I have received much guidance on the road to publication. But if I had to send reminder or pass advice to those who aspire to do the same, that advice would be this: children don’t buy books, adults do; it’s the parents, teachers, librarians, aunts, and uncles who do. This means the story you’re writing may not ever reach your desired reader if you don’t nod to the buyer of your book. It’s a double talent you must have. You must not only write for the child who consumes the text but write for the adult who will see the book on the shelf and be compelled to buy it for whatever reason. In other words, you must think of them, leave something for everybody, like Pixar movies do.
These multiple somethings are called access points. Access points are as they sound. They are ways a person enters and engages with your text. They are also tools to consider when creating experiences for large, diverse audiences. You want to consider multiple access points because they:
Broaden your reach.
There is no magic number to how many access points you must/can include. Just make it feel natural.
Note that access points can expand or limit the times your book is chosen from the shelf, the settings your book is read, the age of your reader among several other factors. For instance, a book about the Easter Bunny may only be read during the Easter season. But a book about a bunny who loves nature could be read throughout the year for any occasion. And if we strategically planted a counting element in its structure, this book could even be taught in math class and not limited to natural science or social-emotional learning.
Get editors excited.
Not matter how much we love our stories we must understand traditional publishing is a business. Publishers buy your book when they think there is a market for it; when they see the potential; when they realize your story will reach multiple audiences because of relatable characters, relatable themes, attractive takeaways, motifs, school market trends. More potential equals more money. And the potential is gained by the number of audiences your book may reach, the span of potential read-alouds throughout the year, the possible appeal to buyers in the current market, and other factors in the always tricky game of publishing roulette.
Increase longevity and engagement.
The more “tricks” you have up your sleeve, the better. The greatest of writers plant multiple access points seamlessly. Think of the best texts you’ve read where you read a sentence and note a double entendre. Then, the next sentence you discover a relic of an earlier time. Then the next, you scan a joke and bubbled over. All are techniques that build great literature and makes a text memorable. It’s almost if reading is an adventure where the writer kept you in mind. YOU. You plural. All of you. And it doesn’t matter if the text was written decades ago, it’s still in print and circulating and making the rounds because the writer was intentional in including a mass of readers and burying his access points in the manuscript.
List of access points
(Please keep in mind that this list is not conclusive.)
Themes: Themes bring us closer to our subject. It draws parallels between us and our subject matter in ways that makes the experience relatable, memorable, and impactful for a variety of audiences (i.e., freedom, nature, independence, food, laziness). Think of a theme or themes to frame your content and grasp your audience’s attention.
Timelessness: Think of classics and evergreen subjects that will be as relevant today as they will be 10 years from now. You can also create a text that centers a classic topic in a fresh and unique way.
Timeliness: current and trendy and relevant. Yes! The trendy and popular thing will almost always garner interest. Remember, this is the access point that changes most rapidly of them all. Therefore, it is the most unreliable since traditional publishing moves so slow. By the time you find the timely thing, the trend will be over.
Multiple Disciplines: Incorporate relevant facts, trivia, math, or find a way to incorporate another discipline as a nod to those who may not be fans of the core discipline of the text or story.
Wordplay: Think of the title of your book and the sentences you create. This also appeals to your word lovers and the linguistic intelligence. These include your puns, double entendres, simile, metaphor, alliteration, rhythm, and musicality.
Humor: The equalizer across all ages, groups, cultures. Consider educational jokes and riddles that both education and entertain as tell your stories. A quick Google search for humor around your subject will provide useful information and inspiration to liven your text.
Nostalgia: good for inter-aged readership. What if there a story uncovering our responses to smells from fair foods, a story about bubble gum or some other constant from everyone’s childhood?
Significant Day/Holiday: Everybody loves parties and celebrations: Earth Day, Juneteenth, Christmas, Dia de los Muertos, Ramadan, Easter.
Nonconventional/Nontraditional structure: Challenge yourself. What is a way you can this story in a different way? A nonlinear structure, perhaps? In what way are these type stories traditionally told? How can I tell it differently?
Compelling angle/focus: What if we saw the world like the ant, instead of looking onto the ant as we relay its experience? What if we uncovered the gross, or go for the idea/topic no one thinks about?
Compelling Backmatter: How can I make my backmatter compelling enough to defy the belief that only adults read backmatter? In what ways can I structure it so that it jumps off the page?
