About Writing
There are a few fundamental rules every writer should practice with diligence:
1. Know the business -
Before you even think about submitting your manuscript, short story, etc., you need to
understand how the publishing industry works and what they are looking for. Publishers
aren't in the business to make your dreams come true. They are in it to make money
(though they'd also like to make your dreams come true in the process). If your story
isn't something that they believe can bring in a profit, they will probably decline.
But how do you get them to even look at the manuscript?
Depending on the publishing house, you need to submit a query letter or the entire
manuscript to the acquisitions editor. For more exclusive houses, you'll need an agent
to submit your story for you. To determine how and to whom you should send your story,
consult a guide like the most recent Writer's Digest Children's Writer's & Illustrator's
Market. It also helps to belong to a professional writing organization, like the Society
of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (
http://www.scbwi.com). When you embark on your writing career, you'll come across unfamiliar
terms and situations that these two resources will be able to help you with.
2. Know your audience -
YOU NEED TO READ! Remember when you were little and loved to read books about mitochondria? No?
Neither do today's youth. They enjoy mysteries, fantasies, ghost stories…just like you did.
So, relax! You're not as out of touch as you think you are.
BUT, though the genres stay the same, the style of the stories has changed over the years. To
fully understand and appreciate these transformations, you need to read! Adult books alone
won't cut it anymore. You need to connect with your target audience, read the books on
bestseller's lists like the Young Adult Library Services Association
(
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklistsbook.htm) or even the bestseller's
shelves at your local bookstore. Figure out what they can tell you about your audience. If
you have time, volunteer for a story hour or sign up to be a chaperone for one of your child's
field trips to gain firsthand experience. What better way is there to study how children/teenagers
act and react to one another in various environments?
3. Know how to write -
This should go without saying, but some people think that they can write stories exactly how
they speak. Please don't.
Bobby was really happy about going to the ballgame, but when he looked out the window it
was raining cats and dogs. Bobby thought this was a bummer like the time he had wanted to go
to the zoo but it had been closed. He loved going to the zoo and seeing the funny animals. Of
course, his mom told him he couldn't go to the ballgame and should clean his room instead, and
that's where his adventure began.
A paragraph like the one above reads poorly and is littered with novice writing mistakes.
Again, it helps to read books, so you're familiar with proper writing form.
4. Know yourself -
This may sound contradictory to what I wrote about knowing your audience and playing to
their interests, but if you don't feel comfortable writing on a particular subject or in a
particular genre, then don't.
Forced writing looks forced.
Yes, from time to time, a particular genre might be more popular than another, but if you hate
aliens, don't try to write about them just because it's what's selling. It can be difficult
enough to pull together a story on a topic you love, but pulling together a story about
something you have no interest in?
Write about what you enjoy (unless it's mitochondria).
For More Writing Tips, click here
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For Writing Resources, click here
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