Unless you produce a book, there are few opportunities to publish poems or stories written for children. But the Caterpillar magazine, a junior version of the arts & literature magazine, the Moth, is doing just that.
Authors such as Michael Morpurgo and Ian Whybrow didn’t hesitate to contribute work to the Caterpillar when approached by its editor Rebecca O’Connor, as there are so few magazines for quality children’s writing. In its first year, the poet John Hegley listed the Caterpillar as one of his ‘top 10 children’s poetry books’ in the Guardian, alongside books by Carol Ann Duffy and Jacqueline Wilson.
‘There are many, many literary journals and magazines out there, if you want to get your fiction or poetry into print. But it’s not so easy if you’re writing for children,’ says Rebecca O’Connor. ‘And yet there’s a demand for children’s writing. It doesn’t make sense. Where do you send your few poems or your story if you don’t quite feel ready to approach a publisher or to self-publish? How do you hone your skills, find an audience, as you develop as a writer?’
With four issues a year – featuring work from the likes of Meshack Asare, Julie O’Callaghan and Frank Cottrell Boyce, as well as many unknown writers – the publishers of the Caterpillar are on the lookout for new work all the time.
‘I’ve read so many wonderful poems and stories from writers I had never heard of before – because of my own ignorance, but also because many of those writers just hadn’t had the opportunity to send their work anywhere,’ says O’Connor.
Her co-publisher and husband Will Govan reads poems and stories from the magazine in national schools around Ireland, which gives the couple a particular insight into what children really like. ‘The kids are completely unpretentious. They like what they like,’ says Govan. ‘They’re not interested in how famous the writer is or who publishes them. They just want to be entertained.’
Rebecca and Will established the Caterpillar Poetry Prize last year to celebrate the wonderful children's writing that is being produced worldwide. It was won by the Scottish poet Louise Greig for her poem, Don't Think of an Elephant (which you can read here). The closing date for this year's Poetry Prize is March 31st, 2016.
They also recently established the Caterpillar Short Story Prize. That closes in just a few days, on September 30th. Both prizes are open to anyone, regardless of their publishing background, and both offer the winner a cash prize of €1,000 and publication in the Caterpillar.
For details of how to submit your work, or to enter either of the prizes, check out www.thecaterpillarmagazine.com
