posted
Hello, I'm new and I'm feeling a little guilty...
I'm really only joining to find out how someone would go about getting a book punlished; specifically a children's book. I searched, but I couldn't find anything that really outlined it. At the moment, I have absolutely no clue how to start the process and would appreciate finding out.
posted
Welcome, anyway! After all, what are you going to do after getting it published? Sit on your... laurels? Go to "Markets for our Writing" and see if there is a useful thread, and go to "Open Discussions About Writing" and ask the question there. Good luck! I don't know the answer myself or I'd be more helpful.
On the other hand... isn't there a publication called Writer's Markets, or something like that? You also want to start crafting query letters. I believe there is a thread here somewhere on that also.
mikemunsil
[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited May 17, 2005).]
posted
Well, its not actually for me. Someone I know has written a few children's books, but doesn't have a clue how to publish it, and neither did I. I did, however, know of this forum so she asked if I'd search and ask around for how the publishing thing works.
Posts: 3 | Registered: May 2005
|
posted
First of all, as with the publishing market for adult fiction, you're more likely to get a foot in the door if you have a good resume to impress the publisher with. That is ESPECIALLY true, I would think, of the HIGHLY COMPETETIVE picture book market. You build that resume by getting stories published in magazines.
There are quite a few out there--literary magazines for children. Check out cricket.com. Cricket publishes a whole range of literary magazines for children of different ages. Also, Highlights and others. Do a bit of searching around on the net.
Tell your friend to start selling some of those stories in a format like Cricket before even trying to sell to a book market. Make sure that whatever market he sells to he sells to one that wants first publishing rights and no more than a one year no-print window--meaning that you can't print your story anywhere else for a year. Most places want six months to a year. All other rights must stay with the author. Especially with stories like you describe he'll want to leave the door wide open for later development into a picture book.
Printer-friendly view of this topic
E-mail this page
