One of the most important things a writer can do is deceptively simple: Read. And not just the classics. Writers must consistently read current books in the age category and genre they hope to publish within. This is not optional. Publishing evolves constantly. Language shifts. Themes evolve. Formats...
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Publishing professionals often distinguish between books that are “marketable” and books that are “lasting.” The two are not always the same thing. A...
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One of the most fascinating aspects of children’s publishing is that the book buyer is often not the same as the reader....
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Many writers view query letters as a frustrating obstacle standing between themselves and publication. But query letters serve several important purposes. A query...
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Writers often imagine that securing an agent is like winning a golden ticket — one magical "yes" that changes everything overnight. In...
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Every few years, someone predicts the death of books. First television was going to replace reading. Then came e-books, followed by streaming media,...
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One of the most emotionally difficult parts of getting a book published is querying. Writers spend years crafting manuscripts, polishing query letters,...
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One of the greatest challenges in writing for children and teens is addressing difficult subjects responsibly. Writers today are increasingly exploring themes...
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There is a persistent misconception that writing for children is somehow “easier” than writing for adults. After all, children’s books are shorter....
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