Subject
A 12-page monthly newsletter in two sections reporting
on the marketplace for children’s writing—books, articles, stories,
plays, activities, and more. Current news, trends, tips, how to write to
publish.
Audience
Beginning to well-established professional writers
interested in learning more and keeping up-to-date on writing for
children, selling their writing, and the juvenile publishing
industry.
Aims
-
Inform subscribers about, and analyze, current
markets in articles, columns, and reporting of editorial needs.
- Help writers of all levels of expertise to
strengthen their writing with markets in
mind.
- Inspire, motivate, encourage the children’s writing
community.
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Format
- Lead articles: Wide
range of features on market trends in books and magazines: market
segments, approaching editors, editorial needs, writing with
audience in mind, practical/business considerations, and much more.
All feature articles highlight the current needs and perspectives of
editors. Articles should quote a variety of sources, often, and
offer specific and highly practical information to help new and
progressing writers sell what they write and write what will sell.
Interviews with six or more sources are required, and articles
should include the possibility of sidebars and/or charts.
1,700-2,000 words. Submit a detailed query, listing potential
interview sources, proposed length, and proposed submission date. Payment on acceptance, $300.
- Features:
Articles on the many aspects of the writing process and a writing
career with a strong publishing-world voice. Subjects range from
profiles of successful writers, editors, publishers, or
publications, to plotting, paragraph structuring, point of view,
organization, openings, research, submission formats, technology,
dialogue, contracts, agents, character development, critique groups,
and so on.
-These features, too, optimally include four or five
interviews with editors or writers and/or very specific examples
from successfully published materials, or examples of specific
writing and publishing experiences with such topics as submission
format, contracts, or agents. 1,700-2,000 words. Submit a detailed
query, listing potential interview sources, proposed length, and
proposed submission date. Payment on acceptance, $300.
- Columns: Each issue also includes three
columns from among the following. These are each 750 words, with a
sidebar of approximately 125-words. Submit a detailed query.
Payment, on acceptance, $200.
- Craft: Discussions of on all aspects of the techniques and art of
writing. Slants of all kinds on subjects that include plot,
character, theme, language, style, syntax, voice, point of view,
imagery genres, titles, dialogue, openings, endings, audience, and
so on.
- Profession: Information and perspectives on all aspects of
business and career that support writing for children. Subjects
include submissions, rights, payment, organization, equipment,
marketing and promotion, résumés, writers’ groups, conferences,
and so on.
- Insider: Interviews with editors at book and magazine publishers
about their own careers, but even more about their current
positions, companies, and editorial needs.
- Inspiration: Motivational articles that encourage writers and take
on such issues as writers’ block, idea generation, creativity,
managing the balance of life and career.
- Research: Articles that focus on the many facets of research, from
subject to market research.
- Commentary: Opinion pieces on subjects of interest to writers.
These may take on controversy, but must be responsible and
respectful of our audience.
- Other sections:
- Marketplace: Current information on which editors need what, and
other “industry” information. Short, detailed items with
useable news for freelance children’s writers. While this section is
generated in-house, leads are appreciated.
- Contests: Announcements of Children’s Writer
writing contests.
Winning contest entries and commentary.
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Style
Largely journalistic. Professional, but encouraging.
Very tightly written. Always include practical considerations and ideas
on which readers may act. Articles must cite solid sources, most
particularly editors, using quotes throughout. Preferred sources are
publications or publishers currently seeking submissions. All articles
should offer actionable, practical tips and information, ideas that
work. Sidebars, checklists, and similar aids should accompany most, if
not all, articles.
More on Submissions
E-mail submissions are highly preferred. Disk
submissions with hard copy are accepted. We use Quark XPress and Word.
Originals and photocopies are accepted, but must be
clearly legible. Do not single space. For manuscripts to be returned,
include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Children’s Writer buys first-time rights. We do
not use reprints.
Simultaneous submissions will be reviewed, if cover
letter indicates submission elsewhere.
We try to respond to submissions within one month. |