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Kathleen - Teachers.Net welcomes Barbara Seuling, children's book author to discuss how to write a children's book and get it published. Barbara, which of your books was the first one published, and how long did it take you to go from idea to book store shelf?
Barbara - My very first book was Freaky Facts, published by the Weekly Reader Book Club. The idea was suggested to me, so it happened rather quickly.
Barbara - After that, came some illustrating jobs, finally leading up to my adaptation of the old folk tale THE TEENY TINY WOMAN
Kathleen - How did you manage to be approached for your first book? Isn't it unusual to be sought out for a first book?
Barbara - I was working in publishing at the time.
Barbara - At Dell. I knew a lot of editors. One of them moved to Wee4kly Reader and asked if I'd do the freaky facts for him.
Kathleen - I see, people were familiar with you then.
Kathleen - Barbara, does one submit the entire text of a proposed children's book or just an outline or synopsis? (you can type your complete response into the box all at once)
Barbara - If your manuscript is a short story or a picture book text, send the whole thing. Publishers sometimes want queries for longer works, to weed out ideas they can't use. So query on longer works, and if submitting a novel, submit the whole thing.
Barbara - If you have a work of nonfiction, however, a proposal might follow the query, with a synopsis of the whole thing, plus a sample chaper.
Shelly - Barbara-what if you are not able to illustrate the book? Does the publisher help find one for you or do you need to do that yourself?
wrdwrthy - Barbara...What is the best way to submit a manuscript for a picture book? Should I just choose a publisher and submit the whole thing?
Barbara - To go back, a bit, it is unusual to be approached to write a book. I was lucky. But there are ways of getting started that can be shortcuts to a career.
Barbara - We can go into these if you're interested.
wrdwrthy - Please share them with us Barabara
Kathleen - Barbara, shortcuts, yes, we'll resubmit our questions later
Barbara - Shelly, don't worry about the illustrations for your text; you're not expected to supply illustrations. That's a myth. The publisher is responsible for getting an illustrator, and prefers that you do not try to find your own.
Kathleen - Tell us about shortcuts
Barbara - wrdwrthy, some of the shortcuts I tell my students: send samples of your writing to the companies that publish series of books like the Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew, and the Babysitters' Club. If you want to write for one of these series, and the editor likes your writing, you may be given a sample chapter to write on speculation. It's a good way to learn how to plot, how to work with an editor, the whole publishing process. Sometimes, you don't get your name on the book, but you can always ask to have it appear somewhere, like on the copyright page.
wrdwrthy - any other shortcuts?
Barbara - Another shortcut to help you get started in publishing is to seek out packagers, or book producers, who provide materials such as textbooks for publishers. They are always looking for writers to take on assignments. These are usually flat fee jobs, no royalty, but again, they give you a start and some experience, and the credits look good on your resume.
Barbara - A third is to start small and write
Barbara - factual pieces for the various children's magazines.
Barbara - Several of my students followed this advice and are now publishing regularly in Faces, Cobbletone, Highlights for Children, and others.
wrdwrthy - Thanks for the shortcuts
Barbara - Sure.
wrdwrthy - Barbara...do they contact magazines first to find out what types of material they are looking for?
wrdwrthy - Or are they writing what interests them?
Kathy/5/IA - Where do you teach, Barbara? :0)
Barbara - Yes, good question. Most children's magazines have guidelines for writers, and sometimes a theme list. You can write for these.
Shelly - Do you need to include a resume or introduction letter when submitting a manuscript to a publisher?
Barbara - You can also write something that fits a magazine's style because you know the magazine well, and that will have a good chance.
Barbara - They all want good writing, sound
wrdwrthy - I mailed a manuscript out this fall and haven't heard anything ... I don't usually wait this long for a rejections...is this a good sign?
Barbara - research, and your list of sources.
Kathleen - Barbara's book about writing and publishing children's books: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684193434/teachersnet
Barbara - Shelly, yes, always send a cover letter with your manuscript, telling the editor anything important about what you're sending, and about you, that relates to the manuscript or your writing background. I don't mean classes you've taken, but if you've been published, tell them. If your work relates to your theme, tell them that too. Make it brief. The title of the manuscript should always be included, the age for which it is intended, if that's not clear from the outset, and, if it's important to know, why you wrote the manuscript.
LMR/VA - What about illustrations? If I am writing something that needs illustrating, should I get someone to do the illustrating, or leave it up to the publisher?
lala - If you have written a picture book and completed the illustrations, should they be sent together or would it be better to send the book and mention that illustrations are available?
Barbara - wrdwrthy, it takes an exceptionally long time to hear from some publishers. After three months you can inquire, and even tell that publisher they may continue to consider your work, but you are going to submit it to other publishers -- if you haven't already done so.
wrdwrthy - /
Barbara - LMR/VA - that's been answered earlier; never send illustrations with your manuscript. That's the publisher's job and he prefers to do it.
wrdwrthy - Thanks..I didn't know I could do that
LMR/VA - Sorry--I logged on late....:(
Ellen/MA/1 - Would you send a manuscript to several publishers or just focus on one at first?
Barbara - lala, I can only assume you are an accomplished illustrator, sending pictures with your text. If you are, then send them, but if you are weak as an illustrator you can hurt your chances of acceptance by sending your artwork. Be sure you are sending professional quality work, whether it is writing or illustration.
Barbara - Your suggestion is good; send the text and let them know illustrations are available on request.
Kathleen - Barbara, what if one has no previous published work, no credits, what should the cover letter say then?
wrdwrthy - good question Kathleen
Shelly - Barbara-I plan to get your book. I have always wanted to write a book but didn't know how to go about it. When you send to a publisher, who do you direct it to? Should you contact someone first to get a name or just send it to the publisher in general?
Barbara - Ellen/MA/1: there are guides to children's book markets that list whether publishers accept multiple submissions - that is, a manuscript that is sent to several publishers at the same time. If you want to submit this way, it's fine, as long as you let them know in the covering letter that you are doing so.
lala - Thank you. About a cover letter - I just found out tonight that I have a book accepted for publication ( educational). It's not going to be in print for a few months yet...so do I say I have been published by this organization or that I will be? I feel like I'm in between ( But very happy!)
Barbara - Kathleen, just cross your fingers and send the nicest cover letter you can with the basic information and your splendid manuscript.
wrdwrthy - congrats lala
Kathleen - Author Barbara Seuling is here discussing how to write a children's book and get it published.
Barbara - Remember, most manuscripts that are submitted are by people without publishing credits.
wrdwrthy - Barbara...do you recommend joinging organizations for writers?
Barbara - lala, that's fantastic! Yes, say you are under contract for a book, or that it is to be published.
lou - Are textbook companies a good place to send short story manuscripts?
Ginnie - Did u ever have a problem w/ anyone stealing an idea?
Barbara - wrdwrthy, there's one org. I strongly recommend to anyone writing or illustrating for children, and that's the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. You can find them online at http://www.scbwi.org
Kathleen - security for your manuscript, good question, Ginnie.
Barbara - Sorry, I got lost in the scrolling for a while and couldn't find my message line!
wrdwrthy - Thanks for the info Barbara..I do plan on buying your book..have a good evening
Barbara - Shelly, always direct your work to a person; you can find out who the editors are in the guides I've mentioned before. The best guide I know is the annual Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market.
Kathleen - How does one protect one's rights when mailing a manuscript? Simply keeping a copy?
Grace/IL - Barbara, do you know if there is a market for stories with decodable text?
Barbara - lou, I don't know the textbook companies, but write a query letter asking if they are accepting unsolicited material.olicited material.
Ginnie - Grace what do u mean by that ?
Kathleen - Grace, what do you mean by decodable text?
lou - Is there truly this "slush pile" writers are always hearing about?
Barbara - Ginnie, I've never had that happen, but there are times when ideas duplicate, and it's generally just coincidence. It happens. But don't worry about stolen ideas; it's not a problem that I've ever heard about and I've been in this business a good 30 years.
Kathleen - Scrolling the left frame reveals a picture of the book we have referred to here, and a link to it at Amazon.com
Grace/IL - Ginnie, lots of reading authorities are asking that first grade reading programs provide stories with phonetically regular words combined with sufficient repetition so that children can decode them easily.
Kathleen - What is a "slush pile" in that context?
Barbara - Grace, I don't know what that is either.
Grace/IL - Elfrieda Hiebert had an article in a recent "Reading Teacher" magazine in which she defined these kinds of stories. Usually they're not great literature but some children really need this.
lou - I went to a writer's conference and the speaker was saying that many publishing companies do not read unagented material. It goes in what they referred to as a "slush pile".
Barbara - lou, the slush pile is an awful term that is now accepted, simply meaning those manuscripts that come in, unsolicited, and get stacked in a pile for the editor to read. Many a fine book has come from the slush pile. One former editor, Laura Belgrave, now has an interesting site online called "The Slush Pile." You can find it at http://www.theslushpile.com
lala - Can you list any other do's and don't that would help get a publisher's attention to a manuscript? ( positive attention that is!)
Ginnie - Babara...I am the kind of person who always says to myself, you should write a book, I flirt with the idea and would love to get started. ANy advice for kicking me into the world of writers..
Barbara - lou, that's true; many publishers do not read unsolocited manuscripts, but the fact is, many others do. Don't let that keep you from trying. And it's impossible (nearly) to get an agent before you're published anyway, so you can drive yourself crazy worrying about this.
Ginnie - so make a good cover letter and send in a manuscript, just that easy huh ........
Barbara - lala, an editor's attention is caught by a brief but informative cover letter, a neat presentation without gimmicks like colored paper or bold type, and a finely written text, economically written.
Kathleen - Oh, Grace, now I understand. Didn't recognize the term in this context. You might repeat that question for Barbara with your explanation. It's a good question
Barbara - This is one place where skill really matters; note I do not say talent, but skill. If you learn the techniques of the writing craft, and study children's writing seriously, reading all you can, going to workshops, hearing writers talk about their work, etc., you are training yourself to be a professional writer; don't just jump in with a flash of an idea and hope that that's all there is to it.
lala - If your manuscript is a picture book, is it better to send it in plain text form or as a dummy book?
Ginnie - what is a dummy book
Barbara - Ginnie, I'd take a course to keep myself on
Ginnie - what kind of a class.........a writing one
Grace/IL - Barbara, do you know any publishers that are looking for "easy-to-read" books, books that are quite phonetically regular and have words repeated often so that children can master them? What I'm thinking of is short stories, a little longer than Dick & Jane stories, but that DO have a story line to them.
lala - A dummy book is made by putting the text together in an approximation of the actual book....cover, page by page text...
Barbara - a track that forces me to write regularly. A writers' group is also helpful. For those of you who are members of AOL, I give several classes throughout the year for children's writers. If you're interested in these classes, write to me via email at aplbrk@aol.com.
Barbara - lala, always send your work in regular manuscript form; only send a dummy book if you are also the illustrator.
Kathleen - Barbara, did you see Grace's question about publishers for easy to read children's books, phonetically regular (controlled)?
karen - Barbara, what if you're not a member of aol..where do you get help with classes?
Barbara - Ginnie, a dummy book is one you make to help you plot out the pacing, balance, and flow of action of the final book; I train my students to do these to get an idea of how to visualize a picture book from their text.
lou - Do I send a COPY of my manuscript or the original? I don't want to give the impression that I am sending out multiple submissions, but do not know what is appropriate.
lmr/va - You may have answered this already--if I am writing a book for which I have seen the need in my classroom (i.e., subjects that do not have appropriate books to cover them), would it be appropriate to give my teaching credentials briefly in the cover letter?
Genie/GA/k - Barbara, what does a publisher look for in children's lit.? a catchy title, a timely subject, beautiful language???
lala - I've seen several theories about the best way to do a text manuscript for a picture book. One was to put each page's text on a separate page, another was to put in a page break...which is the best way?
Ginnie - Barb I went to the site u gave us called the SLush Pile and they have the 7 deadly sins of submission to a publisher, very funny and helpful, thanks
Barbara - Kathleen & Grace - I guess that means the decodable text question? Sorry; I missed that question. There are several publishers looking for easy-to-read books; they are quite popular. Trade publishers do not use controlled vocabularies for these books, but do have common guidelines, such as short simple sentences, and a ragged right margin, lots of space, etc. The market guide I mentioned will tell you which publishers publish these books. Textbook companies may also be interested, but I can't guarantee that they are not "controlled" in some way.
Barbara - Karen, there are some clases on the net, and probably the best way to find them is to do a search. you one
Kathleen - Barbara also has a book for children who aspire to be writers: To Be a Writer : A Guide for Young People Who Want to Write and Publish http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684193434/teachersnet
Barbara - lou, always send the original, although these days, a copy looks the same.
Ginnie - thanks for the input, I enjoyed hearing your ideas.
Kathleen - Barbara, I'm not familiar with many published books that have been written by children. We Are All Alike, We Are All Different is the only one I know. How often are children authors published and are they offered commercially?
Barbara - lmr/va, I think that would be an appropriate thing to mention in a cover letter.
Grace/IL - Thanks, Barbara, for an interesting evening.
lmr/va - Thank you, Barbara! You have encouraged me to get back to work on some of my book ideas! = )
Barbara - Genie/GA/k, the honest answer is a fresh, original idea, finely written. When the writing is good, they can't resist lingering, and that's the first hook.
Genie/GA/k - Barbara, thank you for taking the time to answer questions.
Barbara - lala, type it in continuous style, with page breaks
Jen/CA - barbara -- thanks so much for your help. best wishes to you
Grace/IL - Ah, books written by children -- There/s a company in Kansas City, Landmark Publications, that publishes children's work. Davied Melton has a book called "Written and Illustrated By. . ."
lala - BArbara, thank you for all your help. I really appreciate your ideas and will definitely heed them! :-)
Barbara - Kathleen, there are many markets for the writings of children; they are not the same as those for adult writers of children's material. There are guides to these markets, too. One of these is The Market Guide for Young Writers, but there are others.
Kathleen - Barbara, will you return to Teachers.Net next Fall to talk about your beautiful book, Winter Lullaby? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0152014039/teachersnet
Kathleen - Or sooner than this Fall? :-)
Barbara - I'd be happy to come back. Thanks. It's been fun. Goodnight.
Kathleen - Goodnight, and THANK YOU!!! and to all participants, thank you for coming!
