Hi everybody, I am Jan Bard, Managing Editor of Children’s Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children’s Writers. I’m also fighting bookworm and chief at the CBI Clubhouse, cbiclubhouse.com, the New Children’s Writers Community. Today we’re going to talk about writing children’s book, a crash course in submitting a manuscript. Well, the submission’s process may feel like second itch to experienced writers. It’s easy to forget that newcomers aren’t aware of the specific procedures and since everyone could benefit from our refresher course now and then, here’s a rundown of the steps.
First, collect addresses of appropriate marketers by cruising market guides like children’s writer’s illustrator’s market, industry newsletters such as our very own Children’s Book Insider and looking through similar books at the store or library. Then send a self-address stamp envelop to the publisher asking for writer’s guidelines. You can also often find writer’s guidelines at the websites of publishers. And you might want to start this process even if you’re still writing your book as it may take a few weeks to receive a response if you’re doing it by mail. Review the guidelines carefully to make sure your manuscript fits with what the publisher is looking for.
Most publishers want to see the entire manuscript if and only if you’re sending a picture book manuscript. If that’s the case, type your manuscript on white paper, double spaced, indenting at the beginning of each paragraph, use at least one inch margins on each side and justify the left margin only. Put your name and title of the book on top of each page and number the pages consecutively. Your name, address, phone number and email should appear in the upper left hand corner of the first page. Center the title of the manuscript about a third of the way down page 1. Skip a line and then start to the text. Don’t break the text up into pages, as it would appear in a finished picture book. And don’t include illustrations unless you’re professional artists, in which case, send a black and white dummy with a sketch of each illustration and two to three copies of finished color illustrations along with the typed manuscript. Send a brief cover letter stating the title, intended age group, the word count of the story. Add any previous publishing experienced and memberships to writing organizations.
If you don’t have such experience, that’s ok, you just leave that section out. Mention if this happens to be a simultaneous submissions, that it’s simultaneous submission rather that is you’re sending the manuscript to several publishers at once. It’s good idea to let publishers know that you’re doing that if you are. Also include a self-address stamp envelope with enough postage to return the manuscript if necessary. For longer fiction, publishers often want a query letter and sample chapters. The query starts out with the same basic information as the cover letter mentioned before but also includes a brief synopsis of the plot. Try to write the query in the same style as the manuscript and include information on the main characters, the conflict and the resolution of the plot. Add your publishing experience and tell the editor you can send the entire manuscript if you’re sure she’s interested. Ideally the entire query letter will fit on one page. Send it along with the first two chapters of the manuscript and the self-address stamp envelop.
For longer non-fiction, a book proposal is generally requested. This gives a brief overview of the book one or two paragraphs describing the tone and slanted the information in a chapter by chapter outline, with a sentence or two, listing the information covered in each chapter. Attach the first two chapters if it’s requested in the writer’s guidelines and also a bibliography of your resources. In your cover letter, list the target audience, the estimated length of the finished manuscript, why your book is different from others on the market on the same subject and tell a little bit about your expertise on the topic. Again send it with a self-address stamp envelope.
Non-picture book publishers may require a query, in which case you’ll outline the book in one or two paragraphs and also include the information from the non-fiction cover letter we just talked about. Or they might want to see the entire manuscript. If sending the whole manuscript, attached a brief cover letter same as with the fiction picture book but also mention how your book fits with the current market and list your credentials on the top. Following the proper submissions procedures gets easier with practice and ensures that your manuscript will get a serious look. Take the time to give each editor exactly what he or she wants and your work will get close consideration. If you like more information about writing for children, please visit us at the CBI Clubhouse, cbiclubhouse.com and come hang with the fighting bookworms. See you next time.
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