Is your goal to get a picture book published?
Yes? Awesome!
So I’m here to tell you, write a picture book.
Ha! That seems like DUH advice, doesn’t it?
But I don’t want you to waste your time, like I did, writing for magazines, trying to build publishing credits, if magazine writing isn’t your ultimate goal. Magazine writing is a completely different skill, and while credits are nice, they are not going to make or break you. Magazine credits prove you’re a professional and that you’ve been through the editing process, but they won’t convince anyone to buy your manuscript if it’s a sub-par story. You need to hone your picture book skills, and that only comes with writing dozens of picture books.
Agent Ammi-Joan Paquette takes clients based on their submission, first and foremost. “For me, the number one focus is on the writing: the voice, the story, the way the language sparkles and draws me in. If you’ve got that, I’ll follow you just about anywhere. All the writing credits, awards, and fancy degrees in the world—on their own—won’t make me take on an author. It’s about the writing, pure and simple.”
I received some misguided (but well-intentioned) advice when I began writing for children. I was told to place fiction in magazines in order to build my writing resume. So I gave it a shot. Then I found out how difficult it was to place stories. Not any less difficult than getting a book published! (I don’t know why I thought it would be.)
Your story must fit the theme of the magazine issue, which means you’re better off reviewing editorial calendars first, then writing to fill that need. Instead, I wrote what I wanted to write and then found it was only appropriate for a single issue, to be published in three years’ time! Magazines are often booked far in advance. Back in 2008, if I were to place that story, it would have been printed in 2011. Yikes!
Now that’s probably an extreme example, but it’s an important lesson I learned. I was veering off my intended path to publication.
A magazine story has to be more descriptive than the language in a picture book because there are far fewer illustrations to accompany the text. You’re often writing for a single spread with no page turns, and page turns are crucial to picture book pacing, humor and reader anticipation. So I was writing for a wildly different format and not for the goal I desired: to get a picture book published.
Some will argue that writing for credits is necessary prior to getting a book deal, but I say that is incorrect. As long as you have a professional-looking, easily found web presence and membership in a professional writing organization like SCBWI, that’s all you need in your bio to prove that you’re “serious”. The thing you need most of all? You know—a winning manuscript! I had zero children’s publishing credits prior to getting my agent and a book deal. I’m definitely not alone in this.
Children’s magazines are wonderful, but if they’re not your goal, you don’t need to use your precious writing time in this manner. Want a picture book deal? Write picture books! (I say books, plural, because if an agent is interested in your manuscript, that agent will ask for more of your work.)
And I hope that’s not DUH advice!
Do you agree or disagree? Share your opinion in the comments!
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) 
91 comments
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August 5, 2014 at 2:00 pm
julie rowan zoch
Hahaha – love the photo, Tara!
August 5, 2014 at 2:02 pm
Red said what?
Honest and helpful post. Makes sense to me AND makes me feel better. Thanks, Tara!
August 5, 2014 at 2:02 pm
shannonhitchcock
I agree with your assessment. I wasted a lot of time trying to write for magazines, (published a fair amount of articles and stories), but it did waste time that I wish I’d spent elsewhere.
August 5, 2014 at 2:06 pm
Barbara Krasner
I think it’s a different ballgame for nonfiction. I’ve had more than 100 articles published on history and science and I do believe they’ve helped me hone my craft, and gotten me more work. Another issue, though, and this may contribute to the “time-waster” moniker, is that the market for magazine work isn’t all that big, especially if your writing is not a good match for the Christian market.
August 5, 2014 at 2:21 pm
Tara Lazar
Good point about non-fiction, Barbara, thanks.
August 5, 2014 at 2:06 pm
teresa m.i. schaefer (@TMISchaefer)
Thanks Tara — I love being able to scratch things off my list. Pursue writing credits thru magazines — SCRATCHED!!!! Thanks so much for the advise and examples — makes total sense.
August 5, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Anne Bromley
Tara, you have confirmed what I have assumed, and I am happy now to not give writing for magazines another thought! Picture books or bust! Thank you again and again for keeping us on track.
August 5, 2014 at 2:14 pm
deborahholtwilliams
I don’t see it as a waste of time at all! My magazine sales have encouraged me to keep writing. Yes, it’s a different style, as are my published easy readers and some of the writing contests I enter, but any writing is good practice. I continue to work on my PB manuscripts while writing for magazines–no reason a writer can’t write in different formats.
August 5, 2014 at 2:22 pm
Tara Lazar
True, you can do both, but if it’s not your pleasure or your goal, then my point is that it doesn’t HAVE to be done.
Congrats on all your success!
August 5, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Margie Kimberley
Thanks, Tara for confirming what I just heard from an editor at the Oregon Coast Children’s Book Writers’ workshop. Onward.
August 5, 2014 at 2:28 pm
Rita Allmon
Tara, thanks for sharing this. I had wondered about writing for magazines for resume credits. Everything you said makes sense to me. Now I can stop wandering down the “wondering-what-to-do” path… freeing me to follow the picture book path only.
August 5, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Laura Gehl
I agree with this advice! I’ve written nonfiction for children’s magazines for years, and I recently discovered that writing nonfiction picture books demands a very different way of framing ideas and stories.
August 5, 2014 at 2:34 pm
Andria
Right on target, Tara!
August 5, 2014 at 2:48 pm
Mary Uhles
great advice which I’d say also applies to illustrators
August 5, 2014 at 2:56 pm
Kerry Aradhya
Hi, Tara. Great post, as always! I totally agree that magazine stories and PBs require a different set of skills, although through critique groups I have found that some writers who think they are writing PB manuscripts may actually be writing magazine stories. I wonder if, in these cases, it is good to pursue magazine work. Although I don’t write magazine stories, I have had success placing poems, and since my PB manuscripts are often in rhyme, I have found this to be helpful. As I plug along trying to get a PB published, it is rewarding to see my poems come out from time to time 🙂
August 5, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Taurean J. Watkins (@Taurean_Watkins)
I was given this same advice, Tara, and I always believed it was a different market, but I think a lot of the writers I met early on (only a few who hadn’t published yet, including myself at the time I first met them) had this mindset. I think writers who have multi-faceted skillsets can thrive by incorporating another way to earn income from their short form writing while honing their craft for book-length projects on the side.
My friend, Kelly Hashway, is a prime example of this, she used to write for magazines, but (to echo your points above, Tara) ALSO wrote actual book-length projects when she could, but she says those early sales for magazines gave her some income and showing she can write things she loves and sell it, regardless of the market, it’s HARD WON in the beginning, and the sense of accomplishment is the same, even if the experience isn’t as all-purpose and straightforward.
Many authors, like Nancy I. Sanders (i.e. Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books, Get Them Published, and Build a Successful Writing Career) often says the best thing about writing for magazines is having a “training ground” with working with deadlines and editors, and that sometimes, editors from magazines may move to publishers or become agents and will personally contact authors they worked with from their magazine days and work out book deals, or offer the opportunity to submit them directly , and deals can come from that which benefit all parties involved.
I have mixed feelings about that myself, for much of what you outlined, and I focus on novels for this reason, though I’m SLOWLY making ground in someday writing picture books, but novels will always be my first love.
THat said, you’re right that if you want to write something specific, you need to write it. But I think a lot of writers start with short fiction, magazine-oriented or not because they don’t have the patience or skill to tackle a novel, a book-length nonfiction book, or they want to see the beginning to end of a story a little sooner so far as raw drafting is concerned.
But I can understand why people may still want to write for magazine markets, because yes it can take a LONG TIME to see your work in print, but short of the magazine folding, you at least know you can SELL
SInce I’m primarily a novelist, and most programs, especially when I first started a decade ago we’re geared to short stories, whether or not they were specifically for magazines, but many courses were geared to short fiction or poetry, neither are my strengths.
I think part of the problem is that people put ALL short form writing on a pedestal as the crown jewels of literature. Sometimes I feel people talk about novels like they’re the unwanted stepkids and I can’t stand that.
I love that while novelists aim for concise, tightly written stories, I appreciate that novels have FAR MORE leeway than short stories on average, every word STILL MATTERS, but the margin is more forgiving, and some of us writers LOVE and prefer the long form, it’s where we learned to love reading as entertainment.
August 5, 2014 at 4:59 pm
Tara Lazar
Good point about editors from magazines moving to publishers and being a point of contact there. Networking is so important in our business.
August 5, 2014 at 3:19 pm
Elizabeth Martin
Great advice and something to think about. Thanks
August 5, 2014 at 3:29 pm
Donna L. Sadd
Tara, you have a knack for writing very timely posts, at least in my world. I’m slated to attend the 8/12 SCBWI ‘writing for magazines’ webinar: https://brazosvalley.scbwi.org/events/webinar-get-published-in-childrens-magazines-with-author-chris-eboch/, but now I won’t allow myself to be sidetracked. Thanks again! :0)
August 5, 2014 at 4:55 pm
Tara Lazar
Donna, that seminar still may be a good idea for those who want to write for magazines to earn a steady writing income. Picture book authors need some time to earn. You’re writing for a few years without a deal, then when you do get a deal, you earn an advance, which for your first book might be low. Then you have to wait at least six months or more AFTER publication (which can take years) to earn a royalty–and only if you’ve earned out your advance. So it takes some time for a regular income to come rolling in.
August 6, 2014 at 12:24 pm
Donna L. Sadd
Thanks for your comment. I was looking into it as a way to earn some kind of income. My hubby has been extremely patient, but I want to contribute to the family income so the ether doesn’t wear off. Though, I do get that the two are very different animals.
August 5, 2014 at 3:36 pm
Jane Heitman Healy
This is such a great post, Tara, because you have made clear the differences between a magazine story and a PB ms. There’s nothing wrong with either one, but be aware of the different skills required for each–and make sure that your PB is not really a magazine story.
August 5, 2014 at 3:51 pm
Lori Alexander
I was given the exact same advice and spent a year trying to master the art of writing fiction for magazines when deep down I really wanted to write PBs. But I was told the pub credits would help. In the end, I landed my agent just as you said, with solid PBs and SCBWI membership. Still no magazine credits to my name! Great post, Tara!
August 5, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Tara Lazar
No amount of pub credits will make an agent or an editor take your story if they just don’t like it or if it isn’t right for their list. So while pub credits are nice–again, they denote a professional– they don’t really help you score a book deal. The story’s the thing.
August 5, 2014 at 3:52 pm
Julie
YES, YES, YES! Okay now I sound like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally. But I do think there is a great deal of confusion about this. Every type of writing is its own craft with its own rules. Saying that writing magazine articles is training for writing picture books dismisses the craft that goes into magazine writing. It’s like saying writing children’s books is the warm-up for writing adult books.
August 5, 2014 at 4:07 pm
Taurean J. Watkins
Exactly Julie H., and while I know picture books are not the same as magazine stories (even if the overall length is similar), I’m so tired of people saying novels are easy compared to picture books or ANYTHING ELSE shorter than 500 words, it’s NOT, it’s different but not easier, and just because I can’t write a short story, whether or not’s its magazine-focused doesn’t mean I can’t write a novel. (which I’ll revise until it works!) Period.
I think part of this misnomer advice persists is because lots of writers say that NO WRITING IS WASTED, whether or not we publish it in an effort to encourage rather than discourage, and yet this advice has morphed into something that takes writers away from their true goals.
August 5, 2014 at 4:03 pm
Alayne Kay Christian
I love this post, Tara. I was given similar advice. In my experience, it set me back many years. I know there are different opinions on this, but I tend to agree with you 100%. Thanks for being honest enough to put it out there.
August 5, 2014 at 4:06 pm
Joy Moore
I’m curious to know how to get a hold of an editorial calendar.
August 5, 2014 at 4:12 pm
Tara Lazar
Joy, at the time, I found them on the magazines’ web sites.
August 5, 2014 at 4:27 pm
allegra2013
Zounds! Great advice from a pro! I have done neither kids’ magazine or picture book writing, so I’ll put my energy into studying how to make a good picture book. I bet it’s like writing poetry; every word counts! Thank you!
August 5, 2014 at 4:30 pm
bucherwurm65
Excellent, spot-on advice! Thanks for the reminder to stay focused!
August 5, 2014 at 4:35 pm
Lauri Fortino
Tara, Thanks for putting into words what I’ve always suspected but wasn’t quite sure about. If you want to write picture books, then write picture books. If you want to write for magazines, then write for magazines. They are two completely different arenas.
August 5, 2014 at 4:48 pm
Tara Lazar
Exactly. I hope people don’t mistake my point–I’m no saying that magazine writing isn’t a worthwhile endeavor. It is. But the only way to get good at writing picture books is to write picture books. A lot of them.
August 5, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Patricia Toht
Great points, Tara. The two types of writing are VERY different. But, flipping things around, perhaps you’ve written something that you think is a picture book, but it turns out that there’s not enough variety of illustration to warrant a PB or perhaps it’s too quiet. Reworking it to magazine style might give you an outlet for that piece.
August 5, 2014 at 4:57 pm
Tara Lazar
Yes, if you have something written that works as a magazine piece, by all means, try to place it!
August 5, 2014 at 5:16 pm
MaryAnne Locher
This is great advice, Tara, and news to me. I’m always worried about not having fancy credentials. This is a great reminder of what’s important – the manuscript!
August 5, 2014 at 5:38 pm
Prairie Garden Girl
Your post is excellent. As a writer, one needs to focus on a set of goals, as you stated, Tara. Think about the audience and the type of writing that you desire and are interested in sharing with readers. What is it that you want to write about to open up a readers’ eyes? Knowing the actual differences between a picture book and a children’s magazine article is important. The format for writing picture books for children is not the same as a magazine article. They are not interchangeable. A picture book is created to be read over and over again, while a magazine article is usually read once or twice and then discarded. Thank you.
~Suzy Leopold
August 5, 2014 at 5:45 pm
Deb Dunn
Good point, Tara. I do want to reiterate though that writing for magazines is a fine endeavor. This is especially true if you’re a pre-published PB writer and need to pay some bills! Magazine articles can be written somewhat faster (in my opinion) and can bring in some needed checks while you focus your passionate energy on writing the PBs. Also, some people write magazine articles because they just want to get their writing in the hands of children. Magazines are a fine way to do that. If money isn’t an issue, and you don’t feel any burning topic to write about for a mag, then I agree with you. Thanks for sharing!
August 5, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Tara Lazar
Totally agree!
August 5, 2014 at 6:57 pm
pattywaymedic
Walk confidently in the direction of your dreams! Love this post!
August 5, 2014 at 7:11 pm
terrycpierce
I couldn’t agree more, Tara (and also followed the same advice with minor success). But I’d like to also add that the same “bad advice but given with good intentions” also goes for writing NONFICTION. I cringe every time I’ve heard someone say to try writing nonfiction if fiction is too hard,as if it’s easy to whip out a nonfiction manuscript. Let’s face it, any writing is hard work, and nonfiction especially requires research skills in addition to the writing. But yes, you’re completely right!
August 5, 2014 at 7:17 pm
elainekielykearns
Thanks, Tara! I agree wholeheartedly (and LOVE the picture!) LOL!
August 5, 2014 at 7:35 pm
Renee LaTulippe
Well said! This is why I don’t submit poetry to magazines. Years of waiting for a single poem to be published! High possibility that the poem I sold will NEVER see the light of day? I’ll save mine up for a published collection, thank you very much.
August 5, 2014 at 7:44 pm
Dimity Powell
Sound advice worth heeding Tara.
August 5, 2014 at 7:54 pm
lindamartinandersen
Tara,
This makes sense to me!
August 5, 2014 at 7:56 pm
Lillian
Yes. I agree. Good advice. Thank you.
August 5, 2014 at 8:39 pm
Janny J Johnson
I’ve been -DUH- publishing essays in regional parenting magazines instead of writing picture books! Wake up call, for sure! Thanks.
August 5, 2014 at 11:27 pm
Tara Lazar
Congratulations on getting published. Be proud of that accomplishment and move forward with your true goals.
August 5, 2014 at 9:18 pm
Meic Francis
Right on. If it’s not what you want to do or it doesn’t contribute to your ultimate goal then move on. Unfortunately, it (having to pay the bills ) might be a necessary evil for many.
August 5, 2014 at 9:23 pm
carolmunrojww
I have mss I wrote as PBs, but I think they’ll work better as mag stories. Since they’re already written, I’ll polish them and send them to magazine editors. I’m also enrolled in the webinar Donna Sadd mentioned, so I’ll go ahead and do that. But I DO agree with what you’ve written in this post. I say we should each use the publishing market to benefit us in the best possible way, always keeping a focus on our personal goals.
btw, I sold my first mag story to Highlights, and it was easy peasy. I wasn’t even trying! I entered their annual contest and didn’t win, but was asked to make some minor edits to my submission. I did. They liked it. Contract signed. (Yes! I was blessed and I’m appreciative!) But it’s not published. It has a reference to Halloween, so they’ll probably put it in an October issue. No word yet, so I suspect this will be the second October to come and go since the ms was sold. So yes, as you said, it can take some time to get that publishing credit.
August 5, 2014 at 9:44 pm
Sensibility and Sense
Well, this is an interesting post Tara. I come from the perspective that writing credits, no matter where they are help to build your online platform and your writer confidence. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard book authors only complaining about deadlines and the changes editors want them to make. When you’ve written around the block for years like I have, you grow a thick skin and learn not to be so attached to each and every word that comes out of your mind or mouth. Yes, it’s always about honing your craft and being dedicated to the form you love most, but writing a good story, any good story, takes the same amount of creativity and diligence as that one favorite genre. Writing for children is the hardest job any of us will ever love, but those of us who write for a living, all day, every day, know how important those magazine sales, content writing gigs and magazine articles are to our bottom line. It’s the bread and butter that let us keep doing what we love after writing hours. I would never discourage another writer to try other forms, especially in this bunny-eat-bunny picture book world we all live and write in. If you’ve been at picture books a while, gone to conferences, taken classes and done your due diligence to write something that will get the attention of an editor or agent and things just aren’t working out, consider developing yourself in another area. You may just find a writing gift you never knew you had.
August 5, 2014 at 11:06 pm
Tara Lazar
A good perspective. But let me be clear I’m not discouraging from anyone writing what they WANT to write. I’m simply telling people who believe they NEED those magazine credits that they really don’t…and to follow their passion for writing, not get sidetracked by formats that truly don’t interest them. Of course if you need a regular income, magazine writing can fill in the gaps between book deals. I’m glad you found success in publishing magazine pieces.
August 6, 2014 at 9:58 am
Sensibility and Sense
Thanks Tara. I think it’s so important for writers to get their feet wet as often as possible to help them understand both the process and the business. And there are many writers out there who think they want to write picture books, but it is really not their skill set. Branching out and discovering your voice as a writer and where that voice will best be heard may be more important that settling on a genre where you may or may not have talent. I can decide to be a picture book author, but at the end of the day, unless someone wants to self publish, agents, editors and the audience will ultimately decide the success or failure of those picture books. Since we all evolve as writers, being open to growth in other areas is really important.
August 6, 2014 at 10:43 am
Tara Lazar
Thanks for sharing your perspective.
August 5, 2014 at 9:57 pm
Jenny Turnbull
Tara, thank you for this. I can’t tell you how much I’ve been dwelling and anxiety-ridden about this exact issue. Your explanation provides a huge sigh of relief and makes complete sense. Why take a detour spending time and energy on magazine writing when you WANT to write picture books?? Stay focused and on target – write picture books! Whew, I feel better now.
August 5, 2014 at 10:43 pm
Dawn Young
Thank you Tara. I so needed to hear this. I couldn’t see how writing magazine articles could prepare me for writing PBs any more than drafting and revising PB mss would. Glad I’m not alone…
August 5, 2014 at 10:51 pm
Donna L Martin
I agree with you, Tara. When I started writing professionally I considered writing for magazined and quickly realized it took a different set of writing skills than what I was focusing on at the time. Oh what the world would have missed out on if you had decided to only stick to magazine writing…;~)
Great post!
Donna L Martin
August 5, 2014 at 10:58 pm
Carrie Finison
While I agree with this advice in general, I have found that writing poetry for magazines has helped me develop my skills immensely. Crafting poems for magazines has taught me about rhyme and meter, poetic language, and the power of a good punchline. I’ve also learned how to think about how illustrations might work with the text, and generally what audiences of different ages will find appealing. All of these have crossover to my picture book writing. And it is a HUGE morale boost to get those acceptances or to see a piece published.
None of this takes the place of time spent writing picture books, and I don’t expect my magazine credits to count for anything in the PB market, but for me, the time I’ve spent writing for magazines has helped more than it has hurt.
August 5, 2014 at 11:09 pm
Tara Lazar
I am glad you found an outlet for your poems. They’re a very different thing than a fiction story in prose, and children’s magazines have far more opportunities for poetry than short stories.
August 5, 2014 at 11:17 pm
jdewdropsofink
I’m glad you posted this. It’s really quite helpful and makes me feel much less guilty.
August 5, 2014 at 11:18 pm
marlainagray
Appreciate the advice, Tara (I’d been wondering about this exact issue) and the photo is hilarious.
August 5, 2014 at 11:40 pm
Tara Lazar
The photo–I should tell the story behind it. At the NJ-SCBWI conference they have stuck me in the same room for two years in a row, with those crazeeee thistles on the wall that remind me of Little Shop of Horrors. I mean, they practically glow in the dark with the lights off. Sceeeeerrrry! So I was peeking over at them to take a funny photo, and it just happened to work for the DUH image, too. LOL
August 5, 2014 at 11:33 pm
Carleen Tjader
Very timely advice for me. I have been thinking I should look into magazine writing for a start. But I want to write picture books–good.
August 6, 2014 at 12:00 am
Charlotte Gunnufson
Tara, I believe you’ve bravely gone where no blogger has gone before and look at the discussion you’ve started! It’s like you dropped a match in a paper shredder. I agree that magazine stories and PBs are completely different and require a different skill set, even a different mind set. That said, writing poems for children’s magazines has helped my PB writing. By being always on the lookout for ideas for poems, I’ve trained myself to think of everything as a possible story idea. Also, my first (and so far only) published picture book started out as a poem for a children’s magazine.
Now that said, I’m not currently writing for magazines. I’m lucky enough to have recently signed with an agent and, to your point, don’t have the time for books and short pieces. Post on, sister. Post on.
August 6, 2014 at 11:07 am
Tara Lazar
A lot of what I write on my blog are pieces of info I wish I would have known sooner. I just try to be honest with what I have learned and I hope to guide others on their path to publication with less roadblocks than I’ve had. That being said, I’m a firm believer of following your own instincts. If my advice, or anyone’s advice, doesn’t resonate with you, you shouldn’t take it.
August 6, 2014 at 12:25 am
David Robertson
Thank you Tara. sage advice.
August 6, 2014 at 1:58 am
Rosi Hollinbeck
Yup. You are correct. This is good advice. I am taking it to heart.
August 6, 2014 at 2:12 am
Iluska Ikeda
I love this advice. I’ve written about three manuscripts for picture books, and illustrated one of them without even realizing I could also send stories to children’s magazines. It wasn’t on my radar at all. Then I went to a critique group and someone suggested I write some stories for the magazines as well, and send those in while I worked on reviewing the manuscripts. This happened a few weeks ago, so your advice is perfectly timed for me!
I don’t want to write for magazines. I want to publish my stories as books. So, I guess that covers that, ha. Thank you!
August 6, 2014 at 6:46 am
Angela Sylvia
Thank you for this! I write middle grade, and I did waste some time trying to write middle-grade-appropriate stories, but I don’t think I’m meant to write kid’s stories in that format since everything I tried came out flat. (And when I DO write a short story I’m proud of, it’s more in the young adult/new adult category. Heh.) I haven’t gotten a book deal yet, but I don’t think that having those credits would have helped me any more.
August 6, 2014 at 7:58 am
Diana Delosh
I’ve submitted to both mags and pubs. Been published by kid mags as both illustrator/writer- Still unpublished as a PB writer/illustrator. Yes they are both similar and very different forms. BUT the problem with writing for mags very few secular mags for kids and even fewer that pay decent and last time I did it they wanted ALL RIGHTS. However there’s nothing wrong if you have the skills and can juggle it, to work in more than 1 format. Being paid for your talents is very motivating & empowering.
August 6, 2014 at 9:10 am
Debra
I have over a dozen published magazine pieces (short stories, rebus stories, and a few non-fiction pieces and poems) to my writing credit, as well as a number of picture book manuscripts that have yet to find a publisher. Writing short stories for magazines and writing picture books is definitely different – and it’s important for a writer to understand that difference. But writing is writing – whether it is poetry, adult fiction, nonfiction, play writing, etc. If you have the time there’s no reason not to try different kinds of writing – each has it’s own rules/format/structure, but they will all sharpen your writing skills. There are many ‘children’s’ writers (Judy Blume, Julianna Baggot, Kevin Henkes and Jane Yolen come to mind, but there are many, many others) that have published for children and adults or various age groups within the children’s realm. Magazines are often published monthly and have a need for content to fill their pages, so the chances of a good manuscript getting the attention of an editor are better than a picture book manuscript making it off the slush pile of a picture book editor. And an acceptance letter mixed in with all those rejections can serve as a boost to a writer’s confidence. I will always write picture book manuscripts, but I will not let that stop me from exploring and learning from other genres,
August 6, 2014 at 10:44 am
Tara Lazar
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
August 6, 2014 at 9:56 am
Savannah Hendricks
Some great points. I write magazine stories and children’s books. With over 20 pieces published, a few overseas and a picture book releasing in a few months I’m happy that I started in magazines. For me it helped. But the market has changed a lot. I love the ability to learn from both markets.
August 6, 2014 at 10:43 am
Tara Lazar
Congrats on all your success!
August 6, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Rebecca Colby
I agree completely, Tara. I considered trying to write for magazines when I first started out as a way to build my writing resume, but my heart wasn’t in it. If you enjoy writing for magazines, there’s no reason you shouldn’t do both. But if your heart is set on publishing picture books, I think you’re more apt to accomplish that goal quicker if you focus solely on writing picture books. It often takes a long time as it is to break into the PB market. There’s no point in wasting any of that time.
August 6, 2014 at 1:08 pm
DianeKHower
Great and daring post Tara! I agree with you, for me. I have chosen to focus on what I am passionate about, picture books. When I have watched friends take on magazine work or educational work, I have seen them get overwhelmed with projects and deadlines and their quality of writing picture books diminishes. I also have had critique group partners who have tried to turn magazine articles into PBs and not understand that it’s not that easy to do. I am sure there are many people who do both and do it well and for them I say “well done.” In my life, life is to short to drink cheap wine and to write magazine articles. It’s books or bust!
August 6, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Ellen Pridmore
Tara – your timing couldn’t be better- at least for me. I practically mirror your situation. I started out writing for magazines about 16 years ago. I thought this would add to my publishing credits. I write mainly non-fiction. Over the years I have realized a few things and looking at guidelines, themes and rights are very important. Realistically, they don’t pay much .05 a word for a short piece. And, I have found theme lists very helpful. Researching and writing articles is time consuming. Then, there is the great possibility of rejection. Trying to find a home for that rejected piece can be difficult. Sometimes, a rejected piece could become a picture book IDEA. Sometimes.
My writing has been focused on picture books as they have always been my first love.
And, you know picture book writing is your niche when you don’t miss writing for magazines – or – your writing isn’t taking you down that path anymore.
We all grow as writers and need to constantly master our craft.
Good luck to all picture book writers and magazine writers!
August 6, 2014 at 2:46 pm
darlenebeckjacobson
This is an interesting and maybe even controversial post, Tara. If the goal is PB’s, then write PB’s like mad…as you said. BUT…isn’t there always a but – sometimes a “voice” isn’t quite right for a PB. Or a writer becomes frustrated waiting for PB acceptance…which can also takes years. If you write articles and short stories, or even games, puzzles and the like for children’s magazines, you are still honing the writing craft and improving your writing by doing something. Editors get to know you and you never know where that might lead. As far as writing goes, IT’S ALL GOOD. I don’t think any writing we do is a waste of time or resources if it provides pleasure for even one child out somewhere in the world. Just sayin’
August 6, 2014 at 8:20 pm
Tara Lazar
My point is, do whatever writing is enjoyable to you. But don’t feel as though you MUST write for magazines in order to get a book deal.
I also feel that while writing makes you a better overall writer, however, PBs are such a specific skill that the only thing that makes you better at them is writing a lot of them…and reading a lot of them.
August 6, 2014 at 8:29 pm
thiskidreviewsbooks
Very interesting post! I learned a lot! 🙂
August 7, 2014 at 2:44 am
Sydney O'Neill
This is a timely post for me, Tara. I think I would enjoy writing for magazines, but my focus now is on books. It’s a relief to know that accumulating writing credits is not essential before submitting book manuscripts. Thank you.
August 7, 2014 at 10:46 am
Kirsten W. Larson
There are lots of interesting comments on this one, but of course I’ll add my two cents. If your goal is to get a picture book published, then honing that craft should be first and foremost. If your manuscript is lousy, it doesn’t matter how many magazine pieces you’ve placed. However, if your goal is to become a published children’s writer, there are many different ways to achieve that goal. I am speaking strictly for nonfiction here, but magazine articles can lead directly to book contracts for school and library market. I really like Nancy Sanders’s advice on this subject. She sets three different goals for her writing: writing for personal fulfillment, to get published, and to earn income. Rarely does she expect one piece of writing to fulfill all three. For me, magazines satisfy goals two and three, while writing picture books fulfills the first goal. Here’s her blog post: http://nancyisanders.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/the-triple-crown-of-success/
August 7, 2014 at 1:46 pm
Tara Lazar
Thanks for pointing out that article, Kirsten. Many people will find it useful.
August 8, 2014 at 6:10 pm
Sandi Lawson
Woo Hoo! I’m so glad you did this post. I totally agree with you, but had been advised to start with magazines (which I have no interest in doing).
August 10, 2014 at 5:39 am
Minuscule Moments
Sounds like the perfect advice to me and I will keep writing and refining my skills thank you Tara.
August 11, 2014 at 8:54 am
Kerry
Thank you so much! I really needed to hear this!
August 11, 2014 at 3:50 pm
writersideup
Tara, I comPLETEly agree with you on this! SO many articles have been written with that advice in it, and yes, they (whoever “they” happened to be) DID make it sound like it was an easier way to get published, so you didn’t get that impression from nowhere! I, too, was led to believe building up writing credit was SO important. Not that it’s a bad thing to have ’cause it’s not! But you’re right—if you don’t WANT to write for magazines, don’t think it’s part of the road you must travel to book publication.
August 11, 2014 at 5:56 pm
Tonya
Hi, Tara,
Thanks for this post. More than one unpublished writer has advised me to submit to magazines for the reasons you name and I have noticed by researching various magazines that they indeed require a different kind of writing than picture books. Reading your post, I feel more confident staying focused on what I want to write…picture books.
August 12, 2014 at 12:54 am
Sharon K Mayhew
Great post! I think magazine and anthology credits help you (the writer/me) feel that you are on your way. It gives you (me) confidence to push forward. Those little pats on the back build your confidence, so when you think you have a PB story ready to submit, you are more confident. Hopefully, writers (I) know the difference between writing for a magazine and for a publisher. That skill takes time…
September 13, 2014 at 1:24 am
Julie Dillemuth
It’s easier to break-in to the business through magazines, since they buy so much more annually than any given publisher. Selling a poem and a story to Highlights gave me a “yes” amid so many “nos”, which gave me confidence as a writer and made me feel I could really call myself a writer (I didn’t know the term ‘pre-published writer’ back then!) But here’s something else to consider: when I dummied out a PB I wrote, it didn’t fill up 13 spreads. I didn’t want to add stuff in just for the sake of getting the pages. So, I revised it for a magazine (adding a bit more description to clarify some things), and it ended up WINNING the Highlights Fiction Contest! I appreciate what you say in your post and where it’s coming from, but writers may want to keep this market in the back of their minds in case a story seems better suited to a magazine format than a PB. It’s not as glamorous as a shiny, hardcover PB, but SO many little eyes see those magazines!! (Not to mention all your friends with kids who read them in the dr.s office, and then email you to say, “I saw your story!”)
November 23, 2014 at 5:20 am
Lynda Aristide
This is one of the best articles I have read in a very long time. Great advice and resources for beginning children’s book authors. Thank you! I was going to look for an agent after my first publication. However, after reading this, I will complete the manuscript for the second book and begin my search for an agent. Thank you for this great informational read!