Stress Test Your Work Without Stressing Out AFCC 2018 Cynthea Liu, cynthealiu@gmail.com www.writingforchildrenandteens.com For Personal Use Only

About Me Former management consultant. Started writing for kids in Dec 2003. Agented by Andrea Brown Literary Agency in first year. Sold three books a year later. Multiple contracts for board books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA. Writing for Children and Teens: A Crash Course Original work, ghostwriting, editing, self-publishing, and consulting work in and outside of children’s book publishing. Publisher for Starts With Us, a new children’s book publishing company

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Poll How many of you have submitted work to publishers or agents? How many of you have struck out on your own to see your work in print?

Poll Hopes and expectations for the next 3 hours? How many of you are experiencing significant to moderate levels of stress about your writing or publishing prospects?

Poll Hopes and expectations for the next 3 hours? How many of you are experiencing significant to moderate levels of stress about your writing or publishing prospects?

Some Words about Stress Knowledge is power. Awareness is power. Knowledge and awareness give you power to control decisions you make. When you are in control of your decisions, stress levels go down. When you feel out of control, stress levels go up! Imagine that!

My Primary Objective Knowledge Awareness Putting you in the driver’s seat! Let’s destress together by applying knowledge and awareness to your work.

My Primary Objective Knowledge Awareness Putting you in the driver’s seat! Let’s destress together by applying knowledge and awareness to your work.

Question How do publishers make decisions to purchase manuscripts? What matters to them? What comes first? The writing? Or the pitch?

Writing is an art. Publishing is a business. Today we will discuss both. Writing first. The business of publishing next (i.e. pitches and premise).

Part 1: Writing is an art. But there is a bit of science to it. What do you think publishers look for in a sample of the writing?

FIRST PAGES MATTER. Let’s review some samples. Winning manuscripts often help publishers visualize a selling product from the get-go. Style of writing / techniques used, proficiency of the writer. Age of target audience Content Problems characters face Wants characters have If nonfiction, information to impart Complexity of the book Structure Word Count FIRST PAGES MATTER. Let’s review some samples.

First pages do the work of helping a publisher visualize a product.

Questions / Break

Part 2: Publishing is a business. Publishing is also math. What do you think publishers look for in a pitch or concept for a story or book?

Winning pitches often help publishers visualize a product that will sell . . . And sell well. A premise or concept that feels “whole” versus too loosely conceptualized that it requires too much reworking to be marketable. A premise or concept that is “better” than competitive titles or at least competition-worthy. A target audience that is sizeable enough to sell enough copies to turn a profit suitable to the publisher’s own requirements for financial performance.

Know the market. Let this inform your pitch. Read published books in your genre/format Read outside of your genre/format Don’t just read. STUDY. Being able to describe your book in the language editors and agents know gets you off to a good start.

Apply this stress test to your premise/concept. (See Handout) On the back of your handout, spend a few minutes describing your premise or concept in a few short sentences. Is the idea as kid or teen-friendly as it can be? Can I make my concept even more universally appealing (appeal to a wider audience)? Can I increase the market value of the work? (Social, Educational, Emotional/Entertainment) How is it different or similar to existing works? Is it right for the intended age group? Visually appealing? * Would YOU buy this book? Let’s discuss real-life premises and concepts!

Optional Exercise Real-life pitching Crafting a pitch for your query letter or meetup with publishers.

Wrap-up Writing is an art. And is it also a science. Publishing is a business. And it also math. This knowledge and awareness will give you more control over the decisions you make when writing and pitching to de-stress your writing life!