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How to Write a Children's Book and Get It Published
Your one-stop guide to writing and selling books for children
Get the tools you need
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.
Get the tools you need
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.
240 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
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March 17, 2021A good book that will take you from the idea of writing a book to publishing and marketing the book. Many of the examples are dated, but the advice is still solid. I particularly like her end-of-chapter suggestions for further research/interest/growth. In addition, she has checklists that help ensure you have written the best you can write within the genre. For Example for writing a children's book you must: 1 A simple, clear plot is necessary. 2. Your main character must solve the plot problem. 3. Be visual, think of your story as a short film and keep things moving and interesting. 4. Read the best picture book writers. Study their style, language & content. and so on.
November 16, 2011
I have just read the third edition of this book and it is a very valuable resource. I highly recommend it.
September 16, 2023
How to Write a Children's Book: Financial Literacy
Part 14 of our ongoing series of Financial Literacy
This post started as a review of “How to Write a Children's Book and Get It Published.” But then I got to thinking. You see the author, Barbara Seuling does a good job of guiding people on how to have published their books – in the past. The book was first published in 1984 and revised in 1991. That is a long time ago in publishing. But some of the tips and thoughts are worth the read. Very much so.
What does this have to do with Financial Literacy?
The author encourages would be writers to do some reading to research others that have written in the style that they are considering. Or even in styles that they are not considering. Reading, especially with a notepad nearby, is a great way to learn – but do take those notes.
The author encourages writers to write. Throw it out after you have written it – if you really don’t like it. Edit and revise – if you think it has merit. Read it out loud to test it with your ears. Open them ears – to listen with a critical, but positive ear.
Plan when you are going to write – on a daily basis, if at all possible – and stick to the plan. Plan it in writing. Plan it sincerely. Stick to the plan.
All good advice for a budding writer. All good advice for someone that wants to get a better and eventually, a good grasp of financial literacy as well.
To do all of the above means you need courage. Courage does not mean that you are not nervous or even a little afraid. Rather, “courage means pushing yourself into taking that first scary step toward where you want to go,” says the author. Life and Financial Literacy all need courage as well.
What got me thinking about Financial Literacy when reading this book was when the author explained the reasons to write and the financial implications of doing so. Remember, the book was revised over 30 years ago. The numbers might change but the principles will be the same. “There is no way to guess how much money you can make on a book,” she says. At least not without a lot of market research, and even then, it is more miss than hit.
She explains that if things go well, you might receive an advance of $2500 from a hardcover publisher for your first novel. If it has a price of $9.95, your royalty of 10% will give you almost $1 per book. If you sell 5000 copies, you will earn $5000 dollars. Deduct your advance of $2500, and you are left with $2500. In other words, don’t give up your day job.
Writing, like most art, is a work of passion. It takes time, luck, and timing to make it big. If that is your hope, you might need a different craft. But if you do it for the pleasure, that is great. If you are doing it for the business, you better learn how to leverage your time.
How? Well, there are many ways, but as the author writes, “an apprentice in any profession takes years to learn their craft. Don’t be impatient.” We might add, that learning financial literacy takes years to learn, and consistent, life-long learning to master. Don’t be impatient – read, study, try, and by all means learn from your experiences.
Lino Matteo ©™
Twitter @Lino_Matteo
#Business #BusinessEnglish #Montreal #BusinessAnalysis #Books #BookReview #FinancialLiteracy
https://linomatteo.wordpress.com/2023...
Part 14 of our ongoing series of Financial Literacy
This post started as a review of “How to Write a Children's Book and Get It Published.” But then I got to thinking. You see the author, Barbara Seuling does a good job of guiding people on how to have published their books – in the past. The book was first published in 1984 and revised in 1991. That is a long time ago in publishing. But some of the tips and thoughts are worth the read. Very much so.
What does this have to do with Financial Literacy?
The author encourages would be writers to do some reading to research others that have written in the style that they are considering. Or even in styles that they are not considering. Reading, especially with a notepad nearby, is a great way to learn – but do take those notes.
The author encourages writers to write. Throw it out after you have written it – if you really don’t like it. Edit and revise – if you think it has merit. Read it out loud to test it with your ears. Open them ears – to listen with a critical, but positive ear.
Plan when you are going to write – on a daily basis, if at all possible – and stick to the plan. Plan it in writing. Plan it sincerely. Stick to the plan.
All good advice for a budding writer. All good advice for someone that wants to get a better and eventually, a good grasp of financial literacy as well.
To do all of the above means you need courage. Courage does not mean that you are not nervous or even a little afraid. Rather, “courage means pushing yourself into taking that first scary step toward where you want to go,” says the author. Life and Financial Literacy all need courage as well.
What got me thinking about Financial Literacy when reading this book was when the author explained the reasons to write and the financial implications of doing so. Remember, the book was revised over 30 years ago. The numbers might change but the principles will be the same. “There is no way to guess how much money you can make on a book,” she says. At least not without a lot of market research, and even then, it is more miss than hit.
She explains that if things go well, you might receive an advance of $2500 from a hardcover publisher for your first novel. If it has a price of $9.95, your royalty of 10% will give you almost $1 per book. If you sell 5000 copies, you will earn $5000 dollars. Deduct your advance of $2500, and you are left with $2500. In other words, don’t give up your day job.
Writing, like most art, is a work of passion. It takes time, luck, and timing to make it big. If that is your hope, you might need a different craft. But if you do it for the pleasure, that is great. If you are doing it for the business, you better learn how to leverage your time.
How? Well, there are many ways, but as the author writes, “an apprentice in any profession takes years to learn their craft. Don’t be impatient.” We might add, that learning financial literacy takes years to learn, and consistent, life-long learning to master. Don’t be impatient – read, study, try, and by all means learn from your experiences.
Lino Matteo ©™
Twitter @Lino_Matteo
#Business #BusinessEnglish #Montreal #BusinessAnalysis #Books #BookReview #FinancialLiteracy
https://linomatteo.wordpress.com/2023...
January 23, 2019
I would imagine that the publication process outlined in this book is outdated (personal computers were only just becoming popular when this book came out...and here we are decades later with books on our Smartphones.) Even so, Seuling's advice for the writing process, her reading recommendations, and her insight into the mind of an editor inspired me to take pages and pages of notes. I appreciate this book and think it still holds some value even today, but I do believe that her advice must be supplemented with modern information.
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January 19, 2021While the publication aspects of this book are quite outdated (which is to be expected), I still found value in some of the advice on writing. Some of the pointers match up with more recent books I have read, so it's nice to know some aspects of writing remain timeless.
I would recommend the book to aspiring writers, just keeping in mind that many of the guidelines for publishing in today's world have changed.
I would recommend the book to aspiring writers, just keeping in mind that many of the guidelines for publishing in today's world have changed.
March 2, 2018
I have my first script accepted by a publisher and this book helped me figure out how to revise it best for the final copy. I read the third edition. There is a lot of valuable information here. It already could use an update, however, as manuscripts are now submitted digitally and editors respond via emails instead of snail mail.
May 25, 2017
Some of the info is probably a bit outdated but it gave me a good glimpse in to the process from manuscript to publication. I think this would be helpful for all beginning writers at least to some degree, not just writers for children. Good intro book.
Read
May 2, 2020Although parts of the book were dated, it provided some great information. It made me recognize all of the work that goes into getting a book published -- while at the same time, inspiring me to write.
July 18, 2021
While there are aspects of this book that are outdated, it was published over 30 years ago, it did offer some wonderful food for thought that actually made me get up and write down new ideas I had while reading. I would definitely recommend it.
July 12, 2022
Ever so slightly dated (1984) but I don't mind it- you won't get any information about social media! What you will see is that many issues in publishing today existed decades ago, and all you can do about it is write. The craft chapters are wonderful and timeless.
October 3, 2017
Great book about the theme. Perfect to inform yourself about publishing for children and have a formed idea where to start.
December 1, 2017
a very useful book for beginners, i really liked all the techniques mentioned plus the appendixes it's an amazing book really for anyone who thinks about writing for kids
September 2, 2020
The book I checked out was older but had the information I was looking for and some ideas I had missed in other books about the topic.
October 16, 2020
Helpful but slightly out of date. Sent me on a wild panic attack which my writing group assured me was misinformed 🙄
October 1, 2021
I found this book very helpful. It had some great insights about writing books for children.
January 15, 2023
Half of the book was decent advice but the inertia stopped after that.
March 9, 2023
I read the 3rd edition and felt this book had very helpful tips.
March 21, 2019
Some helpful tips, but over all feels dated. It did give me ideas about where to find more up to date info, such as magazines and publisher websites, which you may be surprised hadn’t occurred to me.
April 10, 2012
This slim and business-slick book was interesting. It had a bit of a write-by-numbers feel, like a glossy beach magazine, and it wasn't artistically inspiring like the how-to write books by --you know-- real writers. Oh, Seuling is published, and I hope someday to have a nice long list of credits like she has, but she ain't Jane Yolen. As polished as it was, it certainly spurred me on to actually sending a manuscript out (in the mail, folks!) My favorite bits were the odd outdated leftovers from the first edition that have somehow made it into the most recent printing: "make sure your typewriter has a fresh ribbon!"
Notes:
Children's book council
Horn book with articles about children's books
p41 "The important thing for the perpetual notetaker is to get something done, finished to the point where she has devoted attention and time to it and given it a fair chance."
p54 Query letter works well for non-fiction to shortcut the wait time. check out "Subject guide to children's books in prints for your non-fiction topic to see what else is out there.Write to publishers if they would be interested in your idea, "note other books in print on your subject and explain why your book could compete successfully with them." Sell the publisher on your subject rather than on yourself. Explain why you are qualified to write. Some publishers will find query letters for fiction and picture books useful, too. But "I usually recomment that for picture books, you simply send your completed manuscript--up to about five or six pages." (57)
106- "If you come up with a good idea and a fresh appraoch and show that you can handle it succesffully through your proposal and same material, your chaces of 'breaking in' could be significantly improved."
115 "If you write poetry in general, try to sell individual poems, crafted with the same care as the finest prose, to children's magazines. It is a starting place, to gain the much-needed credits you will need as you master the verse form."
117 write poetically, ala william steig or Jan Wahl.
136 create routing slip for manuscripts sent, responses etc. also, send manusciirpt with a self-addressed stamped postcard to acknowledge receipt.
139- "send along a couple of sketches ad one piece of finished art." also 146: send a typed manuscript, one finished art, same sketches, dummy.
multiple submissions-- poor form. But check in with Society of Children's Book Writers to break in.
147 "appropriate number of pages-- thirty-two or forty-eight."
p177 list of basic proofreader's marks
188 great list of books to add to goodreads, also 189 and 192.
Notes:
Children's book council
Horn book with articles about children's books
p41 "The important thing for the perpetual notetaker is to get something done, finished to the point where she has devoted attention and time to it and given it a fair chance."
p54 Query letter works well for non-fiction to shortcut the wait time. check out "Subject guide to children's books in prints for your non-fiction topic to see what else is out there.Write to publishers if they would be interested in your idea, "note other books in print on your subject and explain why your book could compete successfully with them." Sell the publisher on your subject rather than on yourself. Explain why you are qualified to write. Some publishers will find query letters for fiction and picture books useful, too. But "I usually recomment that for picture books, you simply send your completed manuscript--up to about five or six pages." (57)
106- "If you come up with a good idea and a fresh appraoch and show that you can handle it succesffully through your proposal and same material, your chaces of 'breaking in' could be significantly improved."
115 "If you write poetry in general, try to sell individual poems, crafted with the same care as the finest prose, to children's magazines. It is a starting place, to gain the much-needed credits you will need as you master the verse form."
117 write poetically, ala william steig or Jan Wahl.
136 create routing slip for manuscripts sent, responses etc. also, send manusciirpt with a self-addressed stamped postcard to acknowledge receipt.
139- "send along a couple of sketches ad one piece of finished art." also 146: send a typed manuscript, one finished art, same sketches, dummy.
multiple submissions-- poor form. But check in with Society of Children's Book Writers to break in.
147 "appropriate number of pages-- thirty-two or forty-eight."
p177 list of basic proofreader's marks
188 great list of books to add to goodreads, also 189 and 192.
July 7, 2013
Admittedly, some parts of this book are outdated, but the majority of it is still extremely pertinent and helpful information.
Seuling goes into different types of children's books, what pictures work for better age groups, what age groups are into different types of topics over others, how to work with or without an illustrator, how to connect with other writers and writing groups, how things look on the publisher and editor's end, etc. etc.
Also, I really liked how she emphasized that children's books are not "watered down" adult books; kids aren't stupid, and they need much of the same aspects in place to make a good, interesting, captivating book, just like with adult books.
Seuling goes into different types of children's books, what pictures work for better age groups, what age groups are into different types of topics over others, how to work with or without an illustrator, how to connect with other writers and writing groups, how things look on the publisher and editor's end, etc. etc.
Also, I really liked how she emphasized that children's books are not "watered down" adult books; kids aren't stupid, and they need much of the same aspects in place to make a good, interesting, captivating book, just like with adult books.
November 25, 2011
I felt that though there were some helpful tips in the book, it definitely talked down to the reader and was certainly far from encouraging. If she's writing books for children, I hope that those books are slightly more encouraging and uplifting. This book seems to be her way of discouraging others from writing so that she might do better herself. Just how I felt when I was reading it. I'll still use it for a reference, but I certainly think it is far from the be all end all reference guide to children's books.
July 10, 2008
I'm not really writing a book, but I have lots of ideas that I think are pretty original, but I am terrible at expressing my thoughts in words. I saw this at the library and thought I would give it a try. Mostly so far, it is all common sense and I am wondering what books this lady has ever written that has made her an expert.
September 12, 2008
It's basic, so it's good for someone just thinking about writing, but it's also outdated...sometimes in a very obvious painful way.
For me, it wasn't the best book. I found more useful, relevant information through various children's writing websites.
For me, it wasn't the best book. I found more useful, relevant information through various children's writing websites.
May 23, 2011
An excellent book for covering a range of topics about children's books. The book includes hints to carry a writer from idea to book submission and publication. I read it a while ago and still refer to it often, which is a good recommendation for a how-to book.
February 1, 2012
The title is exactly what this book delivers. This, its latest edition, was written in 1991. I think some of the content gets a mulligan for that, but as a whole it was worthy of many a note taken by yours truly.
July 10, 2012
This book was so helpful and informative. Even though the copy I read was several years old, she still had so much up-to-date info technologically speaking. There are a lot of helpful resource lists as well.
June 26, 2014
This was a truly practical book with plenty of activities to get you thinking about the business end of publishing a book as well as the creative process. I had checked this book out from the library, but am considering purchasing it to complete the chapter suggestions at my own pace.
January 8, 2008
I use as a reference book.
January 20, 2009
I got the third edition for my birthday and devoured it in less than 24 hours. I'll definitely hang onto this one as a reference for many years to come...at least until there's an even newer edition!
February 17, 2010
Here my hopes were, not quite sky-high for writing a children's book, because I thought it would be easier than a dragging adult book, but NOOOO!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews