Common Questions and Answers

1. How easy is it to get a children's book published or become a children's book illustrator?
2. I have written a children's book and would like information on how to get my book published. Any suggestions?
3. Is it acceptable to submit to multiple publishers at the same time?
4. How long will it take to hear an answer?
5. Should I copyright my manuscript before submitting it?
6. I have written a children's book. Do I need to find an illustrator?
7. Do I need an agent?
8. Can you recommend an appropriate publisher for the children's book I have written?
9. Does Bumble Bee Publishing run any contests for children's writers?
10. How much money do children's writers and illustrators make?

1) How easy is it to get a children's book published or become a children's book illustrator?
There is a common misconception that it is easier to get a children's book published than getting another genre of literature published. This is simply not true at all. The reality is that children's publishing is just as competitive as other genres, if not more. Though you may be writing or creating art for children, approach it like an adult and do your homework. Visit the collection at your local library. Browse your favorite bookstore's children's section. Take notes of books you admire and publishers you admire. Review and edit your manuscript/portfolio carefully, make sure every single word, image, or idea is precise. Have others look over your work; children often make the best reviewers as they tend to be more honest and open. Talk with your local librarians or teachers. Visit publishers' websites prior to submitting to see if they have any further details about submitting work. Make sure to follow the publishers' submission guidelines meticulously. If you do not follow the guidelines, your work will not be reviewed.

2) I have written a children's book and would like information on how to get my book published. Any suggestions?
There are many sources of information about publishing for first-time authors. One good source for information is the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, an organization dedicated to serving the people who write, illustrate, or share a vital interest in children's literature. There are also several books specifically for beginning children's book authors, and these are available at your local bookstore or library. You should also search the Web under "children's books" or "children's book writer"—there are many individual sites that have good information.

3) Is it acceptable to submit to multiple publishers at the same time?
If you are only sending out query letters, it is acceptable to send out more than one at a time. However, if an editor expresses interest and asks to see the manuscript, you should stop trying
to contact other publishers until the one that has requested your work is finished reviewing it. Unfortunately, that can sometimes take up to several months. Some authors therefore tell the
publisher when they submit the manuscript that if they haven't heard anything from them within a specific period of time (e.g. three or six months), they will send the manuscript out to other
interested parties. This system reserves the option of exclusivity that publishers prefer, but protects the author from having his or her time wasted. It seems to work for some people-but be
careful to be extremely polite if you go this route.

4) How long will it take to hear an answer?
Response time varies from publisher to publisher, but you should be ready to wait a good deal of months.

5) Should I copyright my manuscript before submitting it?
Legally, your manuscript is automatically copyrighted the moment you create it. When people say "get a copyright," they really mean "register the copyright with the government." This action does have certain benefits-it makes it easier to sue someone who has violated your copyright, and it allows you to recover more money if you win. However, the likelihood of such a case occurring with an unpublished manuscript is fairly remote. If you do wish to pursue a copyright, contact the Library of Congress U.S. Copyright Office.

6) I have written a children's book. Do I need to find an illustrator?
Generally speaking, submitting a manuscript without illustrations actually increases your chances of finding a publisher. If a manuscript is submitted with illustrations, the publisher is going to base the decision to accept or reject the manuscript not only on the text but also on the pictures. If, however, you happen to be an artist and have illustrated your own story it can be beneficial to submit your “character concepts” with the manuscript.

If you still prefer to find an illustrator on your own, you might try the Society of Illustrators, www.childrensillustrators.com, or the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators.

7) Do I need an agent?
An agent might be able to get your work read at those publishers that do not accept unsolicited/unagented manuscripts. However, many agents do not accept clients who have not already published a book. Their role then becomes negotiating better contracts than authors would be able to get by themselves. If you a first-time author and are certain you want an agent, one experienced author suggests finding a relatively new agent, since he or she might be more likely to welcome first-time authors as new clients. You might also want to build up a writing resume to prove that you are quite serious about working in children's books. For more information on agents, you might want to contact the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators or the Association of Authors' Representatives.

8) Can you recommend an appropriate publisher for the children's book I have written?
To find a publisher, it is important to thoroughly research children's book publishers and the types of books that they publish (i.e., picture books, nonfiction, young adult, educational, etc.).
The CBC Members List includes for each of its members the target age groups, genres, and formats of books published. Additional reference sources:

• Literary Marketplace
• Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market, a publication updated annually and is available wherever books are sold.
• Publisher’s Marketing Association (PMA - The Independent Book Publisher’s Association)
• Small Publisher’s Association of North America (SPAN – The Independent Publisher’s Resource).

9) Does Bumble Bee Publishing run any contests for children's writers?
Bumble Bee Publishing does not run contests at the present time. The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators does have several awards and grants to new and/or unpublished writers and illustrators. Their site also provides links to several other writer-focused sites that have contests and awards.

10) How much money do children's writers and illustrators make?
Children's publishing should never been looked at as a get-rich venture. While there are many authors and illustrators who are quite comfortable with the money they make producing works
for children, it is an extremely elite class of creators. As for the exact amount given to any author or illustrator whose work was accepted, it varies from publisher to publisher. There is no
standard payment for getting something published. Most children's writers and illustrators create for the sake of creating, rather than for monetary reward.