| Show COvc Bright re're looking for people to write children's books" Iclects By Alvin Itesselt BY JANE CIABATTARI Telephene Manners - 1 KNOWING HOW TO USE THE telephone well is important at work and at home Here are some useful tips from Sam Deep and Lyle Sussman authors of Smart Moves F YOU WANT TO WRITE "Writing for children is the perfiect way to begin" says the author of 53 children's books "Your ideas come light out of your own experience And while it's still a challenge it's the straightest possible line between you and poblicationif you're to seek the success this rewarding field offers" and get published I can't think of a better way to do it th2n writing books and stories for children and teenagers Ideas flow naturally right Out (Addison-Wesle- y °flour own life And while it's $795): still a challenge the odds of getMaim an appointment for the date ting that first unforgettable check (1 and time of your call from a juvenile publisher are better Before calling outline the topics than they are from just about any to discuss and the specific outcomes other kind of publisher I know you desire Keep the discussion focused Later on you may get other checks on these topics I from other publishers But right no Before dialing picture the other the object is to begin to break into print to learn the feeling of writing and selling person Anticipate the likely reaction to what you have to say your work and seeing your name In type After that you can decide if you want Be kind to the folks who answer your writing to take another direction the phone Don't be gruff or object But after 40 years of editing publishto being put on hold if you don't reach and teaching (and 53 books of my ing the person you're calling You may own) I can tell you this: you'll go a long need a favor someday from the way before you discover anything as saeener who is trying to help you rewarding as writing for children Leave messages that get results Your words will never sound as sweet Instead of saying "Tell him I called" as they do from the lips of a child reading your books and stories And the joy try "I've lined up the information he of creating books and stories that truly asked for" reach young people is an experience When the other person answers your you'll never have anywhere else call ask whether it's convenient to talk One example of a good question The soaring children's market would be "Is this good time for us But that's not all The financial rewards to speak?" go far beyond most people's expectations because there's a surprisingly big market I out there for writers who are trained to At tap it More than $I billion worth of EACH YEAR THOUSANDS OF children's books are purchased annually people volunteer to knit caps and more than 300 of the 500 publishers sweaters mittens and other garments of books related to children welcome to help seafarers celebrate Cmistmas manuscripts And over 430 magazines even though they're miles from rely on freelancers to fill their issues Yet two big questions bedevil nearly home The knitted items—along would-b- e writer: "Am I really every with a Christmas card and say a can I get started?" and "How qualified?" comb notebook a sewing kit i Sea leidqs stationery or a ballpoint pen—are included in Christmas packages distributed to crewmen aboard ships that pass through the ports of New York and New Jersey as well as to US merchant seamen overseas Knitters are given the yarn and a pattern To take part write to: Patricia Jones Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey Dept P 50 Broadway New -- "Am I really qualified?" This Is our definition of a "qualified person": it's someone with an aptitude for writing who can take constructive criticism learn from It and turn it into a professional performance That's the only kind of person we're looking for The reasons are simpler our reputation is built on success and if prospective students don't have the aptitude it takes we probably can't help them And we tell them so it's only It ' Yolk NY 10004 Alvin Tressclt Dean of Faculm was Executive Editor of Parents' Magazine Press the We'd like to hearfrom you Send your suggestions to "Bright Ideas" PARADE 750 Third Ave New York NY 10017 PARADE MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2 1390 PASE 25 Dean ofFamily first editor of imply Dunsplyt Magazine for Children and a board member of the Author's Guild Ells 53 books for young readers have sold over two raMion copies - or A I 4'11 S-A- Abh0 tA 11MILIP 1t24154 litrref 1 An old mansion nestled deep in the woods of Connecticut is the home of the Institute of Childten's Literature 'twat founded in 1969 lb help us spot potential authors we've developed a revealing test for writing aptitude It's free and we don't charge for our evaluation But no one gets Into the Institute of Children's Literature without passing it Those who pass and enroll receive our promise: Ibu will complete at least one manuscript ready to submit to a publisher by the time you finish the course trainkg with your own instructor One-on-on- story will be read by 150000 Sunday school children— my Cile2M COMe true M arilyn Day Marissa IL am no longer a housewife says I am a writer!" Most Importantly the course has allowed me to explore my creative writing skills without committing myself to a strict rim room environment with immediate deadlines and meeting schedules" reports Jeanne Nickerson Washington DC needed the flexibility of a correspondence course and I have enjoyed basis with dealing on a instructor" my e This is the way I work with my students and my fellow instructors—all of whom are experienced writers or editors— work more or less the same way When you're ready—at your own time and your own pace—you send your assignment to me I read it and reread it to get everything out of it you've put into it Then I edit your assignment just the way a publishing house editor would —if he had the time I return it along with a detailed letter explaining my comments I tell you what your strong points are what your weaknesses are and just what you can do to improve It's a matter of push and pull You push and I pull and between us botk you learn to write I one-on-o- Free Writing Aptitude Itst offered 'lb find qualified men and women with an apfitude for writing the faculty and consultants to the Institute of Children's Literature have prepared an intriguing Aptitude Ilzst It is offered free and will be professionally evaluated at no cost to you You'll also receive our free Illustrated brochure describing our course facult y and the current market for children's literature If you demonstrate a true aptitude for writing you will be eligible to enroll But that's up to you There is no 28-pa- obligation r 'The leadasoolals is Ns ad wan prodded widant teammetatioa aid volnatatily by die loadtvies dadenia lasagna 193 and 1990 for Whine 1 Lk:2'1r 1 Get' both FREE 1 I 1 Institute of Children's literature 93 Long Ridge Road West Redding CT 06896-081- 2 Yes I'm interested in your program to help new writers get started Please send me your free Writing Aptitude k 11:st and brochure I understand I am under no obligation whatever and no salesman will visit me 28-pa- The proof of the pudding This method really works I wouldn't spend five minutes at it if it didn't The proof of the pudding is that some of our students break into print even before they finish the course "My how-t- o article that sold to Magazine for 175 was my rewrite of a course assignment" says Jeanne Shoemalccr Birmingham AL "My beloved instructor has made this course one of the highlights of my adult lifer "The thing that gives me the most satisfaction writes Brandy S Wells Greensboro MD "is the idea that my With wens APIWIde Please Me drde one Rim Ms KN Miss 5 Name (Please Print Clearly) Street 0 - 1 City 1 1 Sane I L Zip BY THE CONNECTICUT COMMONER 09 El:CO(110N founded In 3969 APPROVED 1 1I j |
