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Giant public congratulations to teacher and children's writer Barbara S. Alpert, who has two books coming out with Capstone Press next year. Barbara took my online class on Writing Children's Nonfiction Books for the Educational Market a couple of years ago, and she just finished revisions on two science books for K-1 kids. Fun! I'm sure her writing is electrifying, with a mysterious, even magnetic quality to it! (Guess what topics she wrote about:>)

And Lisa Willman, who bought my textbook to do the above course in a self-paced, independent manner, recently got a writing contract. She sent an introductory packet and writing samples to Carson-Dellosa, and they loved her samples and contracted with her to write some math materials!

There are a lot of things I like about teaching, and of course it's also part of the way I make a living with writing-related stuff. I like meeting writers, answering questions, watching writers become more confident in their own skills...but by far my favorite thing about teaching (even through a textbook rather than interactive form) is hearing writers' success stories! In my classes and book, I lay out the steps clearly and simply. But...it's still a lot of work. To break into and get work in the educational market requires persistence and really making the effort. Doing the research. Sending out the packets. So I'm always so impressed when someone takes what she's already worked on through the class or workbook and turns it into practical success.

Way to go, you guys! You should be really proud of yourselves.

Hi everyone--Writer Donna Bowman Bratton interviewed me about writing nonfiction kids' books for the educational market, and the Q&A is posted at her blog. Enjoy--and thanks, Donna!

I posted a bit ago about the photopoetry book I'm working on for an educational publisher. I got it turned in early last week, and yesterday I got the revision notes.

Now, there are several kinds of revision notes I get from educational publishers. The first kind is the best kind. It's where the editor says I nailed it, she loves it, and she has nothing further for me to do (or maybe just a few small wording changes). That kind usually only happens when I'm writing an entry for an existing series so I have something to match.

The second best kind is when I have plenty of work to do on the manuscript, but the notes all make sense and feel very doable. That's the kind of revision note I got on the photopoetry book. Some adjustment in voice, a bit of rearranging, and a few changes in material--but nothing overwhelming or earth-shattering. That's the kind I often get when I'm writing for a new series, as I am here.

And it's the kind of note I got yesterday. So now I can move forward with this revision, confident I'm giving the editor what she wants. Yay!

As for the third kind, the "you totally missed the boat with this attempt" kind? We're just not gonna go there.

I've made no secret of the fact that I'd love to sell more trade books (the kind like Stampede, where I write a book I love and find a publisher who wants to publish it). And I do have two more in the works for 2011 and 2012--yay! But right now, at least, my bread and butter is writing books on assignment for educational publishers. I teach about it (in fact, I have a new self-paced workbook version of my online course) and live it--I almost always have at least one book, if not several, in progress.

When I get assigned to write a book on a topic I love, that's the best! Right now, I'm working on a book for upper elementary school kids that I just love. It's about how to use photos to inspire and strengthen your poetry. How perfect is that?

The book has 14 spreads, and I'm working hard to turn it in before a three-day event that I have next week. Yesterday, I wrote 4 spreads, and I'm aiming to do 3-4 today. It's a blast writing nuggets about ways to use photos, and then also writing sample poems and poetry prompts for the kids. I think this book is going to be so cool--but only if I get to work!

Time to announce my August online class, for those of you hoping to break into writing for the educational market!

I'm now taking registration for the next session of my online class: Writing Children's Nonfiction Books for the Educational Market.  In this two-week online class, you will learn about the educational market and how it differs from the trade market. You will learn how to put together an introductory packet to send to publishers (and how to find publishers to submit to). You'll also learn how to deal with some of the practical issues of educational writers: research, dealing with editors, finding expert consultants, etc. Several former students from last year and this year have already finished their first book assignments for educational publishers or have works under contract with educational publishers right now. An optional critique component lets you choose to add on a cover letter critique and/or writing sample critique. You can take the two-week intensive and then take a little break, get your introductory packet together sometime before the end of the year, and then have me critique one or both of those components of your packet.

This online class will run from August 10-21. This will be an intense class with new content and homework every day, Monday-Friday. It's perfect if you have the summer off or if you can take the intensity of a job (or just a busy life!) plus an hour or more of reading/homework each day for those two weeks. You can read complete class info here  (where you can read feedback from a few recent students on page 5), and you can read feedback from students in earlier sessions. You can also check out the books I've written for the educational market (more than 80 of them). Then, if you think this class is a good fit for you, you can register here. 

Hope to work with some of you! If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks!

The Nonfiction Monday wrap-up is at Scrub-a-Dub-Tub.

I haven't been posting regularly for Nonfiction Mondays because my marketing blog appears Monday mornings. But I did want to announce my new online class, for those of you hoping to break into writing for the educational market in 2009!

I'm now taking registration for the next session of my online class: Writing Children's Nonfiction Books for the Educational Market.  In this class, you will learn about the educational market and how it differs from the trade market. You will learn how to put together an introductory packet to send to publishers. We'll work on the various components of that packet so that by the end of the month, you have packets ready to pop in the mail. You'll also learn how to deal with some of the practical issues of educational writers: research, dealing with editors, finding expert consultants, etc. Then, once the class is over, you can join (if you like) the "post-grad" blog community The Guppy Pond (members only), where you can continue to chat and get feedback from other writers hoping to or starting to write for the educational market. Several former students from 2008 have already finished their first book assignments for educational publishers, and they (and I) happily answer questions.

This online class will run from January 26 - March 20. I'm trying a new, slightly less intense format: 8 weeks of class, with posts 3 times per week. All the info is still there from the 4-week daily intensive. I'm hoping this version will just make it a bit more realistic for folks with heavy daily commitments, whether that's a full-time job, heavy child or parent care, etc. It will still be a time commitment, though! You can read complete class info here (where you can read feedback from my recent students on page 5), and you can read feedback from students in the first session here. Then, if you think this class is a good fit for you, you can register here. 

Hope to work with some of you!

Anastasia Suen has the Nonfiction Monday wrap-up.

 

I'm now taking registration for the next session of my online class: Writing Children's Nonfiction Books for the Educational Market.  In this class, you will learn about the educational market and how it differs from the trade market. You will learn how to put together an introductory packet to send to publishers. We'll work on the various components of that packet so that by the end of the month, you have packets ready to pop in the mail. You'll also learn how to deal with some of the practical issues of educational writers: research, dealing with editors, finding expert consultants, etc. Then, once the class is over, you can join (if you like) the "post-grad" blog community The Guppy Pond (members only), where you can continue to chat and get feedback from other writers hoping to or starting to write for the educational market.

My first session, back in January, filled up and had a waiting list. This session is partially filled already with people from that waiting list, but there are still some spots open.

This online class will run from March 10 - April 4, with new material and homework daily, Monday through Friday. You can read complete class info here, and you can read feedback from students in the first session here. Then, if you think this class is a good fit for you, you can register here. 

Hope to work with some of you!

Anastasia Suen has the Nonfiction Monday wrap-up.