Any children's book writers or publishers about please?

[MagicKingdomDizzy]

Sorry, posting for traffic!

I have been working on a concept for a children's book for a while, and (I hope!) think it might actually be good and have a shot at being an actual book at some point.

The only thing is that I have never done anything like this before and don't know where to start in actually getting it read by the right person!

Does anyone work as a writer of children's books or in publishing who may be able to offer some advice, I would appreciate it very much. Thank you!

Generally, once finished, you’d send it out to agents, and try and secure one who would then hawk it to publishers. The Children’s Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook 2019 would give you current contact details.

Is it a picture book?

Writersblock2

Many thanks for your response.

It is a picture book. I have written the story and have good ideas for the pictures but I am no artist!

Would I need to hire an artist to illustrate it properly before submitting to an agent, or is this something they help with?

Thank you!

Usually you would just send the story to publishers, and if they decide to publish it they will commission an illustrator. I second getting a copy of the Children's Writers and Artists Yearbook, as well as contact lists it will have some useful articles.
There is also a Creative Writing board on here where you might be able to get more specific advice. Best of luck!

If you haven’t already got illustrations and you have no publishing history it will be almost impossible to get someone to buy it on the concept alone. I’d try and collaborate with someone (I wouldn’t try and hire an artist) or see if you there are any publishers willing to accept concept submissions (though I suspect they are few and far between). The market is saturated so for a first submission you’d need to stand out and he polished.

Ofc, there’s the self-pub route. But you’d need those illustrations.

NoHummus

Great, thanks very much!

Writersblock2

Thank you, I know it's going to be very difficult, I figured it's worth a try as it's something I've wanted to do for so long! What do you mean regarding collaborating with someone?

If you do get off the ground and still need an illustrator pm me. My friend is an excellent children’s illustrator and you will have seen lots of her stuff around she might be able to help you.

On the illustrations.

You may find children’s publishing is different to adult in the sense publishers may accept unsolicited ideas but I suspect they will be few and far between. You’d mostly end up on the slush pile. Read around the subject as best you can to maximise the chance any submission would have before you do anything else.

I would also join writing forums and post extracts for critique etc. Publishing is a business like any other, and forums would be a good place to figure out what publishers are looking for.

Long gone are the days unpolished, unfinished ideas were paid attention to; publishers get their pick of the bunch. It’s a highly competitive market. I don’t know as much about children’s publishing though, hence the book advice.

Whatelsecouldibecalled

Thanks, will pm you.

I have been to lots of talks about getting your children’s book published, by authors, agents and publishers. They ALL say that unless you do your own illustrations, leave that to the publishers, they would far rather match your story to an ilstratir themselves.

Have a look here: www.scbwi.org/

Writersblock2

Your advice is brilliant thanks.

You need to get an agent first. Google around they have websites.

The publisher will find you an illustrator.

Do you want to give us the concept or summary for feedback? Or do you want to keep it to yourself for now?

NancyJoan

Thank you for the link!

Finding this v interesting, how easy is it to self publish and for it to become successful?

You’d need to market it to make it successful if you self-pub. That’s one of the primary differences between self-pub and traditional - the latter has a budget for it.

Easy? No. There’s a general illusion writing any book is easy. It’s not. Selling it is even harder. But nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

Read published books for your intended audience. Look at trends. Know the market. Get beta readers. Do you know you can write?

thecatinthetwat

It's a story written in limerick verses. It's about a little girl who unintentionally gets herself in all sorts of trouble by being impulsive. It's got the potential to have several different stories in the same vein about her, but in different scenarios.

Writersblock2

I think I can write, but a professional may disagree.

Certainly I read alot of books in the same genre, and feel I am just as good.

Or possibly I'm just deluded

Sorry, MK, my comment was answering fikel’s question, it wasn’t aimed directly at you. :)

Reading in the same genre is definitely a good start.

Writersblock2

No problem

Try some of the indie publishers- they’re more willing to take a chance than the Big 4 and may accept unsolicited (often in a certain window)... theres a good one up in Scotland... name escapes me, but google it.

Author here. You need an agent. Just google and pick 3 you like the sound of and follow their submission process. If you don't hear back then pick another 3 and so on.

In all honesty though there is very little to be made through picture books unless you are are one of the lucky few. The costs of production are high due to colour printing, the cost of the selling price is low and money is split between author and illustrator so even if you do get published the income may be very minimal - sorry don't mean to be negative...

TheSheepofWallSt

MediocrePenguin

Thank you very much

Hi and good morning,
I am a self published author myself and I'd highly recommend publishing a children's book. Have a go at it as having your work published is one of the best feelings there and your kids will love you for it.
If you don't have an agent or publisher interested in your work, do it yourself, it is not as expensive as you might think.

You can get a really good illustrator at reasonable rates and you'll have the opportunity to get involved in the whole process which is one of the most rewarding experiences ever.

Please Google 'The Epic Voyage of Sir Benjamin Sweet' to see my book available in most and biggest of online retailers. I did it all by myself, all I paid for was the illustrator and ISBN. The formatting and publishing was all down to me and I did it in my own time in my own living room :)

Do not fall into the trap of vanity publishing. Anyone who wants big bucks for publishing your book, is not interested in your story, all they want is your money. Olympia publishers is one of them, stay away is my advice.

Hope this helps
Regards
Jacek

There are three routes into publishing: trade publishing, where publishers pay you and then take all the costs and responsibilities for getting your book to its readers; self publishing, where you do all the publishing stuff too, including paying for editors, etc; and vanity publishing, where you pay a company to publish you (note that the lines between vanity and self publishing are very blurred now, and it's not necessarily a bad thing to pay if you know what you're doing).

Most self publishing is digital-only. So the books only exist as e-books. And this is a problem for picture books, because they work far better as print books.

Very few literary agents represent picture book authors, so you'll almost certainly have to find your own publisher if you want to go down the trade route. You'll need to first write the book, completely. Make sure you know how many spreads most picture books for this age group contain, as you'll have to ensure your page count fits in with this. Make sure it's very well revised. And then you just start sending it out.

Do not find an illustrator if you're looking for a trade publisher. That's the publisher's job.

If you self publish then you'll have to do everything yourself, including finding, briefing, and paying an illustrator. And they don't come cheap.

Good luck.

Oh--and I meant to say: check out the publishers you find before you submit to them; and remember that almost all books are listed online, but only trade publishers will get your book into bookshops, which is very important for children's books. And while it's not impossible to do this if you self publish, you're far more likely to sell foreign and subsidiary rights with a good trade publisher behind you.