Wednesday Q & J: March 1, 2023

Q: What is your first advice for pre-published writers? I mean, after they join SCBWI. What should the do after that?

J: Remember first this is both an art form and a business.  You have two big learning curves here.

  1. If you want to write a book of poems, a novel, a graphic novel, a picture book, a middle grade novel, non-fiction, an easy reader, etc. be aware that they all have different parameters. Learn them!!!  Because you cannot break the mold until you know the mold!!!
  2. But publishing is also a business. You need to know who is publishing the kind of thing you are writing. Who are the editors? Do you have an agent? Will the editors look at new writers, will they look at un-agented writers? What is a cover letter? Do you know how to read a publishing contract?  And much much more.