| al years ago, Anastasia Suen sent us this note, | | | | Will Work for Resumé: Successful authors |
| which still appears on our web site: | | | | know that their query letters are more |
| “Yesterday’s mail brought copies | | | | impressive if they can list some publishing credits. |
| of Hodgepodge, with my poem on the back page, | | | | They're willing to write for little or no money at |
| and an acceptance letter from Babybug for | | | | first, because the experience of meeting a |
| another poem! My poems in Shoofly will be out in | | | | deadline and working with an editor is invaluable. |
| April. ALL these leads came from Children's Book | | | | They may decide to sell one story to a magazine |
| Insider! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” | | | | that buys all rights so their next story can be sold |
| If you go to Anastasia's own web site today ( | | | | to a bigger publication that purchases first rights |
| you'll see that she's the author of 78 books, a | | | | only. They'll submit to local magazines, regional |
| writing teacher at Southern Methodist University, | | | | publishers and small presses as they perfect their |
| she leads eight online writing workshops, speaks | | | | manuscripts intended for larger, national publishers. |
| at numerous conferences, and gets $1000 per | | | | Well-published authors don't overlook any market |
| day for a full-day school visit ($1500 if she has to | | | | that might be right for a particular work. And |
| travel). We like to think of Anastasia as our own | | | | when you're just starting out, seeing your byline in |
| personal CBI-success story, but really we can't | | | | a local parenting publication is just as satisfying as |
| take any of the credit. Anastasia did it because | | | | appearing in Highlights for Children. |
| she's got what it takes to be a prolific, published | | | | 'Tensity: Matthew's karate teacher urges him to |
| children's book author. One thing Anastasia, and | | | | be intense about his practice, and Matthew's |
| other writers like her, has is a certain stick-to-it | | | | dubbed this mindset "'tensity." The prolific writers I |
| mentality that says, "I want this, I can do this, | | | | know think the same way. Though most have |
| and I absolutely won't give up." | | | | families and jobs, they live, eat and breathe |
| My son's been taking karate for 18 months, and | | | | writing. Any spare moment is devoted to working |
| every time he tests for the next rank (he's up to | | | | on a manuscript. Free weekends are spent at |
| his blue belt now), fewer kids who started with | | | | conferences and workshops. When they're not |
| him as white belts test alongside him. It's not that | | | | writing, they're reading children's books. As soon |
| Matthew's necessarily a better athlete than they | | | | as they get one manuscript in the mail, they start |
| are, but karate is more important to him. He likes | | | | the next one. In fact, supersuccessful authors |
| learning the forms, and he enjoys surviving a two | | | | work on several manuscripts at once. If they're |
| hour, physically grueling test knowing that most of | | | | uninspired to revise a scene from their novel, |
| his friends would have been flattened in the first | | | | they'll write a query for an article idea or do |
| 20 minutes. When aspiring writers start identifying | | | | research for a picture book biography. |
| themselves as authors, just as Matthew sees | | | | You don't have to maintain this level of activity to |
| himself as a martial artist, they've taken that first | | | | become published. Most writers don't. But if you |
| big step toward success. | | | | want to make a living as a children's book author, |
| But there's a difference between wanting to see | | | | if you want your web site to list 50 or more |
| your name on a book, and wanting a career as a | | | | books in print, then it's practically required. |
| children's book author. Anyone with a few bucks | | | | Plays the Field: Well-published authors don't limit |
| can publish their own story, and many books are | | | | themselves to one genre. They'll write picture |
| perfectly suited to be self-published titles given to | | | | books, novels, short stories for magazines, |
| family and friends. The career mentality, however, | | | | poetry, nonfiction, and material for adult markets |
| is more complex. Check out some common | | | | such as parenting magazines or writing |
| characteristics below and see how you measure | | | | newsletters. After one book comes out they |
| up: | | | | don't wait for their editor to ask for another |
| Humility: When I get emails from people saying, | | | | manuscript; they create what inspires them and if |
| "I'm going to be the next Dr. Seuss," I cringe. | | | | it's not right for their current editor, they market |
| Confidence is fine, but don't compare yourself to | | | | it someplace else. In fact, it's more difficult to get |
| someone like Dr. Seuss right out of the gate. In | | | | widely-published if you only write one type of |
| fact, don't compare yourself to anyone. Work on | | | | book. A publisher carries a limited number of titles |
| finding your own style and voice. And know that | | | | per season, and the editor of your middle grade |
| you don't have to become a literary institution to | | | | novel might not appreciate your having another |
| be a success. Learning to write well is a lifelong | | | | novel for the same age group come out with a |
| process, and the writers who get published | | | | different publisher simultaneously. But a magazine |
| understand that each manuscript, whether it sells | | | | article or nonfiction picture book won't compete |
| or not, teaches them something. They're not | | | | with a book for older kids, and still gets your |
| afraid to be critiqued or edited. They've put their | | | | name in front of reviewers and book buyers. |
| heart into a book or article, and then removed | | | | Successful authors don't dabble in writing now and |
| their ego. They understand that if their critique | | | | then, they embrace it and do whatever it takes |
| group or editor says a plot is too predictable, it's | | | | to get published because it's what they want |
| far better to chuck the storyline and start over | | | | more than anything else. So dive in, work with |
| than to fight to preserve a mediocre manuscript. | | | | 'tensity, and send us a quote for our web site |
| And they're grateful for the input that saved | | | | when you hit the jackpot. |
| them from dozens of rejection letters. | | | | |