Categories: Childrens and YAWriting Advice

Professional Mentoring For Children’s Authors From Award Winner Pauline Tait

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Professional Mentoring For Children’s Authors From Award Winner Pauline Tait, On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Pauline Tait, acclaimed children’s author and romantic suspense novelist, expands her author business to include professional mentoring for children’s authors.

Written by Pauline Tait

www.paulinetait.com

When I was younger, I would walk past my local Waterstones store and imagine how wonderful it must be for the authors whose titles graced their shelves. Now, having embarked on my own writing journey, I look back on what I have achieved and where life as an award-winning and bestselling author has taken me as I expand my author business to include mentoring children’s authors.

Those who know me or have followed my journey will know I was a secret scribbler. The manuscript to my first book was written years before I dared to think about submitting it. But there was something about hitting my mid-forties—a determination and drive that made the fear of failure seem insignificant. Before I knew it, my submission was in, and there was no going back.

Fast forward, and I am now a multi award-winning and bestselling children’s author and romantic suspense novelist. But there is far more to being an author than our published books. There are the wonderful people we meet along the way, the personal achievements we never dreamt of reaching, and the sheer joy of knowing this is our future.

Don’t get me wrong; there were stumbles along the way. I took three years out to look after an elderly relative. While I made sure her world was as pain-free and safe as it could be, I had to put my writing on hold. There is also the inevitable wait for illustrations and no matter whether an author opts to traditionally or self-publish, there is the unavoidable marketing and PR to be done.

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Navigating The Publishing World of Professional Mentoring

Learning how to navigate my author journey while treating my writing as a business was the turning point in my career. I branched out from writing children’s picture books to romantic suspense novels. I became Editorial Manager for an online magazine for writers. I’m the voice behind Reluctant Readers, a weekly newsletter that goes out to parents and carers of children who are reluctant to read. Somewhere along the way, I realised I was helping so many authors on their writing and publishing journeys that it was time to add mentoring to my author business.

Where PR & Marketing experts will help authors with their brand and reach, I help authors ensure their manuscripts and books are published to traditionally published standards. This means ensuring their books are marketable and worthy of gracing the shelves of Waterstones and Barnes & Noble.

Pulling On My Knowledge And Experiences To Help Others

My background is in working with children who needed extra-curricular support in literacy. I would assess these children and create and implement individual learning plans to meet their specific needs. This means that, when it comes to vocabulary, character development, and internal layouts, I know what will engage even the most reluctant of readers. I also know what to avoid on the all-important front and rear covers if you don’t want your book to be left on the shelf.

Pauline‘s experience in primary literacy is also invaluable when it comes to understanding what children need from a book and what motivates them to read.

-Helen O‘Sullivan, Children‘s Author.

After making the decision to limit my mentoring to children’s authors, primarily picture books, I now combine that knowledge and experience with my understanding of the publishing world.

Mentoring Sessions

I officially launched my 1:1 Mentoring Sessions in August 2023 and very quickly realised it was something I was going to enjoy immensely. Seeing my author clients overcome the obstacles that had been holding them back gave me that same joy and satisfaction that I felt when working with children. Teaching and helping others are at the root of who I am, and I’m passionate in cheering my authors on and willing them to succeed while ensuring they avoid the pitfalls that many new authors naively stumble upon.

It was while working with new author clients that I realised I could offer more. The authors coming to me were at varying stages of their journeys. Some just had a story idea but were worried their writing wouldn’t be to standard. Others had their manuscript but didn’t know what to do next, who to trust, or how to submit. Some needed help with internal layouts and covers while others were about to self-publish but didn’t know where to start.

I can’t thank Pauline enough for her incredible knowledge, insight, and direction into anything children’s book related. I always feel completely at ease, where no question is too big or small, and would recommend Pauline’s Children’s Author Mentor programme to anyone who is looking for support, a friendly ear, and supervision through any stage of their own journey.

-Fiona Lowry, Award-winning Children’s Author.

That was when I decided to convert a masterclass that I give to writing groups into an in-depth six-week programme. I have adapted it, added to it, and perfected it to cover everything I feel an aspiring picture book writer should know about writing, illustrations, internal layouts, covers and the publishing world.

I attended a masterclass on writing children’s books with Pauline Tait a couple of months back and it blew me away. In such a short period of time, she made it all so clear, so DOable, and I left feeling inspired and clear on the steps I would need to take.

-Dr Kathrine McAleese, Author, Coach, Speaker

I’ve found that mentoring has blended seamlessly into my author business. The fact that I am mentoring children’s authors and not reading novel-sized manuscripts means that I still have plenty time to focus on my own writing. I’m currently mid-way through the first draft of my next novel in The Maren Bay series.

Page Turner Book Awards 2024 Finalist

I was also delighted to learn that my already award-winning children’s picture book, The Fairy in the Kettle Gets Magical, has been announced as a finalist in the Page Turner Book Awards 2024. And as my own author journey continues to flourish, I’m thrilled to see my author clients gain newfound confidence in both their writing and their route ahead.

Authors who have worked with me have their books in Waterstones, have held Waterstones events and won awards.

How To Write A Children’s Picture Book From Concept To Publication

– My signature six-week programme and how it works.

I guide authors through six weekly online sessions via Zoom on the varying aspects of writing and publishing a children’s picture book.

Plus

Authors also receive two 1:1 Mentoring Sessions with me where we delve into their own unique author journey and manuscript.

The programme is chopped into manageable segments:

Week 1 – The techy specs every picture book writer should know before writing the first word, knowing your audience, and planning your picture book.
Week 2 – Vocabulary, the do’s & don’ts, ensuring it’s age-appropriate, engaging, and the importance of oral flow (different to rhyming).
Week 3 – Character Development. Writing engaging characters readers will love.
Week 4 – The power of writing through illustration. Knowing when to use a single or double page spread. Using illustrations to set pace and tone. Finding and working with an illustrator. Nailing the front and rear covers.
Week 5 – Preparing for publication or submitting to agents and publishers. The various publishing options.
Week 6 – Publication and beyond. Blog tours, interviews, and housekeeping info every author should know.

The aim of my six-week programme is to help authors 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 and publish 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀.

The added value of this course is that the knowledge gained can then be transferred to all future titles.

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲:

✔️ their books stocked by Waterstones.

✔️ held Waterstones events.

✔️ won awards.

all with titles I have mentored them through.

If you are interested in a Mentoring Session, signing up to my six-week programme, or you would simply like a chat and learn more about what I do or how I work, please get in touch.