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Sunday 14 July 2013

Tips To Answer The Question How Do I Get A Childrens Book Published

By Carmella Watts


You have finished your manuscript and now you ask, "How do I get a childrens book published?" Getting the manuscript finished is the hard part, requiring hours of intense, dedicated effort. Of course, you want to see it in print. You might want the small amount of compensation, or maybe you just want to get your message out. You may just want the delight of seeing your work in bound form. Either way, you have to get it printed to do this.

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.

Before considering submitting your manuscript, you need to get it in perfect condition. This is true whether you use an agent, submit directly, or do it yourself. Readers will be quick to pick up on any errors that slip past you. This can cause you embarrassment and lower your credibility.

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 organization such as the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is a good idea. It makes a good reference on the cover letter, plus it shows you are serious about your writing. Editors like to work with someone who takes it seriously.

Writing conferences are another way to improve your career. You will get instruction on many areas of the trade. It is also an easy way to keep current on industry trends. At most conferences, there is the opportunity to meet with an editor and present your work.

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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