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Contact the Author
If you're looking for advice about becoming
a children's writer, here are a few ideas I hope are helpful.
Find other writers by joining a critique group. They can help
you tighten up
rambling sentences, create clever titles, find the perfect verb,
give your characters character, identify your voice, and craft a catchy cover letter. My writing friends also encouraged me not to give up (even after receiving 80 rejection letters).
Writers are generous and helpful people. Find some near you to connect with!
My "Ready Writers" Critique Group-
Roger, Suzanne, Jeff, Tina, Hal, Lorijo, & Kellie
 My "Crit Chicks" Writing Group -
Laura Ripes (left)-Her first picture book, The Spaghetti Slurping Sewer Serpent, releases Spring, 2012 from Marshall Cavandish. Suzanne (lucky me in center), Lori Degman (right) -Won the 2009 Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Contest!
Look for Lori's story, 1 Zany Zoo, in Cheerio's boxes now! Simon & Schuster will release it in full-size hardbacks later this year.
Visit some of my author friends on the web!
Lorijo Metz, Mary Dunn, Barb Rosenstock, Lori Degman, Cheryl Bardoe, Esther Hershenhorn, Ruth Spiro
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is a wonderful national organization that provides an unbelievable
amount of resources and training for writers of all levels. There are local
SCBWI chapters nationwide.
Writer’s conferences are a wonderful way to sharpen your writing
and meet other writers and editors. Whether it’s a brief Saturday
seminar or an intensive week-long conference, take the time to learn
more about your craft and learn from others in the writing business.
When I decided to start writing, the first thing I did was
sign up for a “Writing for Children” class at a local
college. It was a great place to learn the basics. Over time my
instructor invited me into her critique group. Mary soon became
a great friend and mentor. Since then I’ve attended other writing classes, seminars, and retreats.
Check around for classes in your area.
It seems obvious, but if you want to
improve your writing you need to sit down and write! Authors
must carve time out of their busy schedules to keep writing. You don’t
need to spend hours every day, but it's important to come up
with some type of a schedule that works for you and stick
with it!
 A good writer is also well read. You should read and study well-written
books in the genre in which you want to write. Keep current with
what’s new on the market. Learn from the classics. Just keep
reading!
Click the links below to check out these websites for children's writers:
The Authors
Guild
The Children’s
Book Council
The Purple
Crayon
SmartWriters.com
Society
of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators
Click the links below to find out more about writing contests and magazines that publish stories and artwork by children and teens:
Cricket
magazine's monthly writing contest: children 9 and up
Writer’s
Digest monthly writing contest: ages 13 and under
The
Writer’s Conference writing contests: kids
in all grades
Stone
Soup magazine: ages 13 and under
New
Moon magazine: girls ages 8-14
Potluck
Children’s Literary Magazine:publishes stories, poems, and
artwork by kids
Cyberkids
online magazine:publishes stories, games, poems, jokes and puzzles
that are appropriate for kids ages 7-12
Teen Ink: publishes teens' stories and artwork in their magazine and on their website
Green Screen Adventures: A television show aired on channels: WCIU The U, this Chicago, MeTv, and MeTOO, where they feature stories, reports, poems and drawings by students (2nd - 8th grade) using sketch comedy, story theatre, games shows, storytelling, and puppetry.
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Write, Write, Write!