On my recent trip to Scotland, I did research on a particular aspect of the country for a picture book project. But that project may or may not ever sell (given the picture book market and my track record, I’m thinking may not is more likely). Still, I will get lots of material from that trip.
Before leaving, I queried a couple of children’s publishers that put out “country” books to see if anyone wanted one on Scotland. No bites. But I got an assignment to write a brief travel piece on staying in a castle on the Isle of Mull for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. That article appeared in the travel section on Sunday.
I also took notes on various interesting places around Scotland, and I plan to submit several ACT essays and will also use the info in various passages for assessment companies. I plan to write a few briefs, as well, to submit to in-flight magazines for the airlines that service Scotland.
Hopefully, I’ll end up with four or five published pieces, each paying a bit, to offset the cost of the trip. Or, with the exchange rate the way it is, perhaps four or five published pieces would simply cover my sticky toffee pudding expenses over the two weeks!
I read about writers who publish nonfiction articles when their trade book is about to be or is just released…articles for teaching magazines, writing magazines, newspapers, etc., in order to help spread the word of their book. Since it will be years, if ever, before a trade book results from my trip, I don’t want to wait. But I’d love to hear your experiences in using your research for one project to create other income-producing or buzz-producing projects!
The Nonfiction Monday roundup is at Anastasia Suen’s blog. I’m looking forward to getting back to some blog reading this week!
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Interested in writing children’s nonfiction books for the educational market? These are books you write on assignment for a publisher, and the books are sold mainly to school libraries. I’ve written more than 40 books for the educational market, and I’m offering my monthlong online workshop again this summer. Read all about it here!