How To Break into Children's Publishing

Are you tired of running to the mailbox only to find yet another rejection letter? Do you want to write for children but you're just not sure where to start? Writing for children is not only a lot of fun, but it can be a good second source of income for many people. But breaking into children's publishing is difficult. Many people have given up on their dream for one reason -- they quit. It's hard to get published when you don't submit your work!

Let's say you have a story. It's been edited and rewritten several times. It's as close to perfect as you can get it and you feel it's ready to be sent out to publishers. You should know some important things that can make or break your dreams to publish for children before taking this final leap.

1. Make a list of magazines or book publishers to whom you will submit. If you don't have a list, make one. You can find listings for publishers online, but also in books like the Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market, published by Writer's Digest Books. This book is the writer's bible to getting published and contains hundreds of listings of publishers who want your writing! Each publisher lists its guidelines.
2. Follow the publisher's guidelines: Every publisher has guidelines; many writers don't follow them or even know they exist. Does your story fit a magazine or book publisher's guidelines in terms of target audience, word count, and subject matter? Publishers are utilizing the Internet more and putting their guidelines online too. Visit the publisher's website located by doing a keyword search. Guidelines are important information to the writer, telling the writer everything he needs to know about the publisher and what the publisher accepts in terms of writing.
3. Know the markets. This is easier said than done but it's vital to publication. Not only do you need to understand the guidelines a publisher puts forth, but read some of their magazines or books. This will give you an even better idea as to what they are looking for and what they are publishing. You will get a feel for tone, style and formatting of their magazines or books by reading them.
4. Come across as a professional writer. Once you've compiled a list of markets you wish to submit to, spend some time creating a solid cover letter. This is a brief letter to the editor explaining what your story is about and perhaps a little biographical information about you. Make sure your letter and manuscript are clean and professional looking. Never use colored paper, pretty font or cute graphics.
5. Mail your letter and manuscript to the publisher. This might seem obvious, but a lot of writers never make it this far. Fear often holds them back- fear of rejection and yes, even fear of success. The truth is that all writers receive rejection letters. It's part of being a writer. If you don't submit your work, you'll never know if you can become a published writer.
6. Get busy, write more, submit more. Don't send out just one manuscript and wait to hear back. It can take months and the wait could make you crazy. Instead, get busy writing and submitting other work.

The key to becoming a published children's author is to know the markets you're submitting to, and submit over and over. Don't let rejections deter you. They will come. Keep your eye on the dream to write and publish for children and most of all, keep submitting. One day, someone will love your work enough to publish it!