Nancy I. Sanders's Blog, page 11

NF PB BIO Step 3

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NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY Step 3

Now that you’ve brainstormed ideas for potential lesser-known famous women who did a big thing, it’s time to choose which one you actually want to write about.

Here’s the litmus test I did while I was at this stage.

TEST A

I searched on Amazon to see if there were any children’s books biographies about the one woman I was most interested in. THERE ISN’T. This is good because if there were already books about her, it’s not really a breakthrough topic to write another one. It might be a good topic to pitch to your editor if you are already working with an editor and they don’t yet have a book about this woman in their product line. But it wouldn’t be a BREAKTHROUGH topic to try to break into a publisher in general.

TEST B

I searched online to see if there was ANYTHING written about this woman anywhere. THERE IS. In fact, I found lots of little documentaries from her home town and from organizations in the field she worked in. I even found lots of quotes she said! This is key, because in ten minutes of searching online, I found enough research that I could use to write a picture book. This was important to me because I want to write this book fairly quickly and not spend several years digging through dusty archives. Plus, because this woman was famous in her local/national circle, this told me she was a big enough topic to write about.

TEST C

Was her record “clean” according to today’s culture and standards? For example, she didn’t own slaves, which would have been a very touchy issue in a current picture book to feature this woman as an outstanding role model but have this controversial part of her life to deal with.

TEST D

Was her claim to fame something that could be included in today’s classroom curriculum? Fortunately, it’s not hard to pass this test because even if a topic isn’t necessarily taught in today’s curriculum (such as being a famous ballerina or being a famous scuba diver), women who overcome great obstacles to be the first in their career or simply brave women role-models, are a tie-in automatically. Just be certain that the woman you choose to write about does fit in somehow with today’s curriculum standards. And if you really want to take this up a notch, choose an unsung woman hero to write about that supports STEAM…meaning she has a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, or Math.

NF PB BIO Step 2

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Nonfiction Picture Book Biography STEP 2

STEP 1 for writing a nonfiction picture book biography BREAKTHROUGH topic was to decide to write a brand new manuscript about a lesser known famous woman who did a great big thing.

STEP 2 is to brainstorm ideas for which woman would best fit a BREAKTHROUGH topic in today’s current children’s book market.

I just want to reinforce something here. This is exactly the trail my brain is taking right now as I’m preparing to write my newest BREAKTHROUGH picture book. I want to give you an exact look at what I’m actually doing to try to land my next contract. Why? Because I want you to experience success too.

So after I decided to write a new biography about a lesser-known famous women who did a great big thing, I printed out one of my handy dandy brainstorming worksheets to help me brainstorm.

I have a free brainstorming sheet that you can download and print out to use, too. CLICK HERE to visit my site WRITING ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY AND FRIENDS where I post writer’s worksheets and other tips. Scroll down to find the link for the IDEAS BUBBLES BRAINSTORMING. Then download that file and print it out. (It looks like the image at the top of this post.)

Here’s how I brainstormed using this worksheet.

First I thought about main topics that interest me or that I already have experience/background in so I can talk with a ‘REAL’ voice.

Then I wrote each of these main topics inside a big bubble, one topic in each bubble.

For example, say you like scuba diving. You would write SCUBA DIVING inside one of the big bubbles. Or say you also like SNOW BOARDING. You would write SNOW BOARDING in a second big bubble. Or say you are a librarian or a teacher. You would write LIBRARIAN or TEACHER each in its own big bubble.

After I wrote down several main topics in my big bubbles on my brainstorming worksheet, I next went to my computer. I googled famous women for each topic. For example, you would google FAMOUS WOMEN SCUBA DIVERS. Then you’d look over the list that pops up. You’d write any potential women’s names in the small bubbles around the big bubble that says SCUBA DIVERS.

Do this for each topic you have written on your bubble worksheet. That’s what I did.

In my next post I’ll share with you what I did next.

NF PB Bio Step 1

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Nonfiction Picture Book Biography Step 1

While we’ve been chatting about BREAKTHROUGH topics in the world of children’s publishing, I’ve decided to be intentional about finding another breakthrough topic for the general market and begin a new picture book manuscript.

I know so many of you are interested in these blog posts because, like me, you want to experience breakthrough and get your manuscript published.

So I thought I’d invite you along on my journey. I’m going to show you step-by-step exactly the process my brain is going through to find this new BREAKTHROUGH topic and write the new picture book from beginning to end.

What was my first step?

One HUGE breakthrough topic right now in the general picture book market is to write a biography about a little known yet famous woman who has done a great thing for our world.

So that is my first step. I decided to write a brand new picture book about a little-known yet famous woman who has done a great thing for our world.

I invite you to do the same! In my next post I’ll share with you how I searched for the woman to write about.

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Choosing a Breakthrough Topic for the Christian Children’s Market

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For the last two months, I’ve been brainstorming ideas for a new book. Since I wrote my last picture book, THE VERY OLDEST PEAR TREE, (CLICK HERE to learn how you can order a clone of this historic tree to plant in your own garden!) I have written a bunch of other manuscripts.

Some of those manuscripts were per the request of my agent after he met with various publishers. Some of those manuscripts were ideas that were near and dear to my heart.

But for the last two months or so, I’ve been brainstorming ideas for a new BREAKTHROUGH topic.

Only this time I wanted to write a BREAKTHROUGH topic for the Christian market. So my journey has looked a little different than the journey I took to find a BREAKTHROUGH topic for the general market.

For starters, just how do I know what a BREAKTHROUGH topic is in the Christian market? There are a variety of ways…For example:

Several of my writing friends recently had DEVOTIONS for children published in the Christian market. Wow!!!!! If they’re having success writing devotions right now, that tells me this is a good genre for a BREAKTHROUGH topic. Publishers are definitely buying right now. For example, check out these devotions:

Dinosaur Devotions

and

52 Devotions for Families Called To Serve

I have had rejections on some of my picture book manuscripts asking for a potential rewrite based on 2 VERY POPULAR picture book manuscripts in the Christian market right now:

The Plans I Have for You

and

When God Made You

Both of these books speak directly to the child. They are biblically based. They are very positive and affirm the child’s identity and worth and God’s love for them.

Also, everywhere I go, it seems, I’m seeing “grandparent” books in the Christian market such as:

God Gave Me Grandpa

and

God Gave Me Grandma

And finally, I was a judge this year for the Christianity Today awards for the best children’s book in the Christian Market in today’s culture, so I got to see some extra special insight into current trends right now, too.

So how did I choose my BREAKTHROUGH topic for the manuscript I’m currently working on for the Christian market?

In a nutshell, I read all these books plus similar ones. Books about grandparents. Devotions for kids. Biblical-based, upbeat, and affirming picture books about who kids are.

Then I picked out the one(s) I want to use as my mentor texts. And now I’m working on my next BREAKTHROUGH topic! Hopefully, it will be a manuscript that lands a contract and becomes a published book.

I hope your new BREAKTHROUGH topic will be the same!

Image by StartupStockPhotos from PixabayW

Choosing a Breakthrough Topic Based on Current Picture Books

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Yes, I had found my BREAKTHROUGH topic for a picture book in the general market. THE VERY OLDEST PEAR TREE. It’s book birthday will be on August 20, 2020.

You can use this idea to help guide you in your search for a BREAKTHROUGH topic. THE VERY OLDEST PEAR TREE is about a tree, is about the founding years of our nation, and had a holiday tie-in with Thanksgiving, Arbor Day, and Earth Day. This is a BREAKTHROUGH topic because classrooms and homeschooling families all across America study these topics every year. So they are always on the lookout for a new picture book they can read with their kiddos.

Here are several other current picture books that are BREAKTHROUGH topics that can help you as you’re exploring the children’s publishing world to look for the next BREAKTHROUGH topic you want to write about.

Evelyn, the Adventurous Entomologist

Why is this a BREAKTHROUGH topic? Because it combines two ingredients teachers, librarians, and homeschooling mamas (and therefore editors!) are looking for: 1) biographies about girls doing amazing things, and 2) STEAM topics (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, or Mathematics) for kids.

Picture book biographies about little known people doing big things (especially if they’re girls) are on nearly every editor’s wishlist.

The Ocean Calls

Why is this a BREAKTHROUGH topic? Because it combines two ingredients teachers, librarians, and homeschooling mamas (and therefore editors!) are looking for: 1) authors from a diverse background who write about something related to their background…the author of THE OCEAN CALLS is Tina Cho and Tina currently lives in South Korea where this nonfiction story takes place. 2) It also has a STEAM tie-in.

So if you have a background in a certain speciality or ethnicity, you can write with a REAL voice because you are REALLY part of that experience.

Grace for President

Why is this a BREAKTHROUGH topic? Because it combines three ingredients teachers, librarians, and homeschooling mamas (and therefore editors!) are looking for: 1) Girls doing big things. Yes, this is a current trend! 2) American history…kids learn about presidents in early elementary 3)It has a holiday tie-in that it can be read on President’s Day.

Right now I’m working on writing my next BREAKTHROUGH topic. But this time, my children’s book is for the CHRISTIAN market. I spent the last 2 months exploring the CHRISTIAN market to choose my new BREAKTHROUGH topic. The journey was a little bit different than the journey I took to choose a BREAKTHROUGH topic in the general market.

In my next post, I’ll share some of the unique trails I traveled on to choose my newest picture book topic for the Christian market.

Choosing a Breakthrough Topic and Writing a Picture Book

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Now I knew what my BREAKTHROUGH topic was: Nearly 400 years ago, the Puritans planted a pear tree. And it’s still alive near Boston today!!!!!



Why was it a BREAKTHROUGH topic?

Because every child across America in every classroom in our nation learns about the early history of our country. PLUS they learn about trees. PLUS they celebrate Thanksgiving. And a lot of classrooms and homeschooling families also celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day. PLUS I had found a fresh new angle for this age-old topic.

THESE are the types of qualifications you’re looking for in a BREAKTHROUGH topic.

So what happened next?

I researched and wrote the picture book. I landed a contract with Albert Whitman. I had so much fun seeing the art take shape. And soon the book, THE VERY OLDEST PEAR TREE, will be released. On August 20, 2020 to be exact.

This is exactly what should happen with a BREAKTHROUGH topic.

So now the next phase of my journey continues. I’m working on helping to market my book.

CLICK HERE to pre-order a copy today! Especially if you have a teacher, librarian, or homeschooling mama in your life!

In my next post I’ll give you a short list of current picture books in today’s market that are great to use to help you brainstorm ideas for your next BREAKTHROUGH topic.

Choosing a Breakthrough Topic and Doing the Research

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I decided that the BREAKTHROUGH topic I wanted to write about for my next book was PILGRIMS.

I read a few children’s books about Pilgrims. That’s always a good place to start researching when you’re on your journey to write about a BREAKTHROUGH topic. Gather a bunch of children’s books already published on your topic and see what they already cover.

You want your book to be different, fresh, and unique.

After I got an overview about what kids are already learning about Pilgrims, I started digging deeper.

I googled Pilgrims and started reading more about them. Suddenly, something popped out that caught my interest:

The Pilgrims planted APPLE TREES!

Now…my BREAKTHROUGH topic was getting even better. TREES are another topic kids in K-2 learn about every year. PLUS, a second holiday tie-in had potential…ARBOR DAY! And a third holiday tie-in…EARTH DAY!

Can you see how I was following a trail? This is the kind of journey you want to go on when you’re looking for a BREAKTHROUGH topic. This is an intentional search to choose your next topic to write about that will practically guarantee you a book contract.

At this point I started searching online for Pilgrims Planting Trees.

And a total surprise popped up.

Articles…NOT about the Pilgrims, but about the PURITANS came up.

Because the Puritans planted a pear tree nearly 400 years ago…and IT IS STILL ALIVE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Did a lightbulb just go off in your head about how awesome this topic would be as a BREAKTHROUGH topic for a picture book?

The lightbulb went off in my head!

I’ll tell you in my next post what happened next.

-Image by TeroVesalainen from Pixabay

Choosing a Breakthrough Topic and Learning More About It

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After I brainstormed some lists of topics every kid learns about in grades K-2, I looked over my list. Here were some of them:

Community members like firefighters and postal workers

Career choices (What will I grow up to be?)

Animal homes and habitats

History of America

How a seed grows

So…after thinking about things, I decided to choose a subtopic of the History of America…PILGRIMS.

I know in kindergartens across America, every Thanksgiving, kids learn about the Pilgrims, often dressing up, eating food, and reading books about them.

BIG TIP: If you can think of a topic that has a tie-in with a holiday (without necessarily being a holiday book) that makes your topic an even BETTER BREAKTHROUGH topic.

I figured that Pilgrims and Thanksgiving tie-in were both win-win topics.

So my next step after choosing a general BREAKTHROUGH topic was to start reading, reading, reading about Pilgrims and while I was reading I planned to keep my antennae up.

What for?

To do a treasure hunt for a fresh and unique angle to write about on my BREAKTHROUGH topic. I’ll share that with you in my next post.

Image by Annalise Batista from Pixabay

Choosing a Breakthrough Topic for a Picture Book Teachers Will Want

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Right now a lot of children’s publishers are looking for picture book topics teachers, librarians, and homeschooling mamas will buy. That’s because this is a viable current market. They’re one of the strongest purchasing powers behind picture books, which are a really tough book to sell in today’s digital world.

So this means that we as children’s writers want to choose a BREAKTHROUGH topic by focusing in on this market.

When I embarked on my journey a couple of years ago to choose a BREAKTHROUGH topic, I immediately started brainstorming ideas. I wanted to write a picture book for grades K-2 so I made lists of topics that are taught in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade classrooms all across the nation.

To refresh my memory about which topics are taught, I visit several different places.

Sometimes I go to my local Teacher Supply store and walk through the aisles. Sometimes I search around through online teacher supply stores. One of my favorites is Teachers Pay Teachers. I go on there and browse grade-levels and different topics and see which topics are selling the best right now.

If you’ve never joined Teachers Pay Teachers, SIGN UP TODAY! As a children’s author, it’s one of my favorite go-to resources to see what teachers are currently buying. (While you’re exploring, CLICK HERE to see my store and please click the star to FOLLOW ME!!!)

Another couple of places I like to visit online include the curriculum standards. There are the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core State Standards. (If you really need a refresher on how to work with these standards, just read pages 160-164 in my how-to book for writers, Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books, Get Them Published, and Build a Successful writing Career. If you don’t yet have my book, CLICK HERE to buy it on Amazon.)

And of course, a nice place to visit is your local school and your local library’s children’s room. You can talk with teachers and librarians and find out more about what topics they cover each and every year.

Here’s a tip:

Get out your calendar right now. Schedule in a couple of 2-hour writing mini-retreats in the week ahead. Then use that time to relax, enjoy the journey, and explore the world of children’s publishing that I’m talking about in this post. Be sure you take along your writer’s journal so you can jot down ideas that interest you. Just make sure these are BREAKTHROUGH ideas for today’s picture book market…in other words, topics every kid learns about every year all across America.

In my next post I’ll tell you which topic I chose from my brainstorming lists.

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

Choosing a Breakthrough Topic in Children’s Books

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A couple of years ago, I embarked on a journey. It was a familiar journey in some ways…I’d taken it before when I wanted to choose a brand new breakthrough topic to write about. But it was unique in its own way because it led me to a unique breakthrough picture book idea.

Just exactly what am I talking about?

Yes, I wanted to choose an idea for a picture book. But there are ideas and then there are BREAKTHROUGH ideas. BREAKTHROUGH ideas are the sort that practically guarantee a publisher will want your manuscript. Even if the writing is a little rough around the edges or needs a stronger story arc.

BREAKTHROUGH ideas might not necessarily be an idea that I would have stumbled upon by myself.

BREAKTHROUGH ideas might not necessarily be on the top 10 list of topics I want to write about.

BREAKTHROUGH ideas might not necessarily be a topic I’ve already researched.

But a BREAKTHROUGH idea practically guarantees you a book contract after all your hard work.

WHY? Because a BREAKTHROUGH idea is specifically targeted to today’s current publishing market (but not necessarily a flash-in-the-pan trend).

WHY? Because a BREAKTHROUGH idea is usually something a number of editors are currently interested in.

WHY? Because a BREAKTHROUGH idea is usually a topic that will practically guarantee good sales numbers of a book because this topic is being bought by parents, teachers, and librarians (the current market who is purchasing children’s books).

So, I invite you to read my next series of posts where I share my journey with you on choosing a BREAKTHROUGH topic to write about in today’s current children’s book market.