 | Writing Tips From the Editor How to Write--and Promote--a Successful Children's Book
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 Jessica Chiavaroli Successfully Promotes her Book: "Priscilla and Her Big, Huge, Gigantic and Sometimes Smelly Feet" |
It is true that new writers are selected by commercial publishers every day to be published. But the competition for catching the eye of a commercial publisher can be tougher than any novice writer realizes. Most publishers won't even consider an unagented manuscript. These are all "tough love" facts, not the kind of thing every online editor will tell you. But I don't believe in delivering false hopes for writers--but to offer realistic assistance. I'm about to tell you about how one author I was fortunate enough to edit has carved her own road to success--and how you can achieve a similar result for YOUR book.
What makes a first-time author of children's books successful against all the normal publishing odds? The answer may be closer at hand than you think.
WHY ARE YOU WRITING YOUR CHILDREN'S BOOK?
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ATTRACTING THE BIG COMMERCIAL PUBLISHING HOUSES Write it. Send it out. Get a check. Sounds simple. But few writers take the necessary and critical step of reviewing exactly what a publisher wants. Read their guidelines, read their published books, review the trends, fit the market! Honestly, this is work, not tough, but work nonetheless. And the reason even writers who do that work STILL fail to attract a publisher's eyes is because, after they've done this research, they discover that fitting a publisher's precise needs isn't that easy at all! So they send "a few words over" what the publisher wants or a "new approach they'll surely like" instead of what the publisher is known to prefer. My best advice here is to either be willing to fit EXACTLY what a publisher wants (which will put you far ahead of the competition, by the way!) or consider ... CONSIDER PUBLISHING YOUR BOOK YOURSELF
PROMOTION = THE KEY TO SUCCESS Whether your book is picked up by a commercial publisher or you self-publish, the key to real success is promotion. With a children's book, that can be a thrilling and rewarding experience more than any adult "book signing."
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ONE WRITER'S ROAD TO SUCCESS: Consider what one of my writing clients acheived: Jessica Chiavaroli wrote a series of books, "Priscilla and Her Big, Huge, Gigantic and Sometimes Smelly Feet." The books intrigue children with Priscilla's problem and tickle them with her creative solutions. In the process Chiavaroli has promoted her books through various children's activites, from in-school readings to library events and book fairs. One look at the photos shows the great reception and fun that these "story times" have given both Jessica and her young readers. But just reading isn't enough. Jessica took the extra gigantic step (pun intended!) of having a ceramic foot created just for these events. It connects children to the actions within the Priscilla series as they have a hand's-on fun time using water-based, washable paint to color the ceramic foot and toenails. And she isn't stopping there; she has created stickers to hand out for kids and has related toys in the works! And that is the key to being a successful children's book author: Connection!
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