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Markets – Young Adult & Children’s Authors
The market for young adult (YA) and children’s (kid lit) authors offers diverse opportunities in traditional publishing, freelancing, education, and related media fields. The market is robust, with consistent sales growth, particularly in YA and middle-grade categories. Writing jobs for young adult (YA) and children’s authors typically involve either pursuing a traditional publishing contract via a literary agent or working as a freelance content creator for publishers and educational companies.
Traditional Publishing
The traditional path to becoming a published author involves writing a complete manuscript and securing a literary agent to represent your work to publishing houses.
- Research the Market: Read widely in your specific category (picture books, middle grade, or YA) to understand current trends, writing styles, and which publishers are active in those genres.
- Join Professional Organizations: The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is the primary professional organization for children’s and YA authors. Membership provides access to educational resources, critique groups, grants, and networking opportunities with industry professionals like agents and editors.
- Find a Literary Agent: Most major publishing houses only accept submissions through agents. Use resources like Reedsy’s agent lists or literary agency websites to find agents specializing in children’s or YA fiction who are currently accepting submissions.
- Submit Your Work: Follow each agent’s specific submission guidelines meticulously. Submitting a polished, professionally formatted manuscript is crucial for success.
Freelance & Content Creation Jobs
For more immediate, job-oriented opportunities, consider freelance work or roles within educational technology and publishing companies.
- Job Boards: Check general freelance platforms like Upwork and job sites like Indeed for positions such as:
- Children’s story writer
- Educational content creator (e.g., developing curriculum materials to accompany books)
- Game writer for EdTech apps
- Creative writing facilitator or instructor
- Build a Portfolio: Create a strong portfolio of writing samples, even if they are initially unpaid pieces or self-published work, to showcase your skills to potential clients.
- Network: Connect with editors, publishers, and other writers online and at industry events. This can lead to valuable opportunities and collaborations.
Key Skills and Tips
- Understand Your Audience: Tailor your vocabulary, syntax, and themes to the target age group’s reading level and developmental stage.
- Seek Feedback: Join a critique group to get objective feedback on your work before sending it to professionals.
- Be Persistent: The publishing industry can move slowly, and rejections are common. Perseverance and a commitment to your craft are essential.
Writing Groups List
A list of writing groups that you can join and get help and information. Critique Groups can be very helpful. Reading your work out loud to others can help find areas that need improvement, and can also help boost your confidence when it all goes “write”.
Newspaper Writing Resources
Newspaper Writing Resources – Legal information, Places to find newspaper and other writing jobs.
Magazine Links
The magazines in the list below offer advice to aspiring and established writers. Several of the magazines and ezines listed below are accepting submissions from new and established writers. Some magazines and ezines are listed for the research material they provide.
Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
The majority of these terms came from the glossary in “How To Publish Your Articles A Complete Guide to Making the Right Publisher Say Yes” by Shirley Kawa-Jump
Publisher’s Websites
This list will continue to grow as we receive your links. As with Editors and Agents links, always Google the agency and see if there are any bad reviews or warnings against the publishing house.
Copyright Primer, Know Your Rights
Linda S. Dupie
When an editor gives you the great news your article or essay is ready for publication; do you know what rights you’re selling? As a young writer knowing your rights is key. Your work is copyrighted the moment you put your words on paper, meaning you own the rights to your work.
Why E-Books?
Chris Randall
With thousands of writers all competing to get the favorable eye of the traditional publisher, it is not surprising that the great majority fail to get into print. Trying to compose those few words which will grab the attention of the person sitting in the selector’s chair, can be about as fruitful as picking out a seven way accumulator at a race meeting. Yet we go through these motions time and again, never stopping to ask why we contribute so eagerly to the publisher’s seat of unreachable power. But you don’t need to be told this. You have probably already experienced it yourself.
To Specialize, or Not to Specialize?
Mary Anne Hahn
Okay, so you’ve decided that you want to write for fun and profit, and not necessarily in that order. Perhaps you’ve already abandoned your day job to pursue your dream of the full-time writing life, or maybe you just want to test the waters part-time until you have the guts (and money) to jump in with both feet. In any event, you’ve decided that you want to start your own writing business.
Syndication 101
How to get your foot in the door without getting it stepped on.
By Perucci Ferraiuolo
It has long been held that an editor is a man or woman who knows exactly what he or she wants, but doesn’t know what it is. Never is it more true than within the syndication marketplace. And, I’ve found that most editors know what they want based on what they DON’T want. In other words, they know the “junk” and are only looking for the “treasure.”
Submitting to UK Markets
Grady Hanrahan
“God save the queen.”
These are the words of the British, of course, but British words known throughout the world. Less known in the United Kingdom, perhaps, are the markets that wait for eager writers to explore, conquer and reap financial awards. Our reaction to this naivete – and, as expected, a general assumption, is that North America has cornered most writing markets. This is simply not the case.
Selling to Children’s Markets
Jennifer Drewry
One of the first questions a new children’s writer asks is, “I have a story, who can I sell it to?” In the children’s market there are many places. Some of the best places to sell your work are children’s magazines. However, don’t just haphazardly send them their, buy a copy of the magazine and read it. Get to know what the magazine is looking for, the style of the writers. There are many magazines for children out there and they are all different in what it is they are looking for.
Science & Science Fiction Writing Organizations
A growing list of Science and Science Fiction Writing Associations – Great for Publishing information or a resource for your mauscript.
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