How to Write a Children's Book and Get It Published

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Summary: A Great Place to Start
Review: Are you thinking that you MIGHT want to be a children's writer? Maybe you have a story that the family loves but are wondering what to do next. This book is a great place to start. Ms. Seuling gives step-by-step instructions for categorizing your work, editing, formatting the manuscript and deciding where to send it. Great references for related information in the back, too. This is not a perfect book for someone already on the way to being published, but it's a great little book for beginners.

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Summary: Barbara Seuling Is Very Knowledgeable and Practical: I Know
Review: Barbara Seuling was my instructor when I took a two-year writing course in writing children's literature from The Institute of Children's Literature. Ms. Seuling is exceedingly knowledgeable, skillful, talented, and very practical about writing children's literature and getting it published. Also, she writes instructions that are very easy to understand. I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Barbara Seuling Is Very Knowledgeable and Practical: I Know
Review: Barbara Seuling was my instructor when I took a two-year writing course in writing children's literature from The Institute of Children's Literature. Ms. Seuling is exceedingly knowledgeable, skillful, talented, and very practical about writing children's literature and getting it published. Also, she writes instructions that are very easy to understand. I highly recommend this book.

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Summary: Wonderful, practical, inspiring!
Review: Gave me the courage to think a good story. Taught me the basics of good writing. Showed me how to complete and sell a picture book. Excellent!

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Summary: necessary information
Review: How to Write a Children's book and get it published by Barbara Seuling is a very informative book for those who are just starting in the business of children's books--Although the book has a brief chapter on illustrating children's books, this section could have been expanded to be more useful to both those of us who are illustrators and those who write and illustrate their own books.

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Summary: The information in this book is out-of-date.
Review: I'd like to recommend this book to writers of all children's genres. Ms. Seulings online classes and this book have inspired me get my stories onto paper and out to the editors. To me, this is what being a writer of children's literature is all about.

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Summary: what is a childrens book
Review: If you are thinking about writing a childrens book, this is a good resource. Looking at what a childrens book is, how to develop ideas, and how to sell the completed work.

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Summary: A difficult format made easy to understand.
Review: Picture Book format is spacific and definate. This book takes it one step at a time from the begining of an idea to the finished "dummy". You say you don't know what a dummy book is? A PB story outline? Need work on characters? Want an idea on the proper pacing? Setting, Dialogue? Language for kids? Structure, rhythm, mood, tone? This book answered all my questions and more. By the time I finished with it I felt confident enough to submit my work to an editor.. The author, multi-published, whos books I read to my children when they were young, was exceptionally generous with her secrets.The price was an inexpensive ticket to my future. I highly recommend for writers of all children's genre.sÃœeWashington State

Rating:
Summary: Enormously Informative
Review: Recently I have read approximately five books on writing for children. I found Barbara Seulings book to be the best of the lot. She realistically portrays the difficulty in breaking into the children's market in the '90s, yet she encourages the reader and provides a wealth of helpful information to do just that. Barabara Seulings book is easily readable for a reference book and one that anyone interested in writing for children today should have in their personal library. Good job Ms. Seuling -

Rating:
Summary: A good resource
Review: This book is divided into five parts. Each part is designed to help you in progressing towards the publishing of a book/play/poem/story for children. This is not a quick process. The key ingredient to this book being successful is that the book shows you what is involved.

In the first section of the book, Seuling discusses the world of children's books. This will give you an idea of the history of children's books and help you become familiar with the lingo.

In the second and third sections (Developing Your Ideas and Writing Your Book, respectively), she talks about some of the pitfalls (she calls sabotage) and talks about what is required for different kinds of books (for instance, what is needed for an Easy Reader versus a Chapter Book). To help you, the author includes the titles of books that best exemplify the kind of book she is discussing. Now, you can check out the book and see the example for yourself.

In the fourth and fifth sections (Selling Your Book and A Publisher in Your Future), she explains how the publishing field works. With this information in hand, you can make your submission more professional and increase your chances of getting a contract.

For each chapter in the book, she summarizes the key points and gives you "assignments" which will help you internalize the material and become an expert. The only problem with the assignments is that there is no right or wrong answer. You will need to assume that you are doing it correctly. If you follow the assignments, however, you will learn a lot.

Most importantly, Seuling has appendices that list a wealth of information on helping you become a successful writer for children. If nothing else, the book is worth it for those lists (things like marketing information, editorial services, references, and reviews of children's books). I would recommend this book for anyone thinking of writing for children.