Today's post is all about something I'm very passionate about: writing (and illustrating) resources. I have people ask me a lot, "Where do you start?" Well, you start by reading lots and lots of books, researching the market and what publishers are publishing, and getting resourced.

One great resource for children's writers is to join SCBWI, or if you're in Australia it's also worth joining the Children's Book Council of Australia. One of the most important things is to keep up to date with what's happening in the market. Get in contact with other writers - published or not - and surround yourself with different genres and opinions. Just because you don't "get" sci-fi or fairy-fiction doesn't mean it doesn't exist, so just try to be informed and open.

I look forward to getting my SCBWI Bulletin almost as much as Christmas! I also love getting my NSW Writer's Centre Newsletters, and I keep all of these neatly compiled in my Winnie-the-Pooh binder. I would strongly encourage you to join the Writer's Centre in your state - I currently belong to both NSW and QLD.

I also keep a folder full of articles and clippings that I've read in issues of Writer's Digests, and from various classes I've done over the years. SCBWI also sends members out their Publication Guide, which is really helpful.

"Dromkeen" is actually a place in Victoria, a physical "home" for Australian children's literature. I am yet to visit, but it's on my wish list! I regularly read this book though - it's old, but it gets me passionate about our literary history. Australian children's literature is something special, we're a unique place so we're bound to have unique artists coming out of the country. And some of these people have shaped children's literature internationally, not just in Australia. My latest illustration study, inspired by the book, has been Pixie O'Harris.

A priceless resource you can own is The Australian Writer's Marketplace. It's a comprehensive list of publishers, magazines, ezines, journals, etc, that you might want to submit to. Not only does it list them, but it gives you contact details and information on what they are after, and whether or not they accept unsolicited and unagented manuscripts.
If you can get the names of editors, you will do much better sending your manuscripts to real people, rather than to a faceless "The Editor", ie, whoever has been assigned to sift through the pile.

These two books, "The Business of Writing for Young People" and "Writing Hannah: On Writing for Children" are really helpful, I actually used these in a TAFE course on writing for children. They are current and applicable, "Business" is really practical, while "Hannah" is a bit more of a conversation between Libby Gleeson and the aspiring writer. Definitely worth a read.

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