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

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

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

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

by Barbara Seuling

Paperback(Third Edition)

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Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780471676195
Publisher: TURNER PUB CO
Publication date: 11/01/2004
Edition description: Third Edition
Pages: 240
Sales rank: 197,099
Product dimensions: 5.54(w) x 8.46(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

BARBARA SEULING is the author and illustrator of more than sixty books for children, including the popular chapter book Oh No, It's Robert and its sequels, as well as picture books including Winter Lullaby, illustrated by Greg Newbold, and Whose House?, illustrated by Kay Chorao. She worked for nine years as a children's book editor for major publishing houses. Seuling is also the director of The Manuscript Workshop in Vermont.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgmentsv
Introduction1
Part 1A Closer Look at Children's Books
1You, the Children's Book Writer ... Maybe: Defining Your Goals5
2What Is a Children's Book?: The Variety of Books Published Today12
3How to Become an Expert: Getting to Know Children's Books22
4Lessons from the Past: A Short History of Children's Books30
Part 2Developing Your Ideas
5Where Did You Get That Idea?: How to Find Ideas and Work with Them39
6Sabotage Made Easy: Procrastination and What to Do about It47
7Learning Your Craft: How to Become a Better Writer57
Part 3Writing Your Book: What You Need to Know and Do
8Writing Picture Books65
9Writing Easy-to-Read Books78
10Writing Early Chapter Books83
11Writing Fiction86
12Writing Nonfiction104
13Writing in Verse113
14Writing Plays118
Part 4Selling Your Book
15Who Cares?: Queries and Proposals129
16Submitting Your Manuscript: Presenting Yourself to a Publisher141
17For the Writer Who Is Also an Illustrator: What the Illustrator Needs to Know155
18Changing Markets: Finding the Right Publisher for Your Work165
Part 5A Publisher in Your Future
19Out of the Slush Pile and into the Fire: What Publishers Do179
20Your Editor-Friend or Dragon?: Working with an Editor190
21Joining the Writing Community: Taking an Active Role194
Appendixes
IBook Lists201
IIReviews202
IIIChildren's Literature-History and Criticism203
IVReferences204
VMarketing Information205
VIBooks on the Craft206
VIIServices, Studies, and Support209
VIIIEven More Titles by Genre212
Index227
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