The ABC's of Writing for Children

112 Children’s Authors and Illustrators Talk About the Art, the Business, the Craft, and the Life of Writing Children’s Literature

by Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff

$16.95 ($26.50 Canada) • 341 pp • Trade Paper

ISBN 1-884956-28-9

Excerpt

H ave you ever dreamed of writing a bestselling children’s book? Ever fantasize about what it’s like to live the life of a published children’s author? Although writing and illustrating books for children is not as easy as it looks—an acquaintance once said to me, “Writing children’s books looks so easy, I think I’ll write one this weekend.”—new authors and illustrators are being discovered and published all of the time. 

 Even if you’re not planning a career in this field, learning how authors and illustrators work can lend new insights and appreciation to their art. The same ideas and inspirations that help authors and illustrators of children’s books, may encourage students, teachers, librarians and other creative artists in their literary efforts.

 While gathering at a writer’s conference recently, several of us children’s authors and illustrators shared anecdotes about our profession. We reminisced about the years it took each of us to learn our craft, market our manuscripts, and learn to deal with rejection before we became published authors. Then we discussed our lives after getting published.

 Many of our concerns are still the same. We still strive to grow as writers, respond to today’s sophisticated child reader, deal with the chain store mentality that permeates the publishing market, and be true to our creative selves. The old cliche, you’re only as good as your next book, is true, so that even after you’ve “broken into the business,” you may be faced with the same challenges: getting the next book bought by a publishing house, publicizing your books so they don’t go out of print, and making a living with your career.

 Just as there are over onehundred authors and illustrators quoted here, there are as many ways in which to create a children’s book. Among these pages, you’ll see a widerange of philosophy, knowhow, talent, and opinions. You’ll discover how other authors and illustrators work, what inspires them, and the various situations they face in their careers. You’ll learn many ‘dos and don’ts’ for creating children’s books. You’ll see what works for one author, may not for the next. And you may just learn what will work for you.