Choose Your Publishers Carefully
Dispite the long waits for publishing, writers should keep in mind that in the children's industry for books, the manuscipts will be read. It is very possible that an unknown author can be found. Target your work to the right publisher in the first place. Editors prefer this too!
Follow these tips:
Send multiple submissions to publishers that invite them.
Send queries on a multiple basis.
Watch for publishers with single-submission policies. Request a decision within a certain amount of time.
As a result, if an acceptance letter greets you at the mailbox, please notify other companies that have your manuscript that the work has left the market. Just imagine you were the editor that has spent time reading a piece no longer for sale.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Simultaneous Submissions: Part 1
Simultaneous submissions means sending something to more than one publisher at one time. Many writers feel like this is common sense. Writers may think they are in a hurry to get published. They know that publishers can tie up work for a long time. I've heard from 9 months to 2 years. This long wait to be rejected in the end.
Yes: Send Multiple Submissions
Almost every publisher for children's writing is willing to look at simultaneous submissions. Editors definitely will want to to know if you ever sent it out to others. It is just in good keeping with professional guidelines. Unfortunately, "simultaneous submission" does not mean "Act now - others might win the script!" If a story is strong, editors might act a little quicker. Perhaps, the script might earn an accelerated trip to the editorial director a little quicker, but the editors say most stories are not that strong.
No: Don't Send Multiple Submissions
Maybe writers are hoping for a bidding war over their manuscript if a publisher makes an offer. It probably won't happen. Most editors will step out of the deal if they find that someone else has put an offer on the table. Then where does that leave you?
Some publishers will switch to an exclusive-submissions policy if the submissions are inappropriate. Writers were primarily submitting fiction manuscripts to a non-fiction publisher. Make sure you research the publishers and what they want to receive. It's a waste of your time and the editors. The exclusive submissions comes when they still want to leave the door open for unsolicited manuscripts, which is the lifeblood of children's publishing. These new policies are put into place to improve the overall quality of work sent.
Yes: Send Multiple Submissions
Almost every publisher for children's writing is willing to look at simultaneous submissions. Editors definitely will want to to know if you ever sent it out to others. It is just in good keeping with professional guidelines. Unfortunately, "simultaneous submission" does not mean "Act now - others might win the script!" If a story is strong, editors might act a little quicker. Perhaps, the script might earn an accelerated trip to the editorial director a little quicker, but the editors say most stories are not that strong.
No: Don't Send Multiple Submissions
Maybe writers are hoping for a bidding war over their manuscript if a publisher makes an offer. It probably won't happen. Most editors will step out of the deal if they find that someone else has put an offer on the table. Then where does that leave you?
Some publishers will switch to an exclusive-submissions policy if the submissions are inappropriate. Writers were primarily submitting fiction manuscripts to a non-fiction publisher. Make sure you research the publishers and what they want to receive. It's a waste of your time and the editors. The exclusive submissions comes when they still want to leave the door open for unsolicited manuscripts, which is the lifeblood of children's publishing. These new policies are put into place to improve the overall quality of work sent.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Over-confident or humble?
Just a thought ...
TALKING ABOUT THE SLUSH PILE: Looking for a needle in a field of haystacks, and having to tell each stalk that it's not the needle you're looking for. --Unknown
When an agent decides to represent a writer, they are signing up for a long-term relationship. People show that they are hard to work with when they sound over confident in the cover letter. This shows that they have unrealistic expectations. It is far better to be humble and allow the editor or agent to discover your greatness.
When approaching publishers with a manuscript, be careful not to oversell it. Choose your words so the editor notices the book's potential on their own. There’s no substitute to finding a gem all on their own. Choose your words for the query carefully. SHOW the editor or agent the greatness of your work, don't try to TELL them how great it is. It’s a much more effective approach.
TALKING ABOUT THE SLUSH PILE: Looking for a needle in a field of haystacks, and having to tell each stalk that it's not the needle you're looking for. --Unknown
When an agent decides to represent a writer, they are signing up for a long-term relationship. People show that they are hard to work with when they sound over confident in the cover letter. This shows that they have unrealistic expectations. It is far better to be humble and allow the editor or agent to discover your greatness.
When approaching publishers with a manuscript, be careful not to oversell it. Choose your words so the editor notices the book's potential on their own. There’s no substitute to finding a gem all on their own. Choose your words for the query carefully. SHOW the editor or agent the greatness of your work, don't try to TELL them how great it is. It’s a much more effective approach.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
PB Review: Llama Llama Red Pajama
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Published by Viking / Penguin Group 2005
“Llama Llama
Red Pajama
Reads a story
With his mama.
Mama kisses
Baby’s hair.
Mama Llama
Goes downstairs.”
This delightful story tells about mama llama putting her little llama to bed for the night. Baby learns a lesson in patience after displaying outrageous llama drama!
The words have a terrific flow and rhythm. This makes the story easy and enjoyable to read. The illustrations are full of deep, brilliant color. The story is truly told through the illustrations; you almost don’t need the words to re-tell the story. Many children will be able to identify with the story of Llama Llama Red Pajama!
Published by Viking / Penguin Group 2005
“Llama Llama
Red Pajama
Reads a story
With his mama.
Mama kisses
Baby’s hair.
Mama Llama
Goes downstairs.”
This delightful story tells about mama llama putting her little llama to bed for the night. Baby learns a lesson in patience after displaying outrageous llama drama!
The words have a terrific flow and rhythm. This makes the story easy and enjoyable to read. The illustrations are full of deep, brilliant color. The story is truly told through the illustrations; you almost don’t need the words to re-tell the story. Many children will be able to identify with the story of Llama Llama Red Pajama!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Self Editing
I recently attended a roundtable talk with Carol Rahme, a writer and freelance editor here in Fort Collins, CO at our bi-monthly SCBWI Schmooze meeting. I wanted to share some points that she made because I thought that it was worth hearing.
The important reasons for editing are many. They range from saving your credibility, being taken seriously, challenge you to be a better writer, the better you edit you materials, the better and more control you have over your manuscript. That’s a good point right there, have you ever thought that maybe an editor will get a hold of your manuscript and completely change your voice due to all the changes they make in your manuscript? Basically, the more you edit yourself, the better your get at writing!
I know that your writing is “your baby!” Don’t completely delete the orphans. Cut and paste those to an “orphan document.” You just might be able to recycle those phrases into another writing piece.
Get some good updated dictionaries and writing tools like a thesaurus. Also own some good grammar guides. Visit any writing section of your favorite bookstore and you will be able to find what you need.
The Easy Fixes:
Find the Echo Words. These are the same words used over and over. Read your piece aloud and if you have echo words, it will be apparent. Change a few out or find another way of saying the phrase.
Listen to the rhythm. Have someone else read it aloud to you. Is it smooth and easy to listen to, or is the script bumpy and hard to read?
Avoid modifiers: watch the word, THAT and –ly words. Take these out!! They weaken your writing and indicate passive writing. Instead, use good strong verbs. If you can remove the word and the sentence will still make sense, leave it out. This will easily affect your word count. Helpful if you wrote too much.
THAT refers to people or things.
WHICH refers to things.
WHO refers to people.
Watch excessive taglines. For example: “… he said” or “… she said.” Perhaps make it an action. Choose something to move the story forward.
Be careful of Adverb Phrases: (As…, While…, etc) Your audience is better at envisioning action if it comes one action at a time.
Look for Double Prepositions. For example: “… out of”, “… over by”, “… down under.”
Be aware of Qualifiers: “Just, very, simple, some, much…” These tend to minimize what you should be maximizing.
Watch for plurals and singulars.
The word THEN tells instead of shows. Omit this and your writing just got stronger!
When all else fails, get away from it for a day or two. Let it marinate. You will gain fresh eyes and be able to make the necessary edits.
Happy editing!
The important reasons for editing are many. They range from saving your credibility, being taken seriously, challenge you to be a better writer, the better you edit you materials, the better and more control you have over your manuscript. That’s a good point right there, have you ever thought that maybe an editor will get a hold of your manuscript and completely change your voice due to all the changes they make in your manuscript? Basically, the more you edit yourself, the better your get at writing!
I know that your writing is “your baby!” Don’t completely delete the orphans. Cut and paste those to an “orphan document.” You just might be able to recycle those phrases into another writing piece.
Get some good updated dictionaries and writing tools like a thesaurus. Also own some good grammar guides. Visit any writing section of your favorite bookstore and you will be able to find what you need.
The Easy Fixes:
Find the Echo Words. These are the same words used over and over. Read your piece aloud and if you have echo words, it will be apparent. Change a few out or find another way of saying the phrase.
Listen to the rhythm. Have someone else read it aloud to you. Is it smooth and easy to listen to, or is the script bumpy and hard to read?
Avoid modifiers: watch the word, THAT and –ly words. Take these out!! They weaken your writing and indicate passive writing. Instead, use good strong verbs. If you can remove the word and the sentence will still make sense, leave it out. This will easily affect your word count. Helpful if you wrote too much.
THAT refers to people or things.
WHICH refers to things.
WHO refers to people.
Watch excessive taglines. For example: “… he said” or “… she said.” Perhaps make it an action. Choose something to move the story forward.
Be careful of Adverb Phrases: (As…, While…, etc) Your audience is better at envisioning action if it comes one action at a time.
Look for Double Prepositions. For example: “… out of”, “… over by”, “… down under.”
Be aware of Qualifiers: “Just, very, simple, some, much…” These tend to minimize what you should be maximizing.
Watch for plurals and singulars.
The word THEN tells instead of shows. Omit this and your writing just got stronger!
When all else fails, get away from it for a day or two. Let it marinate. You will gain fresh eyes and be able to make the necessary edits.
Happy editing!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Why self-publish your children's book?
A few reasons to self-publish your children's book:
Kids really enjoy reading books and have quite an appetite for them. As a result, the children’s book industry continues to grow every year.
The children’s book industry is highly competitive, and publishers are experiencing huge “slush piles” of author queries to get through. Only a small percentage of manuscripts will get published.
It is possible for self published children’s books to be successful. After selling 10,000 copies of Time Stops For No Mouse in 2000, the author Michael Hoeye sold the book and sequel rights to Putnam for b$1.8 million.
Publishers are looking for children’s books with mass market appeal. If you happen to have a highly narrow and targeted subject, you will receive resistance from the mass market publishers.
When you self-publish, you have complete control over all aspects of the book. You have the final say about the illustrations, editing, and cover design. You also retain all rights to your book. This is not the case if you get traditionally published. The publisher will have the final say over every aspect of the book. (This is because they are footing the money for the whole production.)
You also have the potential to make more money self-publishing than being published. In a traditional arrangement, you are paid by royalties (generally about 7-9%) on each book sold, based on the retail price of the book. Sometimes the author ends up sharing the royalties with the illustrator. For example, your could make $1.50 per book if your book is being sold for $19.95. On the flipside, if you self publish, you could potentially earn 100% of the profits.
Before you self-publish, your time would be well spent if you educate yourself on the industry and the risks and rewards of both. Then, make an educated decision based on the facts. Do whatever is best for you.
Kids really enjoy reading books and have quite an appetite for them. As a result, the children’s book industry continues to grow every year.
The children’s book industry is highly competitive, and publishers are experiencing huge “slush piles” of author queries to get through. Only a small percentage of manuscripts will get published.
It is possible for self published children’s books to be successful. After selling 10,000 copies of Time Stops For No Mouse in 2000, the author Michael Hoeye sold the book and sequel rights to Putnam for b$1.8 million.
Publishers are looking for children’s books with mass market appeal. If you happen to have a highly narrow and targeted subject, you will receive resistance from the mass market publishers.
When you self-publish, you have complete control over all aspects of the book. You have the final say about the illustrations, editing, and cover design. You also retain all rights to your book. This is not the case if you get traditionally published. The publisher will have the final say over every aspect of the book. (This is because they are footing the money for the whole production.)
You also have the potential to make more money self-publishing than being published. In a traditional arrangement, you are paid by royalties (generally about 7-9%) on each book sold, based on the retail price of the book. Sometimes the author ends up sharing the royalties with the illustrator. For example, your could make $1.50 per book if your book is being sold for $19.95. On the flipside, if you self publish, you could potentially earn 100% of the profits.
Before you self-publish, your time would be well spent if you educate yourself on the industry and the risks and rewards of both. Then, make an educated decision based on the facts. Do whatever is best for you.
Monday, June 1, 2009
What do art buyers look for?
I know it must seem basic to say good drawing, good color and good composition. But -- It’s true!
Present AMAZING samples!! It’s difficult to get any illustration job if looks that you are not consistent. You must show them plenty of good pieces. Have 10-12 really strong samples on your portfolio. For children’s work, art buyers are looking for character development, interaction and reaction. The characters are “acting” in their space on the page.
I’ve talked about promoting yourself in previous posts. These might be a few other ideas for you. Arrange an 8.5x11 sheet of paper with several illustration pieces in the same style you want to present to an AD (art director). Same as the postcards, put your name and email, possibly web address on the front and send to interested art directors and editors. Another idea would be to take out an ad in a promotional directory and order the extra tearsheets to send to publishers / buyers.
Constantly study the market. Keep an eye on what publishers are buying. What makes those illustrations work? How do they flow? Look for styles close to yours and notice who publishes them. Call the publishing houses and ask for a recent catalogue. Always stay current on what is coming out.
Trends can be tricky! Timing seems to be everything when hitting a publisher with your material. Be different, dramatic and memorable. This will help your to stay on top of the buyer’s mind so that they call when they need your style. Something else that helps to stay at the top of mind awareness is the frequency of sending your promotional materials. Four times a year is good, more is better!
In closing, develop your own personal style, do it very well, practice, get criticism, study the market, and keep sending samples in the mail to art buyers. Remember to show these essential elements that buyers are looking for: Good drawing, good composition and good color!
Present AMAZING samples!! It’s difficult to get any illustration job if looks that you are not consistent. You must show them plenty of good pieces. Have 10-12 really strong samples on your portfolio. For children’s work, art buyers are looking for character development, interaction and reaction. The characters are “acting” in their space on the page.
I’ve talked about promoting yourself in previous posts. These might be a few other ideas for you. Arrange an 8.5x11 sheet of paper with several illustration pieces in the same style you want to present to an AD (art director). Same as the postcards, put your name and email, possibly web address on the front and send to interested art directors and editors. Another idea would be to take out an ad in a promotional directory and order the extra tearsheets to send to publishers / buyers.
Constantly study the market. Keep an eye on what publishers are buying. What makes those illustrations work? How do they flow? Look for styles close to yours and notice who publishes them. Call the publishing houses and ask for a recent catalogue. Always stay current on what is coming out.
Trends can be tricky! Timing seems to be everything when hitting a publisher with your material. Be different, dramatic and memorable. This will help your to stay on top of the buyer’s mind so that they call when they need your style. Something else that helps to stay at the top of mind awareness is the frequency of sending your promotional materials. Four times a year is good, more is better!
In closing, develop your own personal style, do it very well, practice, get criticism, study the market, and keep sending samples in the mail to art buyers. Remember to show these essential elements that buyers are looking for: Good drawing, good composition and good color!
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