Social Networking 101 for Children’s Book Authors
This topic is WAAAYYY too big for one little blog post (which is why it’s a 101 as opposed to a 500). That said, for those of you who are wondering if social networking applies to children’s book authors, the answer is a resounding YES. These days, if you’re not leveraging the power of social [...]
Just Write For Kids
I have terrific news! But first – let me ask you a question: *Have you ever dreamed of writing a children’s book? *Do you have an idea for a story but don’t know where to start? *Have you written a book, but don’t know what the next step should be? *Would you like to join [...]
The Building Blocks of Plot, or “Dramatic Arc”
Basic plot structure for a picture book is the same as for any other kind of dramatic structure, be it a novel, a play or a film: 3 acts – or, beginning, middle, and end. Each one takes up roughly one third of the book, and each is divided by a transition or plot twist… [...]
What’s Your Niche?
OK, it’s not Monday, but the holidays have intervened. That said, let’s talk about niches. Having a niche means being known as “The Person Who Writes X,” as in “Oh, that’s the person who writes those talking truck books” or “That’s the person who writes those steamy vampire novels.” When you have a niche, you [...]
Put Your Best Foot Forward
Most publishing houses make acquisitions decisions by committee. Having been a fly on the wall at a lot of those meetings, as well as having made acquisitions decisions myself, I know that agents, editors and publishers often won’t read past the third page if a manuscript feels overwritten, under-developed, overly derivative or out of touch [...]
They’re Called PICTURE Books…
Like many children’s book authors who are also parents, I get a lot of ideas from my own kids. Several years ago, something sort of magical happened to my son that seemed worthy of a picture book. We were dining on our back deck, and he – at the age of three – essentially willed [...]
Know the Market!
It’s been said that we all run at least two businesses – the business we’re in, and the business of marketing the business we’re in. Writers are often daunted by this. “I’m an artist!” we think, “I don’t know anything about marketing, or sales, or business!” Roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work. [...]
“But I’m a Writer, Not a Salesperson!” or, Intro to Marketing for Authors
The role of a children’s book author in the marketplace is dramatically different today from what it was even ten years ago. Books are now acquired based as much on an author’s perceived “platform” as on the merits of the book itself. In other words, authors are now expected to take equal responsibility for the [...]
“Theme”, or Simple Gifts
The ‘What’s It All About’ discussion of the last post leads right to the next topic: theme. What do you want to say to your audience, and why? It’s not enough to simply entertain – we want to offer our readers something to think about, a feeling, perhaps, or a question for further dialogue after [...]
