Mumsnet Talk

www.write-a-childrens-book.com/children/

I have to admit to being a bit of a procrastinator and thought this may help me actually do something with my children's book.

The daft thing is I have very nearly finished it. I just can't seem to make the final leap and send it

Avoid, avoid, avoid. Some people make money out of selling books which tell people how to write books, it's a waste of money. You just need to get on with it, it'll be cheaper then buying things you don't need. Get on with it!

I thought somebody would say that. Thanks belle.
I have it all ready. However, worry that the layout and that the synopsis, is in the correct format. The problem is, is that it is a pretty unusual concept. I am not worried about someone copying my work but more the concept.

I'm happy to have a look at it for you, I have enough plots of my own to work on so I'm not going to steal it You could also pay for an editor to look at it if you wanted to but, generally speaking, people don't use other people's concepts.

Would you? That would be fantastic belle. I really don't mean offence to anyone. I will pm you and then you will see what I mean by the concept, if that is ok?

Of course, I'm quite blunt though.

That's what I need

Not a problem then

eeek!!!!

Done. There's a book that I recommend, called Writing Picture Books, by Ann Whitford Paul. I found this very useful.

Thanks Belle, I have pm'd you and will check out the book.
Has anyone told you, how much of a superstar you are?

wot alfiem said

Howdie ninah. How are you?

thanks ninah.

hi belle fine just been on teacher bashing thread
we have ofsted next week - it kept me amused
alfie good luck with your ms. Books get published - why not yours? think positive, and persevere

Thanks ninah. Belle gave me the confidence to work some more on it last night. I keep shelving it for a few months and then going back to it.
Good luck with ofsted.

The teacher bashing thread is probably a troll or someone with nothing better to do with their time. Best of luck with Ofsted.

Putting it away is a great idea. Do some reading. I find it really helpful to sit in the library and surround myself with picture books.

That's a very good idea about the library.
I'm going to put it away again and try and detach myself from it for a while.
I have another picture book aimed at a younger market which I feel is stronger, for the time being, anyway.

Oh and more on trend, if you know what I mean.

Little tip; the picture books that don't have an author's name on the cover are usually written in house by the publishers so steer clear of anything similar (A is for Apple, B is for Ball type books).

No it's nothing like that, I can pm you again if you like? [grovel govel]

Ok.

I actually disagree with Belle that all courses and books on craft are a waste of money. If you want to be a painter or sculptor, you often go to art school, so why should writing be any different? You still have to learn your craft. The vast majority of writers can improve, and as Belle rightly pointed out in another thread, it's actually very difficult for the average wannabe to access high quality, worthwhile feedback/critique. Most forums, for example, are just Wannabe's advising/critiquing other Wannabe's. Some books and courses can really help you to assess your own work better and eliminate fairly basic problems that will render your manuscript unpublishable.

Personally, I have found a number of books to be valuable - The First Five Pages, Thanks, but this isn't for Us and How Fiction Works, amongst others.

However, I can't comment on the quality of the specific course you're looking at, and I know there are a lot of crap ones out there.

I didn't say all courses and books on craft are a waste of money, people have to be very careful not to get ripped off though. There's a lot of very expensive courses out there.