Author: Vidya Prabhakar
In my last post, I had discussed children’s writing in India. So, if you have some ideas or maybe even a manuscript ready, here is a basic guide on how to get it published.
Publishing houses open, close or even move. And most of them do not accept unsolicited material. It is important to find small niche publishers for your work. If you are looking for recommendations of publishers or resource lists, some of them are available online. Chick here for resources and contact information of children’s book publishers in India.
For those of you who are not ready to get published but want to test waters, The Children’s Book Trust (CBT) is conducting a competition for writers of children’s books. The last date for sending in entries is June 30th, 2009. Check out website for more details
Book publishing is a business and it is important to treat it in a businesslike manner. There is a well defined process for submitting your material. It is imperative to follow the submission guidelines to the letter. Here is a quick guide to the process involved.
Query letter: The first step is to draft a query letter. It is typically a one page, power packed letter that gives a brief description of the book, the intended target market and description of the author with his credentials presented crisply. It may be addressed to the submissions editor, whose name can be obtained by calling the publishing house. Make sure to send in a self addressed stamped envelope to hear an answer. It is also acceptable to send in query letters over email. You need to wait for a reasonable time (it could be even a few months) to hear from them. It is an acceptable practice today to approach multiple publishers around the same time to cut out on waiting period.
Book Proposal: Congratulations! Your query letter has sparked the interest of an editor, now he wants to see the book proposal. A book proposal is a 10 – 20 page description of your book. It should contain several critical parts including;
A cover page: with the title of the book, your name and contact details.
Pitch: where you discuss the idea behind the book, the target market, the competition and how your book will cross over and succeed. You then discuss the publicity opportunities and potential of the book. Finally present your credentials and endorsements, your areas of expertise, skill and authority on the subject. It should clearly come across that you are uniquely qualified to present the subject.
Detailed table on contents: This serves as a chapter summary and offers an overview of the contents
Sample chapter from the book: A well chosen chapter reflects the quality of writing, style and content of the book. If you are a writer and illustrator, it is fine to send in some sample illustrations along. Send in a few colour photocopies of the same. Do not insist that your illustrations must accompany the text. The publishing house may have its own illustrators who provide top quality artwork.
The more compelling information in your proposal, the more likely the editor and the publishing house will be enthusiastic about the book and will take the discussion further of making the book publication worthy based on their guidelines. Remember to send out a book proposal along with a self addressed stamped envelop to hear back.
What next? : If your query letter and book proposal are well received, you a step closer to success. You may choose to hire an agent to represent you or you can negotiate on your own. A contract will then be drawn up detailing the payments (either royalty or flat fee) and the rights. Your job does not stop here. You will have to turn in the manuscript within the agreed time based on the manuscript guidelines given by the editor. There will then be discussions for revision and editing and other such related deliverables such as illustrations until the book is made “publication ready”.
Pop the Champagne! Great job, the manuscript is ready and has gone through the production process and is ready to become a book. Hold your breath and get ready to walk into a book store to see your name on a book!
About the author:
Full Name: Vidya Prabhakar – Vidya is a Chartered Accountant and a Psychology postgraduate. She has worked in finance, banking and the content development industry. Reading, writing, baking and needle crafting are among her many pursuits.
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- How Should You Draft That Attention Grabbing Pitch Letter?
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Comments:
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Nice write up, I liked the way you have summarized the basics of Children’s writing and publishing.
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