Writers...

I love links- Some may call me a linking machine! These are some of my favorite resources for children’s writers. When I started writing for children, I scoured the internet for any information I could find and I found tons! There are so many places to visit where you can learn A LOT about writing for children. I think it’s important that writers have the resources available to find all the help they need, so check them out!

GET ORGANIZED!

Free Manuscript Tracking Software
Yeah, you can create a word or excel document, but if you like gadgets, this will help you track your submissions and those rotten rejections.
Query Tracker
Find Literary Agents, track your submissions, and view stats on agents
Easy Bib
-Write nonfiction and need a bibliography? This makes it as easy as 1,2,3.

GROUPS

The Author's Guild
This is a national organization open to published authors for adults and children.
SCBWI
As a member, you get access to their member’s section that offers publishers lists, how-tos, and many more. Sign up for their newsletter that offers great writing articles and find out about their conferences that are a great opportunity to network with other writers and editors.

MARKET NEWS

Children's Book Biz News
Offers information on some of the latest children's book news…
Children's Market Blog
Alice Pope offers information on publishers, editors, agents, etc…

MEET OTHER CHILDREN’S WRITERS

Facebook
Institute of Children's Literature Chat Room
LiveJournal
MySpace
SCBWI
Verla Kay's Blue Board
Yahoo Groups
Author's Den

POETRY

Rhyme Zone
Offers free rhyming tools and thesaurus.
Dori Chaconas
Highly regarded children’s author breaks down what you need to know about rhyme.
KidsPoet.com
Children’s author Patricia Hubbell offers poetry writing tips for everybody!

RESEARCH AGENTS

AgentQuery
A large database of literary agents.
Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market
The Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market is THE writer’s tool. Find useful tips from many in the field and find listings for agents.
QueryTracker
Find literary agents, track queries, and view stats on literary agents.
Preditors and Editors
A guide to agents, publishers, and other services for writers. Before you sign on the dotted line, check this website for an agent or publsher’s reputation.
SCBWI
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

RESEARCH CHILDREN’S PUBLISHERS

Amazon
Amazon is a great tool to research children’s publishers’ catalogs, and scope out what’s been published on your topic or idea.
CBC
The Children’s Book Council is a trade association for children’s publishers. You can get a list of their members.
Children's Writers and Illustrator's Market
The Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market is THE writer’s tool. Find useful tips from many in the field and find listings for book publishers and magazines.
Jacketflap
Offers information on the world of children’s publishing from publishers listings, a database of children’s books, author’s blogs, etc…
kidmagwriters.com
Offers lists of magazines and links to their websites that contain submission guidelines. A useful resource for the children’s magazine writer.
Preditors and Editors
A guide to agents, publishers, and other services for writers. Before you sign on the dotted line, check this website for an agent or publsher’s reputation.
Publisher's Weekly
Market news and great information for writers.

SCHOOLS/ ONLINE COURSES

Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua
Offers an annual workshop for writers. Check out the website too because there are so many interesting writing articles.
Institute of Children's Literature
A great online/ mail course where you work one-on-one with your own instructor. Get textbook material, write manuscripts, send them in to your instructor, and get individual critiques on how to improve your writing.
Anastasia Suen's Online Workshops
Anastasia is a children’s author with over 100 books! Her online workshops are highly respected in the writer community.
Laura Purdie Salas' Online Workshops
-Writing Kids’ Nonfiction books for the Educational Market. Participate in a daily class (weekdays only) for four weeks and learn how to get assignments writing nonfiction books.

SELF-PUBLISHERS

AuthorHouse
Booklocker
CreateSpace
iUniverse
(iUniverse is now owned by Authorhouse)
Lulu
Xlibris

TRADE MAGAZINES/ NEWSLETTERS

Booklist
A great review magazine. Published monthly.
Children's Book Insider
A monthly magazine for writers that lists publishers and markets, and how-to articles. Subscribe to their free newsletter for updates in the world of children publishing.
Children's Writer
Newsletter of writing and publishing trends.
The Horn Book
A great review magazine. Published bimonthly
Publisher's Weekly
A great review magazine. The semiannual children’s book issues are a must!
School Library Journal
A great review magazine. Published monthly.

WEBSITES WORTH VISITING

The Purple Crayon
-Children’s book editor, Harold Underdown created this site to post articles and other materials about children’s book publishing. Over the years, the site has grown and now includes articles contributed by other people, covering writing, illustrating, marketing, and editing.
Writing for Children and Teens
-Children’s author, Cynthea Liu offers tips and recommendations for children’s writers. If you haven’t taken her crash course, it’s a must!
Cynthia Leitich Smith
-Children’s author, Cynthia Leitich Smith offers tips and recommendations for children’s writers.
Margot Finke
-Children’s author, Margot Finke offers tips and recommendations for children’s writers.
The National Writing for Children Center
-Author, Suzanne Lieurance’s home of the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club. The site offers instruction on writing for children, and tips and recommendations. Be sure to listen to Book Bites for Kids, where Suzanne interviews children’s authors and others that will inspire and motivate you to get a little writing done.
Write4Kids
Tips, recommendations, and the Children’s Book Insider Newsletter!