Writers Resources
Links and resources to improve your craft and share your workResources for All Writers
Books & Market Guides
- Wild Ink: How to Write Fiction for Young Adults by Victoria Hanley, Cottonwood Press
- Writer’s Digest Books
Children’s Writers and Illustrators Market (current year) - Institute for Children’s Literature
Book Markets for Children’s Writers (current year) and Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers (current year)
Newsletters
- The SCBWI Annual Market Report (both are for members only) Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
- WriteForKids Great for new and established writers of children’s publishing.
Trade Publications
- Publishers Weekly
About books for all ages, children and adults. Articles, book reviews. - School Library Journal
Articles and book reviews targeting public and school librarians working with children and young adults. - The Horn Book
Articles, essays, and extensive book reviews of books for children and young adults. - Book List Online
Publications of the American Library Association; book reviews for librarians working with children and young adults.
Online Resources
- Diverse Books Resources to help you write more diversely.
- Who’s Moving Where?
Great source for seeing which editors are moving to which houses - Children’s Book Council (CBC)
Members are listed here with their manuscript acceptance policies. - American Library Association (ALA)*Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books
Book review journal for school and public librarians working with children and young adults. - New York Times Book Review*
Reviews of books, including children’s books. - Writing World*
Resource for a variety of writing opportunities. - Publishers’ Catalogues*
Search for publisher websites and view their current lists. - Publishers Lunch*
Free e-mail service listing recent book deals, for both children’s and writers of books for adults. - Publishers Marketplace ($15/mo)*
Similar to Lunch, above, except you get ALL book deals and access to a searchable database of all deals. - Getting the Most Out of a Conference Critique Wonderful advice from author Dianne Ochiltree about preparing for a one-on-one in-person critique at a conference. Though she focuses on agents and editors, these suggestions also apply to critiques with authors.
There are hundreds of resources for writers on the Internet–this is only a small sampling!
Resources for Young Writers
Books
These books are a great place to get acquainted with the world of writing and publishing. Be careful of using a market guide that is more than a year old–the people and contact information may have changed or the magazine or publisher may be out of business. If you do use an older edition, make sure you call or write first to check the status of the publisher or magazine and whether they are still accepting submissions.
- Seize the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write by Victoria Hanley (Cottonwood Press, 2008)
- The Young Writer’s Guide to Getting Published by Kathy Henderson Writer’s Digest Books; 6th edition (May 1, 2001)
- Children’s Writers and Illustrators Market (current year) (Writer’s Digest Books) You’ll need an adult to assist if you are under 18.
Writing Resources
- Rhyme Zone
Find rhymes, synonyms and definitions for words - Merriam Webster Dictionary
Online dictionary, check your definitions or use the thesaurus - Fact Monster
Online encyclopedia, check your facts - Glossary of Literary Terms
- Guide to Grammar & Writing
- Rules for Effective Writing
If you live in or around Denver, CO, check out the wonderful youth classes at Lighthouse Writers Workshop.
Online/Print Publications
- Zuzu
Showcases work previously published along with inviting new young people to contribute both stories and art. - Stone Soup
Unique among children’s magazines — it’s the only magazine made up entirely of the creative work of children, ages 8 to 13. - Young Authors Guide
List of publications for young authors
Online Resources
- Young Writers Resources
Lots of links to resources for kids and teens at Writing World. - Markets for kids and teens
This site has articles, tips, and places for young people to submit their writing. - KidPub
KidPub was created in 1995 as a safe, fun place for kids to improve their writing skills by sharing their stories, poems, reviews, and other creative writing with a worldwide audience. KidPub is a membership site. ($12.95/year) Also, offers self-publication. - Kids on the Net
Kids on the Net was one of the first websites on the internet to invite children to submit their writing. Also has fun creative writing games and tips. - Rookie Magazine
An independent online magazine that publishes writing, photography, and other forms of artwork by and for teenagers
Contests
- The Claudia Ann Seaman Poetry Award Contest in memory of Claudia Ann Seaman. Winners appear in upcoming issues.
- Letters About Literature
State and national levels for young writers.
Many schools, cities and states have contests for students. Check out contests in your local area!
5 Tips for a Good Conference Experience
Attending a writing conference? Check out my tips for making it a good one!
Resources for Picture Book Writers
Picture Book Proclamation
Writing pictrue books is a fun and sacred duty. Check out author Mac Barnett’s inspiring proclamation.
Picture Book Story vs Short Story
Writers new to picutre books–myself included way back when–often start out writing short stories. Here are a few things to think about as you begin to envision your picture book story.
Picture Books Tips on YouTube
Subscribe to my Picture Book YouTube channel to get notifications of new videos. My goal is bi-weekly, answering frequently and not-so-frequently-asked questions. Feel free to ask a question in the comments for me to answer in a future video!
Below are writers and sites that have awesome info and inspiration that I follow or visit regularly.
READING FOR RESEARCH
Fantastic site for learning how writers use picture books to inform their own work. Check out their Month Challenge held annually in March!
12 x 12 Challenge
This program challenges you to write 12 picture books in 12 months. Different paid levels give you access to different features and goodies.
Picture Book Builders Blog
Wonderful group of picture book authors who blog about topics and books–with giveaways!
Nuts & Bolts writing Guide
“Tools and tips for writing, publishing and selling your manuscript.”
eBook by author, Linda Ashman.
eBook by author, Linda Ashman.
Storystorm
Formerly Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo), this is a wonderful way to challenge yourself to “create 30 story concepts in 30 days.”
Picture Book Writing Week
Created and hosted by author Paula Yoo, challenge yourself even more with 7 picture books in 7 days!
Rhyme Revolution
Author Angie Karcher hosts this site with great information and rhyming challenges.
Rhyme Weaver
Rhyme Weaver: For Writing Better Rhyme and Meter. Wonderful resource for rhymers!
Making Picture Book Magic
Making Picture Book Magic is a 4 week course that will teach you how to write a picture book.
Resources for Novelists
Push Yourself a Mile High
I am honored and privileged to be a Young Adult Fiction faculty mentor for the Regis University Mile High MFA in Creative Writing. This video gives you a wonderful taste of what the program is like. One of my favorite aspects of the program is one that I believe is unique to this particular program–Writing in the World—What will you give through your writing and as a writer and human moving through the world? If you are interested in the program, feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!
NEW! You can now take a Writing Picture Books semester with me. I’m so excited!
Below are writers and sites that have awesome info and inspiration that I follow or visit regularly.
plot doctors
Authors Hilari Bell and Anna-Maria Crum are master plotters and can review your synopsis and help you shape your novel.
Wild ink Book
Wild Ink: Success Secrets to Writing and Publishing in the Young Adult Market by Victoria Hanley.
Middle Grade Authors
“[A] magical place for all things middle-grade.” A group blog of middle-grade authors celebrating books for middle-grade readers.
Kid Lit
Kidlit.com is an ongoing project for the passionate community of people who read and write children’s literature.
Rookie Magazine
Get to know your audience. An independent online magazine that publishes writing, photography, and other forms of artwork by and for teenagers
