Want to write? Then study mentor texts--the kinds of things you want to write. If you want to write about crafts for a magazine, then study how the magazine you want to write for includes them. If you want to write middle grade mysteries, then study how middle grade mystery writers write. And if you want to write for the educational market, study a series of educational market books.

If you're really interested in writing books for the educational market, you are supposed to create an introductory packet. An introductory packet typically includes two writing samples. You can wing it, or you can be more intentional like some of my friends and clients have done and went on to write for publishers they were excited to work for. 

My Big Educational Market Tip (if you want to write books)

Each part of the work-for-hire introductory packet is important, but I’ve seen friends and clients have the most success getting assignments by using a published ed market book as a mentor text. Let’s say you want to write for a certain publisher. Here's what you can do to increase your odds of getting work with them.

1.     1. Borrow a few books in a series by that publisher from the library. (Most educational market books are written as a series. Sometimes by one author; sometimes by several authors. Typically it depends on the publisher.) Then check to see if the publisher has additional books in the series that aren’t in your local library.

2.    2. Study the books in the series. Then pick one and type out the text in a Word document.

3.    3. Pay attention to 

a.     how many chapters or headings (Or IF it has chapters/headings)

b.    length of chapters

c.     how many paragraphs are on page

d.    length of sentences

e.    length of words (number of letters and/or syllables)

5.  4. Now pick a topic that would fit in with the other books of the series. Research it well. Then use the book you studied as a mentor text to create your writing sample. Match the length of chapters, paragraphs, sentences, and words. Match the voice and vocabulary. (However, you can limit your writing sample four pages if you want to.)

6.  5. Revise it. Revise it some more. Have your critique partners review it. Revise it again. (You might also consider a professional critique. I offer them as do some other writers.)

If    If you think this sounds like a lot of work for something that may never be published, you're right. But this method is likely to get you paid work if your research and writing are top-notch!

     Who am I to give you this advice? I'm an author with more than 20 books for trade and educational publishers. I've written books for educational publishers like Rourke, Mitchell Lane, and Crabtree. My clients have gone on to write dozens of books for educational publishers, too.

      If you're new to the educational market, be sure to check out my events schedule for upcoming workshops. This one is just $10!

      Also, I apologize for the funky formatting of this post. It seems some text is disappearing!          

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