What’s In Store
Writing kids and YA books
by Kim Kavin

A few years ago, I had an idea for a children’s picture book. The story was based on the antics of my beagle, Floyd, who had an Agent 007-esque talent for escaping from the yard and taking himself on neighborhood adventures. I wrote out a few pages, titled them Floyd Follows His Nose, and sent my packet to publishers. I was absolutely certain that I was destined for easy money.

As you surely have guessed, the rejection letters came. I recently dusted off that proposal after reading the books below. Today, I know that I submitted what publishers probably saw as a story that teaches toddlers how to break out of their back yards, make mischief while romping alone around town, and end up covered in sweet-smelling goop. That’s not going to get me a publishing deal any time soon, but my revised proposal just might, based on what I’ve learned from the following authors.

How to Publish Your Children’s Book, by Liza N. Burby, Square One Publishers, 2004, 272 pages, paperback, $17.95.
Burby, an ASJA member, is the author of 38 children’s books. She’s also served as an editor, so she offers deep insider knowledge about how editors and publishers categorize and judge children’s book submissions. She also provides in-depth suggestions for tailoring query letters and sample chapters to various markets, and includes key words and phrases that distinguish veterans from amateurs.

Even if you have successfully published titles for adults, Burby’s book will teach you important lessons for breaking into all levels of the children’s market. Did you know that there’s a Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market published independently of reference books you may already have read? Or that certain publishers print books only for schools and libraries, based on subject categories such as Women’s History Month? Do you know the difference between fairy tales and fantasies? What are Hi-Lo and El-Hi readers?

Burby’s book provides answers to these questions and more in an easy-to-read, Post-It-Note- friendly format. The resource list is thorough, with suggestions for additional reading online and in print—including periodicals tailored to the children’s book market. The glossary also is excellent, offering helpful definitions that clarify the difference between things like early-picture and easy-reader books. This is a keeper of a reference book as much as a how-to title.

 

Writing Great Books for Young Adults, by Regina L. Brooks, Sourcebooks, Inc., 2009, 174 pages, paperback, $14.99.
Brooks is a literary agent who specializes in young adult fiction. The majority of her how-to chapters will be of interest to fiction writers for any-age audiences—“Understanding Plot,” “Creating a Satisfying Conclusion,” and so on. Only the first chapter dwells specifically on the young-adult market, offering five rules for engaging today’s 12- to 18-year-old fiction readers.

And, truth be told, only two of Brooks’ tips are actually young-adult specific: “convince the reader that the protagonist is one of them,” and “don’t condescend to your readers.” The other three tips, as with the rest of Brooks’ book, are good advice for writing fiction for any age (read the genre in which you hope to write, concentrate on telling a good story versus making a big sale, and come up with fresh ideas). Most suggestions offered in later chapters also apply to writing fiction for all ages, such as giving each character a personal goal, foreshadowing important events, and constructing believable settings.

According to the publisher, Writing Great Books for Young Adults is the first book focused on writing for the young adult market. I’d call that a stretch. If you’re looking for a general introduction to fiction writing told from the perspective of someone with a lot of young-adult publishing experience, then this book might be a good choice.

 

Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication, by Ann Whitford Paul, Writer’s Digest Books, 2009, 248 pages, paperback, $16.99.
Whitford Paul, the author of 17 children’s books in addition to many works of poetry, got my attention early (as any good author should) by devoting a chunk of her first chapter to audience. Her understanding of 2- to 8-year-old children—and how they see and experience the world—is invaluable to anyone thinking about writing for the market.

The bulk of her book deals with all the stuff of good fiction writing discussed in a way that relates specifically to the picture-book market. There’s basic information about query letter formats and finding publishers, but overall this book is about the writing process for picture books, and about how you can get better at it.

Especially valuable are countless how-to examples from successful picture books. One recurring example is The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs, which Paul deftly recasts from different points of view and in different styles to make various points about tone, character, and more. The tactic is a winner, like Whitford Paul’s book itself.

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Kim Kavin has been an ASJA member since 2004. When she’s not chasing her dog around town, she typically is cruising the world aboard yachts for various marine publishers. Her personal website is www.kimkavin.com, and her yacht charter website is www.charterwave.com