A little known niche in children’s book publishing is work-for-hire projects. Children’s publishers and book packagers often hire writers to write books for flat fees instead of an advances and royalties. (Book packagers are third-party companies that produce a book from creation to finish for a publisher). Popular middle-grade and young adult book series, like Sweet Valley High, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Gossip Girl come to life through the work of a number of writers working under work-for-hire contracts. Licensed properties like SpongeBob SquarePants or Dora the Explorer are exclusively written by work-for-hire writers.
Work-for-hire contracts are not new to children’s publishing. Edward Stratemeyer created the concept of multiple writers creating books under a single pseudonym for flat fee over 100 years according to The New Yorker. The Stratemeyer Syndicate went on to package some of the most successful children’s books series like The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries. The work-for-hire concept has been with children’s publishing ever since.
Benefits of Working as a Work-For-Hire Children’s Writer
Writing under a work-for-hire contract gives the writer a number of benefits. At the top of that list is the opportunity for publication. Many children’s publishers and book packagers use writers with no published book credits, so it a good way for new children’s writers to break into the market. But that doesn’t mean they’re looking for complete novices. Writers with some experience, such as children’s magazines, newsletters or online sites can easily qualify.
Upfront payments are another big benefit of writing work-for-hire children’s books. Often times, it can be an ongoing writing gig, with one project leading to another. Although not a steady paycheck, writing on work-for-hire projects can be a great way to earn some extra money between personal writing projects. Payments are usually made in two or three installments – one at the beginning of the project, the second when the first draft is submitted and the third after the required rewrites are completed.
Good and consistent work can often lead to other publishing opportunities. Bonnie Bader, editor-in-Chief of Grosset & Dunlap and Price Stern Sloan (Penguin Young Readers) often talks about the success of writer Nancy Krulik at SCBWI writer conferences. Nancy was a versatile and dependable work-for-hire writer for Grosset & Dunlap and other publishers. Because of their experience with Nancy, the publishers at Grosset & Dunlap were more than happy to look at her book proposal, for Katie Kazoo Switcheroo. Nancy owns the copyright on all thirty plus of her Katie Kazoo books.
Things to Think About Before Pursuing Work-for-hire as a Children’s Writer
Although there is an upfront payment for work-for-hire writing projects, royalties are not usually part of the contract. The copyright for the book remains with the publisher or book packager.
Work-for-hire writing in children’s publishing is not a quick way to get rich, either. Pay is generally on the low to medium side. The good news is most fiction series work-for-hire projects require little prep time. Series outlines are created by in-house teams of editors to maintain the integrity of the series. All that’s left for the writer is flesh out the outline into a full manuscript.
Often times, work-for-hire writer will not see their own names in print. Books that are a part of a series generally carry the name of the creator, like Francine Pascal of the Sweet Valley High series or a fictitious pseudonym, like the Nancy Drew series’ Carolyn Keene.
Like all writing endeavors, the competition can be fierce and finding publishers and book packagers who offer work-for-hire contracts can be difficult. Children’s writers will have to determine for themselves if work-for-hire projects are worth the effort. For those writers willing to put the work into it, it is often a great way to break into children’s book publishing.
For more information on work-for-hire opportunities, check out writer directories like the 2009 Children’s Writers & Illustrators Market or join children’s writers’ organization, like The Society of Children Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
A number of books or book series were referenced in this article. For more information, check them out at a local bookstore or library:
- Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1st in the series), Ann Brashares, Dell Books for Young Readers, 2005, ISBN 0553494791
- Gossip Girl (1st in the series), Cecily Von Ziegesar, Poppy, 2002, ISBN 0316910333
- SpongeBob’s Box of Books (SpongeBob SquarePants), various authors, Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon, 2005, ISBN 1416911863
- Dora’s Storytime Collection (Dora the Explorer), various, Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon, ISBN 0689866232
- The Hardy Boys Starter Set, Franklin W. Dixon, Grosset & Dunlap, 2009 republished, ISBN 0448452332
- The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew series), Carolyn Keen, Applewood Books, 1991 republished, ISBN 1557091552
- Anyone but Me (1st in Katie Kazoo Switcheroo series), Nancy E. Krulik, Grosset & Dunlap, 2002, ISBN 0448426536
- Double Love (1st in Sweet Valley High series), Francine Pascal, Bantam Books, 1984, ISBN 0553275674
- 2009 Children’s Writers & Illustrators Market, Alice Pop, Writers Digest Books, 2008, ISBN 1582975493
More Writing for Children articles from K.D. Kuch: Five Mistakes Made by New Children's Writers, Writing for Children's Magazines and Win a Children's Writing Contest
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