Hello, everyone. I pray you had a glorious summer. My historical fiction, Sons of Segbert, Brothers of Wessex is finished!!! Yeah!!! Woo, woo!! Hallelujah!! And my agent has sent it off. You Are My Sunshine is receiving very good, detailed comments, but no acceptance as of yet. The Stinky Pinky Gang is working its way through the process as well. Editors really like the humor and the theme, but it’s a rhyming picture book, and harder to sell. One editor suggested I changed it to prose rather than rhyme, so I’m playing around with that idea. I have several stories and articles coming up in various children and adult magazines. Visit my website and get all the news. www.authorsden.com/richellemputnam.

My six-week in-depth writing course on Writing for Children starts Thursday, September 26 at Meridian Community College, from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Webb Hall. This course concentrates on writing children’s literature. Every student will write, revise, and have ready for submission at the end of six weeks at least one story or article to submit to a market for children. We will analyze other short stories for children. Call Webb Hall at Meridian Community College (482-7445) to sign up.


INTERESTING WORDS TO ADD TO YOUR VOCABULARY:
Cutting some z’s:

zoppo: musically syncopated (syncopated: stressing unaccented beats rather than normally accented beats)
Zoetic: pertaining to life
Zindig: An Arabic heretic or infidel
Zeugma: a figure of speech using a verb or adjective, which relates to only one of the two nouns which follow it.
Zeitgeist: the general intellectual, moral, and cultural level of an era.

HOW TO PINPOINT YOUR AUDIENCE

So, you want to write for children and young adults. Wonderful. What genre? What age group? Hi-Lo? Short stories? Non-Fiction Articles? Fiction Books? First Readers? Non-Fiction Books? Biographies? How-tos? It’s quite a list, isn’t it?
Don’t let the many categories frighten your away. Use the guidelines below to determine where your interests are.
SHORT PIECES:
Primary – The material geared to six-, seven-, and eight-year-olds must be presented in language that is easy to comprehend, with a simple idea or plot. Every word must move the piece forward. Lengths can vary from 300 to 700 words, but are seldom over 900 words, and usually under 500. Good examples can be found in publications such as Highlights for Children, Humpty Dumpty, and Jack and Jill.
Intermediate – This category is for nine- to thirteen-year-olds and requires lots of action and humor. The writer should gear it towards boys and girls by using both genders as characters. Problems can be more complex, but ones readers can relate to. Remember, you want to entertain not depress, so use as much humor as possible. Always use the main-character’s point-of-view. The most desirable length is 1,000 to 1,200 words, but pieces with 700 to 1,500 words are often considered.
High School – Thirteen- to seventeen-year-old literature must possess complex plots, in-depth characters, drama, conflict, suspense, and an ending that leaves them satisfied. Your storyline must be of interest to this age group, such as relationships, fitting in, jobs, family, or lack of one, and temptations. Again, use boy and girl characters. The preferred word count is 1,600 to 1,800 words, but 1,200 to 3,500 words have been accepted.
BOOKS:
Picture Books – This category is a lot more complex than it looks or sounds. The ages range from one through seven, but that’s quite a broad range. Divide this category in three categories: one- to three-year-olds, three- to five-year-olds, and five-to seven-year-olds. Text is determined according to age groups and can be from 25 to 1,500 words.
Picture books for ages seven to ten have fewer pictures and more words. Though there is a definite plot and main character, an adult might still read the book to the child. These books can be up to 10,000 words, and as little as little as 1,000 words.
Easy-to-read books – These books are usually for ages six to nine. Try to keep these books fun and exciting for children to help them develop reading skills and to keep them coming back to books for entertainment. Vocabulary is very important. It must maintain rhythm and be natural. Lengths run from 500 to 1,500 words. An important book to have for this category is the “Children’s Writer’s Word Book,” a Writer’s Digest Book
Older readers – The eight-to-twelve year old readers are the largest reading group. Have fun with this age. There are mysteries, fantasies, adventures, fact, fiction, biographies, and the list goes on and on. Lengths run from 20,000 to 40,000 words.
Teens – This is a complex group of twelve- to sixteen-year-olds, who want to read books that are real to them. Characters must struggle, make mistakes, bad mistakes sometimes, and don’t always come out on top, though readers want to see a definite character change. There are limitless categories in this division as well. Read books on the categories you are interested in. Character emotions are by far the most important element in teen books. Try to keep the page count under 250 pages.
Hi-Lo Teen – This is another category where the Children’s Writer’s Word Book comes in handy. A writer must keep interest high and words at a lower reading level. These teens are more challenged when it comes to reading. Use plenty of dialogue. Keep the pace moving. Conflicts must be easily related to.
A final word of advice. Write for children and not to children. Make sure your heroes and heroines are children or young adults. Everyday children live in an adult world with adult expectations. When they pick up a book, allow them to escape to a world where children make a difference and even teach adults a thing or two.

By Richelle Putnam, copyright 2000
MARKETS FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE:

MY FRIEND—The Catholic Magazine for Kids is a 32-page monthly Catholic magazine for boys and girls, ages 7 to 12. Web page, www.myfriendmagazine.org, MY FRIEND provides kids and their families with information on the Catholic faith.
Looking for well-written stories that immediately grab the imagination of the reader. Realistic dialogue, good character development, and current lingo are necessary. Fiction stories should entertain, inspire, and/or teach. The message of the story, however, should not come straight out of the mouths of the adults in the story, but from the child character. The child in the story should come to the conclusion, possibly with the help of others.
Interested in fiction featuring children of different cultures, for the purpose of helping children appreciate others and grow up seeking peace. Also, stories that bring in Catholic faith and practice are welcome.
Has one story for the younger audience each month (7 to 9 years old).
Searching for fresh perspectives into a child’s world that are imaginative, unique, challenging, informative, current and fun. Biographies are considered if they emphasize the childhood of the subject and are written from a slant that emphasizes a theme or a particular issue.
Non-fiction pieces should be written to show a rich mastery in the field in question. (Approximately 75 percent of each issue is written by staff or contributing editors.)
Please accompany all non-fiction articles with bibliography.
Poetry should be not more than 20 lines. It can (but doesn’t have to) be seasonal or connected with the theme of the issue. Lighter poems with a clever or funny touch are preferred.
Craft ideas are welcome. The craft should be mainly able to be done by the child, and should include inexpensive supplies that can be found around the house.
Lives of the saints and doctrinal articles are written by staff members, as are most puzzles and games. Math puzzles are welcome. Science articles are assigned to regular contributors.
Two-page articles—maximum of 825 words. (700 words for the younger children.)
Three-page articles—maximum of 1200 words.
Buys First Worldwide Publication Rights for print and online editions of MY FRIEND. Stories and articles: starting at $70.00, to $150.00 maximum. Payment is made upon acceptance. An initial response is made within two months of our receiving a manuscript. Manuscripts are often placed on long-term hold for specific issues. You are free to request the return of your manuscript any time during the holding period. The final decision about acceptance is made approximately six months before publication date of the issue.
Author will receive two complimentary copies of the issues in which his or her material is published.
Please send all manuscripts to:
Sr. Maria Grace Dateno, Editor
My Friend—The Catholic Magazine for Kids
50 Saint Pauls Ave.
Boston, MA 02130-3491

CHILDREN’S BETTER HEALTH INSTITUTE:
We at the Children's Better Health Institute have a constant need for high quality stories, articles, and activities with health related stories, articles, and activities with health-related themes. "Health" is a broad topic that includes exercise, sports, safety, nutrition, hygiene, and drug education.
Health information can be presented in a variety of formats, including fiction, nonfiction, poems, recipes, and puzzles. Fiction stories with a health message need not have health as the primary subject, but they should include it in some way in the course of events. Characters in fiction should adhere to good health practices, unless failure to do so is necessary to a story's plot.
Remember that characters in realistic stories should be up-to-date. Many of our readers have working mothers and/or come from single-parent homes. We need more stories that reflect these changing times but at the same time communicate good, wholesome values.
We are especially interested in material concerning sports and fitness, including profiles of famous amateur and professional athletes; "average" athletes (especially children) who have overcome obstacles to excel in their areas; and new or unusual sports, particularly those in which children can participate.
Nonfiction articles dealing with health subjects should be fresh and creative. Avoid an encyclopedic or "preachy" approach. We try to present our health material in a positive manner, incorporation humor and a light approach wherever possibly without minimizing the seriousness of the message.
We welcome recipes children can make on their own with little adult supervision. Ingredients should be healthful. Avoid fats, sugars, salt, chocolate, and red meat. In all material submitted, please avoid reference to eating sugary foods, such as candy, cakes, cookies, and soft drinks.
Emphasis is on health, but occasionally use material with general themes. We would like more holiday stories, articles, and activities. Please send seasonal material at least eight months in advance.
Read current issues to get acquainted with each title's "personality," various departments, and regular features, nearly all of which are open to freelancers. Sample copies are $1.75 each (U.S. currency) from the Children's Better Health Institute, P.O. Box 567, Indianapolis, IN 46206.
Manuscript format
Manuscripts must be typewritten and double or triple-spaced. The author's name, address, telephone number, Social Security number, date of submission, and the approximate word count of the material should appear on the first page of the manuscript. Title pages are not necessary. Keep a copy of your work. Submit to a specific magazine, not just to CBHI or the Children's Better Health Institute.
Please send the entire manuscript. All work is on speculation only; queries are not accepted, nor are stories assigned. The editors cannot criticize, offer suggestions, or enter into correspondence with an author concerning manuscripts that are not accepted, nor can they suggest other markets for material that is not published. Material cannot be returned unless it is accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope and sufficient return postage.
Rates and Payment Policies
Turtle: up to 22¢ a word, Fiction/nonfiction -- up to 350 words
Humpty Dumpty: up to 22¢ a word, Fiction/nonfiction -- up to 350 words
Children's Playmate: up to 17¢ a word, Fiction/nonfiction -- 300 to 700 words
Jack and Jill: up to 17¢ a word, Fiction/nonfiction -- 500 to 800 words
Child Life: not accepting manuscripts at this time
Children's Digest: up to 12¢ a word, Fiction -- 500 to 1500 words/nonfiction 500 to 1000 words
Poetry: $25.00 minimum
Photos: $15.00 minimum
Puzzles and games: no fixed rate
Rights
We purchase all rights to manuscripts. We buy one-time rights to photos. Simultaneous submissions are discouraged. One-time book rights may be returned when the author had found an interested publisher and can provide us with an approximate date of publication.

LISTEN MAGAZINE:

55 West Oak Ride Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740, Editor, Anita Jacobs, www.listenmagazine.org
Listen is aimed at teenagers, providing positive, practical steps in coping with everyday conflicts and developing self-esteem.
90% written by nonstaff writers. Query or send manuscript. Accepts photocopies, computer printouts, IBM disk submissions, e-mail submissions to ajacobs@rhpa.org. Response in six weeks.
Articles – 1,000-2,000 words. Self-help pieces and profiles. Topics are good habits, substance abuse, personal health, family relationships, suicide, peer pressure
Fiction – 1,000-2,000 words. Contemporary fiction and stories based on true events.
Pays .05 to .10 per word on acceptance.

Don’t forget about writing competitions, a great way to break into print. Check out www.writing-world.com contest section. Also, Peggy Tibbetts has a great section on Writing for Children. Check it out, too.
Other websites for Children’s Literature: www.write4kids.com, www.fundsforwriters.com, www.scbwi.org, www.underdown.org
These sites have other links to resources relative to writing for children, so don’t forget to take advantage of them.
Keep writing and contact me with any questions you might have. Also, let me know about your successes. I’ll include them in the next newsletter.

Richelle Putnam
www.authorsden.com/richellemputnam