You are cordially invited to examine a current issue of Children’s Writer, the monthly
12-page newsletter with over 30 editors interviewed in each issue—all in full color.
 
This complimentary copy is yours to keep—with no obligation—just click here for your free digital issue.

Dear Writer,

I’m the editor of Children’s Writer, a monthly 12-page+ emailed digital newsletter that’s dedicated to keeping you up-to-date on children’s writing, putting you on top of the market for children’s books, stories, and articles—and keeping you there. 
 
We’ve been doing it better than anyone else for over 20 years—and we’ve earned the respect of the professionals in children’s publishing. As a result, we get to work with our industry’s leaders—editors, publishers, agents, and authors.  They provide the best and latest information for our readers through the pages of Children’s Writer. 

We also draw heavily on the vast writing and publishing experience of our instructors at the Institute of Children’s Literature.

You’ll be on top of the trends

These contributors provide us with features, interviews, how-to articles, and insights gleaned from years of success and continuing involvement in the dynamic children’s market.

Our editors and research specialists maintain an ongoing dialogue with outside editors and publishers—and they keep a close watch over the entire field of children’s publishing.

And because we conscientiously verify and update our information base every month, we’re in the unique position of being able to provide you with a continuous flow of current market information vital to your success.

Timely tips, expert pointers,
and informative articles
every month

Every issue of Children’s Writer brings you pointers from the experts and current market tips on writing for children.

The result is Children’s Writer—a lively full-color monthly newsletter developed expressly for you—to support your writing in two important ways:

First, Children’s Writer gives you timely tips, expert pointers, and informative articles on writing style, technique, and content—in every major category of children’s literature.

Second, Children’s Writer keeps you up to the minute with fast breaking news on the markets you want to sell to . . . what today’s editors want at the publications that matter most to you . . . and current developments in publishing that are shaping your future success right now! That’s because Children’s Writer spots the trends, gives you the data, and arms you with answers you simply must have to write to your full potential—and to get your writing published.

You’ve got to have all the facts the pros have (and a few more)

These are the operative facts: This complex, fast-changing market, embracing all of the categories from preschool to young adult, needs freelance submissions and is paying well. Yet, the competition among writers is hot. You’ve got to have all the facts the pros have (and maybe a few more) if you want to see yourself in print—and now you can!

Whether you’re writing for yourself or creating a best-seller, Children’s Writer covers the entire spectrum. It gives you up-to-the-minute information you can’t beg, borrow, or buy anywhere else—and brings it to you 12 times a year.  And you’ll receive it instantly in your emailed digital issue.

More than that, Children’s Writer deals with the current questions and problems you’re most likely to encounter—and it covers the major markets that buy freelance writing. (We don’t waste your time on those that don’t.)

How do we know what editors and publishers are looking for?

How do we know what’s selling?—And who’s buying?

Easy. We tap the daily stream of information we generate to keep you on top of every freelance market—and pass along helpful tips and expert pointers from editors, publishers, our instructors, and other writers. For example:

• Editors from Dutton/Dial, Little Brown, Plum Blossom Books and others, describe the prerequisite for a picture book today—a “successful” protagonist, one who has unique and interesting traits combined with qualities that young readers will see in themselves.  Depth and complexity are key.  A character flaw is important too.
• Marilyn Edwards, Editor-in-Chief for Hopscotch for Girls, Boys’ Quest, and Fun for Kidz, explains how she likes the unusual such as stereotypical role reversals, for example boys baking, in 500-700 words, with great photo support, a catchy title, and “anything that will help the reader such as diagrams or sources for materials, books, and websites.” 
• Highlights’ hugely respected Senior Editor Marileta Robinson tells us that “the easiest way to break in is with a craft, puzzle, or activity, but we also publish stories and articles by previously unpublished authors.”

Learn about trends that affect your writing

• How do you handle kidspeak? Do you go with the flow? Or do you translate slang into universal expressions? We offer guidelines you can trust.
• Animals are an important element in children’s writing. Editors from Highlights, the Cricket Group, Charlesbridge, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, and Viking Books review the best in current practices, which call for realistic portrayals, not talking animals.
• What’s the bottom line on writers’ groups? Should you join one if your writing is going well, or wait until you hit a snag? Children’s Writer answers all the questions and even tells you how to start a group.

Eight sure-fire ways to
generate article ideas

There’s more . . . regular how-to articles written by our outstanding editors and educators that give you—month after month—good tips, expert pointers, current market data, and insider information, such as:

• Marimba Books, an imprint of Just Us Books, is currently open to queries for fiction and nonfiction board, picture, and chapter books that target toddlers, preK, early readers, or middle-graders.
• Appleseeds’ Editor, Susan Buckley, wants lively articles for third- to fifth-graders for this nonfiction social studies magazine.  Subjects could include history, geography, professions, technology, literature, and the environment.
• Charlesbridge Publishing is open to submissions of picture books and short bridge books that transition early readers to middle-grade chapter books. They want exclusivity for three months to consider submissions.   
• New theme lists are just out from Fun for Kidz, Boys’ Quest, Hopscotch, and Pockets—and Children’s Writer reviewed them all.   

Keeps you on top of the market every month

And there’s still more. Children’s Writer brings you regular features to keep you on top of the market every month:

• Marketplace—at least three full pages to provide even more news about what editors are looking for right now! PLUS . . . tips, updates, new faces, new specs, start-ups, shutdowns, mergers, and acquisitions.
• Contest Announcements—Including Children’s Writer’s own contests with cash prizes of up to $500 for the grand-prize winner plus publication in Children’s Writer and on our website as well. And entry is FREE to Children’s Writer subscribers.
• “Virtual Coffee Break,” “Profession,” and “Craft”—Several regular features where guest writers discuss key aspects of the business side and the writing side of being a professional author. 

Of course, as you might expect from the Institute, there’s even more:

• “Wanted lists” from book and magazine editors;
• Interviews with authors who help shape the market;
• Profiles of publishers that are setting the pace.

Polish your writing skills

Then, to top off every issue of Children’s Writer, you get instructional, informational, and inspirational articles to help you polish your writing skills. Included are topics such as:

• How to work more writing into your schedule;
• Lead paragraphs that really lead today's reader;
• Self-motivation techniques to keep the words flowing;
• How to overcome writers’ block;
• What to do when you have no clips (previously published work) to submit;
• How to make a good picture book dummy . . . and a lot more.

Get your free issue now!

Children’s Writer is your newsletter. It was developed—and is written and edited—for you.

We’d like to send you our next monthly issue by email—free, with no obligation. You may read it right within your email program, or you can click over to our secure website to read it, print it out to carry around, file it, or show to a writer friend.

If you like it, you may become a subscriber at a special rate (for new subscribers only) of $15 for a full subscription of 12 more issues (a total of 13) worth $32.50 at our electronic newsstand rate. You’ll save 50%.
 
Of course, if you’re ever disappointed, you can—and you should—cancel and receive a full refund on all unsent issues.

Cordially,

Susan Tierney
Editor