You've finished writing your children's book, and everybody loves it and urges you to get it published. Where to start? There are some key steps you need to take to begin the process of getting your children's book published. The publishing industry is competitive, and you'll need to streamline your submissions to have the best chance of landing a book contract.
Step 1
Look for publishers that specialize in children's literature. The "Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market" is published by Writers Markets and is the industry standard. Besides listing publishers and agents and what they're looking for in a manuscript, the digest also lists magazine markets and contests for children's writers, as well as tips on how to write query letters and formatting a manuscript. You can also look up publishers' websites to see whether they're accepting queries or not.
Step 2
Submit your query exactly as the publisher or agent requests in their guidelines. Make sure its easy to read, and don't use unusual formatting or fancy fonts and scripts. Don't send the entire manuscript unless they ask for it, and make sure you address your query to a specific person. While many publishers are now using email as an acceptable form of query, others prefer to receive queries by postal mail.
Step 3
Avoid illustrating your own manuscript unless you're a professional artist. Most publishers use in-house illustrators and won't consider a prospective author's drawings. If you are a professional artist, compile your illustrations with your manuscript package, not with your query letter.
Step 4
Prepare to wait. A good rule of thumb is for every 10 queries you send, one will request to see your manuscript. For every 10 manuscripts you send, one will show interest in further negotiations.
Skill: Challenging
Tip: Be prepared for rejection, and don't take it personally. Most new books are written by previously published authors, and it's a tough market to break into. Believe in your work and persevere, and you'll be rewarded with that coveted publishing contract.
Keyword: children's children book manuscript publish publishers
