FAQ for New Writers

How do I find a publisher?
The various market guides  list all the publishers who deal with children's books. Make sure you only approach those who publish the type of book you write - you can find this out by browsing in your local library and bookshops and by requesting publisher's catalogues.

Which do I do first - find the publisher or write the book?
That depends what you are writing. For non-fiction, you send a synopsis and sample material to publishers before you write the book.  For fiction, you write the book first and then sell it.  

Can I send my book to more than one publisher at a time?
The traditional system has always been to submit to one publisher at a time but, as some of them are taking as long as a year to reply, multiple submissions now make sense and are recommended by the Society of Authors.

How do I find an illustrator?
You don't have to. If a publisher likes your book, they will find a suitable illustrator for it. It's not a good idea to get your Auntie Muriel to do the pictures for you unless she is a professional artist. 

Do I have to have an agent?
No. It can be harder to find an agent than it is to find a publisher, especially if you haven't had anything published. Many writers sell their first book themselves and quite a few continue to work without an agent.

How do I present a manuscript?
Type it double spaced on A4 paper (one side of the paper only) with wide margins. Number the pages and put your name and the name of your book on each one. If you need to include ideas for pictures, make sure it is easy to tell which words are text and which are not. (I use italics for comments about artwork but this is not the only way to do it.)

How do I submit a manuscript?
Send it  with a brief covering letter to a named editor. You can find out the name by phoning the publisher and asking. For a long book, it is best to only send the first three chapters and a synopsis with an offer to send the rest if they are interested. Use a big enough envelope so you don't have to fold it and  include a SAE for its return. Then get on with writing something else - it will be a long time before you hear anything.

What happens if they want to publish my book?
They will make you an offer - usually a percentage royalty on each copy sold with a chunk of money paid up front as a non-returnable advance. (You don't get paid any more until the book has earned that amount of money.) Some publishers, especially educational ones, offer a flat fee instead of royalties. This is usually acceptable if your story is going to be part of an anthology but you can try asking for royalties instead if you have written the whole book. Once you've been made an offer, you are allowed to join the Society of Authors who can vet the final contract for you (a very useful service if you haven't got an agent).

A publisher says my book is wonderful but they can only afford to publish if I pay them. What should I do?
Run. If your book is that good, you'll find someone who'll risk their own money to produce it.

I am thinking of self-publishing my book. Is this a good idea?
Self publishing is more viable than it used to be but it is still a risky venture and not one I would recommend. Getting the book printed is only part of the battle. You then have to sell it - a difficult task which consumes writing time and costs more money. Think very carefully before you go down this route. 

Can you recommend a good book on writing for children?
There are several on the market. You'll find some reviews to help you choose on our bookshelf page.

©  Diana Kimpton