To earn money as a writer it helps if one can pivot from one genre to another—and then another. I’ve been writing for newspapers since I was 17 years old. Since then I’ve worked as a reporter/photographer on two daily newspapers and have written freelance stories for a large regional daily, for United Press International […]
Five Wisdoms About the Middle Grade Market
/ 2021-02-05When approaching a new market, the more familiar you are with the particularities of that market, the greater your chances of success. Writing for middle grade readers is no exception – this market has its own nuances and best practices just like any other. If, like so many of us, you are interested in writing […]
Interest a Publisher with Children’s Nonfiction Ideas
/ 2019-11-01As a writer of children’s nonfiction, I’ve enjoyed a fairly steady flow of work over the years. The usual pattern is that publishers come up with ideas for new books, then approach me to write them. Occasionally though, when work is thin on the ground, I’ve had to adopt a more proactive approach by going […]
The Biggest Mistake You’ll Ever Make as a Children’s Author
/ 2018-05-27Every so often, a friend will hand me a children’s book manuscript and ask if I would review it and offer an honest opinion. I’m always delighted to do so, but, over the years, I’ve discovered that almost every one of those potential book projects suffers from a critical and quite frequent mistake. When I […]