| My son's been taking karate for 4 years, and | | | | manuscripts intended for larger, national publishers. |
| every time he tests for the next rank (he's up to | | | | Well-published authors don't overlook any market |
| his brown now), fewer kids who started with him | | | | that might be right for a particular work. And |
| as white belts test alongside him. It's not that | | | | when you're just starting out, seeing your byline in |
| Matt's necessarily a better athlete than they are, | | | | a local parenting publication is just as satisfying as |
| but karate is more important to him. He likes | | | | appearing in Highlights for Children. |
| learning the forms, and he enjoys surviving a two | | | | 'Tensity: Matt's karate teacher urges him to be |
| hour, physically grueling test knowing that most of | | | | intense about his practice, and Matt's dubbed this |
| his friends would have been flattened in the first | | | | mindset "'tensity." The prolific writers I know think |
| 20 minutes. When aspiring writers start identifying | | | | the same way. Though most have families and |
| themselves as authors, just as Matt sees himself | | | | jobs, they live, eat and breathe writing. Any spare |
| as a martial artist, they've taken that first big | | | | moment is devoted to working on a manuscript. |
| step toward success. | | | | Free weekends are spent at conferences and |
| But there's a difference between wanting to see | | | | workshops. When they're not writing, they're |
| your name on a book, and wanting a career as a | | | | reading children's books. As soon as they get one |
| children's book author. Anyone with a few bucks | | | | manuscript in the mail, they start the next one. In |
| can publish their own story, and many books are | | | | fact, super successful authors work on several |
| perfectly suited to be self-published titles given to | | | | manuscripts at once. If they're uninspired to |
| family and friends. The career mentality, however, | | | | revise a scene from their novel, they'll write a |
| is more complex. Check out some common | | | | query for an article idea or do research for a |
| characteristics below and see how you measure | | | | picture book biography. |
| up: | | | | You don't have to maintain this level of activity to |
| Humility: When I get emails from people saying, | | | | become published. Most writers don't. But if you |
| "I'm going to be the next Dr. Seuss," I cringe. | | | | want to make a living as a children's book author, |
| Confidence is fine, but don't compare yourself to | | | | if you want your web site to list 50 or more |
| someone like Dr. Seuss right out of the gate. In | | | | books in print, then it's practically required. |
| fact, don't compare yourself to anyone. Work on | | | | Plays the Field: Well-published authors don't limit |
| finding your own style and voice. And know that | | | | themselves to one genre. They'll write picture |
| you don't have to become a literary institution to | | | | books, novels, short stories for magazines, |
| be a success. Learning to write well is a lifelong | | | | poetry, nonfiction, and material for adult markets |
| process, and the writers who get published | | | | such as parenting magazines or writing |
| understand that each manuscript, whether it sells | | | | newsletters. After one book comes out they |
| or not, teaches them something. They're not | | | | don't wait for their editor to ask for another |
| afraid to be critiqued or edited. They've put their | | | | manuscript; they create what inspires them and if |
| heart into a book or article, and then removed | | | | it's not right for their current editor, they market |
| their ego. They understand that if their critique | | | | it someplace else. In fact, it's more difficult to get |
| group or editor says a plot is too predictable, it's | | | | widely-published if you only write one type of |
| far better to chuck the storyline and start over | | | | book. A publisher carries a limited number of titles |
| than to fight to preserve a mediocre manuscript. | | | | per season, and the editor of your middle grade |
| And they're grateful for the input that saved | | | | novel might not appreciate your having another |
| them from dozens of rejection letters. | | | | novel for the same age group come out with a |
| Will Work for Resumé: Successful authors | | | | different publisher simultaneously. But a magazine |
| know that their query letters are more | | | | article or nonfiction picture book won't compete |
| impressive if they can list some publishing credits. | | | | with a book for older kids, and still gets your |
| They're willing to write for little or no money at | | | | name in front of reviewers and book buyers. |
| first, because the experience of meeting a | | | | Successful authors don't dabble in writing now and |
| deadline and working with an editor is invaluable. | | | | then, they embrace it and do whatever it takes |
| They may decide to sell one story to a magazine | | | | to get published because it's what they want |
| that buys all rights so their next story can be sold | | | | more than anything else. So dive in, work with |
| to a bigger publication that purchases first rights | | | | 'tensity, and send us a quote for our web site |
| only. They'll submit to local magazines, regional | | | | when you hit the jackpot. |
| publishers and small presses as they perfect their | | | | |