Common Theme

I recently attended a SCBWI writer’s conference and listened to a couple of editors speak on various topics. There was a presentation on the changing market for children’s books and one on what it means to be YA. There was even a surprise speaker from a bookstore that gave us some insight on what is selling well for them.

One thing that came up in almost every presentation was Common Core. Many of you have heard about this controversial topic and whether you are for or against it, it is something all children’s book authors have to consider. I won’t say that the days of writing flowery fiction for children are gone, but factual aspects incorporated into your book  can help you get into the market.

More and more publishers are looking for books that can be used with the Common Core curriculum. They can be assured multiple purchases by schools and educators, so it is profitable for them to find some well written works. It may be worth your time to take a look at some of your stories and see if they could benefit from adding a page with facts related to your subject, or even reworking to make it more educational.