5 things to know about writing for young people
Advice on writing for children
I do love a kidlit-themed newsletter! In this one, we have top tips on how to write for children as well as details of the popular upcoming tutored course starting soon. We also have an event on setting this week plus new one-to-ones to snap up.
TUTORED COURSES: Writing for Children with Eleanor Hawken (10% discount for members)
This is the perfect crash course if you’re new to writing for young people, with guidance every step of the way. A former student said: “The course was excellent and really useful. As a tutor, Eleanor was brilliant, very supportive and offered such great detailed feedback… I was immediately put at ease and kindly pushed in the right direction.”
This week at Jericho Writers:
MEMBER EVENTS: Setting as Character with Lorraine Wilson (Member exclusive)
Join us on 20 January to explore settings as something that’s not just the background to our stories, but a presence that shapes our characters’ actions, psychology and experiences.
NON-MEMBERS – JOIN US TO REGISTER
One-to-ones: New slots now open (10% discount for members)
Book now to get direct feedback from the likes of Yasmin Kane (Kane Literary), Deirdre Power (Simon & Schuster Children’s), Hayley Steed (Madeleine Milburn), or Eli Keren (United). Make sure you check out their wish lists – you never know when your book could be their perfect match.
The Crazy Busy Cure with Zena Everett – Open to all!
End a busy January with this popular masterclass by Zena Everett, author of Amazon category bestseller The Crazy Busy Cure. Zena will help you to understand what (or who!) is getting in your way, and you’ll leave with fresh ideas to be more productive, inspired & focused. Get it in the diary now, and tell your writer friends!
BLOG: The 10 Best Children’s Book Publishers in 2022
Learn a bit more about the process of getting a children’s book published – there are a lot of options, so we’ve whittled it down to our top 10 for 2022. You’ll also learn the submission requirements, as well as some examples of books these companies have already published so that you can choose one that aligns with your work.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Maddy Belton from Graham Maw Christie Agency
“The great thing about agenting is that you live and die by your taste. In a way, it’s like sophisticated matchmaking.”
5 Things to Know About Writing for Children
It’s an exciting week for me this week, as Thursday marks the publication of my debut middle-grade novel, The Hunt for the Nightingale (hurray!). So I thought I’d take a moment to pick out 5 things that I’ve learned about writing for young people over the last decade.
1: No adult protagonists allowed! Generally, the main characters in children’s books will be children themselves – usually one-or-two years older than the main target reader. Animals and aliens can also be protagonists, but they must be childlike, rather than fully-grown adults.
2: Sensitivity is a must. As children’s writers, we have a huge responsibility to ensure we’re representing the world as diversely and safely as possible. Think carefully about the messages you’re portraying in your story – do characters look before they cross the road? Is the cast as diverse as the real world around us? Think about this carefully and use beta-reader parents and teachers to help.
3: Think about your sub-genre. Children’s books are divided into age categories on the shelves, but you’ll also find different genres within them. Are you writing a Middle Grade fantasy? Or maybe a Teen Romance? Be clear where your book fits and keep up to date with new books coming out in this category to ensure your book maintains genre expectations.
4: Beware of your second book. Lead times for children’s titles are much shorter than adult and you’ll often be expected to write a book a year. Your agent will want to know your ideas for your second book right away, so have these in mind as you write / pitch. Related to point 3, you’ll also want to ensure this idea is in the same sub-category as your first book (something I’ve been caught out with before!)
5: Income can come from multiple places. Generally, advances for children’s books are smaller than those for adults (with exceptions!) However, many children’s authors have the delight of supplementing their income with school events, which can pay well and be a joyful thing to do. You may also find a chunk of change coming in from translation deals and library loans too – it’s not all about that advance.
I am entirely biased, but writing for children is one of the most challenging, but most rewarding spaces to be publishing. Plus – there is an additional joy of seeing your book brought to life with illustrations!
Happy writing.
Sarah J
Plus, don’t miss:
Success Stories – Call for Interviews
One of the best parts of helping writers is seeing them thrive and their projects come to fruition. If you’ve hit your goals – getting an agent, a book deal, effectively self-publishing – with a bit of help from us, we’d love to hear from you as part of our success stories blog series. Please contact our marketing assistant Esther on e.vincent@jerichowriters.com for more details.
Mentoring – New Mentors Added (10% discount available)
We’re so pleased to have added Donna Freitas (author of 20+ books and our resident ‘plot doctor’), and Paul Roberts (established non-fiction author and literary coach) to our roster of mentors. Our most detailed, bespoke service, book now to get expert guidance made flexible around your commitments.
Full Manuscript Assessment (10% member discount)
Give your manuscript the best chance of succeeding with detailed editorial feedback from a professional book editor.
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