In this extract from her article for the Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook, author Jasmine Richards looks at how developing a better understanding of the children's book marketplace can be of benefit to authors looking to publish their debut.
Writing for children is big business. Around 10,000 children’s books are published every year in the UK. Publishers and agents are saying that children’s books are having a renaissance. That’s despite the fact that, ten years ago, some in the industry were pronouncing the death of the printed book for young readers. We now know that parents are worried about screen time and its effects. Parents want their children to turn pages rather than swipe left. To tell the truth, adults still seem to prefer reading printed text also. There is something comforting and nourishing about the physical book and that realisation is why sales of that format will continue to increase.
So, what can an author do to give themselves the best chance? Well – write a great story!
A story with characters that readers will care about. A plot that turns the pages for the reader. A world that feels real and rich. A children’s author must produce all those things, but it would be wise for them also to master an understanding of the market so they can appreciate the universe their book will operate in. There are a few ways to do this:
• Attend writing conferences or children’s book events put on by people like SCBWI where you’ll see people in the industry talking about what they are buying and why.
• Spend lots of time in bookshops and see what kind of books are on the table tops or in promotion.
• Keep an eye on what novels are winning key children’s book awards or getting a lot of reviews in the print media.
• Read publications like The Bookseller to see what is happening in the world of publishing.
• Follow authors, book publicists, agents, booksellers and editors on social media to see what they are saying about the industry.
• It’s also worth visiting libraries or talking to teachers about what books kids are reading.
• Most importantly, chat to children and ask what they are enjoying about the books they’re reading. Their answers might surprise and inspire you.
Jasmine Richards is an author who has written over a dozen books for children and teenagers. Her latest book is Unmorrow Curse, publishing in May 2022 by UCLan Publishing. Her most recent novel, Keeper of Myths, was published by HarperCollins Children’s Books in the US. She is also the co-creative on the Aziza’s Secret Fairy Door series published by Macmillan. She has over 15 years’ worth of publishing experience having worked at Puffin, Working Partners and Oxford University Press as an editor and story developer. In 2019 Jasmine founded Storymix: The Inclusive Fiction Development Studio (www.storymix.co.uk), which creates series with protagonists of colour for publishers. Storymix also supports and incubates writers from minority ethnic backgrounds and offers a pathway into being published. She’s always looking for talented writers and illustrators to work with. Her author website is www.jasminerichards.com and you can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @JRichardsAuthor and @storymixstudio.
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