaming about becoming a published author some day, but I'm afraid I haven't got the time or the oomph that it will take.

[wvcoffeechick]

Someone once said that every rejection gets you that much closer to being published:) or something to that effect. Take a chance? What's the worst that could happen? I have gotten plenty of rejection letters and that just makes me more determined!

[wvcoffeechick]

would you at all be interested in helping me publish a children's book? I wrote one in dedication to my sister-n-law who passed away from colon cancer. I am really frustrated:( I have made a short book of"Silly Rhymes" -I think it is a cute idea, I have some illustrations that I have been working on, also. I really want to do this, I started it when she became ill. The name if the story is The magical Adventures Of sissy Stringbean-I have written several stories as well with this charecter. i have gotten several offers but as I check them out on Preditors and Editors, they aren't looking so hot. I need someone who is willing to work with me, I am limited on income and I feel that my Sissy stories are touching as well as possibly raising some cancer awareness. I have written one called, "You can't catch Cancer."  A story about two little girls, one who befriends another who is fighting cancer.

[carmen4826]

Dear MarloG,

I am new to your group. I just clicked on the post about "How To Become a Published Children's Author. And I had to stop there. There's always something - a hinderance of some sort. The fees some of these sites ask for. Trust me I completely understand why they have to, my problem always is - I can never afford them .On a one family income in a family of 6, becoming a memeber is only a wish. We barely make ends meet. I'm a stay-at home mother of 4. Three are in school, and that allows me a lot of time to my writing. However I'm blocked from so much help - because I simply can't afford it. Do you have auy useful advice?