Do you ever get nostalgic reading children's books and realize that maybe a great way to keep your youth alive is by writing some children's books of your own? Ignite your imagination again and delve into a world of wonder and magic with stories that you create and, in a way, live through so you can revive your childhood. Me, being passionate about writing and all, this seems to be a wonderful fantasy and would definitely be a dream come true. But you can make it come true, it's up to you. You just have to take proper action in achieving your dreams and goals and here is a great guide for those who share this same dream.
Getting published: The basics-
*Advice on how to prepare a manuscript (yes and no-no’s).
*Check out the current edition of the Children’s Writers and Illustrator’a Market (best go-to resource) which is published by Writers Digest (prestigious and popular magazine). It has a list of various available markets for children's writers.
*How to write a query letter, manuscript formatting, agents and other helpful tools to help get you on the right path to being published.
*The importance of originality. Although, for some it seems like they can get away with some super generic story and somehow get published right away, but what makes your manuscript stand out the most is obviously a truly unique idea/story.
Research each company/publisher thoroughly so you can make the best decision. Decide which one would suit your book the best, browse through a list of their published authors so you can get an idea of what they're after.
Read the requirements carefully before sending in your work; you don't want to start off on a bad foot. Make a good first impression; show that you are responsible, professional, and organized (all important crucial qualities). Some publishing companies may want an entire manuscript while others just want a query letter. Make sure they accept solicited manuscripts. Pay attention to the guidelines, they're your ticket to getting in the front door.
Avoid fancy fonts and unusual formatting. Manuscripts should be typed in a plain font, double-spaced on standard letter size white paper, and sent to a specific editor or The Editorial Department of the publishing company you're submitting to. The guidelines/steps are usually pretty basic and simple.
Research and read, a lot. Have to place emphasis on this. The best advice out there, quite surprisingly, is quite simple actually. Doing your research and reading are two important activities to involve yourself with.
A great way to get started/involved is by joining The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Even if you don't join, find out if any SCBWI conferences or seminars are being held in your area. By attending those events, you will learn about the issues facing children's book publishers and other information that could aid/benefit you. You could even make contacts that may lead to a contract. So there's a lot of possibility here.
Rejection is something you should get used to/expect. The least you expect, the less dissapointed you'll be. Reality is that the majority of children's books published each year are written by previously published authors. However, don't let this discourage you, once in a while they do specifically scout out new writers to freshen the market. Like previously mentioned, doing your research is key, stay on top of what's going on in the publishing world. The best times to send in your work is when the market is booming and they are specifically looking for new authors to add some variety.
Learn from the rejection letters you receive, it's constructive criticism that can help you improve and overall raise your chances of getting published for next time. If you get a lot of form letters, perhaps you weren't targeted enough in your choice of publishers. If you receive a more personalized rejection letter, take the comments a bit more seriously. When they actually take the time to send you a response like this, you should truly consider what they say. Never be ashamed or afraid to stand up in the face of rejection and better yourself so you can eventually succeed and have publishers looking to contract you (yes I meant to make 'publishers' plural).
Remember this: If you possess both talent and perseverance, you'll find a way to succeed.
Important key qualities: Consistency, perseverance, and even a little persistence. My father always used to tell me "The squeaky wheel gets the oil!" And it's true, if you want to succeed, you need to be a little persistent and determined.
Now, for the illustration bit: If you are strictly a writer and not looking to write and illustrate your own books, that's totally fine. You don't need to worry about the illustrating aspect of your book so much, especially before even getting contracted. Focus on your writing and the manuscript/query letter you will send in. The publisher, if interested, will take care of the rest. Usually, when you take the route of traditional publishing, you don't have as much freedom as when you're self-publishing; your publisher basically takes charge of your stories and decides on an illustrator and sometimes even the title. During the editting process, they can request you to change a certain part of the story or remove it altogether. This may be a reason why you would want to consider self-publishing as an alternative. Research both and decide which would suit you best.
Here's the thing society doesn't tell you/want you to know; you don't need school for this. School can benefit some people sure, but it is not a set requirement for getting published.
Remember to never give up after just one submission; succeeding takes time and perseverance. Rome wasn't built in a day and you certaintly won't become a published author overnight.
With many possibilities open, you just need to find the right ways to go about reaching your goals. Set realistic goals, but don't be afraid to dream and be a little ambitious.
Good sites for reference:
- publishingcentral.com -a lot of valuable information on here, including advice and guides on how to get published and just about everything you need to know to get on the right path to becoming an author.
- the-best-childrens-books.org -it may help to see different successful authors and their books so you can have some sort of idea of what publishers generally look for.
- childrensbooks.com -all about children's books and publishing; great reference site.
- http://publishersarchive.com/childrens-book-publishers.php -compiled/organized list of publishers specifically for children's books; great for reference when deciding who to send your work to.
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