Ep. 19 Getting Nonfiction Freelance Gigs with Aubre Andrus

2026-02-06

Work-for-Hire Author Shares How She Wrote 50+ Kids Books | Writing Career Tips & Publishing Paths Join award-winning author Aubre Andrus as she reveals how she built a thriving nonfiction writing career through work-for-hire publishing! With 50+ books for Scholastic, National Geographic Kids, American Girl, and more, Aubre shares insider tips on breaking into children's book publishing WITHOUT an agent. In this episode, you'll discover: What work-for-hire really means (and why it's more creative than you think) How to network ...

Work-for-Hire Author Shares How She Wrote 50+ Kids Books | Writing Career Tips & Publishing Paths

Join award-winning author Aubre Andrus as she reveals how she built a thriving nonfiction writing career through work-for-hire publishing! With 50+ books for Scholastic, National Geographic Kids, American Girl, and more, Aubre shares insider tips on breaking into children's book publishing WITHOUT an agent.

In this episode, you'll discover:

What work-for-hire really means (and why it's more creative than you think)
How to network with editors and land your first work-for-hire gig
The skills publishers look for when hiring freelance authors How to write fast without sacrificing quality
Tips for self-publishing children's books (including what Aubre wishes she'd done differently)
How work-for-hire can be an "author bootcamp" for your career

Featured Books: • Chi Chi's Story (Scholastic) • America Celebrates (Quarto) • The Lookup Series (self-published STEM biographies) • Smart Girl's Guide series (American Girl)

Perfect for: Children's book authors, nonfiction writers, freelance writers, aspiring authors, teachers, librarians, and anyone exploring alternative publishing paths.

Connect with Aubre Andrus: Website: AubreAndrus.com

Resources Mentioned: • Writing for the Educational Market by Laura Purdie Salas • Darcy Pattison's "Publish" (self-publishing guide) • SCBWI conferences

[00:00:00] What Is Work-for-Hire? The Writing Prompt Approach

[00:01:00] Real Examples: From Travel Guides to Quiz Books

[00:03:00] Journey from Magazine Editor to 50+ Book Author

[00:06:00] Breaking Down Work-for-Hire vs Traditional Publishing

[00:09:00] Essential Skills for Landing Work-for-Hire Gigs

[00:12:00] Networking Strategies & Getting Your Foot in the Door

[00:15:00] Managing Tight Deadlines & Writing Fast

[00:17:00] Research Strategies for Fast Nonfiction Writing

[00:19:00] Why Self-Publish? The Lookup Series Story

[00:22:00] Self-Publishing for Kids: Costs, Challenges & Kickstarter Tips

[00:25:00] Choosing Your Publishing Path: Agent vs Work-for-Hire vs Self-Publishing

[00:27:00] Writing to Market & What Makes Books Sell