Just for Beginners

Kidlit Social #75: 2nd Anniversary Edition – Laura Answers Your Writing Questions!

On this episode, we celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of the Kidlit Social with an “Ask Laura Anything” special!  Laura answers a wide range of questions about writing, editing and submitting your work.

 

Michael Sampson, NYT Best-Selling Author & Collaborator with Bill Martin Jr.

New York Times best-selling author Michael Sampson talks about writing for children and his longtime collaboration with the late Bill Martin Jr. 

Kidlit Social #70: Industry Pros Reveal – How to Know When Your Manuscript is Ready to Submit

On this episode we welcome three respected industry pros, who will help you answer the question: Is My Manuscript is Ready to Submit?

You’ll discover the signs to look for when your work is submission ready, and why such knowledge is vital to keeping the doors open to submissions at overwhelmed publishers and literary agencies.

 

How Much Does a Children’s Author Make? How Do They Get Paid?

Ever wondered how to make money as a children’s writer? How much of each book sale goes to the author? In this post, we break down the way publishing pays authors and give the scoop on royalties, advances and more.

 

Writing Nonfiction for Children – Where the Opportunities Are Right Now

In this meaty excerpt from “The Children’s Nonfiction Market: How To Break In & How to Succeed”, Lionel Bender breaks down the major kidlit nonfiction markets and niches, the categories of children’s nonfiction and where writers can find paying work in the nonfiction market. Lionel is the author of over 70 books for children, and the editorial partner of Bender Richardson White, an editorial, design, and production team serving major book and magazine publishers in North America and Europe. He is also a regular speaker on children’s book publishing and self-publishing. He was the co-director of the 21st Century Children’s Nonfiction Conference from 2013-2016.  

Kidlit Social #60 Replay: Nathan Bransford on Finding Your Story’s Hook

Nathan Bransford, author of the Jacob Wonderbar middle grade series, the writing guides How to Write a Novel and How to Publish a Book, and a former agent with Curtis Brown Ltd., joins Laura to talk about hooks: What is a hook, and how do you know if your manuscript has one? If it does, how do you present the hook in the query letter? If it doesn’t, should you abandon the idea, or can it still find a market?

 

Kidlit Distancing Social #46 Replay: Jean Daigneau & Gloria Adams on How to Get Your Manuscript Submission-Ready

In this episode, two veteran kidlit authors share their best self-editing tips to help you get your manuscripts submission-ready.

 

Kidlit Distancing Social #37 Replay – Darcy Pattison on Self-Publishing & the Path to Success as an Indie Author

This week, meet Darcy Pattison, a prolific kidlit author who has found great success self publishing her own work. Darcy’s authored dozens of books – some with major publishers – but has seen her career truly take off after starting her own independent publishing company.

Darcy describes her journey, and discusses why other authors should consider self-publishing. If you want to be truly empowered to share your words with the world, Darcy is the perfect person to inspire you!

 

Kidlit Distancing Social #25 Replay – Brian Weisfeld on Writing Books that Promote a Passion & Deliver a Message

Brian Weisfeld, author of The Startup Squad series (Macmillan), is devoted to empowering girls with an entrepreneurial mindset so they can realize their potential. In this episode, Brian gives his advice for authors seeking to change the world with their writing. If you have a passion or cause you’d like young readers to know about, Brian will help you understand how to create books that teach while entertaining.

 

Kidlit Distancing Social #24 Replay – Brooke McIntyre on Finding, Joining & Getting the Most of a Critique Group

Brooke McIntyre, the founder of InkedVoices.com, a platform for writing groups and an online space for writers, joins us to talk about finding your own critique group, getting feedback on your work and providing feedback on other writers’ work. This is a super-timely topic, and you should definitely check it out.