Getting a book published
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- Point5
Anyone have any pointers or tips on getting a book published? ... particularly a children's book? The story and illustrations are in the rough stages but ready to reviewed, revised and finalized, but where do you go from this point; what's the proper procedure? I hear getting an agent is key, but how do you choose a good one. My wife already began to use some bullshit agency that turned out to be nothing but a scam. I guess we're looking for reputable agent/agency that can offer clear insight and direction to move forward through the necessary steps to get this damn thing published. I know getting distributed on a national level can be difficult if not impossible, but wifey would like to put forth the best effort in the correct way. Any tips, suggestions or pointers would be greatly appreciated.
- e-pill0
you can use online book publishing services such as:
Blurb:
http://www.blurb.com/Art Book Bindery - for children's books
http://www.artbookbindery.com/Ch…
- e-pill0
also i suggest you contact the guys who are working hard on getting the BETTER TOMORROW BOOK published, i'm sure they have plenty of new experience they didn't have previous to this endeavor.
- boobs0
Submit it to publishers. It helps if you put the name of an actual editor at the company on the package. Find the addresses of the publishers by looking through children's books at the library. Look at the dedication and acknowledgement pages to learn the names of editors.
- Point50
e-pill, pardon my lack of knowledge on the subject, but I would assume that distribution would be limited to the respective online stores (lulu and blurb). These do seem like they'd be the most economically smart solutions for people (like the old lady) who don't have a lot of money and are on their first book. Thanks for the point.
- e-pill0
actually P5 maybe contact -
Scholastic Children's Book Publishing Company Distrubution..
http://www.scholastic.com/abouts…"Scholastic is the largest publisher and distributor of children's books and related products to home and school. Scholastic's Children's Book Publishing and Distribution business is comprised of Trade, school-based Book Fairs and Book Clubs, as well as Spanish Publishing and Distribution."
- perhaps see if they use a specific set of agents for that genre of books.e-pill
- Point50
My wife had mentioned Scholastic (she's a teacher) but said you have to have an agent before Scholastic will even talk to you. That's the major sticking point I guess. It just seems that there are quite a few shady children's book "agencies" out there; I think that finding a decent or reputable one would first would be a HUGE step in the right direction.
- Scholastic is the big one... but I wouldn't be surprised if they steal from pitches all the time and employ shady agents...ismith
- Sorry, wish I could help :P maybe try talking to other authors? Sometimes if you can find them in the right setting they offer to helpismith
- they offer to put you in with the right people...ismith
- e-pill0
hey P5 my friend is a college teacher at Parsons here in nyc. ill ask him tomorrow if he has contact for any agents in that area as he went to college with me and now teaches that very thing... when we were in college we had to do children book illustrations, in the event we chose that direction for our careers.. also Scholastic is here in NYC i saw them all the time, they are in Soho. ill push to see if he has a connect thru the school... maybe we can get something... maybe not.. ill ask and lets see.
- but also on caution of smith-e posts above.. i believe it may be all true..e-pill
- e-pill0
hey P5 i saw a book study on 60minutes the other day and it was discussing the Digital Book new direction and also how in published hard copied books, its the same as in main stream movies that is only the best sellers make any money for the publisher.
so if your wife is a teacher, can she pursue a direction of gaining a possible order for a school itself to strengthen the deal to be made with any said publisher, also with that new knowledge that a lot of the publishers for children books can be shady know the online market, the digital paperless market, self publishing markets are all open as viable sources of revenue for the books.
an agent may not be needed if it can be accomplished on your own. perhaps the agent is for the negotiating of the deal if done with a major publisher. i am sure there is independent publishers i would suggest going to your local comic books shop aand see what or where their books are being published, as comics shops dominate in the book selling to young kids... your target audience.. ??
- Duane0
Start by researching publishers that actually publishes the sort of content that suits your style. Most publishers have a manuscript submission policy online and are looking for new content that suits their audience. If you can provide them with something that will make them money and you can support why it's a good idea — they will be more than happy to work with you. Negotiations with a publisher are certainly laborious, but well worth the effort. Just make sure to come correct. It's a pitch.
It looks like Scholastic isn't an easy egg to crack. From the link below: “Scholastic accepts unsolicited ideas in the area of Professional Books only.”
- ReverendGeneral0
On a similar note, I'm working on a book about Photoshop, anyone know how that all goes down?
- DoktorDavid0
I've used Blurb - only one book, everything worked out fine (and yes, I've kept all my day jobs). Fairly straightforward publishing process. Have heard of others going this route as a conceptual test drive - i.e. publish here first, take feedback, refine where/when necessary - meanwhile do your research re publishers of your specific genre. Might work out for you in that regard.
- bigtrickagain0
Hello,
We use Lisa Ekus as our agent for our book:
but then she is very very specific in genre... We found her by asking around in the industry (culinary publishing, so we asked published restauranteurs, chefs, etc.) as to who the best agent was. Instead of looking up publishers, maybe you can approach children's book authors and ask for their recommendations?
It does seem that without an agent, you have no clear way in to the publishing industry.