“On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it.”
— Jules Renard
Sierra de San Francisco, Baja California. (Credit: M. Kopp)
Travel Spotlight: Sierra de San Francisco
Monthly Archives: February 2015
Motivation for a natural escape
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
— John Muir
It’s true, being outside is good for mind. When I walk, I think. About everything and anything. Walking allows time for reflection. Movement, sights, sounds, smells, thoughts – they all combine to clear the head.
Perhaps more importantly, walking is good for the body. As a writer, I sit – a lot. New research shows that we all need to move more. Looks like I’ll have to walk more than once a day – aw, shucks!
In love with the outdoors. (Credit: M. Kopp)
What do you get out of walking in nature?
50! Kid’s Books Under This Author’s Name
By: Megan Kopp
I finally sat down this week to update my list of published books and – surprise, surprise! – I’ve hit 50 titles bearing my byline. True, six are still in various stages of the publication process, and I’m awaiting author copies on a few more, but they should all be out in 2015.
A few of my books! (Credit: M. Kopp)
Now here’s a not-so-secret secret: these books are all non-fiction, work-for-hire (WFH). What this means is that a publisher comes to me with a series or a topic and I write the book. The idea belongs to the publisher, but I still get a byline as the author.
Pros of WFH
- Editors approach you with an idea
- Guaranteed income
- Format established
- Artwork (pictures, maps, illustrations) is completed by the publisher
Cons of WFH
- You don’t own the copyright
- You don’t have any control over artwork
- You must follow a set format
- The editor has the final say on content
After 50 books, it’s safe to say that WFH works for me. That being said, I plan to take a walk (or dogsled ride – hint!) on the wild side and write my first, completely author-driven children’s book this year. Stay tuned!
Resources for Writing Children’s Non-Fiction and WFH
Evelyn Christensen’s Educational Markets for Children’s Writers (website)
2015 Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market (book)
Children’s Writer’s E-News (email newsletter)
NFforKids (Yahoo group)
What writing project(s) are you working on in 2015?