The Official Home Page of Michelle Medlock Adams

MYTH: Children's stories should always teach a lesson.
TRUTH: Children (as well as children's book editors) dislike preachy books.
- Good children's books usually have a message woven through, but the story is what drives them. Of course... there is an exception to every rule.
- Good example... Veggie Tales' books teach good morals, but they are fun and funny and silly and kid-friendly while doing so!
MYTH: The adult in the story should solve the problem.
TRUTH: Actually, any adult(s) in the story is simply a sidekick. The main character must be the child, and that child must solve the problem. He can certainly take advice from an adult, but the child needs to do the problem solving.
- Through our books, we want to empower the child, not tell the child that an adult must always solve every problem. We want to instill the message of "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"—in a sneaky, funny, kid-friendly way!
MYTH: After I write my children's story, I need to find an illustrator to illustrate my story before submitting it anywhere.
TRUTH: Unless you are a professional artist yourself, it's not wise to send pictures with your manuscripts. In fact, it might even hurt your chances for publication.
- The editor might really love your words but despise the artwork that your sister did to accompany each page. Her yucky artwork could nix the whole deal for you.
- Editors at publishing houses already have a list of talented illustrators that they love to use.
- Especially if you're a first-time children's author—they will try to pair you up with a better-known illustrator to improve your chance for good book sales.
MYTH: Writing my book in rhyme will give my book a better chance.
TRUTH: Actually, it could hurt your story's publication chances. Some editors despise rhyme because they receive so many poorly written rhyming books; therefore, they are prejudiced AGAINST rhyme. However, if you can write rhyme well, go for it!
- FYI: I have sold 22 children's books to major publishers so far, and all but six of my books rhyme!
- Rhyme isn't a crime, as some editors would have you think—it sells well! (Just get yourself a rhyming dictionary for help!)
MYTH: To sell my work, I need an agent.
TRUTH: Though some would say you have to have an agent to get anywhere in children's writing, I would disagree. I don't have an agent, and I'm doing OK!
- If you attend conferences like this one, you get face-to-face interaction with buying editors from major magazines and publishing houses. Why go through an agent when you have that kind of access? (To learn more about other writers' conferences, go to www.shawguides.com online.)
- Some children's publishers still find gems in their slush piles. I am a slush pile success story. That's how Ideals Children's Books found me!