BEYOND THE STOCK PHOTO: Tracking Down and Getting Permission for a Photo of a Rare Animal

By Abi Cushman

My book, WOMBATS ARE PRETTY WEIRD: A  [Not So] Serious Guide, is a funny, illustrated guide to the wonderfully weird marsupial known as the wombat. But although most of the book is illustrated, I wanted to show photos of actual wombats in the back matter so kids could see the real thing.

“No problem!” I thought confidently. I’d worked as a web designer for over fifteen years, so I was used to searching for images in the public domain or purchasing stock photos for use on my websites.

I just needed one photo of each of the three wombat species. Easy peasy, right?

Stock Photo Websites

Right off the bat, I found many fantastic stock photos of the bare-nosed wombat and the southern hairy-nosed wombat on iStockPhoto.com. And they were affordable as well.

 

Bare-nosed wombat                               Southern hairy-nosed wombat

Then I did a search for photos of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, and this is where it got tricky. Northern hairy-nosed wombats are critically endangered with only 300 alive today. This species of wombat does not do well in captivity, so there are no northern hairy-nosed wombats at any zoos. They only live in two protected areas in Queensland, Australia. Only government officials and a handful of volunteers are allowed into those areas.

Here is a video of the elusive northern hairy-nosed wombat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CszzMHDlZkU&t=37s

Northern hairy-nosed wombats look similar to southern hairy-nosed wombats, but there are slight differences, such as the shape and breadth of their snouts, their coloring, their size, and the length of their ears. After studying lots of images and videos of both hairy-nosed species, I started becoming adept at picking out the differences. So when I searched iStockPhoto for northern hairy-nosed wombats, I could see the results actually showed southern hairy-nosed wombats.

My next step was to try more expensive stock photo sites like Getty Images or Alamy. And lo and behold, success! Sort of. Both of these sites did have photos of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, but two of the images showed the wombat in a cage, and there was no way to crop it creatively so you couldn’t see the metal bars around it. Out of context, these images really didn’t fit in with the photos I had of the other wombat species, which showed them in a more natural setting, definitely not caged.

There was one photo where the wombat was not in a cage, but the image was kind of dark. I decided to save it as a last resort and keep searching for a better photo.

Public Domain Photos

My next step was to look for images in the public domain. Sometimes photos that government officials take are released into the public domain.

I looked on the northern hairy-nosed wombat page on Wikipedia, which often displays public domain images, and I found this:

By Eva Hejda http://fotos.naturspot.de/, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=262609

That looked like a southern hairy-nosed wombat to me, despite it being labeled otherwise. And there was no further information, like where the photo was taken, so I did not want to use it.

Next, I looked at the Queensland Government’s website, and to my delight, they had lots of very adorable photos of northern hairy-nosed wombats.Yay! Now to get permission!

I used their contact form and attempted to select the correct department. I mentioned that I’d written a book about wombats being published by HarperCollins (yes, I name dropped) and asked if I could use one photo for the back matter of the book. And then I sat back and waited for their response.

And waited. And waited.

After a few weeks of waiting, I decided to try a different tack.

Contact Photographers

I emailed a few photographers of northern hairy-nosed wombat images that I found on Google image search. In my emails, I name dropped my publisher again, and mentioned I’d be willing to pay them a fee for use of one of their photos.

And then I waited. And waited.

Get on the Phone

Well, I got tired of waiting, so I decided to call the Queensland Government. After being passed from department to department, and becoming increasingly aware of my American accent as I repeated my query each time to a new person, I was told that someone would get in touch with me via email.

And then, I got an email! But it wasn’t from the Queensland Government, it was from one of the photographers I had emailed, and he was willing to work with me! He had been a volunteer at Epping Forest National Park and had captured many beautiful photos of northern hairy-nosed wombats. After negotiating a fee, I was able to choose one from his collection. Success!

And then, wouldn’t you know, an official from the Queensland Government got back to me a few days later with an image. They asked that I credit the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science, as well as the photographer. And guess who the photographer was? Yes, the same one I’d been in contact with.

So did I get double permission to use the photo? Yes. Could I have perhaps not had to pay the photographer a fee if I had been more patient? Yes. But did I mind? No, because I think the photographer deserved to be compensated for his work, and in our correspondence, he shared some great stories about the wombats living at the park.

And as a result of my extra effort in tracking down and getting permission to use the photo, I’m thrilled with the back matter of WOMBATS ARE PRETTY WEIRD. All the photos look great, and I have peace of mind knowing that they accurately depict each species.

 

About the Author: 

Abi Cushman is the author-illustrator of SOAKED!, ANIMALS GO VROOM! and WOMBATS ARE PRETTY WEIRD. Her upcoming books include THE QUIET FOREST, written by Charlotte Offsay, and FLAMINGOS ARE PRETTY FUNKY, the second book in the “[Not So] Serious Guide” series. When she’s not making books, Abi enjoys running, playing tennis, and eating nachos. (Yes, at the same time.) She lives on the Connecticut shoreline with her family.

To learn more about Abi and her books, visit her website at AbiCushman.com. If you like secrets, exclusive sneak peeks, wombats, and special giveaways, subscribe to her newsletter. 

MARRYING STEM AND SEL TO CREATE BOOKS THAT SOAR

By Maria Marianayagam

STEM and SEL are often designated as two separate categories when authors consider what type of book they want to write. (For those who aren’t familiar, STEM refers to “science, technology, engineering, and math,” and SEL is short for “social-emotional learning.”) When we think of SEL books, we may think of titles like Lisa Katzenberger’s EVERYTHING WILL BE OK and Cori Doerrfeld’s THE RABBIT LISTENED. When brainstorming STEM titles, books like Melissa Stewart’s WHALE FALL or Rebecca E. Hirch’s RISE TO THE SKY: HOW THE WORLD'S TALLEST TREES GROW UP may come to mind. Today I want to talk about a different category: one that marries SEL and STEM into powerful stories for young readers.

Before we do that, I want to touch on how important SEL is in STEM careers. As someone who worked as an engineer for a decade, the ability to collaborate with others, deal with frustration, persevere through challenges, and listen to other people’s opinions, were all critical parts to success. These are skills any scientist or science-enthusiast needs to hone and I believe introducing these skills from the start can set kids up for success. So, by combining social emotional learning with STEM themes in children's books, we can not only create engaging narratives that spark curiosity about science, technology, engineering, and math but also delve into the complexities of human emotions and relationships. 

I find that this is already done quite well in picture book biographies. Often, those stories share the accomplishments of an individual, but the main story grapples with the journey and the tools these characters used to overcome obstacles. I believe the same can be true for other science-themed books. For example, in my debut picture book, THE AMAZING POWER OF GIRLS (releasing in June with Sourcebooks eXplore), I wanted to explain the forces of physics—gravity, buoyancy, magnetism, etc. to young readers. But I also wanted girls to feel empowered to pursue a STEM career since it’s still a very male-dominated field. So, I personified each girl as a force and I used the text to doubly explain what the forces do while showcasing the powerful characteristics of a girl. An example below.

In my next STEM/SEL picture book, WAIT TILL YOU'RE OLDER, releasing with Sourcebooks eXplore in 2025, I introduced STEM into what felt like more of an SEL story about a younger sibling wanting to play with her older brother’s big toy and being to told to wait till she’s older. Her reaction? Try to build a time machine. And throughout the story, she tries a variety of time-travel theories to accomplish this, including: trying to travel faster than light, looking for wormholes, etc.

Other great examples that incorporate SEL concepts into STEM themes:

• EXCEPT ANTARCTICA  by Todd Surgell
• THE VERY IMPATIENT CATERPILLAR by Ross Burach
• FUSSY FLAMINGO  by Shelley Vaughan James and illustrated by Matthew Rivera
• PLUTO GETS THE CALL by Adam Rex and illustrated by Laurie Keller
• THE QUESTIONEERS  series by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts
• THE FIRE OF STARS  by Kirsten Larson and illustrated by Katherine Roy
• CODING TO KINDNESS  by Valerie Sousa and illustrated by Jennifer Leban
• FAIRY SCIENCE  by Ashely Spires
• COUNT ON ME  by Miguel Tanco
• DO TREES HAVE MOTHERS? by Charles Bongers

As an author, I love creating stories that intertwine the wonders of science and the nuances of human emotions. I hope this post helps you consider incorporating SEL elements into your NF stories.

 

About the Author:             

Maria Marianayagam is a Tamil Sri Lankan-Canadian children's book author. She was born in India and grew up in Nigeria and four provinces across Canada.  Maria is a former chemical engineer who fell in love with children’s books (again!) after becoming an Amma (mom). Maria enjoys writing lyrical picture books centered on STEM, faith, and South Asian culture, as well as high concept middle-grade grounded in culture. The first two installments of her debut board book series, BABY HOPE and BABY COURAGE (WorthyKids/Hachette), and her debut picture book THE AMAZING POWER OF GIRLS (Sourcebooks eXplore) release in 2024.

 

JOURNALING MY WAY TO A BOOK

by Christine Liu-Perkins                                          

One indispensable writing strategy for me is journaling. Until I write them down, my thoughts are usually a jumbled, incoherent mess. Processing them through journaling lets me see what I’m thinking and helps me develop my ideas. My “Thinking Journals” are plain spiral notebooks that I write in with a black Parker Jotter pen. Their simplicity frees me to be open and imperfect.

What do I write about in my Thinking Journals?

• I record key pieces of information from research that I want to remember. I ponder and analyze them. I consider why they are important and how they frame other pieces of information.

• I ask questions and try to answer them. What do I not yet understand? Where am I confused? What else do I need to learn about?

• I create lists, concept maps, comparison charts, timelines, and other graphics to organize information and help me see patterns.

• I identify themes that I see emerging from the research. At some point I decide which theme will be the center of the book.

• I express problems, frustrations, and disappointments and talk myself through ways to solve them. I also take note of progress, insights, and encouraging experiences.

• I brainstorm different ways of approaching and structuring parts of the book. What are the pros and cons of each? What best fits what I want the book to be?

• I’ll freewrite several different opening sentences for a chapter or section. Which sentence best leads into the material? Which one is most interest-grabbing? Which one invites me to keep writing?

• I consider the audience. What will readers want to know? What background information do they need to understand the book? What do I want them to gain from reading the book?

• I’ll try whatever helps! I’m no artist, but once I made a sketch with stick figures that turned into the conclusion for my first book. For my upcoming book, I wrote out a song for one of the characters.

Like an incubator, a Thinking Journal is where I develop a book. It gives me space to explore and process ideas without feeling pressure to make them presentable to anyone but me. By the time it comes to write, I’m well prepared to turn my thoughts into words for readers.

What are your experiences with journaling? How have you found it useful in your writing?

Meet the Author:

Christine Liu-Perkins is a founding member of the Nonfiction Ninjas. She is the author of AT HOME IN HER TOMB: Lady Dai and the Ancient Chinese Treasures of Mawangdui, which received starred reviews and appeared on multiple “best books of the year” lists. She has also written articles for Dig Into History and Highlights. For her upcoming book, THE QUEST FOR A TANGRAM DRAGON (Bloomsbury, August 2024), she created numerous tangram configurations that she traced into a Thinking Journal while travelling overseas.  Learn more at www.christineliuperkins.com .   

Coming this fall from Bloomsbury 

Words by Christine Liu-Perkins and illustrations by Lynn Scurfield  

5 WAYS TO GET YOUR NONFICTION BOOK NOTICED

 By Jennifer Swanson

Publication day! It’s something that all authors look forward to. It’s the day your amazingly awesome book is out in the world. (Come on, that’s how we all think of our books, right?) But the real question is, how do you find readers and get them to feel the same way? It takes work. 

Here are five ways to get notice for your book (and YOURSELF!)

1. Canva it up!  (Videos/graphics/pictures/and more)  

This is pretty much where everyone starts. You are willing to do anything and everything to get your book noticed. That includes making videos, cool graphics, joining a promo group… but YouTube? Sure. Why not give it a try. Here are a few tips:

• Canva is your friend! It’s one of the best, and more importantly easiest, ways to create great graphics. You can make all sizes of graphics to fit any social media platform—including blogs.
• You can also use Canva to create and edit videos! Is your book about the ocean and you have some cool video from your vacation of the sea? Use it to create a video with information from your book. Put that video on social media or even upload it to your YouTube channel.
• Canva is also a great place to create Pins for Pinterest (see #2 below)
• You can even make a book trailer on Canva if you really want to. There is sooo much you can do with this platform and most of it is FREE!

2. Pinterest – what’s that?

You may have heard of Pinterest, but how many of you are actually on it? Believe it or not, it’s the place to be if you write nonfiction books. Pinterest is all about promoting topics, information, and FUN activities. If this sounds like something your book has, then you should consider getting on Pinterest. Here are a few tips:

• The first step is learning to make a pin. If you don’t know how, there are tons of great videos to help. Just do a google search and find one.
• Create a few boards. That means pick a topic for your board (not your book!) and start adding pins. Be sure to follow others and add their pins to your board.
• It’s all about the tags. Be sure to add tags to your pins so that they will show up in topic searches.
• Not sure how to get your information seen? Click on the analytics tab at the top of your page. This has TONS of great information about what topics are hot now, what topics will be hot in the future, and when you should post your pins.
• Pinterest can require a bit of a learning curve, but if you can figure it out and post regularly, you can get a lot in return. My Pinterest page regularly has over 25k views a month. During Earth Day last year, I hit 75k views. https://www.pinterest.com/jenswan1222/

3. Get on a Podcast!

Most people have done blog tours for their book releases. You answer a few questions about the book, your writing process, and then maybe offer a giveaway. These are still done and are a good way to reach an audience.

But podcasts are a much more exciting way to reach a much larger audience. They can be either video or just audio only, but podcasts are a way to showcase not only your book, but yourself, too. Here are a few tips for an entertaining and engaging podcast interview:

• Listen to a few podcasts by this host before going on the show. That way you’ll know what to expect
• Make sure the area in the video is neat and showcases your book in the background. Then have a copy of your book to hold up during the interview.
• Keep your answers informative but not too long. Don’t be afraid of silence. This allows the host to ask more questions. An engaging exchange is much more fun to listen to, than having one person go on and on.
• Have FUN! Be prepared with a few fun stories to share—about yourself or your book. Maybe even have a few books to recommend that aren’t yours, but would pair nicely with yours.
• Podcasts are growing! Just do a search of your favorite podcast source (iTunes, Spotify, etc.) Then send an email to the podcast pitching yourself. What have you got to lose?

4. Promote Yourself

Instead of promoting one book, promote yourself. Speaking at an event—library, museum, organizations, or even at book festivals or corporate events is a great way to get noticed.

• Check to see if your area does a summer reading program at your library. If they do, apply to be a presenter. (Check by early February, as many book out that far). This is usually a paying gig and it gets you out in the community. Plus, the library will buy your books
• Is there a local organization that is interested in what you do? Pitch yourself as a speaker. Come up with a fun (and pertinent) topic. But don’t focus on your book
• Does your book fit an event at a museum. Like World Ocean Day? Black History month? Space week? See if they need someone to speak there.
• Apply for book festivals— and don’t be afraid to ask them if they offer small stipends for travel.

5.  Hire Your Own Publicist

While this might not be the first choice for everyone, sometimes investing in hiring a publicist for a short time can be quite helpful. Your book gets exposure to places you can’t get into by yourself. You gain contacts from the exposure that you can use for your next book. This exposure can lead to paying gigs. I’ve had all of these happen. You just never know.

• Blue Slip Media https://www.blueslipmedia.com/
• Kidsbuzz https://www.authorbuzz.com/kids/

 So, what do YOU do to promote your book? Tell us below and share with everyone!

 

 

About the Author:

Jennifer Swanson is an award-winning children’s author and podcaster. A self-professed science geek, she has written 50 books for kids, mostly about STEAM. Her books have won a Kirkus Best Books for 2021, a Gold Parent’s Choice Award, multiple NSTA Best STEM awards, and received many other recognitions.

She is the creator of the Solve It for Kids podcast, the STEM Tuesday blog, and STEAMTeam Books. Jennifer routinely teaches at the Highlights Foundation and has presented at the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival and been on NPR’s Science Friday radio show. You can learn more about her here: www.jenniferswansonbooks.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUILDING BRILLIANT BOOK PROPOSALS

By Stephanie Gibeault

You would only submit a novel to an editor after completing the entire manuscript, right? But when it comes to nonfiction for middle grade or YA (and adults too), that’s not necessary. In fact, three of my upcoming books were only written after the contracts were signed. Instead, I sold them using book proposals. In case you want to tackle longer forms of nonfiction, here are four tips for building a brilliant book proposal.

Tip 1) Include Every Section an Editor or Agent Expects

Unless a publisher’s or agent’s submission guidelines say otherwise, include the following sections in your book proposal.  

1. Overview: Summary of the entire book proposal. The what, how, and who.

2. Target Audience: Who will this book appeal to? Are there curriculum connections?

3. Competitive Titles: What books will share shelf space with your proposed book?

4. Outline: Chapter-by-chapter summary of the book’s intended contents.

5. Sample Chapters: Two or three polished chapters from the book.

6. Biography: All about you.

7. Selected Bibliography: List some of your research sources.

You can also include a format section to share your vision for the final physical product such as the page count and whether it will have illustrations or photographs. And if you have the ability to do marketing or research beyond what is expected, such as speaking at an international conference or spending time in the field with a scientist, you can include sections about those plans as well.

Tip 2) Start Your Overview with a Hook

Just as the first lines of a book need to grab a reader, the opening of your book proposal needs to grab an agent or editor. Yes, your sample chapters should be dazzling, but you want to make sure they get that far. I suggest you open with a hook. Consider using a surprising statistic, fascinating fact, or engaging anecdote.

In the book proposal for my upcoming STEM middle grade CALCULATING CHIMPANZEES, BRAINY BEES, AND OTHER ANIMALS WITH MIND-BLOWING MATHEMATICAL ABILITIES  (MIT Kids Press, April 2024, illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett), I chose to ask a question – “What if your pet fish could help you with your math homework?” I hoped editors looking at the proposal would want to read on to discover the answer.

Tip 3) Choose Comp Titles with Care

Your competitive titles (aka comparative titles) serve multiple purposes. They help define your vision, demonstrate you understand the publishing business, show where your proposed book would sit on the library or bookstore shelf, and prove there is a market for your proposed book. Therefore, choose them with care. Stick to books published in the last three to five years that share something in common with your book.

For my upcoming middle grade MAKING SENSE OF DOG SENSES: HOW OUR FURRY FRIENDS EXPERIENCE THE WORLD (Owlkids Books, April 2024, illustrated by Raz Latif), there were plenty of comp titles to choose from. Dogs are a popular subject! I concentrated on books that touched on at least one of a dog’s senses. However, for CALCULATING CHIMPANZEES, BRAINY BEES, AND OTHER ANIMALS WITH MIND-BLOWING MATHEMATICAL ABILITIES, I couldn’t find any other books with an intersection between math and animals. So, I used comp titles about animal cognition then discussed how my proposed topic had a unique angle.

Tip 4) Target Your Biography

Your biography isn’t just about your writing experience; it also allows you to prove why you’re the right person to write this book. You don’t have to be an expert but try to target the biography to your subject matter so an agent or editor can see that you have a valuable connection. Maybe you have always had an interest in this topic, or you already wrote a newspaper article about it.

CALCULATING CHIMPANZEES, BRAINY BEES, AND OTHER ANIMALS WITH MIND-BLOWING MATHEMATICAL ABILITIES is about animal cognition, so I was sure to mention my Master of Science degree in animal behavior in my book proposal’s biography section. And for MAKING SENSE OF DOG SENSES: HOW OUR FURRY FRIENDS EXPERIENCE THE WORLD, I emphasized my experience as a certified professional dog trainer. I wanted to prove to editors that I had what it took to write about those topics.

Give It a Try:

Consider what you’ve learned about your topic and identify possible hooks for your book proposal’s overview. Is there a weird fact or mystery you could share? How can you hook an editor in the first line or two? Then consider possible comp titles. What does your book do differently from those comps that will set it apart in the market?

 

Meet the Author: Stephanie Gibeault is an award-winning freelance writer and children’s book author. She’s written the funny picture book Toby Tootles (Sleeping Bear Press, illustrated by Mary Sullivan), the middle grade Can’t Get Enough Dog Stuff (National Geographic Kids, co-authored by Moira Donohue), and has four more nonfiction books on the way. She teaches research and book proposals for the Highlights Foundation and loves doing math puzzles to relax. Learn more at www.stephaniegibeault.com. 

 

ONE WAY TO BEAT THE BLANK PAGE

By Steve Sheinkin

I’ve got a deep dread of the blank page—who’s with me? Of first drafts, getting started, getting something down. So out of sheer necessity I came up with a technique that works for me. It comes from figure drawing classes I’ve taken, where we always started off with a series of “gesture drawings”—one minute model poses, and the students dash to get down the basics of the form. The lines have to be loose and fast, often with satisfying results.

At some point, I realized I could try the same thing with writing. I gather my notes for a section of the story I’m trying to tell and highlight the key events and info and must-have quotes. Then I open the blank screen or notebook page (either works fine) and then… I just go. I go fast. I scribble or type the basics of what I want to say, not worrying at all about actual sentences, just sketching out the shape. Here’s an example of a “sketch” I did for the opening of my book BOMB, where a spy knows he’s about to be caught:

Morning of May 22, 1950, house in north Philly. Harry Gold in a panic, in pajamas, searching his room, pulling stuff from shelves, shoving stuff in the toilet. FBI agents are coming, and there’s evidence of spying all over the place.

For my newest one, IMPOSSIBLE ESCAPE, I decided I wanted to open with the main character, Rudi Vrba, leaving home at 17, setting off on a journey he never could have imagined. I had a quote I knew I wanted to use, so I put that right up front—must-have quotes are a great way to break the spell of the blank page.

Rudi gets in a taxi, mother says: “Take care of yourself. And don’t forget to change your socks.” Car drives away, Rudi tears yellow star from jacket, ducks below window to stay out of sight. He’s 17, heading for border, feels invincible. Has a little cash, a compass, matches, change of clothes—not much for the journey he’s about to attempt…

You get the idea. I’ll save this sort of stuff as a “sketch,” because it’s not really a first draft yet. To me, it takes a really hard thing—writing a first draft—and breaks it down into two easier steps: the sketch, and the step of turning the sketch into actual sentences. Want to try it? Here are the steps I’d recommend:

1. Pick a scene or section of the story you want to tell.

2. Collect notes on the stuff you know you want to get in: facts, quotes, details.

3. Open a blank screen/page—and go! Don’t try to make it good; just get down the basics

I’ll usually rough out an entire book this way before writing a first draft. The “sketch” file may be about half the word count of the full draft. It’s like those gesture drawings from my art classes—they’re messy, and you wouldn’t really show them to anyone, but you’ll know if you’ve got the basic form right. Plus, the page is no longer blank!

 

About the Author 

Steve Sheinkin is the NYT bestselling author of fast-paced, cinematic nonfiction for young readers, including IMPOSSIBLE ESCAPE, BOMB, FALLOUT, UNDEFEATED, THE PORT CHICAGO 50, BORN TO FLY and THE NOTORIOUS BENEDICT ARNOLD. Awards include a Newbery Honor and three National Book Award finalist honors. He lives with his family in Saratoga Springs, NY.

STEP BY STEP: THE JUNKO TABEI-INSPIRED RESEARCH JOURNEY

By Anita Yasuda   

 

On the morning of May 16, 1975, Junko Tabei became the first woman to summit Mount Everest. How did she do it? One step at a time: Up, Up, Ever Up! You, too, will succeed in your research journey one step at a time by setting a course, planning, using the proper gear, and with a supportive team.

 

1. Pick Your Target 

Junko and the other 14 members of the Japanese all-women team chose Everest after careful consideration and research. I decided on Junko as my subject using the same method. As an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, I wanted to write a story about mountaineering and a female climber. I also have friends involved in mountain climbing and have always found their stories of high-altitude adventures thrilling. Likewise, write about a subject that makes your heart sing. If it has caught your interest, someone else will also be intrigued. Do not worry if someone else has written on the same subject. Just as there are a variety of wilderness trails, from short walks to adventures requiring ropes and ice axes, a unique story angle combined with your voice will help make your manuscript stand out.

 

2. Master The Ropes

Climbers only plunge into the wilderness after setting a course. You can avoid becoming tangled in research through planning, too. Decide on day one how you will collect and organize your research. Are you team pencil and paper? With this approach, your subject becomes clearer, sentence by sentence. Do you prefer journaling, which includes drawing and adding physical materials such as photographs or newspaper articles into a file? Using this method, visual thinkers will see their story taking shape. Are you team virtual? When I began researching Junko, I planned on travelling to Japan and Nepal. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these plans had to be put aside. So, using Word, I set up a research file that would include over 100 footnotes to keep track of every source, quote and statistic. The file had subheadings, including Junko’s childhood, first hike, and family. 

 

3. Get The Gear 

When climbing, you need to dress in layers; in writing, layers are also essential. To better understand Junko, I researched widely. Secondary sources, including journals and newspaper articles, gave me a sense of Junko, the team's difficulties, and the period. Through my local library, I took advantage of interlibrary loans. I was then able to access more extensive state and international libraries. I accessed journals, including JSTOR, and newspaper archives in Japan through my university’s alumni lending program. I watched online interviews and eventually created a list of experts I contacted, including Junko's best friend and fellow Everest climber, translator, colleagues, and friends worldwide. They helped me clarify my information and add details to my manuscript that hadn't appeared in print before. 

 

4. Prepare For The Avalanche 

Mountaineers learn as much as they can about avalanche risk before heading out. They study the forecast, take courses, and venture out prepared with gear such as crampons and helmets. When you feel overwhelmed by research, take a break. Be kind to yourself. A long walk or putting away your work for weeks or months will help you achieve clarity. Another tip is to write down your book's hook and keep it on your writing desk or your computer. My hook in presenting Junko's life combined her achievements with her humanitarian and environmental legacy.

 

5. Teamwork 

All successful mountaineering expeditions require a solid team. Writing does not have to be a solitary activity. Share your story with trusted critique partners. Even if you do not have a draft ready, share your enthusiasm for your project. When you explain your project aloud, it will remind you why you began the journey. These critique partners will be essential as you revise and rewrite. Rewriting is a beautiful way to hone your craft. Feedback that resonates with you can help you chip away at your manuscript until you have a clear story path from beginning to end.

 

See you at the summit!

Be kind to yourself. Researching and drafting a book is a process. There may be obstacles on the journey, but with each piece of information and revision, you will be closer to the summit. One day, a child will be happy you did.

 

About the Author 

Anita Yasuda is the author of UP, UP, EVER UP! JUNKO TABEI A LIFE IN THE MOUNTAINS , illustrated by Yuko Shimizu (Clarion, 2024); DIWALI: A FESTIVAL OF JOY , illustrated by Darshika Varma (Penguin Random House, 2024); and BOLLYWOOD BEAT, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan (Kids Can Press, 2025), as well as many other books for young readers. She has a background in Montessori and early childhood education. Anita lives in the rolling hills of Ontario with her family.