If you write children’s books there are many wonderful resources available to you online. I’ve listed some on this page. You can also check out my blog, where I share some of the things I’ve been learning in my countdown to publication. Or sign up to the right for my bi-weekly Children’s Book News Email. Happy writing!http://francannonslayton.blogspot.com/shapeimage_3_link_0
The SCBWI The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is a fantastic organization of children’s book writers and illustrators over 20,000 members strong with chapters worldwide. SCBWI is how I got my start, and the $75 membership is absolutely worth every penny. It is the ONLY place to begin, the perfect place to keep learning, and an all around fun group of people to hang with. No other children’s writer organization compares. There’s also a discussion forum on the SCBWI site that has the answers to lots of questions about children’s book publishing. http://www.scbwi.org/http://www.scbwi.org/http://www.scbwi.org/shapeimage_4_link_0shapeimage_4_link_1shapeimage_4_link_2
Links Verla Kay’s website hosts a wonderful, community of children’s book writers. There is a great deal of collective wisdom on the site, and it’s a great place to ask questions and feel supported. Click on “forums & links” to get started. JacketFlap is a cool new social networking site for kidlit folks. It’s definitely worth a peek, and is a good place to find children’s book-related blogs. Highlights Foundation is associated with the Highlights Magazine folks, and is a place you’ll find fabulous workshops including the fabled week-long writers workshop at Chautauqua. Cost is pricey, but there are scholarships. In 2008 Jerry and Eileen Spinelli will be at Chautauqua, along with Patti Gauch. Sigh . . . my dream is to go back one day! Okay, my real dream is to go back one day on faculty! Editors and Predators is a site that can help you sift the wheat from the chaff in the publishing world. Besides finding out which agencies are legit, the site also lists contests, conferences, organizations, other chats and forums and more. Librarian Elizabeth Bird’s blog, A Fuse #8 Production, at the School Library Journal always has interesting info and is definitely worth a look-see. Harold Underdown at The Purple Crayon is an editor who has a website full of articles and interviews helpful to new children’s writers.http://www.verlakay.com/http://www.jacketflap.com/http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379.htmlhttp://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379.htmlhttp://www.underdown.org/shapeimage_5_link_0shapeimage_5_link_1shapeimage_5_link_2shapeimage_5_link_3shapeimage_5_link_4shapeimage_5_link_5shapeimage_5_link_6
Contests Sometimes it’s good to enter a contest to jumpstart your writing career. But be careful - some are more legit than others. Here are a few great ones: Smartwriters.com SCBWI Awards & Grants Delacorte First MG/YAhttp://www.sfwa.org/beware/contests.htmlhttp://www.smartwriters.com/http://www.scbwi.org/awards.htmhttp://www.randomhouse.com/kids/writingcontests/shapeimage_7_link_0shapeimage_7_link_1shapeimage_7_link_2shapeimage_7_link_3
Magazines & Newsletters Two magazines with general articles on the craft of writing are The Writer and Writers Digest. Children’s Writer is a kidlit-specific newsletter filled with good articles and market news. Sign up for one free issue to see if it’s for you. The Horn Book is an excellent resource for reviews of newly published children’s books as well as excellent articles. And the expensive but comprehensive Publishers Weekly provides articles on bookselling, reviews for all genres, and best-seller lists. At the PW website, click on “newsletters” and sign up for the Children’s Bookshelf, an informative free weekly newsletter that’s always jam packed with kidlit news.http://www.writermag.com/wrt/http://www.writersdigest.com/http://www.writersdigest.com/http://www.childrenswriter.com/http://www.hbook.com/http://www.publishersweekly.com/shapeimage_8_link_0shapeimage_8_link_1shapeimage_8_link_2shapeimage_8_link_3shapeimage_8_link_4shapeimage_8_link_5