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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.
Path to Self-Publishing Success
Bob Baker
When the subject of e-publishing and self-publishing on the Internet comes up, the conversation usually turns to talk of .pdf and .exe files, not to mention the pros and cons of various personal ebook readers. What you don’t hear much about is the workhorse of Internet communication: basic e-mail.
How To Be a (Shiver) Reporter
Linda Sherwood
Looking for a career as a newspaper reporter? Or just looking for some extra money while you wait for the first royalty checks from your promising book to start coming in? Try taking a walk to your local newspaper office. It is unlikely you will be able to snag a job at a large, daily paper without a college degree or years of experience, but you can snag a permanent or semi-permanent job at a smaller newspaper without formal training. Requirements for reporters at these smaller papers are less stringent. While you won’t get rich working at these smaller papers, it is a great educational experience and it can be a steady paycheck.
EBooks-Fears to Possibilities
Jewel Stone (awa Dominique Sinclair)
Epublishing. The word evokes an emotional response in all who hear the word. Fear, doubt, question, possibilities are some of the words that flutter through the mind when epublishing is brought up. Many fear epublishing will someday take over print books. Some doubt epublishing will evolve. Others question the technology. And yet, the possibilities . . . they are endless.
Getting Offers from Multiple Literary Agents
Mary Kole
Every writer dreams of getting offers from multiple literary agents, right? Maybe. A reader asked about what a writer should do if they happen to get offers of representation from multiple agents. First of all, congratulations are in order. An offer of representation is professional validation to a writer who has, most likely, not really gotten such praise and confidence from an expert source.
Beyond the Basics
Linda S. Dupie
The tools of a writer go beyond pen and paper or your word processor. Writers also use non-tangible tools like observation and ideas. You need to be aware of your surroundings, recognize and capitalize on ideas, and have the ability to conduct research.
Need a Clip? Open a Newspaper
Shirley Jump
As any fledgling writer knows, there’s a giant Catch-22 in the publishing world – can’t get published without clips and can’t get clips without getting published.
Freelance Writing 101
Angela Adair
Anyone can be a writer, anywhere! Freelance writing was one of the premiere home-based businesses of all time. From the vintage typewriter to the high-tech home computers of today, freelance writing has remained a reliable source of income for wordsmiths worldwide. Their clients include magazines, newsletters, newspapers, book publishers, greeting card firms, gaming companies, and corporate clientele.
Making Money As a Corporate Freelancer
Shirley Jump
One of the fastest-growing and most-lucrative areas for writing is corporate writing. If you have some understanding of marketing, a flair for words and an ability to meet short deadlines, this is a great area to consider.
the Power of the Press
Linda Sherwood
This article is a follow-up to “How to be a (shiver) reporter.” The dead air greeted me across the phone lines. The person on the other end had hung up seconds after I’d uttered the words, “This is Linda Sherwood, I’m a reporter.” I hadn’t even had time to finish my sentence.
An Interview with Holly Ambrose
Holly Ambrose has a degree in journalism from Florida International University in North Miami. Her publishing career began with freelance articles, which she continues to write today. Holly worked previously as an editor for a children’s educational CD-ROM and had a stint as editor/writer of a quarterly magazine for a non-profit organization.
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