Writing for children: Mistakes to avoid
You’ve poured your heart into your children’s book so don’t scupper its chances with your submission package, says Amy Sparkes
When you begin writing for children, it can seem impossible to know where to start. Last month we considered mistakes not to make when writing your children’s book; this month we consider pitfalls to avoid once your story is written, edited and ready for submission.
Hide your story
If you’re happy with your story and you’d like to share it, then act on it. Finishing a story can be emotionally draining, especially if it took a while to write. You might want to take a break to catch breath but don’t let dust settle on your story or let fear persuade you it’s not worth doing something with, whether that is traditional publishing, or celebrating its completion in another way.
Don’t make a plan
Focus is helpful for building a writing career. Where would you like to ‘be’ ten years from now? Would you write for different age groups or a particular one? Would you cover a wide range of genres or concentrate on a certain area of fiction? Would you like an agent? Or work directly with publishers? Would you be happy if your work was published online?
Writing for pleasure
Never feel pressurised to approach publishers. Stories can be just for you, or children you know… That doesn’t make them less worthwhile. You could always get copies printed professionally so you have a wellpresented finished version.
If you’re not keen on traditional publishing but would like to share your story, you could place it online. There are various story websites, such as www.shortkidstories.com where you can submit work. Always check terms offered by the website you’re submitting to – can you take your work elsewhere if opportunities arise? Be aware that publishers and agents may be reluctant to take on stories which have already been published online, so be selective.
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