{"id":5061,"date":"2020-03-12T08:54:05","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T16:54:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.free-ebooks.net\/?p=5061"},"modified":"2020-03-13T08:04:22","modified_gmt":"2020-03-13T16:04:22","slug":"how-to-publish-a-childrens-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.free-ebooks.net\/blog\/how-to-publish-a-childrens-book\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Publish a Children\u2019s Book?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Where Do You Begin?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Writing a book for children is one thing, but what’s the point if nobody ever gets to read it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All authors write to have their stories read, and children’s writers need an audience just like anybody else. So what’s the best way to get your children’s book published? That depends on a number of factors that require careful consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children’s Books Publishing Options<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It used to be the case that you could only get your book published through a mainstream publisher. But those days are gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now you have options that simply weren\u2019t available just a few years ago. Today your books can be published by smaller presses, as e-books and paper books, or you can buy essays<\/a> and even publish them yourself.Turn your book into a PDF file and you can upload it to Lulu, or use Amazon\u2019s Mobipocket software to create an e-book on the Kindle platform that\u2019s instantly available from the world\u2019s largest online book store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

E-books have begun to outsell paper books, so that tells you where things are heading. If the thought of having just a \u201cvirtual\u201d book puts you off, remember that some publishers offer the option to turn your e-book into a \u201creal\u201d book, a service that you have to pay for but that gives you the thrill of holding your book in your hand. For instance, your Kindle book can be turned into a traditional book using Amazon\u2019s paid CreateSpace service, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Old versus New Children’s Publishers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you really feel the need, you can try your hand at finding a traditional publisher to take you on. It won\u2019t be easy, even if your story and artwork are exceptional. First you have to make it past the infamous slush pile, and even if you do there are no guarantees you\u2019ll get past the next stage in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I managed to find an editor who was willing to read one of my stories. I was mentioned to her by another client. She asked for three chapters, then three more, and then three more. I could tell she was hooked. But then, just when my hopes were getting too high for my own good, she decided the story wasn\u2019t quite suitable for her to represent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t make the effort, but it\u2019s probably wise not to put all your eggs in one basket. There are many alternatives available that a simple Google search will help you locate. And thanks to the Internet your publisher can be located anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children’s Publishing Pros and Cons<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Should you create your own e-book, or should you work with a publisher?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It depends how you feel about it. I\u2019ve got a story that makes people laugh out loud, and yet so far publishers haven\u2019t responded in the same way. I\u2019m determined to get it published, though, so I\u2019ll probably get it online as an Amazon Kindle book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Print-on-demand publishers represent one option you might like to consider. They sit somewhere between traditional publishers and doing it yourself. You get access to their expertise and assistance without having to do all the hard work. They\u2019ll probably team you up with an illustrator, so you only have to focus on the story. Once your book is published, it will be available on Amazon and other reputable sites to purchase worldwide. You\u2019ll get more of the profits from sales than you would with a mainstream publisher, too, although naturally sales will depend on the amount of marketing they\u2019re prepared to do on your behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DIY Approach to Publishing Children’s Books<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you decide to publish your book by yourself, here are a few factors you need to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7         The story: is it absolutely ready? Get as many people as you can to read it through and check for any small errors you may have overlooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7         The artwork: does it complement the story and help bring it alive? Naturally you\u2019ll want to get your book out there as quickly as possible, but you should never settle for second-best. Get other people\u2019s opinions to make sure the illustrations do your words justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7         The marketing: will you be able to promote it and create sales? Books don\u2019t sell themselves, so you have to let people know they\u2019re available. You might create a Facebook page, put links in your e-mail signature, blog about your work, or write articles with relevant hyperlinks in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the advantages to publishing online is the fact that you get to keep more of the profits. On Amazon, for example, a Kindle book can earn you up to 70% royalties. But that\u2019s no good if you don\u2019t sell any. You need to ensure that links to your books show up everywhere to give you the best chance of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dotted Line: Publishing Contracts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you work with a publisher, you\u2019ll get a contract. Different publishers will use different contracts with slight changes in the wording, but the thrust will be the same. In most cases the contract will state who owns what, how royalties will be divided and distributed, and the responsibilities of those involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically authors and artists get their cut after publishers make their own deductions. The author-artist split is often 50-50 for a book with lots of illustrations. Remember that\u2019s 50 % of the profit, not the selling price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you write a story, the words belong to you. Artwork belongs to the artist, who must be consulted if you decide to use the pictures on your blog or website. If you write a sequel with the same characters, you\u2019ll probably want to use the same artist, and often your publisher will specify that such a work must be published by them. That\u2019s not necessarily a bad thing, because it means you can probably guarantee publication \u2013 if you can get that second (or third) book written.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding Children’s Book Publishers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way to find a publisher for your book is by doing some legwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit your local library and book store. Take note of books that resemble yours and write down the names of the publishing companies. Take your list and use it to browse their submission guidelines. This is a vital step in the process, because some companies won\u2019t accept unsolicited submissions, some companies only accept submissions at certain times of the year, and some companies will only accept submissions by email. If you fail to follow their guidelines you\u2019ll simply be wasting your time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting Published Takes Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting published isn\u2019t easy. You\u2019re setting yourself up for some hard times, because every rejection letter or e-mail means you have to start over with another company. And when that letter or e-mail does arrive, it\u2019s often just a standard note sent out to every unsuccessful candidate. There\u2019s never any feedback, because they haven\u2019t got time to give any.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started writing short stories for children and got them published in magazines as fillers, usually at the back of publications. But they were published, and I got paid, so I knew that I could write. My first children\u2019s book was published in 2008 \u2013 which was about 6 years after I wrote it. I probably sent it to twenty or more publishers before finally getting any interest whatsoever. Since then I\u2019ve had two more books published, three more are in production, and another is due out soon as an iPad download.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could have given up after the fifteenth attempt, but I didn\u2019t. I kept on trying until somebody took notice. I\u2019m still doing it, as a matter of fact, and two of my chapter books are in the hands of another publishing company. If you believe in yourself and keep on trying, sooner or later it will pay off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s probably the most important thing about the whole process. You have to have faith, and you have to keep going. None of the great writers got published at their first attempt, but they never gave up. As long as your story\u2019s a good one, the same thing will eventually happen to you.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Where Do You Begin? Writing a book for children is one thing, but what’s the point if nobody ever gets to read it? All authors write to have their stories read, and children’s writers need an audience just like anybody else. So what’s the best way to get your children’s book published? That depends on a number of factors that require careful consideration. Children’s Books Publishing Options It used to be the case that you could only get your book published through a mainstream publisher. But those days are gone. Now you have options that simply weren\u2019t available just a few years ago. Today your books can be published by smaller presses, as e-books and paper books, or you can buy essays and even publish them yourself.Turn your book into a PDF file and you can upload it to Lulu, or use Amazon\u2019s Mobipocket software to create an e-book on the Kindle platform that\u2019s instantly available from the world\u2019s largest online book store. E-books have begun to outsell paper books, so that tells you where things are heading. If the thought of having just a \u201cvirtual\u201d book puts you off, remember that some publishers offer the option to turn your e-book into a \u201creal\u201d book, a service that you have to pay for but that gives you the thrill of holding your book in your hand. For instance, your Kindle book can be turned into a traditional book using Amazon\u2019s paid CreateSpace service, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Old versus New Children’s Publishers If you really feel the need, you can try your hand at finding a traditional publisher to take you on. It won\u2019t be easy, even if your story and artwork are exceptional. First you have to make it past the infamous slush pile, and even if you do there are no guarantees you\u2019ll get past the next stage in the process. I managed to find an editor who was willing to read one of my stories. I was mentioned to her by another client. She asked for three chapters, then three more, and then three more. I could tell she was hooked. But then, just when my hopes were getting too high for my own good, she decided the story wasn\u2019t quite suitable for her to represent. That doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t make the effort, but it\u2019s probably wise not to put all your eggs in one basket. There are many alternatives available that a simple Google search will help you locate. And thanks to the Internet your publisher can be located anywhere in the world. Children’s Publishing Pros and Cons Should you create your own e-book, or should you work with a publisher? It depends how you feel about it. I\u2019ve got a story that makes people laugh out loud, and yet so far publishers haven\u2019t responded in the same way. I\u2019m determined to get it published, though, so I\u2019ll probably get it online as an Amazon Kindle book. Print-on-demand publishers represent one option you might like to consider. They sit somewhere between traditional publishers and doing it yourself. You get access to their expertise and assistance without having to do all the hard work. They\u2019ll probably team you up with an illustrator, so you only have to focus on the story. Once your book is published, it will be available on Amazon and other reputable sites to purchase worldwide. You\u2019ll get more of the profits from sales than you would with a mainstream publisher, too, although naturally sales will depend on the amount of marketing they\u2019re prepared to do on your behalf. The DIY Approach to Publishing Children’s Books If you decide to publish your book by yourself, here are a few factors you need to consider. \u00b7         The story: is it absolutely ready? Get as many people as you can to read it through and check for any small errors you may have overlooked. \u00b7         The artwork: does it complement the story and help bring it alive? Naturally you\u2019ll want to get your book out there as quickly as possible, but you should never settle for second-best. Get other people\u2019s opinions to make sure the illustrations do your words justice. \u00b7         The marketing: will you be able to promote it and create sales? Books don\u2019t sell themselves, so you have to let people know they\u2019re available. You might create a Facebook page, put links in your e-mail signature, blog about your work, or write articles with relevant hyperlinks in them. One of the advantages to publishing online is the fact that you get to keep more of the profits. On Amazon, for example, a Kindle book can earn you up to 70% royalties. But that\u2019s no good if you don\u2019t sell any. You need to ensure that links to your books show up everywhere to give you the best chance of success. The Dotted Line: Publishing Contracts When you work with a publisher, you\u2019ll get a contract. Different publishers will use different contracts with slight changes in the wording, but the thrust will be the same. In most cases the contract will state who owns what, how royalties will be divided and distributed, and the responsibilities of those involved. Typically authors and artists get their cut after publishers make their own deductions. The author-artist split is often 50-50 for a book with lots of illustrations. Remember that\u2019s 50 % of the profit, not the selling price. When you write a story, the words belong to you. Artwork belongs to the artist, who must be consulted if you decide to use the pictures on your blog or website. If you write a sequel with the same characters, you\u2019ll probably want to use the same artist, and often your publisher will specify that such a work must be published by them. That\u2019s not necessarily a bad thing, because it means you can probably guarantee publication \u2013 if you can<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"views":1284,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.free-ebooks.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.free-ebooks.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.free-ebooks.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.free-ebooks.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.free-ebooks.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5061"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.free-ebooks.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5061\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5074,"href":"https:\/\/www.free-ebooks.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5061\/revisions\/5074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.free-ebooks.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.free-ebooks.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.free-ebooks.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}