Just as storybook heroes know the way to overcome ogres and evil wizards, successful children’s book writers find a way to reach their goal of publication. Whether you’re just thinking about writing a children’s book or you are a published author, you’ll find that How to Publish Your Children’s Book points the way and provides a solid reference you can turn to time and time again.

Liza N. Burby received her undergraduate degree in Journalism from St. John’s University in Jamaica, New York. As a book editor-turned-writer, she is an award-winning author of thirty-nine nonfiction history, science, health, and social issue books for children from elementary school age through high school. Her articles frequently appear in national magazines and newspapers, including Parents Magazine and The New York Times. Currently managing editor of Long Island Parents & Children magazine, Ms. Burby also teaches "How to Write and Sell Fiction/Nonfiction" workshops to adults. The author and her family reside in Long Island, New York.

To learn more about Liza N. Burby, feel free to visit her website at www.lizaburby.com

Contents

Acknowledgments

1: An Introduction
2: Where Does Your Book Fit In?
3: The Business of Children’s Book Publishing
4: Choosing the Right Publisher
5: Preparing the Package
6: Using the Square One System
7: The Deal
8: When It Doesn’t Happen

Conclusion

Glossary
Resource List
Index

Introduction

It’s 9:00 A.M. on a Monday morning. The editor sits down with his cup of coffee, prepared to get through the pile of manuscript submissions on his desk. He knows that somewhere within that mountain of paper is one of the dozen or so manuscripts his house is hoping to publish that year. So he takes a sip of java and starts sifting through the envelopes. Sadly, though, just as the pile of manuscripts on his desk is slowly being whittled down, another pile is growing on the floor. It’s the rejection pile, filled with the optimistic submissions of people like you and me.

It may seem that this caffeine-hyped editor has no more method to his mountain offensive than to move the pile from one place to another. But I assure you that he’s using a very simple system--one that’s been employed throughout publishing history by all editors, regardless of the publishing house in which their desk is found. Although it may seem a mysterious process to hopeful writers, the guidelines haven’t changed over the years. When reviewing a submission, every editor asks the same question: Does it fit our house? If your manuscript submission doesn’t, there’s really nothing an editor can do about it, because it’s his job to find the manuscript that matches his house’s genre, reading level, and subject matter. And your job? To make sure you provide the perfect match. That’s what How to Publish Your Children’s Book is all about.

The book you are about to read presents a proven system of submissions that will (1) avoid the common mistakes that turn editors off, (2) save you valuable time and money, (3) allow you to find those houses best suited to your title, and (4) increase the odds of having your manuscript proposal accepted. Let’s look at each of these points in turn.

AVOIDING MISTAKES THAT TURN EDITORS OFF

Many authors unknowingly sprinkle their proposals with words and phrases that are almost guaranteed to trigger negative reactions on the part of an editor. Always remember that editors are busy people. If they see something in a proposal that tries their patience or raises questions about the abilities of the writer or the marketability of a book, they will instantly reject the proposal. I will show you how to clear your submission package of all unintentional land mines.

SAVING TIME AND MONEY

It takes a great deal of time to put together an elaborate submission package. And it takes a great deal of money to send it out. But the fact is that a good submission package doesn’t have to be elaborate. In most cases, in fact, an effective proposal is fairly simple and light in weight, but is carefully crafted to hit its mark. This book will show you how to create a package that doesn’t take hours to put together, that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to mail, and that is right on target.

FINDING THE HOUSES BEST SUITED TO YOUR TITLE

Most writers in search of a publisher pay little attention to the fine points of choosing a house that would best serve their needs. Instead, they select houses whose names are familiar to them, or they randomly send out proposals to all “legitimate” companies, hoping that someone somewhere will take an interest in their work. Remember the time and money mentioned above? You don’t want to waste it by sending your carefully crafted submission package to publishers who would never even consider your proposal, or that are not a good fit for your title. This book will explain what you should be looking for, and what the right publisher should offer based upon your needs.

INCREASING YOUR ODDS OF ACCEPTANCE

While I may have painted editors as a fairly cranky group, nothing could be further from the truth. Recently, I attended a conference at which children’s book editors discussed the types of books for which they’re looking. At first, I was surprised that they genuinely seemed to want to reach out to us. But then I realized that they need us as much as we need them. To do their job, they require great manuscripts from people like you and me. Editors want to like our proposals, but they can base their response only on what we give them. And if we give them a bad submission package, chances are, they’ll reject it. Just as there are many ways to kill an editor’s interest in your proposal, there are many ways to turn an editor on to your project. Some of them are relatively simple, while others require more preparation. In this book, you will find out how it’s done.

RULE # 1

Rule #1--Sometimes, you just get lucky

Before I begin to detail the many steps that should be followed on the road to publishing success, I have to get one thing out of the way. Sometimes, it seems as though a writer simply rises out of the submissions pile to become an international star. At least that’s what’s been on the minds of all potential children’s authors ever since J.K. Rowling wowed the publishing world with her Harry Potter books. Then there’s Gordon Korman, author of over forty-five children’s books, who sold his initial novel on his first try--when he was in the seventh grade. The problem is that when viewed from outside the industry, these seeming lucky breaks may be considered the norm. But the fact is that for most writers, rejection is part of the business. Even celebrated author Madeleine L’Engle experienced rejection. In fact, A Wrinkle in Time was rejected twenty times before a publisher took a chance on it! Sure, publishing success will take some luck. And talent will certainly be required. But success will also necessitate a certain amount of publishing savvy. And how can you get that? Read on.

WHAT’S IN THIS BOOK?

I have designed How to Publish Your Children’s Book to provide the information you need to put my system into practice and get that longed-for positive response from children’s book editors. For clarity, I have attempted to use nontechnical language throughout this book. Whenever I do include a technical term that’s commonly used inhouse-- within a publishing company, that is--it’s explained the first time it appears. And if you missed it the first time, you can always refer to the handy glossary in the back of the book.

Following this introductory chapter, the book is divided into seven chapters, each of which contains an important piece of the publishing puzzle. My aim throughout is to help you understand what goes on behind closed doors at a publishing house. We all read and hear about the huge advances some well-known writers receive, and about the book turned TV series or movie. But these success stories, while exciting, have nothing to do with the everyday workings of a publishing house, nor will they increase your chances of getting published. This book, however, was designed to show you exactly what to do and why you should do it.

Unless you know where your book fits in the market, you’re going to have a hard time convincing an editor to buy it. That’s why Chapter 2, “Where Does Your Book Fit In?,” explains what book categories are, and what they mean to an editor and the marketplace. The chapter then presents the Square One Book Classification System, which will guide you in determining the specific book category into which your project falls. In addition, Chapter 2 will help you understand your audience and your marketplace--information that will be critical when you create your submission package.

Chapter 3, “The Business of Children’s Book Publishing,” continues our exploration of the book business, first by presenting the fascinating history of the children’s book publishing industry. It then goes on to explain the publishing process as it is determined by different- sized companies, all with an eye to understanding how each type of company selects its books from the hundreds of submissions that pour in each year. And it helps steer you to the type of house that is most likely to accept your book proposal.

By the time you reach Chapter 4, “Choosing the Right Publisher,” you will have determined the category into which your manuscript falls, and you will have learned a good deal about the publishing industry. The time will be right, then, to put your information to work and begin selecting the right publisher for your project. First, the chapter asks you some basic questions about your personal goals as a writer. Then, it provides a step-by-step system for creating a list of the best publishers--publishers that are right for your book and, just as important, right for you.

As the opening of this chapter indicates, editors are busy people who can spend only a very short time deciding whether any particular proposal is worth pursuing. This means that your submission package has to provide exactly what the editor is looking for in exactly the right form. If this task sounds a bit daunting, relax. Chapter 5, “Preparing the Package,” provides a simple step-by-step system for creating each component of your submission. By following these steps, you’ll be able to create an effective proposal that includes all the basic information the editor is looking for, and--just as important-- avoids the pitfalls that keep so many writers from realizing their dream of publication. This chapter also offers special guidelines for the writer who is also an artist, and for the artist or photographer who is interested in illustrating children’s book.

Once you’ve created your submission package, you may be tempted to print out a slew of proposals and send them to every publisher on your list. While this might feel good, there is a far more effective way to handle this part of the submissions process. Chapter 6, “Using the Square One System,” will guide you in sending out your letter-perfect package so that you maximize your chance of success while minimizing your effort, time, and costs. You’ll even have the opportunity to fine-tune your proposal along the way.

If you’re like most authors--including yours truly--once your first group of proposals goes out, you’ll be waiting for responses the way a child waits for his birthday gifts. The problem is that when a publishing contract does arrive, it’s likely to be a bit more confusing than your average present. Terms like “indemnities” and “force majeure” can be intimidating. Add the fact that you need to understand not only what the publishing agreement says, but also what it implies, and your work is cut out for you. That’s what Chapter 7, “The Deal,” is all about. It sorts through the legal mumbo-jumbo, explaining all the standard terms used in a publishing contract. It also provides guidelines for negotiation, and helps you decide if you want to handle the negotiation process on your own, or enlist the aid of a lawyer or literary agent.

Certainly, rejection isn’t a favorite topic among writers. But because few published authors haven’t suffered disappointment before their first success--and sometimes even afterwards--Chapter 8, “When It Doesn’t Happen,” looks at the many reasons why publishers may fail to show an interest in your proposal. Most important, it helps you both identify the problem and solve it. And if that hoped-for contract still proves elusive, the chapter fills you in on some great options such as self-publishing--options that may allow you to get your manuscript out of the desk drawer and into the bookstore.

Do you need to read every chapter of this book to get your own book into print? Not necessarily. You can always jump to the chapters that seem to best meet your specific needs. But do keep in mind that the Square One System is based on a steppingstone approach. By reading all of the chapters, you’ll equip yourself with all the tools you need to become the type of author that editors seek. Of course, this will take some effort on your part. Once you learn what you need to do, you’ll have to invest the time and do the work necessary to make it happen. This book doesn’t offer any guarantees that you’ll get your work published. But if you utilize all you learn in these pages, you’ll greatly increase your chances of seeing your name on a publisher’s contract--and on a book cover.

Reviews

"Liza N. Burby is not only knowledgeable, she has put together a book that answers just about every question imaginable about writing for readers from infancy through high school. Burby, a former editor and the prolific author of more than 39 nonfiction books for young readers, offers a detailed look at the 12 different categories of chidren’s books ... and explains how to pinpoint your own book within those categories by genre and theme. How to Publish Your Children’s Book may be aimed at novice writers, but the wealth of information here would be useful to anyone of any level of experience who wants to write for young readers."

--ASJA Monthly, May 2005

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