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I’ve had almost 1000 short stories, essays, and articles published in magazines and anthologies, and won 62 cash prizes in writing
contests; one-third of them for or about children. And yet, for a long time I struggled with feelings of failure because I hadn’t sold
my children’s books.
No one told me I was less of a writer; my peers were and are proud of my accomplishments. But whenever someone I didn’t know asked what
I’d published and I mentioned several known and lesser known magazines, I said so as if giving an apology and quickly followed with,
“But I’ve got several children’s books I’m hoping to sell.”
It wasn’t until I realized that I loved writing short pieces that I began to see the joys and advantages of them, and become truly
grateful for the opportunities to write for magazines.
There is a sense of accomplishment and finality in finishing any piece of writing, but the completion of short pieces generally comes
quicker than the novels I am working on. It is an exciting challenge to pack plot, conflict, characterization, dialogue, and a
satisfying ending in less than 2000 words, more often less than 1000. I can write about things from my childhood or my daughter’s
childhood, things that aren’t meaty enough for a 60 or 150 page book. I can write nonfiction that is fun and interesting to young
readers. I can make them smile with a silly poem or challenge them with a puzzle.
SCBW’s “Directory Guide to Magazine Markets” lists over one hundred magazines, their needs, and how to contact them. The annual
Children’s Writers & Illustrators Market
from Writer’s Digest Books,
as well as the annual Children’s Magazine Market guide from the Institute of Children’s Literature, and the
Christian Writers Market Guide
all include lots of opportunities. The markets are there.
What about the ideas and opportunities? An interesting teen I’ve read about in the paper or know from my church is enough for a magazine
profile. My daughter’s experience with setting free the turtle she found fit a theme for Pockets magazine perfectly. Combining my
daughter’s irritating talking doll and an experience with a tornado scare became a short story that sold quickly to Boys Life. Good pay
and over a million readers.
While my children's novel, CROWN ME!
will hopefully reach a few thousand readers and more, I doubt it if will compare to the millions of children and teens who have read my
short stories, poems, and articles in the various magazines, short story anthologies, and Sunday School take-home papers where they’ve
been published.
By reading magazines for children’s writers, joining the National and local SCBW, trading information online with other children’s
writers, and reading market books, it is less frightening an experience to market “short” writing.
There are magazines that include short fiction of humor, fantasy, science fiction, contemporary, adventure, mystery, and more.
Many libraries have a variety of issues of children’s magazines, often including back issues. Bookstores sometimes sell them as well.
Ask friends if their children take magazine subscriptions and if you can borrow them when they are done. Spend time studying them to
find out what they buy and how they approach their readers.
Magazines for children include fiction and nonfiction, and so much more: puzzles, poetry, how-to’s, rebus, stories that rhyme, stories
that read like journals, or that take children to imaginary places in amazing ways.
I can write nonfiction about science, history, animals, pet care, health, safety, and much more. There are adult magazines and in-flight
magazines that use short fiction for kids, reviews of children’s products and books, or articles for parents to understand, help, or
entertain their children.
Dozens of Sunday School take-home papers for very young children through young adult offer opportunities for nonfiction, short stories,
profiles, poetry, crafts, puzzles, and cartoons. Some use themes and will continue sending you their theme lists one you sell to them.
Many purchase only one-time rights, giving writers the opportunity to resell it to a non-competing denomination.
Your short stories that are read on Sundays by children who pick up those take-home papers at church can have an impact on their
thoughts, decisions, and understanding of God’s ability to use them in the world and around their peers.
There have been anthologies for short fiction for children. My best paying short story was published in an anthology done by Scholastic
Press. I received a sizeable advance and every 6 months since 1998 I have received royalty checks for the story.
What about contests? Some of my short fiction for children has won contests over and over. One story has won me 5 times more money
than it will probably pay when it finds publication. Occasionally, contests are judged by magazine editors.
SCBWI recognizes magazine writers every year through the prestigious Magazine Merit Awards, for nonfiction and fiction.
Magazines for children such as Wee Ones are popping up online, giving new opportunities
for readers and writers.
A published picture book writer took several of her unsold picture book manuscripts and sent them to Cricket, who purchased them as
short stories. Turning that around, authors have had stories published in magazines and then been contacted by editors who wanted them
to flesh out the story into a book.
Perhaps you have published novels and nonfiction books. What about taking a strong character from your book and writing a series of
short stories for magazines? Or the knowledge you used from your nonfiction research to write magazine articles?
A well-published children’s book author once told me that she admired my ability to write and sell short pieces. She really wanted to
do this herself, but hadn’t been successful.
It’s true that books have influenced me as a writer and a reader. It’s true that I couldn’t wait to see my first book on the bookstore
and library shelves. But it’s also true that I am deeply satisfied with completing a short story and seeing it in print. My writer’s
soul leaps when an idea comes that I know is a good short story or article for kids. And receiving an acceptance, a check, a copy of a
magazine or anthology or award certificate for my short stories and articles is exciting no matter how many times they come.
Do you love writing short fiction or articles? Are you a whiz at rebus or kid’s puzzles? When someone asks you what you do and you say
you are a writer, what do you say when they ask what books you’ve had published? Are you honest about being a short story writer or
nonfiction article writer? There is a place for writers of children’s short prose, poetry, puzzles, rebus and cartoons.
Jump right in. And hold your head high. You are a real writer!
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About The Author:
Kathryn Lay has published over 1000 articles and stories in over 100 publications and is the author of a children's novel,
CROWN ME!.
Check out her website at www.kathrynlay.com or
email her at kathryn@kathrynlay.com
* This article is available for your publication, for a F-E-E.
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