What advice can you give me for writing, illustrating, and/or publishing a children's/YA book?
Read. If you're looking for suggestions, check out my bibliographies. For more support, try the reader resources.
Once you've read and studied a lot (by which I mean at least a couple of hundred books in whatever genre interests you most), keep reading and begin writing. Work on craft, and along the way, be sure to join the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, both the national organization and your regional chapter (see the main site for chapter contact information and URLs).
Once you're reading and writing, take a look at my writer resources, which include suggestions helpful to illustrators and publishers as well. The Children's Book Writers' Reading List: A Technical and Inspiration Bibliography should help you along your learning curve. Please note that if you can't afford the books listed, request them through interlibrary loan.
Don't miss the page of writing links, especially The Purple Crayon from children's book editor Harold Underdown. The How-Do-I-Get-Published? Quiz is particularly useful as is Basic Information For Writers and Illustrators. The people at Writing4Kids also have some great writing support products for beginners.
As for illustrators, I am not the best person to ask. But again, I suggest studying the articles on The Purple Crayon for illustrators and joining SCBWI. In addition, the site does features some interviews with illustrators that may be of interest to you.
As for publishing, I don't know much about that either, but this site does include interviews with two successful self-published authors Debbie Leland and Jerry Wermund, both of which describe their process.
What if I'm a young (under age 18) writer?
Take a look at the information for the question above. Surf over to Aaron Shepard's young authors page and Absynthe Muse.
See also Tips for Teen Writers from Cassandra Clare. Here's a sneak peek: "I can only say what works for me or what I've observed, and in this post I'll talk about what I remember about being a teenage writer and what was helpful for me."
Those recommendations aside, I feel compelled to add that I began working with my editor and agent at a relatively young age (in my twenties), and more times than not, I wish that apprenticeship had lasted longer, that I'd had more years to really focus on my craft without the pressures of publication.
How do I get my site listed on CLSCYALR?
Send an email with a 30 (or fewer) word description of your site in the following format:
Site title: attribution (official, publisher, fan) includes features. Author's (or Illustrator's) books include X, Y, Z.
(If you are a Texas author, please note that as your link may be listed on both the general and Texas pages.)
Sample:
Children's and Young Adult Author Cynthia Leitich Smith : official author site features biography, bibliographies, articles, interviews, links, etc. Smith's books include Jingle Dancer (Morrow/HarperCollins, 2000), Rain is Not My Indian Name (HarperCollins, 2001), Indian Shoes (HarperCollins, 2002), Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007), and Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006). Visit: http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/
A reciprocal link (as listed above, actually) is requested but not required.
Please be advised that not all of this information may be included in your link. I do not promise to link to every site suggested.
NOTE: I seldom link to publisher Web sites, preferring author/illustrator sites.
Sure, and thank you. You may download a copy of our mini-logo (see top of the guide bar to the right) and re-upload it with a link from your own server. A text link is also fine. See the description above, and let me know when it's out so I can visit your site and perhaps create a reciprocal link.
How do I get my books listed on CLSCYALR or Cynsations?
Review copies may be sent to: Cynthia Leitich Smith; Children's and YA Literature Resources; P.O. Box 3255; Austin TX 78764. Do not send via UPS or FedEx, just regular mail. I do not review electronic books at this time. I make no promises to review every book submitted. Continue to the next question for a better idea of my tastes. I would hate for you to spend the money to send a review copy if it wasn't one that I'd likely consider for a recommendation.
Why isn't such-and-such author or such-and-such title featured on your site? Don't you like her, him, it, me?
No, I don't like you at all—kidding! Relax, folks. It's just me, Cyn, doing all this work. The truth is that I can't possibly include all of the books that I love. For that matter, I can't find a house big enough to fit them in. (Okay, maybe I could *find* it, but affording it in downtown Austin? That's something else altogether).
What I do try to do is feature books of high quality for each age range. I do have an interest in multicultural literature; however, my definition of "culture" is not only limited to books reflecting historically underrepresented ethnic groups. A young adult novel firmly grounded in an Irish American family, for example, would be of particular interest. At the same time, the vast majority of books cheered are not multicultural per se. I'm statistically more likely to highlight funny-bunny or blood-sucking-fiend stories, in large part because these make up a greater selection within the body of literature.
I tend to favor single title literary trade children's and young adult authors and illustrators who are not really famous yet (translation: I love the Newbery/Caldecott winners, but they already get a lot of press. That said, some of these folks sneak in anyway; this site is famous for recommending books before they win).
I prefer fiction to non-fiction, though I do recommend some non-fiction titles. I prefer contemporary to historical titles, though plenty of historical books are highlighted. I also feature a number of wonderful professional resource books by literature gurus.
Only a handful of small/regional press titles make the bibliographies. Please look hard before you send such titles and realize they will be competing with books that meet the big-house standards—both in terms of the writing and production. Institutional titles, moral-driven stories, celebrity books, movie or TV tie-ins, product tie-ins, anything by a child, or with "Mommy"/"Daddy" in the title will probably not be a book I choose to include. (Yes, there are exceptions to each of these guidelines, but understand that as such they are rare and the best of their genres).
CYN NOTE: self-published books are not eligible.
To publisher marketing pros, send us your first-timers, your gems, your quality mid-listers, genre-shifters, risk takers, innovators, authors and illustrators from historically under-represented communities.
I know what the big push books are, and I know plenty of other outlets will be promoting them. That's great, but send me the books that both deserve and need my help.
And to all, keep in mind: I'm just me. I'm an individual reader. I'm not the quality control board or an award committee or a mega guru. I'm not nearly as smart as teachers or librarians or university professors. But I read a lot. I care a lot, and I hope you do, too.
I sent a review copy of my book to you months ago. Will you please tell me why you didn't recommend it on the site?
No. But I do carefully consider everything that is submitted.
Will you check to see if you received it?
No. Sorry, but I get requests like this sometimes months after the books are sent. Please don't continue to "pitch" the book with ongoing notes about new reviews or awards.
Thanks for recommending my book, but I think it would be better described as "blah, blah, blah" — will you change your site to reflect my vision of how and what you should say?
If there is a clear factual error—say, how I spelled the protagonist's name—please do let me know, and I'll gladly update it with appreciation and apologies.
However, if you would just rather I had said this or that, please understand that I can't accommodate such requests and maintain either my credibility or sanity. If it makes you feel better, as an author, I seldom feel reviewers have done enough to sing my praises either. Trust me, life will go happily on.
If you are or ever have been a lawyer, be doubly assured that I can't be convinced, cajoled, or bullied.
I have written the next Harry Potter. Would you please give me your editor's/agent's name and address?
No. However, if it happens that you actually did write the next Harry Potter, please don't let my editor or agent know that I turned you down on that request.
Would you critique my manuscript?
No. Sorry, I'm plenty busy critiquing Greg's manuscripts and those of my critique group and mentees. Here's what you should do: Join the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Your local SCBWI regional advisor can help you find a critique group in your area. See also professional book doctors/private teachers.
Whatever you do, don't send me your manuscript or art and then ask for comments. About once a week, my email program crashes because someone attached and sent an enormous art file.
What about my Native-themed manuscript, can you help me with that?
No. Sorry, but I get one-to-three requests a week from published authors, many of them friends, asking for help with related manuscripts. While I appreciate the effort to do homework, I have to preserve time for my own writing. For background information, see: Teacher and Library Resources for Native American Children's Books (there is a lot of information of use to writers as well).
As a member of the children's literature community, I often speak about Native children's literature, and I'm hopeful that this increases awareness and understanding. Please, however, don't thank me in your supplemental pages for assistance unless I have offered in advance for my name to be used this way. Some folks take such a nod to mean that I have personally vetted and approved the story on cultural accuracy grounds, and, again, I'm busy enough with my own work without taking on that kind of responsibility.
