It doesn't do you any good to create a children's book and never show it to anyone. That's what publishing is for. It's about more than just making money. Well, then again, making money doing what you love is what we call a dream job, but for an artist, it's more than that. A famous author once said that, for a writer, to be published is to exist.
It's true. You may write or draw children's books just for fun, but until they're out there, in the world, teaching and entertaining kids across the country, you're just a hobbyist.
But then, how does one go about getting their children's book published? A lot of what you see on the shelves is stuff that was created by ghost writers and artists working for Disney or Nickelodeon. How does a children's book author with their own, new ideas break into the industry?
The answer is: You just do it. Simple as that.
The big name children's book publishers are looking to buy the rights to your book, meaning that, after your initial publishing fee, you might not make a single dime, and they might not even want to publish it at all. But here's the good news: You don't need them. You can break into the industry all on your own.
You know those companies like Cafe Press? There are children's book publishers out there with a similar business model, but who are geared towards storytellers, rather than merchandise sellers. Just do a google search and you'll stumble upon more of these companies than you can count. You might have to pay a reasonable fee to get started, but you'll keep making money the more your book sells, you're guaranteed to have your book actually published in the first place, and you don't have to sell the rights.
Ironically, that provides a new problem for you to deal with. If you didn't know about these guys, you had no options. If you know about them, you've got too many options! You'll want to narrow it down. Here's what you should be looking for in a firm.
Availability The best of these services will make your book available through sites like Amazon.com, and even at some nationwide bookstore chains like Barnes & Noble or Borders, in addition to making the book available on their own website.
Marketing If you're comfortable setting up your own website and buying some Google ads on your own dime, that's cool, but some offer great promotional packages that are, at least, worth looking into.
Some of these companies aren't very stable. It's a hot market, and any hot market is going to have its share of get-rich-quick flakes. Do a little research on your company of choice. See how long they've been in business, and look at customer reviews.
Publishing Options
This is pretty important. You don't want someone who'll just Xerox your pages and staple them together. You should be able to find good quality, low cost printing for paperback or hardcover, and you should be able to have full-color copies made.
Beyond that, just know what kind of books your potential publisher is into. For example, if you wanted to publish a Christian children's book, you wouldn't go through a publisher that tries to avoid potentially controversial subjects like religion. Likewise, you wouldn't publish a true crime book through a Christian or amily book publisher. There should be a publisher out there who fits your book like a glove.
Let's face it: some kids just don't like to read. Increasingly, parents, teachers, librarians, and editors are looking for books that will appeal to reluctant readers. When I was writing The Best Books for Kids Who (Think They) Hate to Read (Random House), I read hundreds of children's books, old and new, that I thought would fit the bill. I discovered that there are eight qualities possessed by great books for reluctant readers, and to my surprise some of my childhood favorites didn't pass the test. If you can work at least three of the elements listed below into your book, it will have a good chance of being loved by all kids, even those to whom reading is a chore.
* Humor. Making kids laugh is essential to building a pleasant association with reading. But you need to understand what tickles kids' funny bones at different ages. The humor in picture books is broad and very visual. Easy readers (and some picture books for ages 6 and up) begin to introduce verbal humor: wordplay, puns, double meanings. As kids move into the chapter book arena they can handle jokes that need a setup and a payoff that's played out over several scenes. Dialogue, how characters react to each other, or the situation in which a character finds himself may be innately humorous.
* Well-Defined Characters. Many kids want to identify strongly with the characters in their books; for reluctant readers, this is essential. It doesn't matter what the character looks like on the outside (be it space alien, a clown or a talking frog), on the inside this character needs to embody the perspective of the reader. This means the character is dealing with issues the reader might face, or seeing the world in a childlike way. Book characters must have multidimensional personalities with strengths and weaknesses in order for the reader to care about them and want to stick with them for the entire story. In nonfiction such as biographies, authors who find an element of their subject's life that is relevant to the target audience have a better chance of reaching reluctant readers.
* Fast-Paced Plot. Kids who love to read don't mind a story that takes a few chapters to unfold, but reluctant readers don't have that much patience. The action needs to start in the first paragraph, and by the end of the first chapter the reader should know quite a bit about the main character and have a good idea about the conflict or problem that character will face. Subplots are fine for chapter books and up, but too many will get in the way of the forward movement of story. Keep the pages turning.
* Concise chapters. Ideally, each chapter should contain one clear event (or one specific point in nonfiction), and have an arc of its own (a beginning, middle and end). This makes reading even one chapter a satisfying experience. Chapters that end on a high note in the action will make the reader want to see what happens next. Episodic novels (where each chapter stands alone as a short story) are also good bets for reluctant readers. Richard Peck's A Long Way from Chicago and Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School are two middle grade examples.
* Kid Relevance. This applies to the themes and ideas that form the basis for plots or how an author approaches a nonfiction topic. These ideas should be relevant, meaningful, and applicable to the reader's life. Instead of conveying a lesson your adult perspective tells you the reader needs to know, try using the reader's frame of reference as a starting point. Write to your audience, not at them. And remember, books can be just for fun.
* Suitable Text. Depending on the age and ability of the reader, the text needs to be challenging but not overwhelming. Strive to write your story as clearly as you can, using active sentences and concrete nouns and verbs. When writing for a broad age range of reluctant readers (8-12, for example), make the vocabulary accessible to the younger end, but the interest level appealing to kids on the older end of the spectrum.
* Unique Presentation. Reluctant readers often choose nonfiction over fiction because it speaks to their personal interests. Finding a new or unusual slant to your topic helps keep that interest alive. Humor doesn't hurt either. It's Disgusting and We Ate It! True Food Facts from Around the World by James Solheim appeals to middle graders' love of the gross while sneaking in some history on the side.
* Visual Appeal. Authors generally don't have much say in a book's design, but author/ illustrators might. Larger typeface, the generous use of white space, and illustrations that elaborate upon the text all help break up the string of words and make the book less intimidating to read.
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Lifevestpublishing has sinced written about articles on various topics from Writing, Writing. LifeVest Publishing, Inc. is a Worldwide Independent Publisher, currently publishing in four countries and in four languages. LifeVest Publishing, Inc. provides quality, affordable. Lifevestpublishing's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.
Laura Backes has sinced written about articles on various topics from Writing, Poetry. Laura Backes is the publisher of Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's Writers. For more info about writing children's books, free articles, market tips, insider secrets & more, visit Children's Book Insider's home on the web at. Laura Backes's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.