Writers on Writing is our regular conversation with a writer or industry professional about the writing craft, industry insights, and their own practice. This week, we spoke to Louise Park about the difference between writing for the education market and writing for trade publishers.
How does educational writing and children’s writing work hand in hand?
Education 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 love anything that Karen Foxlee writes! 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!
What are educational publishers, as opposed to traditional publishers, looking for in a manuscript?
The hot buttons at the moment are creative nonfiction and decodable readers (texts designed for beginning readers, containing specific and recognisable phonics patterns). Like all submissions, manuscripts that are in pristine shape make their way to the top of the pile quickly.
What are the fundamental differences between a manuscript written for the education market and a children’s book manuscript?
Mainly, it’s the content. Often Education publishers will want topics that are aligned with the curriculum. Or manuscripts to teach literacy skills.
Louise Park draws from a background in education, literacy and publishing to produce her bestsellers that include Zac Power Test Drives, Spy Recruit, Star Girl, and the Harriet Clare series. She is the co-author of the hugely successful series, Boy v Beast and D-Bot Squad. Her latest middle grade series, a historical time-slip mystery trilogy, includes Grace’s Secrets and Grace’s Escape.
Instagram: @louiseparkbooks
Join Louise Park for her online course Writing for the Education Market, Wednesday 7 to Tuesday 13 May 2025, online.
If you want to be the first to read great advice, prompts and inspiration from our incredible tutors, subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter Newsbite.
More from Writing NSW
Check out our full range of writing courses in Sydney, our online writing courses and our feedback programs to see how we can help you on your creative writing journey. Find out about our grants and prizes, as well as writing groups across NSW, and sign up to our weekly newsletter for writing events, opportunities and giveaways.