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Tips for Authors

  • Read children’s books — contemporary and classic.
  • Join a children’s writers organization such as the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators or the Juvenile Writers of Kansas City.
  • Join a critique group.
  • Study the market. Find out what kinds of stories publishers are buying. Find out what types of stories editors want.
  • Send your work to the right editor. You don’t want to send a picture book to an editor who handles only chapter books.
  • Attend children’s writing conferences. This gives you a chance to meet editors and agents face-to-face.
  • Take your writing seriously. Treat it as a profession.
  • Treat all editors and agents professionally. Don’t bombard them with constant e-mails about your manuscript.
  • Read all contracts carefully. Make sure you know what you’re signing.
  • Write every day.
  • Write for yourself.
  • Don’t worry about rejections. Everyone gets rejected.
  • Don’t give up.

Web sites for Children’s Book Authors

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Editors

Juvenile Writers of Kansas City

The Highlight’s Foundation

Write4Kids

The Missouri Writers’ Guild

The Purple Crayon

The Institute of Children’s Literature

The Author’s Guild

The Children’s Book Council

The National Writing for Children Center