FYI, for those of you interested in writing for the young reader, and if you happen to be in the Baltimore area:

Writing for the Young Reader
Monday, October 6, 2008
6:30 p.m.
Categories: Lecture
Location: Homewood
Contact: Bada Hebron
Email: bhebron@jhu.edu
Phone: 410-516-4842
Summary:

This course combines the craft of writing for children with critical theory and practical concerns. Reading classic and contemporary children's books as both readers and writers, participants will delve into the challenges and delights of writing for children. Through a combination of literary discussions, exercises, and writing workshops, students will explore today's children's book market - from picture books and poetry through middle grade and young adult novels - and develop techniques for creating an authentic voice without condescending to their readers.

Instructor: Elissa Brent Weissman, MA, has degrees in creative writing and children's literature. Her middle grade novels Socks and The Trouble With Mark Hopper are forthcoming in 2009.

Edited: 10/03/2008 at 05:34 PM by Jim Kendrall

The young reader area seems to be one of the easier (maybe its never easy!) ways to get a book published. I actually know two people who have published "young adult" novels. I've been compiling lists of agents to contact from the ARA database for a novel and you wouldn't believe how many agents say they're looking for "young adult." I suppose in response to the Harry Potter books?

I have wondered about squeezing one in myself - if only I could think of something that really interested me enough to write about. The length is typically less than an adult novel, seems to be more like a novella. Not a bad idea if someone wants to do it on the side in addition to their other work. Back when I was taking the Odyssey classes, I did take a children's book course. By the time I was sending some out, the market had dried up and the children's book publishers were no longer taking unsolicited submissions. Very hard to hit them at the right time. There was one agent that said they were looking for books about knights. Maybe that's going to be the next big thing.

-------------------------
marystojak