FUN & FACTS: WRITING FOR THE EDUCATIONAL MARKET
March 12, 2013
Presenter: Shirley Duke
HANDOUT
FUN & FACTS: WRITING FOR THE EDUCATIONAL MARKET
Markets
SCBWI Markets – Educational Publishers
http://www.scbwi.org/Resources/Documents/EducationalPressMarketSurveyFinal.pdf
SCBWI Markets –Book Producers Directory
http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/Directories—Resources
Evelyn Christensen – list of educational market publishers
http://evelynchristensen.com/mktnotes.html#cr
http://evelynchristensen.com/markets.html
Educational publishers list
http://www.aepweb.org/member-directory/member-directory.html
Educational market blog with writing jobs
http://educationwriting.blogspot.com/
Packagers
What packagers do
http://www.abpaonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38
Harold Underdown’s information about packagers
http://www.underdown.org/packaging.htm
Packagers/producers
Leveling
ATOS Readability
http://www.renlearn.com/atos/analyze.aspx?type=3
lexile
https://www.lexile.com/analyzer/
Flesch-Kincaid (Microsoft Word)
Edit/review; spelling and grammar; grade level (need to have readability turned on)
Information on standards
Common Core Standards
http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards
Find standards by state.
http://www.educationworld.com/standards/state/index.shtml
About Common Core
http://www.edutopia.org/common-core-state-standards-resources
Texas Standards
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=6148
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13165
You can download a free pdf.
Groups
Nonfiction for Kids listserv
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NFforKids/
Information
Laura Purdie Salas has a workbook to guide you in writing nonfiction.
http://www.laurasalas.com/present/WCN_SG/workbook.html
Pam Zollman has advice about research
http://www.pamzollman.com/2012/04/where-to-find-research-information-for.html
Nancy I. Sanders has a book about writing nonfiction.
http://yesyoucanlearn.wordpress.com/
Joanne Mattern has helpful information.
Agents
Guide to Literary Agents blog
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents?et_mid=598918&rid=2988129
2013 Guide to Literary Agents
Google Reader
On Google, click more and scroll down to reader. Paste in the URL in subscribe and the blog will appear on the right. The left side keeps a list of blogs you have subscribed to.
Presentation Notes
New Mexico SCBWI
FUN & FACTS: WRITING FOR THE EDUCATIONAL MARKET
Presentation Notes by Shirley Duke
What It Isn’t
Trade
These books come from an idea you develop and a story you craft and submit it to your agent or to an editor at a publishing house. They accept it for publication or reject. Time frame is often long.
Not boring.
What It Is
Library and school markets
Books based on curriculum needs and standards.
Publishers choose titles and series to fit those needs. Most are in series. Lerner does both.
From Joanne Mattern: “It include books and other materials created for schools, libraries, homeschoolers, and state education departments. Classroom readers, texts, references, websites, computer games, workbooks, teacher resources, hi-lo readers, activity books, classroom magazines, and assessment tools are all part of the world of educational publishing. All require writers.”
I can add blackline master workbooks, test writing, ghostwriting, educational flashcards, ESL materials, and games.
Book packagers
Develop the books after being hired by a publishing company and given titles and specific requirements. They hire the authors, edit, format, do photo research, layout, design, and anything else. They send the books to the publisher, who takes over then.
Why write for this market?
- Get published and more books
- Short deadlines and money comes faster
- Hones your writing skills
- Opens new opportunities
- Diversity of topics, series
- Get to know the editors and work with them
- Still allows you to write trade if that’s what you want
- Opens the door to school visits for pay
Why Not?
- Quick deadlines and fast writing—challenging. Range from a week–6 weeks (research, index, sometime photos, glossary, captions)
- Don’t control titles or content unless you’ve sent a proposal—and sometimes not then
- Fitting in your own trade writing
- No royalties, often no advances
- Can be changes to work
My experience
- Trade picture book; 4 years later, nothing had sold
- Call for horror stories by Red Line Editorial—book packager.
- Sent in idea and sample
- Rewrote 3 times; Didn’t like idea; liked my writing and willingness to rewrite
- Did Unthinkable, first in a series, rewrote 3 times, it was changed
- About the same time, sent in science samples.
- Got email about writing 2 books—the science: You Can’t Wear These Genes and Infections, Infestations, and Diseases. It was for Rourke.
- Wrote long and at too high a level. Lots of rewriting with a very patient editor. Saw a call for writers in CW from Rourke and sent a letter. They liked my writing and were glad I emailed them. Take the chance!
- Rejections—it’s part of the business. I look at those in a business sense, not a personal one. It’s not personal—it’s business.
Sample Package
- Cover letter
- Writing samples
- Sometimes a resume
Cover letter–What to include (be brief)
- Your contact information
- Brief introduction and your skills
- How you learned of them
- Previous writing or writing credits
- Areas of expertise
Investigate publishers’ websites and catalogues. Find groups and lists that connect writers, librarians, and publishers. Follow publishers on Facebook and Twitter. Read their e-letters and blogs. They’ll give information on what they are publishing and what they are looking for.
Writing Samples
Joanne Mattern has examples of writing samples on her web site. http://www.joannemattern.com/educational-writing-samples
- Analyze books the publisher puts out.
- Study their organization and layout
- Quality writing and strong language skills
- Text—type it and use Word’s tool to see number of words on page, sentences, and level.
- Match your sample to that.
- Choose a topic of interest and find an angle or slant, or specific, small incident about that subject. Narrow the focus.
- Number the pages of your sample and have your name and title of submission sample in header.
- Write an original passage or two
- Write the same topic at different levels (that got me the Compass job)
- Label them with levels
- Include a bibliography if it’s nonfiction.
- Don’t begin with a question with a yes/no answer. Why do woodpeckers peck?
- Keep in mind you are writing for children.
- Use comparisons they can relate to. Instead of saying something weighs 80 pounds, say it weighs about as much as a 4th grader.
- Don’t anthropomorphize. Don’t mention an animal feels some way.
- Do extend the fact—a brightly colored animal living in a rainforest will stick out. Anticipate that question: Why? Mixes with flowers, has warning colors, etc.
- Avoid encyclopedia information within the narrative. Use your writing skills to focus the sample and provide interesting facts that flow.
- Biographies—find an angle or specific detail to focus on rather than a birth to death sequence—which is predictable.
Resume
- Look up current resume styles
- Accomplishment oriented
Leveling
- ATOS—leveling similar to grade levels
- Lexile—a range of levels. Must use a chart to see which grade levels they are. Most publishers have a Lexile level to hit.
- Flesch Kincade—on Word. Go to review (or edit), click on spelling and grammar, go through document, and look at bottom for readability level. You need to turn on this function.
- Word count—Most publishers give you a firm word count.
- Word choice—Some words are above a child’s reading ability. Find synonyms or equivalents
- Children’s Writer’s Word Book by Alijandra Mogilner
- Sentences and syllables—Cut down the reading level by shortening sentences and using words with fewer sentences.
Research
- Find accurate, up to date facts.
- Evidence of strong research skills.
- Read and truly understand your topic. I worked as a science content editor and I found some writers used books from the 1980s and 90s. The authors didn’t have a clear understanding of their topic and it showed.
Resources
Finding the publishers
- SCBWI resources
Click SCBWI publications
Book producers
Educational market publishers
- Occasionally browse the websites of publishers. Find their blogs or Twitter accounts or Facebook pages.
- Google reader
Google; More, Reader. Paste in the URL.
- Evelyn Christensen has a list of educational market publishers
- Freelance writers–a blog for ed. Market
- Nonfiction for Kids listserv
Saw a call for writers for Compass Media for science/ESL books. Sent in my already prepared samples and was hired. I wrote 9 books for them last year.
- Laura Purdie Salas has a workbook to guide you in writing nonfiction. You have to pay for it.
- Joanne Mattern has helpful information.
Information on standards
Websites on handout
- Common Core Standards—45 states. CCCS opens the market for narrative nonfiction.
- Find standards by state.
- About Common Core
- Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
Packagers
- What packagers do
Harold Underdown’s information
- List of Packagers/producers—their association
Submitting
- Resend samples once a year until you get hired. They’ll keep you on file if you write well for them.
- Can’t be hired unless you send samples.
- Celebrate
- Meet deadlines
- Be willing to revise
- Be friendly and pleasant
- Do your best work.
- Getting the job
You’ll get better with each sample or book you write.
