I've sent some books that I have written to a publisher. How long should I leave it before sending them somewhere else?

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

Thank you. The title says it all really.

[cakeforbrains]

Did you check first if the publisher is taking manuscripts at the moment? A lot of the big publishers only look at manuscripts through an agent.

[seashore]

You really need to send your work to an agent not a publisher, pick up a copy of The Artists And Writers Handbook, it has all you need to know in it.

Don't want to put you off but unsolicited work usually winds up on the slush pile.

Best of luck and well done though, the important thing is you are producing the work

[Haliborange]

Given that most publishers send out a lot more rejections than acceptances I'd be inclined to send it to an agent (who represents children's authors) and see what happens. You can find a list of literary agents online if you google.

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

I checked the Handbook, it said to email it. There was nothing on the publishers web site (at all) about submissions. I had an instant email back to say they had recieved it, it's not been read though as I stuck a 'notify me when open' whatsit on it.

I have another 40 books that I have ideas for, it's a little worrying overwhelming.

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

I may try an agent if I don't hear back.

[seashore]

Are you writing or illustrating them?

I know how you feel cause I've got a lot of work sitting around myself - a children's novel and a few illustrated clidren's books, none of which is finished!! I was flying along till our two dc but they are very small yet.

[nameymcnamechange]

Give agents or publishers at least a month to respond. They are perpetually inundated.

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

I've written them, I can draw, not well though. I can't afford to pay an illustrator upfront so am leaving it, hopefully the agent/publisher will have one. I've written 5 complete ones, they are for 5 year old though so not very long. I have more to do that are for different age groups. I'm just anxious, I've had to leave my course because I have MS and it wasn't the best course to be doing (NHS). If this doesn't work out then I'll have to have a rethink so I'd rather know sooner IYSWIM.

[seashore]

Really sorry to hear about you having MS,I have a relative with it, that's tough to say the least, and having to leave your course

It's true if the publisher is interested they will suggest an illustrator but in order to put a presentation together you could consider going to local art colleges, check the fine art students as well as illustrators, put up signs in the college and just wander round, pop into the studios politely, maybe during break, have a look at their work and get talking to anyone you may feel could work on your projects.

Also go to end of yr shows and you may come across someone that would be perfect to illustrate your books.

It's supposed to be harder to get an agent then get published, although you won't get one without the other, if that makes any sense! Keeping at it is what it's all about though, don't give up easily.

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

It goes and comes back, it's a stressful course and the MS comes back with stress. It's lovely dropping ds at school, coming home and writing though. I used to dread going on placement (I worked in a hospital some of the time, Uni for others) because I'd get so tired. Now I can rest when I need to. I just need to earn some cash. My mother's not well so I have time to see her now aswell so it's a better quality of life. I have to be doing something though and I've always loved writing.
I don't think I'll be able to get an agent yet, I think I need longer books first. I've been looking for an artist, they are hard to find here though.
When are you going to finish your books?

[seashore]

Stress makes everything worse, doesn't it? And yet it seems inpossible to have a stress free life Keep writing, keep writing, keep writing!!! If you love something keep doing it, should you get the odd rejection letter from publisher etc, be prepared to be thick skinned.

You need three steps, artist, agent, publisher. You need at least a few sample illustrations with your writing although the writing is the key.

The irony is I'm an artist with zilch time! I get frustrated about my own work being neglected but ds is just gone 1 yr and dd is 3.5. I was regularly exhibiting before dc, and starting to do well. I've had health issues myself this year so I'm not putting pressure on myself right now but I would love to be at the stage of sending stuff off. My novel needs another huge rewrite and edit and the illustrated books need, well, time to make illustrations!

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

I'll see what I can do. I'll google tomorrow (google is the answer to everything )

It's impossible, the course was 75% of the stress though so it's really helped to ditch it. I'm just a little poor now as I was being paid to do it.

I love it, just coming home and writing. I sit on the bus and have another idea for a book, it's great. I hope you are on the mend too, it's horrible being ill.

[seashore]

It is really hard when the quality of your life is zapped.

Do you know my dh is an artist too!! We met at art college. He works quicker then me so I had the great idea of him illustrating one of my books, it's just so hard for him to get the time to get near his own work - paintings, and a novel. Children are fantastic but wow they demand time!

What chidlren's books do you like?

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

We have hundreds! I grew up in a house with no books so have always made sure ds has plenty. Have you read 'Whatever next'? When father bear can't get to sleep so moves around the house? I love the illustrations in that. Beatrix Potter was a lovely writer. There's so many, they are all lovely.

They are demanding. Ds could read very early so I used to let him loose with the books. He'd sit and read. I knew he understood because he'd laugh, then read the funny parts out to me.

[seashore]

Haven't heard of that one but I love We're Going On a Bear Hunt, it's illustrated beautifully.

Then, the Elmer books, he is such a great colourist.

Where The Wild Things Are is I suppose my all time fav. He spent years writing that, working on it whilst doing his day job of graphics. There is so few words in in but everyone is perfect and of course the paintings ...

DD has had a huge collection from day one, she sits for ages and makes up new stories to the images.

Have you seen Kazuno Kohara's The Haunted House and her new one Jack Frost? I think they are perfect.

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

No, ds is 11 now so we don't get to buy the nice ones. He's on Sherlock holmes and douglas adams, has been for a few years. I wasn't overly impressed with the very hungry caterpillar, he must have made a mint though. Ds still has some of his earlier reads, Captain Duck was rather good. He has a Jack frost book somewhere.

I should get off to bed, early morning. I hope you have a good day and manage to achieve all you want to

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

We still have elmer

[seashore]

You know, if you're interested, I think I'm being very lazy [embarrassed] if you want to show me some of your work and (can't promise anything) if it strikes a cord I'll do 3 illustrations for you, maybe it would get the ball rolling for both of us.

I know you're off to bed now so I don't want to leave my email on here all night but isn't there a way of contacting the poster on this?

It's funny I only just got dd The Very Hungry Caterpillar recently, and it's only watching her enjoy reading it and counting with it that I get it now, actually the first page with the moon is a fantastic painting in itself.

Anyway see what you think

[DirtyMartini]

You can (in fact I would recommend you do) submit to many publishers simultaneously -- no need to wait for a response before sending your mss elsewhere.

Agree an agent is what you really need, but I do know someone whose book for young children got signed from the slush pile, and writing is now her career. That's rare though -- and I don't think she has really made a significant income from it.

Good luck.

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

Any income would be great! I'll do that. I wrote another one last night (I like being busy)

I'll email you seashore as I have CAT on here. Let me know what you think.

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

Oh, I can't email you sea, you don't have CAT enabled. I don't mind sticking mine on here though, I get plenty of spam! jouelsie at fsmail dot net.

[seashore]

What's CAT enable? Being buried in painting I'm still new to computers!

Anyway, I'll email you now, haven't given my email address through MN before but you have a trustworthy face on your photo!!

Anyway will email now ...

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

I've recieved that and sent you three short stories. Don't worry if you are too busy, I think I'll write some more and keep trying a publisher or an agent. I tend to not take no for an answer

[seashore]

Keeping at it is whats it's all about

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

I need to stop coming up with ideas, it's not giving me enough time to write them all