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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Anyone can write for kids--it's easy. Wrong! The first thing author Louise Jordan does in her book How to Write for Children and Get Published is to dispel this notion. As Jordan says, "...writing a children's book is not easier than writing an adult book, merely different ... What is needed is a clarity of vision, and this is harder than you might think."
Jordan runs The Writers Advice Centre for Children's Books in London and is also a reader for Penguin Children's Books. She gives information from the point of view of both writer and editor, which results in a sympathetic but pragmatic perspective on the world of children's publishing.
Knowing the market is a crucial element of writing that is often overlooked. Jordan explores different kinds of books for children of different ages, and provides examples of each category. This section is specifically geared towards the UK market, but the basic information is universal. Jordan then discusses different subject areas and analyses the components of a good story, including plotting, characterisation, point of view and style. The final section tells how to submit work to publishers, and outlines the author's relationship with a publisher once a book is accepted. She is optimistic but realistic, and advises writers to learn from rejection.
Jordan doesn't just tell the prospective children's writer what to do--she provides insightful exercises after each chapter so that her readers can learn for themselves. This is a practical, accessible guide to writing children's books. --Caryn Jenner --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Jordan doesn't just tell the prospective children's writer what to do - she provides insightful exercises after each chapter so that her readers can learn for themselves (THE NEW WRITER )
Excellent (WRITING MAGAZINE )
Follow Louise Jordan's advice and, at the very least, you will be giving your manuscript its best chance (WRITING MAGAZINE )
Jordan doesn't just tell the prospective children's writer what to do--she provides insightful exercises after each chapter so that her readers can learn for themselves. This is a practical, accessible guide to writing children's books (Caryn Jenner, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW )
Excellent (WRITING MAGAZINE )
Follow Louise Jordan's advice and, at the very least, you will be giving your manuscript its best chance (WRITING MAGAZINE )
Jordan doesn't just tell the prospective children's writer what to do--she provides insightful exercises after each chapter so that her readers can learn for themselves. This is a practical, accessible guide to writing children's books (Caryn Jenner, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW )
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Every book has to start somewhere and I'm starting this one at the youngest end of the children's book market. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Every book has to start somewhere and I'm starting this one at the youngest end of the children's book market. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I recently purchased this book after deciding I wanted to have a go at writing for children (I have dabbled in writing in writing informally before)
After buying this book I was pleasantly surprised, as it is compelling and easy to read.
It is crammed full of vital information for budding children's writers (whether for leisure or for money), but is not over detailed.
It has really inspired me to have a go, so I am off to start developing an idea now!
I would highly recommend purchasing this as a readable reference book for your bookshelf.
After buying this book I was pleasantly surprised, as it is compelling and easy to read.
It is crammed full of vital information for budding children's writers (whether for leisure or for money), but is not over detailed.
It has really inspired me to have a go, so I am off to start developing an idea now!
I would highly recommend purchasing this as a readable reference book for your bookshelf.
43 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having recently purchased this book, before using amazon for the first time, from my local bookstore I was very interested in using it to learn more about writing and publishing books for children.
The book contains invaluable advice on the many stages which prospective authors must pass through to find their works in print or on bookshelves. The book answered many of my questions regarding the different age ranges which you can write for, as well as issues regarding illustrations, plotting, characterisation, subject matter and marketing.
I found the book to be an invaluable reference tool and one to which I constantly referred.
I hope to begin using the knowledge gained from this book in the near future and would recommend that anone wanting to write, either for pleasure in their spare time, or as something more than a hobby, to buy the book.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an okay book if you know absolutely nothing about writing for children. It's in 3 sections: Know Your Market (a breakdown of all the different areas of children's publishing from picture books to YA, non-fiction to poetry - c77pages), Get Writing (on writing style eg characterisation, plotting - c44 pages) and Being Published (eg manuscript presentation, publishing process, courses - c30 pages).
I found the book to be written in a very simplistic style. For example, on proofs - which are the pages when they have been typeset but before the pages are sent to the printer - Louise Jordan advises "If you spot any mistakes, then speak up." The author is sent the proofs for the sole purpose of checking the work for mistakes such as mis-spellings or typos. It's not a question of 'speaking up', it's part of the author's job to mark the text if there are mistakes. Another example: "Indeed, if a manuscript is good enough, it is not unusual to have several publishers all pitching for the same title." Well, durr.
Overall, if you have any knowledge of the children's book market at all, this is not going to add to it. If you don't know anything about writing for children, you'd probably be better off buying the Children's Writers and Artists Yearbook which contains exactly the same information plus details of all the publishers, agents, packagers etc.
I found the book to be written in a very simplistic style. For example, on proofs - which are the pages when they have been typeset but before the pages are sent to the printer - Louise Jordan advises "If you spot any mistakes, then speak up." The author is sent the proofs for the sole purpose of checking the work for mistakes such as mis-spellings or typos. It's not a question of 'speaking up', it's part of the author's job to mark the text if there are mistakes. Another example: "Indeed, if a manuscript is good enough, it is not unusual to have several publishers all pitching for the same title." Well, durr.
Overall, if you have any knowledge of the children's book market at all, this is not going to add to it. If you don't know anything about writing for children, you'd probably be better off buying the Children's Writers and Artists Yearbook which contains exactly the same information plus details of all the publishers, agents, packagers etc.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Enormously helpful
This book tells you exactly what the UK children's book market requires from a writer and precisely how to go about delivering it. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mrs. H. A. Sibbald
buy it!
This book is amazing, very complete, lots of very helpful information,and very realistic about what you can expect in the children writing-publishing world. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ro
writing for children
This I have to say is one of the best "how to write books" I have purchased. Well done to the author. Very informative and helpful with lots of encouraging tips. Read more
Published 12 months ago by J. E. Taylor
Very good
Bought this book and could not put it down.
Very easy to read and very informative. If you are just starting off or starting to think about a career in illustrating and... Read more
Very easy to read and very informative. If you are just starting off or starting to think about a career in illustrating and... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Stemacca
How to Write for Children & Get Published
Concise and informative. Getting published today is extremely difficult. Louise Jordan takes the hopeful writer through every step, from plotting, researching etc to editing your... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mrs. J. S. Turner
tops for top 'to be' writers
A great book with lots of helpful advise. A real 'must have' for anyone who wants to write for children of all ages
Published 16 months ago by Mrs. J. C. Bawden
Extremely useful
A very thorough and useful guide. Well written - you really trust the author - and worth it for the tips on how to send off a manuscript and approach a publisher alone!
Published 17 months ago by Eager reader
HOW TO WRITE FOR CHILDREN
GOOD CONDITION
LETS HOPE I CAN WRITE AS WELL AFTER READING THIS
THANKS
LETS HOPE I CAN WRITE AS WELL AFTER READING THIS
THANKS
Published 19 months ago by jakki
book
I bought this for a friend. She loves it, and is now busy writing!! Thanks.
Published on 9 May 2010 by Ms. C. L. James
mrs khanom
very simple book to read and use in practise, i wouldnt say its detailed but enough to get started
Published on 19 Mar 2010 by Mrs. S. A. Khanom
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