Publishing a Book

[scoobysoo]

Hi. I'm currently in the process of writing a children's book and was after some advice regarding getting it published. Do I make loads of copies and send to a number of publishers or contact them first? Also I'm not sure how to present it, as I plan to illustrate it but have no idea what they expect. Could I send the text and pictures separately or does it need to be merged somehow?

[nannon]

Hi - i'm afraid i dont have an answer to you question but i was wondering if you coupld help me. I'm currently studying an English degree and one module is Childrens Fantasy Fiction. I'm writing an essay at the moment the qusetion is: “One of the strengths of domestic fantasy is its ability to transform the everyday world. At its best it does this not by foisting onto that world a supernatural apparatus essentially alien to it, but by revealing what is already strange and wondrous in the apparently familiar.” Assess this statement; using TWO of the texts you have studied on this module to illustrate your answer.

I was wondering if you could possible give me some pointers (The books i'm using are Harry Potter philosopher stone and The Lives of Christopher Chant) about how to answer it or some critics as there seem to be very few. Any help would be greatly appreciated. (I hope your book is successful!!!)

[Drusilla1S]

Sadly, most publishers are not interested in unagented material and will throw your manuscript into the slush pile. It would be more beneficial for you to find an agent who specialises in novels for children.

May I suggest you buy 'The Writer's Handbook,' which is published by Macmillan and costs about �14. It has details of agents and publishers and is extremely useful for all aspiring writers.

As you are also concerned about presentation, I would recommend Novel Writing by Evan Marshall (A & C Black-�12.99) which is invaluable.

[scoobysoo]

FAO Nannon - I'm afraid I cannot advise you. I am but a humble Nursery Nurse writing a very basic book for 3 years olds, so I'm not really the right person to ask. Try starting a new thread and I'm sure there will be more qualified people out there who could help you.

[Buenchico]

(Multi-part post):

Some people will tell you that you must have an agent. These 'doom-mongers' will tell you that publishers only ever read submissions that are sent via agents and that all other manuscripts are automatically consigned to the 'slush pile'. This simply isn't true. There may well be some benefits to using an agent but publishers aren't so daft that they won't at least take a look at all submissions.

There are also 'experts' who'll try to convince you that publishers won't even look at, say, manuscripts that aren't double-spaced. While it's always best to make your presentation look as professional as possible, a slight deviation from 'accepted practice' is unlikely to be a valid reason for rejection.

Here are some suggestions based upon various sources (including the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook) together with the varying degrees of succes in getting published experienced by myself and people I know:

[Buenchico]

1. Do some research. Spend some time in bookshops to find out which firms publish the type of book you're currently writing. (If you're writing for 6-year-olds, there's not much point in sending your book to publishers who only handle teenage fiction. Just as importantly, there's no point in sending a 'one-off' title to a publisher who only handles established series of books).

2. Decide whether you'll be submitting the whole book or just part of it. (If you're writing a short book for younger readers you'll probably want to send all of the text. If you're preparing a manuscript which runs to many hundreds of pages, it would probably be better to send the first few chapters together with a synopsis of the rest of the book).

3. Ask yourself whether your art work is as good as the very best work which you see illustrating children's books. If it's not, abandon the idea of submitting your own illustrations. (Publishers know where to find good illustrators. Unless you're really good at illustating, they'd probably rather receive your text without illustrations).

4. Prepare your text according to standard publishing conventions. This means double-spaced with no extra line left between paragraphs. (Just indent the first line of each paragraph). Also, chooose a simple, easy-to-read, font, with unjustified text. Leave wide margins all around the text and type on only one side of the paper. Number each page.

[Buenchico]

5. If you do decide to submit illustrations, keep these separate from the text. Ensure, however, that there's some way of indicating where the illustrations belong. e.g. number the illustrations and insert otherwise blank sheets into your MSS with the words "Illustration 1 here" etc in the centre of the page.

6. Buy a copy of the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook. (�13.99). Use this to further your reseach into finding suitable publishers and agents. (Yes, I know that I've said that an agent isn't essential but you need to compile as big a list as possible of everybody who might be interested in your book). You might find that some of the publishers you identified in Step 1 state 'No unsolicited MSS'. If so, cross them off your list.

7. Prepare a sufficient number of copies of your book (or the first few chapters + synopsis) to send to the first half dozen publishers and the first half dozen agents on your list. Don't staple the sheets together or use any other form of binding. The usual advice is to submit a bundle of loose sheets. If you're not happy with this, punch a single hole in the top left corner and use a treasury tag (which, unlike staples, can be quickly removed). Otherwise just slip the pages inside a document wallet.

[Buenchico]

8. A final bit of research. Try to find out the name of the commissioning editor at each of the publishing houses to which you intend to post your work. A submission addressed to a particular person might have a slightly better chance of success than an impersonal one.

9. Post your manuscripts, accompanied by a very simple letter along the lines of "Dear Ms Bloggs, I would be grateful if you would consider the enclosed MSS for possible publication by your company. Yours faithfully, . . ."
There's a convention that authors normally enclose a stamped & addressed envelope for the return of rejected submissions. Given that the cost of postage might be higher than the cost of running off another copy from your PC, it's up to you whether you wish to follow this convention.

Hoping this helps,

Chris

[scoobysoo]

Thanks - that's very helpful advise. Much appreciated :)

[nickmo]

As above and from experience - research the publishers of similar books as they will be most likely to be interested; publishers will source a suitable illustrator if you do not have your own to hand; suggest offer a synopsis to the publisher - not the whole manuscript; find the person to speak to at the publisher - don't just chat up the receptionist!; Above suggested books for info certainly worthwhile - check the library for a copy if not on local bookshop shelves.

Do not go the self publish or vanity publishing route. Publishers have relationships with the sales agents and wholesalers that are needed to get your book on the shelves - without them - no sales ever.

Some publishers look for a usp, as they are in the business of selling. If your book features a specific method of teaching reading, or has characters that no-one else has ever thought of - this may be in your favour, but consider not including talking rabbits, scary monsters or things under the bed- may be seen as too similar to the rest. And do not plagarise either, aka Budgie books....

The publisher will do all the layout and sub-editing - don't worry too much about the look in the first instance unless this is integral to the layout and using your own pics i.e. the book has a look that only you can offer, so anothers illustrations won't help.

Not to be too negative, but expect rejection - that is part and parcel of it, but do persevere and it could just be the new JK here....

Good luck!

[CompNut]

scoobysoo, good luck with your venture.

Buenchico and nickmo, please, do tell about your successes in publishing. it is always most interesting to hear about other people's successes whether they write articles in mags. or have written a novel or into screenwriting. Many people dream of 'having the time' to write, but I do admire the ones who actually achieve their goal.

[Drusilla1S]

Strange that you call me a doom monger, Buenchico, and then give the same advice I offered regarding the purchase of The Writers Handbook.

I don't recall putting myself forward as an expert, just a realist. Hundreds of thousands of manuscripts are sent to publishers every year and they do not have the staff to read them all, which is why they prefer work to be sent via an agent, who assess the quality and economic viability of a book for them.

I would encourage anyone to write and wish scoobysoo well. It's a shame an argument based on the economic reality and business requirements of publishers is treated with such disdain.

[Buenchico]

For Drusilla:

My comments weren't aimed at you. I was doing several other things while I prepared my post (including cooking a meal) so I actually started typing it over an hour before I clicked the 'submit' button. For this reason, I didn't even see your post until I'd already posted mine.

There are varying opinions about the value of agents. (Different guest writers are used in each edition of the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook. The advice offered varies from year to year). My concern was that ScoobySoo might only send material to agents rather than also making direct approaches to publishers. There's nothing wrong with trying both routes. (If you read J K Rowling's contribution to this year's edition of the W&AY, you'll see that's exactly what she did).

So, while I stand by the advice I gave in my previous posts, I'm happy to apologise for any offence inadvertently given to you.

Chris

[nickmo]

Oooooh, look a domestic... Come on now, time for a cup of tea and a sit down....

Scoobysoo - have a look at http://www.publishers.org.uk/paweb/paweb.nsf/pubframe!Open for a bit more info. Local arts council may be a route to the riches and wonders......

Hi Compnut - I'm not a novel writer or anything as good as that - I bow to anyone in that world - but been published with a cookbook (2nd edition going to print this month) and I have set up a magazine for the UK farmers' markets and local producers so am involved in the commisions side as well.

I'd encourage anyone who may have the inclination to make a go of writing, and when you do hear of the route many authors take and how long perhaps, well, perseverance is probably the most important aspect.(as well as a good spellchecker..)

[CompNut]

nickmo, Congrats. on your 2nd edition, and on your magazine. Those are real achievements, and I wish you continuing good luck with them.

[sir.prize]

Lots of good advice there scoobysoo - and nickmo mentions use a good spellchecker.

Well!

I would suggest going further than that. Maybe find a good proofreader would be a good bet.

Did you ever see this? It was checked by Microsoft Spell Checker and passed with flying colours.

Eye halve a spelling chequer
it came with my pea sea
it plainly marques four my revue
miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
eye strike a key and type a word
and weight four it two say
weather eye am wrong oar write
it shows me strait a weigh.
as soon as a mist ache is maid
it nose bee fore two long
and eye can put the error rite
its rare lea ever wrong.
eye have run this poem threw it
i am shore your pleased two no
its letter perfect awl the weigh
my chequer tolled me sew.

If you are in the UK, have a look at

www.perfectword-proofreading.co.uk

Best of luck with your project.

[lady_p_gold]

I think all the answers Buenchico has given on AB should be published into a book - like the Ray Mear's Survival Guide only for those of us who need help surviving anything from Dyson demise to Mortgage misery !!!