This is the handout for the SCBWI New Mexico Shoptalk on Writing for Children's Magazines.
Explore the
Magazine Markets:
Children’sWriters and Illustrator’s Market – on sale right now for $7.50!
The
SCBWI “Magazine Market Guide” is in The Book, included with membership
Get
magazine samples at your library, school, or house of worship; requests sample
copies from the publisher; visit publishers’ web sites – many have online
samples.
Lists of children’s magazines w/links to websites:
Analyze magazines
for content and style:
The cover and tagline: what is the magazine’s focus?
The
table of contents:
- Are many articles written by one person? Is that person listed in the masthead as staff?
- Are there regular departments? Who writes these?
- This page may include submission guidelines.
Content:
- What types of stories/articles does it use? Be as specific as possible (fiction genres, nonfiction topics, types of activities. For recipes, are they healthy, fun to look at, etc.).
- Does everything relate to one theme?
- What is the breakdown of fiction, nonfiction, activities, and regular departments?
- How long are most pieces?
- How are pieces illustrated? What kind of sidebars do they use, if any?
- Does the magazine use advertising? What kinds of products are advertised? (This can give you insight into reader interest, and the magazine’s goals.)
Study
several stories or articles. Are they geared toward girls, boys, or both? What
age range? What can you tell about the magazine’s style? Is it wholesome or
edgy? Is it focused on health, history, science, religion, or celebrity gossip?
Appropriate ideas:
What
kind of stories or article would your target magazine want? Either start by
figuring out what topics the magazine might like, or write down a list of your hobbies
and interests, and then check which ones might fit that magazine. Keep the
focus narrow. Then ask:
- Is this appropriate for the magazine’s readership age? Will they understand and be interested in the topic?
- Can I write this story or article within the magazine’s word limits? Do I need to focus it more?
- What is the theme (message) of my story? What will readers take away from my article?
- Why would the reader be interested?
The Parts of an
Article or Story for Children.
·
A catchy title.
The best titles hint at the genre or subject matter.
·
A dramatic beginning,
with a hook. A good beginning:
- grabs the reader’s attention with action, dialogue, or a hint of drama to come
- sets the scene
- indicates the genre and tone (in fiction) or the article type (in nonfiction)
- has voice
·
A solid middle,
which moves the story forward or fulfills the goal of the article.
Fiction should focus on plot that
builds to a climax, and character development, ideally involving a change in
the character as he/she learns the lesson of the story.
An article should focus on
information directly related to the main topic. It should be organized in a
logical way, with transitions between subtopics. The tone should be friendly
and lively, not lecturing. Unfamiliar words should be defined within the text,
or in a sidebar.
·
A satisfying ending that wraps up the story or closes the article. Endings may
circle back to the beginning. The message should be clear here, but not
preachy.
·
Bonus material: An article or even a story may
use sidebars, crafts, recipes, photos, etc. to provide more value.
·
For nonfiction, include a bibliography with several reliable sources.
Types of articles:
Informational
Profile/Interview
Q&A
How-to
Craft
Puzzle
Recipe
Personal
Experience
Self-Help
Topics:
Current Events/News/Politics
Popular
Culture/Fashion/Lifestyle
History/Culture/Multicultural
Issues
Science/Technology
Nature/Animal/Pets
College/Career
Inspirational/Religious
Health/Nutrition/Fitness
Sports/Hobbies
Travel
Education/Parenting/Family
The series What Your _X_ Grader Needs to Know, for each grade level, can help identify appropriate topics for each grade level.
Common Core State Standards Initiative provides links to all the CCSS standards.
Core Knowledge Sequence: Content and Skill Guidelines for Preschool-Grade 8 is available as a free download.
Reading Level
Microsoft Word: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level - Search for “display
readability statistics” in the Help menu.
LEXILE: http://www.lexile.com/ (You sign up but it’s free.)
Lexile with word highlights: http://www.lextutor.ca/vp/eng/
ATOS for Books
analyzer: http://www.renlearn.com/atos/analyze.aspx?type=1 (also free)
Children’s Writer’s Word Book
About Chris Eboch
Chris Eboch’s novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in
ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice,
a Mayan adventure; The Genie’s Gift,
a middle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids who travel with a
ghost hunter TV show, which starts with The
Ghost on the Stairs. Her writing craft books include You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and
Books for Kids and Teenagers, and Advanced
Plotting. Learn more at www.chriseboch.com
or her Amazon page.
Chris’s
book Advanced Plotting helps writers fine-tune their plots. You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and
Books for Kids and Teenagers offers an overview on writing for young people.
Learn how to find ideas and develop those ideas into stories, articles, and
books. Understand the basics of character development, plot, setting, and theme
– and some advanced elements, along with how to use point of view, dialogue,
and thoughts. Finally, learn about editing your work and getting critiques.
Chris
offers critiques of picture books/short stories/articles up to 1500 words for
$40. Novel critiques are $2 per page (standard double-spaced manuscript format;
minimum $100). Get details and recommendations at www.chriseboch.com/newsletter.htm.
Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance involving
outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small
New Mexico town. Whispers in the Dark
features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong
romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. The Mad Monk’s Treasure follows the hunt
for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged relatives compete to reach a
buried treasure by following a series of complex clues.
Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com
or visit her Amazon
page. Sign up for Kris Bock newsletter for
announcements of new books, sales, and more.
