Writing Childrens Books For Dummies

Learn to: Write great stories with memorable characters Pen a catchy query letter that sings Find an agent and use social media Your guide to writing, publishing, and promoting a children's book Written with straightforward advice and a plethora of up-to-date recommendations, including the scoop on writing e-books, Writing Children's Books For Dummies provides step-by-step information on everything aspiring children's book authors need to know. Topics include researching the current marketplace, developing great stories and characters, writing captivating plots with drama, intriguing editors and agents, submitting queries and manuscripts, and making the most of social media marketing. Children's books 101 — take an in-depth look at the many different formats of children's books (including e-books), as well as who actually buys children's books and why Enter the writing zone — get a jump on the writing process, discover how to set up your workspace, develop great story ideas, and build upon your great ideas with research The plot thickens — create a spellbinding story with a workable plot, characters to care about and root for, real dialogue, and a setting to transport your reader to the world you've created Put on your editor's cap — revise and edit your manuscript, decide whether to illustrate your story on your own, and discover where to look for helpful feedback on your work Get the word out — consider the pros and cons of working with literary agents versus contacting publishers yourself; get the scoop on book deals, contracts, and self-publishing; and conquer the publishing world with social media marketing Open the book and find: Explanations of children's book formats and genres Details on plot, character, and drama Trusted tips on writing believable dialogue Info on writing creative nonfiction children's books What you need to know about agents, publishers, self-publishing, and e-books The scoop on the illustration process How you can promote and publicize your book

Introduction 1 Part I: The ABCs of Writing for Children 5 Chapter 1: Exploring the Basics of Writing Children’s Books 7 Chapter 2: Delving into Children’s Book Formats and Genres 13 Chapter 3: Understanding the Children’s Book Market 49 Part II: Immersing Yourself in the Writing Process 65 Chapter 4: Setting Up Your Workspace 67 Chapter 5: Starting with a Great Idea 73 Chapter 6: Researching Your Audience and Subject 89 Part III: Creating a Spellbinding Story 107 Chapter 7: Creating Compelling Characters 109 Chapter 8: The Plot Thickens: Confl ict, Climax, and Resolution 131 Chapter 9: Can We Talk? Writing Dialogue 143 Chapter 10: Setting the Scene 157 Chapter 11: Finding Your Voice: Point of View and Tone 169 Chapter 12: Writing Creative Nonfi ction Books 189 Part IV: Making Your Story Sparkle 205 Chapter 13: Editing and Formatting Your Way to a Happy Ending 207 Chapter 14: Creating Pictures from Your Words: The World of Illustrations 233 Chapter 15: Finding Feedback and Encouragement 249 Part V: Getting Published and Promoting Your Book 265 Chapter 16: Getting an Agent to Represent You 267 Chapter 17: Finding the Perfect Publisher and Signing a Contract 283 Chapter 18: So You Want to Self–Publish? 299 Chapter 19: Donning Your Publicity Cap 313 Chapter 20: Getting Savvy with Social Media 327 Part VI: The Part of Tens 341 Chapter 21: More Than Ten Great Sources for Storylines 343 Chapter 22: Ten Recognitions Children’s Authors Dream of Receiving 351 Index 353

Lisa Rojany Buccieri has written and ghostwritten more than 100 children's and grown-up's books, both fiction and nonfiction, including board books, picture books, and young adult series. Peter Economy is a bestselling author, coauthor, and ghostwriter of more than 55 books, including several For Dummies titles.