Writing for the Children's Market

Author, poet, and journalist Susan Johnston Taylor writes articles and books for children and adults, and her newest picture book is written in poetry.

Diversifying your writing career is akin to diversifying your investment portfolio, Johnston Taylor says, and an important way to publish in a variety of markets.

Throughout her career, Johnston Taylor says she has followed her own curiosity and her interests and then sought the markets that are best suited for the range of writing she likes to do.

Writing picture books is especially demanding because you have only a few words to convey action, character, and a compelling story.

In this episode, Johnston Taylor talks about her newest book, Animals in Surprising Shades, https://bookshop.org/p/books/animals-in-surprising-shades-poems-about-earth-s-colorful-creatures-susan-johnston-taylor/18745652?ean=9781957655048, illustrated by Annie Bakst, and the rules she follows to write short, strong prose for children.

A few things she recommends?

Use strong verbs, that do not need to be modified by an adverb.

Consider how the words sound on the page since many of these books will be read aloud to young children.

And, don't narrate what can be illustrated.

For more on Susan Johnston Taylor and to get in touch, go to https://staylorwrites.com/

And get in touch with us by joining our Simply Write community at https://simplywrite.substack.com where we talk about the writing business and the craft and crafting a writer's life.

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