vendredi 12 juillet 2013

The Question Of How Do I Get A Childrens Book Published Answered

By Carmella Watts


If you have a completed manuscript, you may well ask, "How do I get a childrens book published?" It is quite an accomplishment to just get the manuscript written. Now, you most likely want it to get in print, either because you want the compensation available, or you just want to see it in print. You also want to share your message with those for which it is intended. To do this, you need to get it in print.

You can get published by a couple of different avenues. One way is the traditional publisher where you submit your manuscript and they pay and advance and publish and promote it for you. You can submit it yourself, or maybe obtain an agent to submit for you. If you do use an agent, be prepared to pay a percentage of your earnings. You may prefer this, however, to get the extra plus of having someone do it all for you. In addition, the agent may be able to negotiate a better deal.

One route to publication is to do it yourself. There are a few ways to do this. One is to use a vanity press, where you have to pay them to print it, and then you have to do all the promotion. Another is print-on-demand (POD) where you only pay for books as they are ordered, and they are printed one at a time. You will, of course, want to order a few to have on hand. You can also print and bind everything yourself, but that requires a lot of expertise.

It is vital to get your manuscript in perfect shape before submission to an agent to publisher, and even before self-publishing. Your reader will quickly catch mistakes you miss, and this will affect your credibility. It can even be embarrassing when readers point out errors.

Finding the right place to submit your manuscript is not really easy. You will do well to build a network. This can be done by joining a writers group, either one with similar interests or simply a critique group. They will be able to share contacts to editors with you. Just be sure to share what you know as well. A plus here is that you have a ready source to have your manuscript critiqued.

Joining a professional group like the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators gives you added credibility. It shows an editor or agent that you are very serious about your work. Including the notation on your cover letter can help open doors for you.

Attending writing conferences are another way to further your career. Not only will you get lots of good instruction and practice, you will be staying abreast of the latest in the industry. Most conferences have the provision to meet with editors to pitch your work. Take advantage of these opportunities every time you can.

Writing is only part of the equation. In order for your message to be read by your intended audience, you will need it to be printed. You will want to have the answers to the question, "How do I get a childrens book published?" You will get a small amount of compensation and will have the pleasure of seeing your work in bound form.




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