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!

JckP

Thank you for your advice, congratulations on publishing your book, I Googled it and it looks wonderful!

Self publishing is definitely something I will consider, but I will probably try trade publishers first. Thank you!

ColdAndSad

Thank you for your detailed advice! One question: Do you think I should submit directly to publishers then rather than trying to find an agent first? My understanding was that publishers don't accept manuscripts that aren't from an agent? Thank you!

The Children's Writers and Artists Yearbook will tell you which publishers accept submissions direct and which require an agent

You need to check out the forums at Absolute Write, OP. Feedback on your writing, but also a ton of information about the publishing process, agents, editors and publishers.

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I'm a professional (fairly well known) children's book illustrator with a top lit agent.

Do NOT send in unsolicited texts with illustrations attached. As an unknown debut author any publisher will want to pair you with a well known illustrator probably already on their list.

Professionally, it's really not find to submit illustrations too and it will make it look like you're unaware of the process and is a waste of any illustrators (and your time).

Even Julia Donaldson and Axel Schleifler we're paired by the publisher.

It's very very hard. You can include small illustrator notes on the side of your text.

I second looking through the W & A yearbook.

Hope you get somewhere.

Find = done

Just to add. It's becoming vanishingly rare to find a publisher that will take unsolicited manuscripts. One of my publishers were one of the last only a few years ago, but even now they have closed that loop.
The reason they like an agent submission is because they have good relationships with industry agents and if an agent they know brings them a new text by an unknown new author the publisher will know that it has already been given a 'first look' by a respected agent and therefore should be taken seriously.

Unfortunately submitting to agents is hard too. My agent has an assistant who is the first port of call in the process. She told me she has at least 50 texts in the slush pile on any one day, picture books plus fiction. If my agents assistant thinks one has potential she takes it to the Agent to discuss. The Assistant is a vital part in the process. However she says that often she is viewed as 'a secretary' as she answers the phone and people can be quite rude to her. Little do they know this rudeness leads to her inevitably looking unfavourably on their text!

Having said all that, having persistence and tenacity can pay off. I'm working with a new author myself in 2021 who's brilliant.

Make sure you have more than one idea though as often people will ask you for more if your first one doesn't quite land.

Two thoughts: it’s worth attending children’s writing courses (eg Arvon, Bloomsbury); writing in limerick form could be a problem as publishers will want to sell overseas rights and translating verse is problematic.

@FatherDickByrne

Two thoughts: it’s worth attending children’s writing courses (eg Arvon, Bloomsbury); writing in limerick form could be a problem as publishers will want to sell overseas rights and translating verse is problematic.

This used to be the case (27 years ago I was told similar) however since Donaldson the view has changed somewhat. A vast number of the books I illustrate these days are in rhyme and plenty have many multiple foreign co-editions. It's an important income stream for publishers.

Do posters on here have any thoughts on self-publishing? I've had a look at a couple of writers who are producing the kinds of books I'm interested in writing. Their books are all self-published, and are sold on Amazon as "hard" books. They've both written quite a lot of books and based on the number of reviews they seem to be selling a fair number of them.

I've written a children's book and have sent it to a couple of agents. They've rejected it, but in a slightly encouraging kind of way, though they don't give feedback as such. The message I'm getting from this thread is that I'm unlikely to find an agent or publisher who will take it, even if it's good? That it would have to be much better than good?
If I self-published, I'd want to get some illustrations done. Is it hard or very expensive to do that yourself? If producing a book with colour is very expensive, I'd consider getting a black and white style of illustrations.
Sorry to take over the thread - but the original thread is a year old. How did you get on, OP?

@NewRoman

I've written a children's book and have sent it to a couple of agents. They've rejected it, but in a slightly encouraging kind of way, though they don't give feedback as such. The message I'm getting from this thread is that I'm unlikely to find an agent or publisher who will take it, even if it's good? That it would have to be much better than good? If I self-published, I'd want to get some illustrations done. Is it hard or very expensive to do that yourself? If producing a book with colour is very expensive, I'd consider getting a black and white style of illustrations. Sorry to take over the thread - but the original thread is a year old. How did you get on, OP?

I would also be interested in hearing how you got on @MagicKingdomDizzy