Give Yourself the "Giblin Advantage" That Has Powered So Many to Publication!

 

The Giblin Guide to Writing Children’s Books, updated from a highly praised earlier version, is filled with Jim Giblin's expert guidance on all aspects of writing and selling children’s books successfully  in today’s marketplace.

Instruction is leavened with Jim's rich repertoire of examples, anecdotes, and humor. It's all beautifully organized into 13 chapters that cover the three children's book fields: nonfiction, fiction, and picture books.

 

 

Guides you all the way--from first idea to
book completion and submission

 

1. A Thriving Market. Carving a writing schedule out of a busy life; tips on note-taking and journal-keeping; choosing an age group to write for.

2. Nonfiction Goes to the Ball. Getting the idea; testing it to see if there's a book in it; deciding on the right age group and slant; meeting current requirements for length and text/picture balance; writing a nonfiction query letter or proposal.

3. Researching, Outlining, and Writing a Juvenile Nonfiction Book. Tips on bringing your subjects to life; ferreting out myths that pass as truths; how to be a successful picture "detective"; special requirements of juvenile biographies.

4. A Nonfiction Writer Is a Storyteller. Shaping facts into interesting prose; building your book structure around an overall narrative line; enlivening with anecdotes; intriguing openings; hooks; chapter pacing; achieving dramatic effects; concluding statements.

5. Key Elements in Juvenile Fiction: The Idea, the Characters, and the Plot. Sources for ideas; developing characters; point of view; plotting the story; the importance of levels; to outline or not to outline.

6. Common Failings in Juvenile Fiction--and How to Correct Them. Dull beginnings; too much exposition; lack of humor or seriousness; weak transitions; thin characters; holes in the plot; dialogue problems; mid-book sag; weak exits and endings.

7. The Five Ages of Juvenile Fiction. Writing easy readers; chapter books; middle-grade fiction; transitional novels for teens; young adult fiction.

8.  Different Types of Fiction. Today's guidelines for mystery stories; historical fiction; multicultural stories; fantasies and science fiction; graphic novels.

9. The Wide World of Picture Books.  Board books; novelty books; celebrity picture books; picture books for ages 2-5; picture storybooks for ages 5-8; picture books for older children.

10. Visualizing the Picture Book Text. How to think visually; importance of making a dummy; page-turner tips; when to disclose your visualizations to an editor; the author-illustrator.

11. To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme? Writing a whole story in verse; stanzas for dramatic effect; rhythm and rhyme; advantages of lyrical prose vs. forced rhyming; examples of superior verses and lyrical prose.

12. From Submission to Contract. Steps to follow in the submission process; developing a sense of the market; how to circumvent closed-door policies; query letters; cover letters to accompany your manuscript; follow-up timing; multiple submissions; to get an agent or not; interpreting editors' letters.

13. From Contract to Publication--and Beyond.  Negotiating a contract; understanding rights and clauses; how you will be paid; typical advances and royalty percentages; handling copyediting queries; an author's role in publicity; "keeping-up" periodicals; career pitfalls to avoid.

 

 

The Essential Ingredient in
the "Giblin Advantage"

"I've gotten almost as much satisfaction out of helping other writers build and sustain satisfying careers in the children's book field as I have from my own writing successes.

 

"Notice I said almost. There's nothing like the thrill of being accepted for publication.

 

"It is my hope and belief that the market-tested insights and road maps you'll find in The Giblin Guide to Writing Children's Books will help you to experience that thrill . . . again and again."
 

 

James Cross Giblin--outstanding editor, publisher, and mentor

 

Jim Giblin spent 30 years as a children's book editor and publisher, the last 22 as Editor-in-Chief and Publisher at Clarion Books.

 

Under his direction, Clarion grew from 18 titles to over 400 books in print published by over 150 authors, and assumed a leadership position in the field.

 

He helped develop many new children's writers into winning authors, both as an editor and as a workshop leader at prestigious writers' conferences. Currently a contributing editor at Clarion, Jim left his Editor-in-Chief post in 1989 to devote more time to his own writing.

 

James Cross Giblin--
award-winning author

 

The same Jim Giblin has authored 25 highly praised nonfiction children's books, many of which have received awards and honors.

 

Fourteen of his titles have been named Notable Children's Books by the American Library Association.

 

In 1996, he received the Washington-Post Children's Book Guild Award for Nonfiction for his body of work. He continues to write children's books that attract enthusiastic readers and reviews, and win awards.

 

Some of Jim Giblin's Books and Awards

 

Secrets of the Sphinx (2004)

*Starred review from A.L.A. Booklist. "Unputdownable nonfiction . . . Giblin is one of our best juvenile nonfiction writers."

--Washington Post

 

The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler (2003)

Received the Robert F. Sibert Award of the American Library Association for the Most Distinguished Informational Children's Book of 2003.

 

The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin (2001)

Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book

 

Charles A. Lindbergh: A Human Hero (1998)

Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book

 

Let There Be Light (1988)

Golden Kite Award

 

The Truth About Santa Claus (1986)

Boston Globe-Horn Book Nonfiction Honor Book

 

Walls: Defenses Throughout History (1985)

Golden Kite Award

 

Chimney Sweeps (1983)

American Book Award

"As an editor of children's books for more than 20 years and a noted nonfiction author himself, Giblin is in a unique position to discuss what it takes to get a children's book written and published... His comments are peppered with anecdotes from his own career and those of other authors he has worked with.

 

"These examples considerably enliven his material, which will encourage and educate readers hoping to embark on a writing career."

--Ilene Cooper, A.L.A. Booklist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"A terrific hands-on guidebook. Giblin, who developed the publishing careers of many authors while Editor-in-Chief at Clarion Books... addresses the key elements of writing for children and then guides the new author through the steps of getting a manuscript to a publisher."

--Stephanie Loer, Boston Globe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"A concise, helpful guide aimed at those who aspire to write for children and teenagers...Giblin's wise insights into contemporary children's literature from the perspective of an experienced editor provide compelling reading."

--Kathleen T. Horning, currently head of the University of Wisconsin's Cooperative Children's Book Center

 

 

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