Want to Be a Children’s Writer?
by Karen Cioffi
Writing for children is difficult. There are a number of rules, techniques, and tricks involved to make your book publishable and saleable. In fact, there are more rules for writing for children than there are for writing in general.
Some of the rules that are unique to writing for children include: the Core of Three, sentence structure, and the timeframe in which the story should occur when writing for young children. In addition, it’s essential to make sure your conflicts, storyline, and point of view are appropriate for the age group you’re writing for.
And then there are the general techniques for writing, such as adding sensory details and creating an engaging story that hooks the reader right away, along with great dialogue and correct punctuation.
In other words, you need to learn the craft of writing for children.
This is just the beginning though, there is also the aspect of editing your work, writing a winning query, and following submission guidelines, the list goes on and on.
But, what’s even more difficult than writing for children is breaking into ‘the business of writing for children.’
Imagine being stuck in the middle of the ocean without any navigational instruments. You may eventually end up on a shore somewhere, but will it be the destination you set out to reach?
Well, your destination as a children’s writer is to write quality articles and/or books for children AND have them published in paying markets. If you’re writing children’s books, having your book published is just the beginning of the journey, you also have to devise a strategy to market and sell your books. Sorry, but publishers nowadays expect you to roll-up-your-sleeves and sell books.
If you thought writing was difficult, wait until you have to create a marketing plan, create a website, target your market, post content on a regular basis to create an informational funnel, initiate and keep up with social networking, and promote, promote, promote.
Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction books, it doesn’t matter, going through this journey on your own can be a daunting task. But don’t fret, there is help available.
The Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club, directed by Suzanne Lieurance, is a valuable tool to help you, the children’s writer, reach your planned destination.
I’ve invested in a number of courses and programs in writing and marketing over the years, and know value when I see it; the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club has tremendous value and delivers what it promises, both in fiction and non-fiction children’s writing.
It delves into and offers:
Expert instruction on writing children’s books as well as children’s articles for magazines
Monthly assignments focusing on getting your work published
Weekly expert critiques of members’ manuscripts or articles
Weekly teleclasses geared toward varied aspects of writing for children
This along with Suzanne’s knack for instructing, motivating, and encouraging her members helps each member to learn and hone his or her craft.
I’ve been a member of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club for almost three years and for less than 90 cents a day, $27 per month, it has been and is worth every penny. I can honestly say, Suzanne has helped me hone my craft, get published, and guided me toward effective marketing strategies.
In the accounting field, there is a term ‘opportunity cost.’ It refers to the cost of choosing one opportunity over another; in this case, one course or product over another. With the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club you can be assured that if you choose to join the club, your opportunity cost will be zero.
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Karen Cioffi is an author, ghostwriter, and freelance writer. For writing and marketing information visit KarenCioffi.com, and sign up for her free newsletter: A Writer’s World. You’ll get 2 free e-books about writing and marketing in the process, and two more free e-books just for stopping by.
You Can Become a Published Children’s Book Author!
Overwhelmed with all the information out there for writing for children?
Not sure how to weed out the essentials?
Look no further!
Join theChildren’s Writers’ Coaching Club (CWCC) today and learn how to set your weekly marketing plan in place (you may refer to this as your “To Do List”). Coupled with weekly tele-classes and monthly assignments you will soon see your writing career moving in a positive direction.
The guidance and support at the CWCC has been instrumental in the success of my writing career. My first story book, due to be released Spring/Summer 2010 by Guardian Angel Publishing, is a direct result of an assignment through the CWCC. And my most recent news, by attending one of the tele-classes I received direct information about a work-for-hire opportunity, I took the plunge, submitted my information, and was hired within 14-days!
Writing can be a lonely business, but with the expert coaching from Suzanne Lieurance and camaraderie of the CWCC members you will no longer feel adrift in a sea of jumbled words.”
Donna M. McDine
Member, Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club
Children’s Author
Stay-at-Home Moms – Why Writing for Children Can Be the Perfect Job for You
February 27, 2010 by admin
Filed under Writing for Children
If you’re a stay-at-home mom with small children, writing for kids can be the perfect part-time job for you. Here’s why:
1) You’re in contact with kids 24/7, so you know what kids think about and how they talk. This can be very helpful when trying to develop story lines that kids would enjoy reading. It will also help you write dialogue that sounds like things kids would actually say these days.
As a mom, you probably also read many picture books to your own child or children. And, as every writer knows, one of the best ways to learn to write picture books and other stories for children, is to READ these types of materials. So just think – each time you read to your child, you’ll also be doing something to develop your own career as a writer.
2) Since your full time job is taking care of your family, you’ll probably only have short snatches of time during the day and evening to write. But this is perfect for writing short works for kids – things like picture books, easy readers, and even magazine articles and short-stories.
And, if you carry a pocket-size notebook with you during the day, while you’re watching the kids play at the park, or supervising them as they go about their daily chores, you can take notes for story or articles ideas. And, please note, it IS important to jot down a few notes about your ideas. Otherwise, by the end of the day you will have forgotten them.
3) In addition to writing stories and articles FOR kids, you will also develop a wealth of topics for writing ABOUT kids – articles for parenting magazines, for example, or even tips for classroom teachers.
And, there are usually at least a couple of small regional parenting publications in every large city, so you can gain publishing credits by starting out writing for these publications. If you’re good at it, you might even eventually gain your own regular column in one of these publications.
4) You can develop professional connections and associations with other moms who write, so you’ll have other adults to communicate with on a regular basis every day. Many moms can feel isolated when their only contact during the day is with their children. But as a children’s writer and mom, you can become part of a professional network of other stay-at-home moms who write for children.
5) You’ll build up your writing skills and publishing credits through the years, so by the time your children have grown and left the nest, you will probably be able to make the transition from part time children’s writer to full time children’s writer fairly easily if you so desire.
As you can see, for moms who like to write, writing for children offers the perfect part-time career.
