If you are drawn to write children’s books, here are articles covering the basics, plus a few on more focused topics:
Writing for Children Each age category of children’s writing, from picture books to young adult, has its own requirements. Follow these guidelines to start writing your children’s book.
Picture Book Guidelines Gentle or adventurous? Poetry or prose? These tips on writing picture books will help you be successful.
Chapter Book Guidelines Chapter books are for children who are becoming fluent readers, but who aren’t ready for longer novels. Here are guidelines to writing for this age group.
Middle Grade Novel Guidelines Middle grade fiction is a huge market today, but where do you start? How long should it be? Language restrictions? Here are key points on writing a middle grade novel.
Young Adult Novel Guidelines Is your book a middle-grade or young adult novel? What themes are appropriate? Can you use cuss words? Here are some tips to write for this age group.
Planning Picture Book Page Turns Even the youngest readers need to be caught up in the story. Here are some tips for keeping suspense when writing a picture book.
Historical Fiction for Children What elements make great historical picture books and magazine stories? (And then be sure to check the Historical Fiction articles for more from Editor Carolyn Yoder and other details.)
Do Children’s Writers Need Agents? Children’s books are one of the few areas left where publishers are often open to unagented submissions. As a children’s writer, do you need an agent for your book?
Children’s Novel Writing Contests Delacorte Press and Delacorte Dell Yearling award book contracts and cash for new children’s novelists; Milkweed Editions awards extra cash to a new Milkweed author.
SCBWI is for Children’s Writers Access how-to articles, writer’s markets, discussion boards and more, created especially for children’s writers through SCBWI.
