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07.16.08, 06:57 AM General Topics
18 replies
I love my work!!!! I'm sitting here reading a book proposal from one of my authors and smiling how much fun it is to read and what a great job he did. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 07.16.08, 06:57 AM Flag
 

Dear UrbanBaby community,

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question: how does one get a children's book published?? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:04 AM Flag
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Don't bother getting it illustrated unless you, yourself, are an artist. Create a manuscript that maps out what text and general idea of pictures on each page/spread. (Most children's books are 32 pages, including title page, copyright info, etc). The write an engaging about the author page, including any publicity access you may have, and query about a million agents. You won't get any traction with the publishing houses without an agent. There are websites including agentquery.net that list agents by specialty. Hope that helps. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:09 AM Flag
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thanks. very helpful. One question, the manuscript should be sent in layed out as it would appear in a book? My workshop teacher told me it should be printed out double spaced in manuscript form. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:13 AM Flag
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Yes, double-spaced ms style. But what you'd want to do is indicate what text/images would appear on what page. So for instance: [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:20 AM Flag
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Sorry, hit return by accident. Page 6 - 7: "I really want it," Jennifer whined. "Please, mommy, please!" [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:21 AM Flag
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Ok, so then after that, I would write: Page 8-9 "blah blah" [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:24 AM Flag
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Yes, and if you have some image ideas you would put that underneath in parentheses. (Jennifer is clutching her mother's leg and looking up at her longingly. Her mother is trying to pry her off.) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:27 AM Flag
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thank you. you've been so helpful. Is it really hard to get an agent? I'm in a workshop and the feedback for my book has been overwhelmingly positive. It's a picture book, but on the long side. Almost 3000 words and for slightly older kids, maybe 4-6. or even 5-7. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:31 AM Flag
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That word count and age is a tough one. What I would do is go to the bookstore, pull out the best books in that age range and do a word count. If you are dramatically over, you might consider editing. This is also make your page mapping very important. You have to vary the count on each page, give it the best rhythm, etc. Because so many kids at that age are starting to read, you have to determine if this is a book parents are reading to kids or an early reader, which this sounds too long to be... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:33 AM Flag
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no, it isn't an early reader. It really has to be a picture book, I think. How hard is it to get an agent? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:36 AM Flag
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see below [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:41 AM Flag
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It's good that you like it...cuz i'm sure you getting paid much. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:25 AM Flag
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^^^you're not getting paid much. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:25 AM Flag
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You're right. This will be my best year and I'll be lucky if I pull in 70K. But considering that I work about 1/2 to 2/3 time, that seems great to me. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:28 AM Flag
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Unfortunately pretty darn hard. You truly will have to query dozens and dozens. Then be patient. So many won't get back to you at all. Those who do will most likely take months. I would not suggest sending your project now. August is such a dead time in the industry I would worry you would get overlooked. Now let's talk angle: two things - 1. Do you have any publicity possibilitys, ie ties to newspapers, mags, famous people? 2. Do you have a unique take? What's the basic story line? There are certain arcs they look for -- a child's learning curve, a lost and found story (knuffle bunny), going to sleep, diversity, acceptance, etc. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:41 AM Flag
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wow, not the most connected person. The story has a really nice arc..that was something I worked on a lot. I don't want to give too many details but it's about a boy who overcomes things. He is changed as are the kids who were teasing him. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:44 AM Flag
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In children's books it's not necessary or very common, but trust me, it sure does help! Think hard. You might be surprised at what you have and didn't realize. If you don't, don't stretch for it because it won't seem sincere. And that's a good, classic arc. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:50 AM Flag
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thanks so much for your help! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:59 AM Flag
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