Hi everybody! I am Jon Bard, Managing Editor of Children’s Book Insider and Fightin’ Bookwork-in-Chief at the CBI Clubhouse, the amazing new community or children’s book writers. Visit us at the cbiclubhouse.com.
Today, well, what are those big questions, do you have what it takes to make it as a children’s book writer? There's a difference between wanting to see your name on a book and wanting a career as a children’s book author. Anyone with a few bucks can publish their own story and many books are perfectly suited to be self-publish titles given to family and friends. The career mentality however is more complex. Check out some of these common characteristics and see how you measure up. First, successful authors have humility. When we get emails from people saying, I’m going to be the next Dr. Seuss, we cringe a little bit. Confidence is fine but don’t compare yourself to someone like Dr. Seuss right out of the gate. In fact, don’t compare yourself to anyone. Work on finding your own style and voice. And know that you don’t have to become a literary institution to become a success. Learning to write well is a lifelong process and the writers who get published understand that each manuscript, whether its sells or not, teaches them something. They're not afraid to be critiqued or edited. They put their heart into a book or article and then they’ve removed their ego. They understand that if their critique group or editors says a plot is too predictable, it’s far better to chuck the storyline and start over then fight to preserve a mediocre manuscript and they're grateful to the input that saved them from dozens of rejection letters. They will work for resume.
Successful authors know that their query letters are more impressive if they list some publishing credits. They're willing to write for little or no money at first because the experience of meeting a deadline and working with an editor is invaluable. They may decide to sell one story to a magazine that buys all rights, so their next story could be sold to a bigger publication that purchases first rights only. They’ll submit to local magazines, regional publishers and small presses as they perfect their manuscripts intended for larger national publishers. Well published authors don’t overlook any market that might be right for a particular work. And when you're just starting out, seeing your byline in a local publication is just as satisfying as appearing in highlights for children.
They love writing and reading children’s books. While most prolific authors we know have families and jobs, they live, eat, and breathe writing. Any spare moment is devoted to working on manuscripts. Free weekends are spent at conferences and workshops. When they're not writing, they’re reading children’s books. As soon as they got one manuscript in the mail, they start the next one. In fact, super successful authors work on several manuscripts at once. If they're uninspired to revise a scene from their novel, they read a query from an article idea or do research for a picture book biography. You don’t have to maintain this level of activity to become published, most writers don’t. but if you want to make a living as a children’s book author, if you want your website to list 50 or more books in print by many of the folks that we know, then its pretty much a required way to think.
Finally, they play the field. Well published authors don’t limit themselves to one genre. They’ll write picture books, novels, short stories for magazines, poetry, non-fiction, even material for the adult market as well as parenting magazines or writing newsletters like Children’s Book Insider. After one book comes out, they don’t wait for their editor to ask for another manuscript, they create when inspired. And if its not right for their current editor, you market somewhere else. In fact, it’s more difficult to get widely published if you only write one type of book. A publisher carries a limited number of titles per season. And the editor of your middle grade novel might not appreciate you having another novel for the same age group come out with a different publisher simultaneously. But a magazine article or non-fiction picture won’t compete with the book for older kids. It still gets your name in front of reviewers and book buyers. Successful authors don’t dabble in writing now and then. They embrace it and do whatever it takes to get published because its what they want more than anything else.
So, if you think you have it, if you can envision yourself as a successful children’s writer, then stop by the CBI Clubhouse at cbiclubhouse.com. CBI Clubhouse is loaded with stuff, videos, articles, e-books, podcast and of course our famous Children’s Book Insider Newsletter. It’s all there at cbiclubhouse.com. Come and join the fighting bookworms. This is Jon Bard. I’ll see you next time.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services