Children's Series completed... now what? (Full Version)

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selahgirl -> Children's Series completed... now what? (5/5/2008 2:42:04 PM)

I have finally finished four short children's stories. It's been over a three year process. Rhyming, Seuss style, but family and fun focussed. So what do I do now? Where do I begin to research an agent? What about illustrating it? I bought a book this weekend that I'm reading by Writers Digest, GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS 2008. It's really informative, but I'd love some input from people who have walked thru the process.

Anyone care to suggest a starting place or a bullet plan that would help us newbies?



Kathrynpagecamp -> RE: Children's Series completed... now what? (5/8/2008 10:30:21 AM)

The first thing you should do is join the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. SCBWI has a number of good resources, and the annual membership fee isn't too bad. Here is the link. Society of Book Writers and Illustrators

Just so you know, children's books are very hard to sell, and it's even worse in the Christian market. I've been trying for a while now (currently working the secular market), and all I can do is just keep plugging away.

FYI, publishers would rather you DON'T provide illustrations. They want to pick their own illustrator. So just submit the text.

Good luck.



selahgirl -> RE: Children's Series completed... now what? (5/8/2008 10:51:26 AM)

yay, thank you for such sound advice.
What a great help you are.
Blessings
^_^



Kathrynpagecamp -> RE: Children's Series completed... now what? (5/9/2008 9:53:51 AM)

One thing I forgot. If it is a picture book, publishers and agents still don't want you to provide the actual illustrations (unless you are a super-duper artist yourself), but they do want you to mock out the pages and provide ideas for the illustrations. For example, you put your text on one page, and the next one says "[picture of mother bird feeding baby birds in a nest]." Or you can draw a quick sketch that isn't intended to be the actual illustration, as long as that's clear. An early reader is not a picture book, however.

Different types and ages of children's books have their own conventions. If you don't know them and the SCBWI web site doesn't help, you might want to find a book at your local bookstore or library.



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