Everyone loves a children’s book. And many dream about writing one.
But is it actually possible for an unpublished writer–armed
with a good story idea and a love of kids–to write, sell,
publish, and promote a book? Yes, it is! Veteran children’s book
publishing executive and author Lisa Rojany Buccieri and author
Peter Economy show you how, in their incredibly useful 2005 first
edition of Writing Children’s Books For
Dummies®.
Buccieri and Economy begin by explaining the basics of the
children’s book business, from the nuts and bolts of the various
formats and genres–with helpful illustrations to aid
you–to the intricacies of the book publishing market, a list
of recent award-winning books, and a first peek into the particular
mind set that writing children’s books requires. (Hint: Throw out
the adult rules, and think like a kid!)
Then the authors dive into the actual writing process itself,
with tips on setting up a workspace, brainstorming great book
ideas, researching the subject you decide on, even speaking with
the sorts of kids you hope will eventually read the book. They show
you how to create compelling characters and develop them in the
manuscript; how to outline and write a plot ‘arc’ of conflict,
change, and resolution; how to master the difficult art of writing
dialogue; and how to use active (rather than passive) language to
keep your story moving along and interesting to young minds.
Or, if you’re planning to write a creative nonfiction children’s
book–on a topic such as science, nature, or a historical
figure, for example–the authors include a chapter on this,
too. Ready, set, go… it’s time to sit down and write!
Once you’ve finished your book, however, the process has only
begun. Now you will refine, submit, and hopefully sell your
manuscript. Here again, the authors of Writing Children’s
Books For Dummies come through for you. They deliver solid
advice on hiring an illustrator–or not; participating in
workshops and conferences to learn the business and hone a story;
finding an agent; and, finally, submitting the manuscript to
publishers and–if you are successful–signing a
contract.
Along the way, the authors also include tips on handling
rejection; a quick primer on the various editors in publishing
houses (and how they work to make your book its best); and making a
plan to publicize the book, including hiring a publicist if
necessary.
Like all For Dummies® books, Writing
Children’s Books For Dummies highlights ‘The Part of Tens, ‘
which includes the Ten Best Ways to Promote Your Story and More
Than Ten Great Sources for Storylines. And the ever-helpful Cheat
Sheet includes Tips for Editing your Children’s Book Manuscript,
Children’s Book No-No’s, Twelve Commandments for Writing Younger
Children’s Books, and Tips on Promotion.
From setting down that first word on paper to doing a successful
publicity tour, Writing Children’s Books For Dummies
gives you the confidence and the insiders’ know-how to write and
sell the story you’ve always wanted to write.
Table des matières
Introduction.
Part I: The ABCs of Writing for Children.
Chapter 1: The Basics of Writing Children’s Books.
Chapter 2: Children’s Book Formats and Genres.
Chapter 3: Understanding the Children’s Book Market.
Part II: Immersing Yourself in the Writing Process.
Chapter 4: Setting Up Your Workspace.
Chapter 5: Starting with a Great Idea.
Chapter 6: Researching Your Audience and Subject.
Part III: Creating a Spellbinding Story.
Chapter 7: Creating Compelling Characters.
Chapter 8: The Plot Thickens: Conflict, Climax, and
Resolution.
Chapter 9: Can We Talk? Writing Dialogue.
Chapter 10: Setting the Scene.
Chapter 11: Finding Your Voice: Point of View and Tone.
Chapter 12: Writing Creative Nonfiction and How-To Books.
Part IV: Making Your Story Shine.
Chapter 13: Editing and Formatting Your Way to a Happy
Ending.
Chapter 14: To Illustrate or Not to Illustrate.
Chapter 15: Finding Feedback and Encouragement.
Part V: Getting Published and Promoting Your Book.
Chapter 16: Getting an Agent to Represent You.
Chapter 17: Finding the Perfect Publisher and Signing a
Contract.
Chapter 18: Following the Publishing Process.
Chapter 19: Donning Your Publicity Cap.
Part VI: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 20: More than Ten Great Sources for Storylines.
Chapter 21: Ten Best Ways to Promote Your Story.
Index.
A propos de l’auteur
Lisa Rojany Buccieri is a publishing executive with over 15
years’ experience in the industry. Lisa has also written
nearly 40 children’s books and co-written a New York
Times-bestselling adult nonfiction hardcover, Fund Your
Future (Berkley, 2002), with Julie Stav. Her books have
received various accolades, such as reaching Number 1 on the
Publishers Weekly bestseller list two years in a row
(Make Your Own Valentines, PSS/Penguin) and winning the
American Bookseller’s Pick of the List (Giant Animal
Fold-Outs: Kangaroo & Company, PSS/Penguin). King
Arthur’s Camelot (Dutton) was selected to be a Book of
the Month Club selection; Child Magazine chose her
Exploring the Human Body (Barron’s) as one of its Best
New Parenting Books; and The Magic Feather (Troll) won a
Parent’s Choice Silver Honor Award. Lisa is currently
spearheading a new children’s book packaging and publishing
division at Americhip Books, focusing on integrating light, sound,
animation, paper engineering, and other cuttingedge technologies
with stories and art. She has been Editorial/Publishing Director
for Golden Books, Price Stern Sloan/Penguin Group USA, Intervisual
Books, Gateway Learning Corp (Hooked on Phonics), and others. She
speaks about children’s publishing, writing, and editing at
U.C.L.A. Writer’s Program Extension courses and other venues
and is currently working on a book of fiction for grown-ups. Lisa
also runs her own company, Editorial Services of Los Angeles, in
which she helps other writers make their work the best it can be.
You can contact her at www.editorialservicesofla.com.
Peter Economy is a veteran author with nine For
Dummies titles under his belt, including two second editions.
Peter is coauthor of Home-Based Business For Dummies, Building
Your Own Home For Dummies, Consulting For Dummies, The Management
Bible, Why Aren’t You Your Own Boss?, Enterprising
Nonprofits: A Toolkit for Social Entrepreneurs, and many more
books. Peter is also Associate Editor of Leader to Leader,
the award-winning journal of the Leader to Leader Institute. Check
out Peter’s Web site at www.petereconomy.com.
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