What I love about mermaids, and merfolk in general, is that everyone belongs—no matter who you are, what you look like and where you are from, much like children's publishing.
So this month, I want to "dive deep" and explore the depths of what it is to be a part of the kidlit community, through the lens of MERMAIDS! What it means to navigate the deep sea of resources, publication, story making and community building!
The ocean is a vast place. As deep as it is wide. Brimming with stunning and incredible creatures, full of numerous possibilities. And you, my little merling, are amongst this tapestry of wonder. With a simple map in your hands, and the depths before you, you start flipping your fins. But in what direction? You don't really know.
When you join as a member to SCBWI, you gain access to loads of treasures. Highlighted in SCBWI monthly INSIGHT, SCWBI keeps you tapped in to the current of it all!
A great resource that I've found and have put in my personal grotto has been the Essential Guide to Publishing for Children. Updated yearly, it is full of "new and essential" articles that ranges from "maximizing your social media" and "creating book trailers" to "best practices in independent publishing, and grassroots promotion." Full of directories like The International Market Survey, and The Agents Directory, the Essential Guide is a great treasure map to lead you in the right direction.
Also, have I mentioned that SCBWI offers discounts to Publisher's Weekly, so keep a look out for those specials throughout the year. Publisher's Weekly is a sure way to keep a thumb on the pulse of the industry and help you discover seas you've never even heard of. There is a lot to learn, to know and to experience so adding this to your grotto is a perfect way to immerse yourself in the cool, cool waters of all things publishing.
Here are some other online resources I have used in the past:
- The Official Manuscript Wishlist: A directory to make agents "more accessible" and "research more convenient." Used for query, this is a definitely a bookmark-able website for all those who will be seeking out agents and their wishlists.
Let's dive in!
EMBARKING ON YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
The ocean is a vast place. As deep as it is wide. Brimming with stunning and incredible creatures, full of numerous possibilities. And you, my little merling, are amongst this tapestry of wonder. With a simple map in your hands, and the depths before you, you start flipping your fins. But in what direction? You don't really know.
As a self-proclaimed merman myself, I knew I wanted to embark on this adventure to explore the "seven seas," but without a compass, a comprehensive map or prior knowledge/experience, I was a bit overwhelmed. Thankfully, I had the deep seated feeling that I had to take this journey so I followed the strongest current, and was on my merry way.
This audacity to take the dive resulted in me discovering resources out in the wild, which led me here, to SCBWI which in turn, introduced me to so many others spaces, humans (with legs) and endless possibilities. Joining the SCBWI community has been life-changing, and starting out as a solo merman, I now have a kaleidoscope of creators in this vast ocean we call children's publishing.
When you join as a member to SCBWI, you gain access to loads of treasures. Highlighted in SCBWI monthly INSIGHT, SCWBI keeps you tapped in to the current of it all!A great resource that I've found and have put in my personal grotto has been the Essential Guide to Publishing for Children. Updated yearly, it is full of "new and essential" articles that ranges from "maximizing your social media" and "creating book trailers" to "best practices in independent publishing, and grassroots promotion." Full of directories like The International Market Survey, and The Agents Directory, the Essential Guide is a great treasure map to lead you in the right direction.
Another fin-tastic way to maximize your adventure and make some waves in the children's book space is through SCBWI's Awards and Grants! Built to help support "emerging authors, illustrators, and translators" who are both published and pre-published, members have access to a slew of amazing opportunities to help when your fins can't get you as far as and you need a boost.
Also, have I mentioned that SCBWI offers discounts to Publisher's Weekly, so keep a look out for those specials throughout the year. Publisher's Weekly is a sure way to keep a thumb on the pulse of the industry and help you discover seas you've never even heard of. There is a lot to learn, to know and to experience so adding this to your grotto is a perfect way to immerse yourself in the cool, cool waters of all things publishing. Here are some other online resources I have used in the past:
- Writer’s Market: I still have my copy from many moons ago, but this is a great publication and partner when you begin to query and search for agents and publishers. Also, a great resource for information about the industry.
So as you embark on this journey, no matter where you are in it, there are always ways to engage with the kidlit community to further you on this incredible tidal wave of possibilities!
Alright, merfolk, that's all for today! See you next Thursday with the next installment to our MerMay celebration! Till then, keep flipping your fins!
xo Justin
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