SO MANY people dream of writing! I get it--I dreamed of writing for a long time until I finally decided it was time to stop dreaming and start doing! My writing journey hasn't been easy or quick. It took about a decade of hard work and research before I began finding some success. My friend Avi reminded me, "Don't quit your day job." I haven't, because I love my day job and because the writing world is not generally a place where people get rich quick, and many of these writing courses, workshops, and groups aren't free. Scholarships are offered for some, though, and there are often free KidLit writing contests, but like many activities, you might need to spend money to learn new skills.
I've heard from lots and lots of people looking for support and information. Although some authors offer mentorship and/or critiquing services for a fee, I just don't have enough time to do my jobs and offer those services. Here's the next best thing--some of the resources that have been most helpful to me on this journey:
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Josh Funk's Picture Book Writing Resources
Debbie Ridpath Ohi Resources for Book Creators
KidLit Writing Challenges (and LOTS of other resources on KidLit 411)
Twitter's KidLit community
Manuscript Wish List
Highlights Foundation
Storyteller Academy
Children's Book Academy
Writing Barn
12 x 12 Writing Challenge
If you're a young writer, here are a few resources and opportunities specifically for you, including a resource for scriptwriters that Anna shared with me--thank you so much, Anna! :)
Writing for Theater and Film
Society of Young Inklings
Writer's Ink
Vivian Kirkfield's 50 Precious Words for Kids
Scholastic's Art & Writing Awards
Happy writing, friends!
