Publish a Childrens Book

Want to learn how to Publish a Childrens Book? Read our article and discover publishers that can help you publish your book now.

How to Publish a Children’s Book: Creativity, Research, and Persistence

Writing children’s books is one of the best ways to express your creativity in a way that connects you to children, and it also allows you to explore themes and storytelling techniques that are generally not used in grown-up fiction. Of course, in addition to these benefits, there are many challenges to entering the children’s book publishing industry. There are tons of books published every year, but there are also thousands of talented and passionate writers also trying to enter the business, which presents real challenges for the first-time writer.

Breaking into the business can’t happen overnight. You have to have a plan, and you have to go about it carefully. Make a 1-year plan composed of these elements:

1. Write several manuscripts: Before you can submit to publishers, it’s a good idea to have several manuscripts. Try to create one new book every month. This will help you to hone your craft and to explore the possibilities of children’s books, and it will give you several different manuscripts to match up with different publishing companies’ styles.

2. Explore the children’s publishing industry: The best way to learn how to publish a children’s book is to immerse yourself in the business. Go to your local library or bookstore every weekend, and spend an hour or two going through the children’s book offerings. Take notes on the types of books various publishes like to release, and make note of some of the current techniques that popular writers are using.

3. Hire an agent: It’s not absolutely necessary to have an agent, but if you can connect with someone who has some insider’s connections in the industry, this can give you a real leg-up on the competition. He or she can also give you feedback on your books. Agents are known for their ability to give writers’ honest suggestions, so if you’re open to that, go out and find one.

4. Research publishers’ guidelines: Once you have a list of publishers that you want to submit to, start a file with detailed information about their submission guidelines. Many of these guidelines can be found online, while others are published in specialized industry books that can be found at the bookstore.

5. Send your submissions according to the guidelines: When sending out your manuscripts, make sure you follow the publishing guidelines to the letter. Companies get lots of submissions, so they’re not afraid to send something back if it is not packaged or presented properly. Don’t oversell your manuscript with your cover letter, and don’t try to suck up to the company. Let your work speak for itself.

6. Be persistent: You’re going to get rejected. There’s just no way around that. In fact, you’ll probably have to send out several rounds of submissions before anything is accepted. But keep creating new work, keep cultivating your expertise about the children’s publishing industry, and keep sending out your manuscripts. Remember that every great writer receives countless rejections early in their career. The ones who find success are those who keep going in spite of adversity.