How does educational writing and children’s writing work hand in hand?
Educating writing is writing for children! It’s just that the sales channels are different, and the briefs more exacting. When you write for the pure education market your books are sold direct to schools and the briefs are very tight. Attention to readability, content and structure are king. It is the best training ground an author could hope for—the perfect environment to hone your craft. Trade children’s publishers also have a strong publishing arm for titles qualifying as education writing. They’re sold mass market and do really well. If you can do one, you can do the other for sure.
How has your experience writing for an educational market informed your personal writing practice?
Writing for the education market makes you a skilled writer with sound technique. When I write for mass market my knowledge of readers, their ages, and their reading abilities is always there. I just need to come up with a great idea for a story!
Who are your favourite children’s authors at the moment and why?
Oh gosh, I have so many! I like Aura Parker’s picture books with their quirky insect characters and awesome stories. I like Sue Whiting’s mystery material she’s doing at the moment. I will always love with all my heart anything Roald Dahl. They all have one thing in common for me: they transport me completely into the story, the world and the characters and I’m always sad to leave them when I ‘m finished. And so I go back and revisit them again and again!
Louise Park draws from a strong background in literacy to produce her blockbuster best-selling series that include Zac Power Test Drives, Spy Recruit, Boy vs Beast, Star Girl, Bella Dancerella, Harriet Clare and her latest series D-Bot Squad. She writes under her own name as well as the successful pseudonyms HI Larry, Mac Park, and Poppy Rose.
Join Louise Park for her online course Writing for the Education Market, Wednesday 13 to Tuesday 19 March 2024, online.
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