The World of Children’s Book Publishing

One of my writing goals this year is to focus more time on learning about the world of children’s book publishing. I’ve attended conferences, workshops and seminars throughout the years, but this new goal is to make the learning more of a constant thing I do. In this blog post, I’ll share some of the resources I’ve learned from so far in 2019.

Webinars

Webinars can be a wonderful resource because they provide a convenient way to learn. You can watch them from the comfort of your own space, at a time that works for you because the webinars almost always offer replay options. Also, they can be economical since they don’t require travel expenses like attending a conference in person would.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve watched five webinars on a variety of topics. Three of them were available to me as a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) but the other two were open to anyone.

From Mary Kole, freelance editor and former literary agent, I learned about the pros and cons of having an agent and how to stand out in the slush pile of submissions.

From Matthew Winner, elementary librarian, author and podcast host, I learned some good tips for how to maximize the use of social media as an author.

From Naomi Kirsten, senior editor, I learned about the specifics of the picture book process from proposal through publication.

From Arree Chung, author and illustrator, and Melissa Manlove and Ariel Richardson, editors, I learned tips for successfully submitting manuscripts to editors and agents.

Podcasts

Podcasts are a great way to learn because, again, you can listen whenever and wherever you choose. Doing laundry? Podcast. Driving? Podcast. Exercising? Podcast.

I’ve listened to four podcasts this month.

On The Children’s Book Podcast, I heard about how author/illustrator, Vashti Harrison, came up with the idea for her book, Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History and what her journey was like getting into children’s literature.

On Literaticast, I heard from author and writing coach, Lisa Cron, about her book, Story Genius, which uses brain science to help authors write better stories.

On The Yarn, I heard from Ekua Holmes, illustrator of the beautiful picture book, The Stuff of Stars.

On Picturebooking, I heard about the creative process of author/illustrator/animator, J.R. Krause, and his picture book Dragon Knight.

Critique Groups

Critique groups can be a helpful way to learn from your writing peers. Benefits include getting other eyes on your work and having accountability partners to encourage you. The key is to find a group that feels supportive in a way that works for you.

I participated in three critique group meetings in January and February.

Two of the times we met, our group shared current stories in progress. One of the times, we tried something new and did a speed-writing exercise to flesh out some new ideas. That was fun!

Author Lectures

Attending author lectures can be very inspiring. Hearing from authors in-person about their experiences and opinions is invaluable. Bonus: you can often get books signed and meet the authors in the process.

I attended two author lectures so far this year. For about $8 or $9 per lecture, the Words and Pictures Series is an amazing opportunity in Pittsburgh to see acclaimed children’s authors and illustrators. You can find authors at local libraries and bookstores for free, too.

In January, I had the pleasure to hear Newbery Medal winner, Erin Entrada Kelly, speak about her childhood and her creative process when writing middle grade novels. Click here to read my takeaways from her (really funny) talk.

In February, I got to meet nonfiction picture book author, Jonah Winter, and hear him speak about the current state of publishing and the importance of not sheltering children from tough subject matter.

Writing Community Activities

It can be isolating being a writer sometimes so connecting with other people who can understand your goals is priceless. These activities can be in-person or online. Both work to help you feel part of a community.

I registered for one group reading activity called Reading for Research (ReFoReMo) where I’ll be reading tons of picture books and discussing the craft of writing them along with many others who are passionate about children’s literature. 

Lastly, I have had zero acceptances from the book submissions I’ve sent out so far this year – only rejections. But, I’ll get there one of these days, and when I do, I’ll be ready.

Thanks for reading!