Another Look

You submitted your picture book manuscript to an agent.  But in only a few weeks she sent a rejection.  On the bright side, she offered some useful suggestions.  So you tweaked your manuscript based on her advice.  Now you’d like to send your revision back to her for another look.  How should you approach this agent?  

Begin your email by reminding her that she has already read the manuscript.  Ask her if she’d be interested in taking another look.  Give the title.  Tell her that she had provided helpful feedback and that your work has been revised. 

In the next paragraph include the word count, the age group, if the story is a simultaneous submission, and any other distinguishing features that make the story marketable.  Then describe the story to refresh the agent’s memory.  Be sure to answer these questions:

Who is the main character?

What does the main character want and what gets in his way?

What launches the story?
What is at stake?

In the last paragraph give your bio. Close by thanking her for her time.  Remember to include your email address or contact information.

There’s no guarantee that a second look will garner a nod from an agent.  But when you approach an agent using my suggestions, you will come across more professionally.  Your letter will make an agent take notice.  And chances are she will send you a thoughtful reply.  

A Second Pair of Eyes

I write articles for the University of Kentucky Arboretum newsletter.  Recently, the editor wanted a piece about the new mural that was installed in the Children’s Garden—250 words, easy peasy.

The educational director of the Children’s Garden explained that the mural was conceived by a local artist.  Then children painted the background with bright colors and glued on over 1,200 bottle caps.  Besides portraying some of Kentucky state symbols, the mural shows how art can be made with non-recyclable items. 

After learning about the mural and seeing it for myself, I knew I could crank out the article in a short period of time.  I outlined the material and composed questions for the educational director and the artist.  The piece came together nicely with a focus on the process of making the mural and its significance, along with some lively quotes. 

My husband reviewed the piece, as he does with all of my work.  Giving him about five minutes, I waited for his seal of approval.  But no.  He handed it back to me with comments written in the margins and question marks scribbled on the page.  My explanations weren’t clear enough.  Details were missing.   Some sentence phrasing was awkward.    

So, back to the drawing board.  I edited the article for clarity and used some of my husband's suggestions.  “Much better,” he said with a nod.  I had forgotten that despite the brevity of an article, another pair of eyes is always needed because it’s hard to step away from work and read it objectively. 

After the revision, the mural article is still within word count.  Its focus is tighter and the explanations are clearer.  Without a doubt, the article is much improved.  I am thankful for the insight and kindness of my second reader.  He makes my work more worthy to submit. 

Writer's Remorse

Now you’ve done it.  You realize after the fact that you’ve submitted an article to a children’s magazine editor before it was ready.  Of course, at the time of submitting you thought it was perfect, oh so publishable.  So how did you discover the piece went out too soon?  Clue:  Several months have passed and you've yet to hear back from the editor.  

This prompts you to read your article again.  And then that’s when you discover the piece could have been better.  You feel lousy.  Paragraphs could have been constructed more sensibly.  The word choice could have been livelier.  As a whole, the writing could have been tighter.  But it’s out of your hands and now awaits an editor’s decision or at worst, has landed in the rejection pile.

At first, you might feel regret or even embarrassment.  But this is only a little stumble on the path of publication.  It happens.  Though you can’t change the situation, you can have a new outlook. 

Don’t give up on the manuscript.  Review the piece.  Ask yourself what can be improved.  You might need another reader to point out parts that need tweaking.  You may need to read the work aloud and edit places where the pacing is lost or where a reader might trip on the wording.  You may need to overhaul the beginning to hook your audience better.  Or, you may need to wrap up the conclusion with a tie-in to the opening paragraph.

While you await the editor's decision on your work, read more books, blogs, and articles on the craft of writing for children.  Afterward, you'll find that you have gained a different perspective.  This is because you’re growing as a writer.  So learn from your mistakes.  Dismiss your regrets and move on.  Consider this experience an opportunity to improve your writing skills.    

Submitting, Again

Congratulations!  You submitted an article to a children’s magazine and it was accepted for publication.  As you write your next article for the same publication, consider this piece of advice:  Be professional when you submit again. 

For example, one of my science articles was published in an outstanding children’s publication.   Thinking I could write another piece for the magazine, I simply queried the editor very informally.  Think:  a one line snappy email pitch.  She immediately wrote back to me and berated me for not following the guidelines (which stated to send a professional query with clips). I thought since she had published one of my pieces that I didn’t need to be so formal.  Wrong.  So wrong.  

Editors have preferences when it comes to submitting.  Some want a professional query each time you write to them that includes specific details like a bio or clips, while other editors will consider a more casual letter.  

Every time you query, formal or not, always include the basics:  the title, the word count, the age group, the submission date, and a brief synopsis of the article. Always read the guidelines. They may have changed since your last article was published.  And just because you’ve published before with a publication doesn’t give you a green light to submit informally.  Some editors just won't stand for it, as I found out.  In the end the editor refused to consider my work again.  This is a harsh example, and I’m willing to bet a rare case.  But use this example as food for thought.  Unless you know it’s okay to write a casual letter, play it safe:  stick to writing a professional query.

Mary Kole's Webinar and PW Article

I'm always searching for helpful articles and writing classes.  Here is a recent article and an upcoming webinar that may help you in your writing.  

Literary Agent Mary Kole is presenting a MG and YA Intensive Writer's Digest webinar coming up Thursday, October 25th at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Here's what Mary says:  Middle grade and young adult novels are the hottest markets in children's books today. If you want to write novels for child readers ages 9 - 12 (middle grade) or 13+ (young adult), there are tips and tricks that you need to know before you can break in. The middle grade and teen novels market is so specific—if you want to succeed, that is. This entire 90-minute session will be devoted to this kid-lit craft. 

This webinar is for all of your teen novelists out there, and it comes with the benefits of the lecture, the Q&A, and a writing sample critique as well. This should dovetail nicely with the publication of my book, WRITING IRRESISTIBLE KIDLIT.  Register for the webinar here.

So, you think you're ready to publish?  Check out this article from Publishers Weekly: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/7-signs-that-youre-not-re_b_1855988.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=ef19c207a6-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email

Back Issues

I’ve written several blogs on the importance of reading the contributor's guidelines before submitting a nonfiction article to a publisher.  But, let’s take it one step further.  I’d advise writers to read a few back issues of the publication for which they want to pitch.  

I know, it's extra work.  But in reviewing back copies, you’ll see how an author handles a subject.  You'll discover the writing style—whether the tone is serious or playful.  You'll see if the author writes the piece in first, second, or third person. (Writing in second person is challenging, but fun.) You'll get a feel if quotes are needed.  Reading published articles will show you how the author handled the hook and closed the piece.  Lastly, you'll be able to compare your work to the published pieces and see if your article will be a good fit for the magazine. 

Once, I received a strange nonfiction article for Stories for Children Magazine.  This piece was only a list of words in alphabetical order of collective nouns.  In contrast, a nonfiction article has a beginning with a hook, a middle and an ending that usually ties in to the beginning.  It’s been well-researched and has a bibliography.  A list is not a nonfiction article.

I think the author desperately wanted to teach children about collective nouns.  Had she read a few back issues, she would have noticed that the editors publish more substantial pieces.  She would have also learned that her “article” fell short of the word count. 

Though this author’s first attempt was rejected, she should not give up.  She should consider revising her work so that it reads more like nonfiction.  She should hunt for a suitable publication because her subject might make an interesting article.  But before submitting again, she ought to review a few back issues first.       

Saying Farewell to SFC

Stories for Children magazine closed its doors last month.  The news hit me hard because I had been part of the magazine for five years.  Before becoming an editor, I submitted nonfiction articles to the magazine.  A team of professional editors worked with me to make my pieces acceptable for publication.  It was thrilling to see my articles online. 

But just as I was growing as a writer, Editor Virginia S. Grenier decided to close the magazine.  Suddenly, the rug was pulled from my feet.  I felt lost.  During this time, I continued to write and to submit to tougher markets—sometimes successful, sometimes not.

Some years later while reading the SCBWI discussion boards, I read about the re-opening of SFC.  I was especially excited to read that Virginia was in need of editors, so I sent her a brief email. Three days later, I was awarded assistant nonfiction editor.  In this job, I made sure that the submissions met our needs before sending them on to the nonfiction editor.  For several months, everything was going smoothly until the nonfiction editor decided to leave her position.   

This presented a problem.  Virginia asked me if I'd be interested in taking the position. Assuming more responsibility made me nervous, but I accepted knowing that Virginia was no more than a phone call or email away.  I loved reading the submissions, making suggestions for revisions, and moving submissions on one step closer to publication.  But little did I know this wonderful job would not last.  A little under two years, Virginia needed to close SFC magazine again.  In a phone call, she shared why she needed to make this tough decision. 

I’ll miss working as an editor for the magazine, conferring with my efficient and lovable assistant Irene Roth, and seeing people reach their dream of publication.  But I do believe that one day, SFC just may open again, when the stars align themselves.  I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the SFC contributors and the SFC staff.  Stories for Children magazine was a beautifully produced publication.  I can honestly say, it has touched the lives of many and it will be greatly missed.