Does anyone know what the best way to get a children's book published and greeting cards also if your broke?

Hello, I have written a childrens book and have designed greeting cards, but don't know where to start. Now if I had money for whatever expense I would encounter to start no problem, but I do not. So what is t he best way to get started?

Does anyone know what the best way to get a children's book published and greeting cards also if your broke?
Unfortunately, CDB is right. Writing is not a great income for most people.


Also, it's very hard to break into the children's book market (from what I've heard--no first hand experience).


If you can afford to take the long road, I would suggest you shop around for an agent who specializes in children's books, but even that will be difficult because the competition makes it a long-shot.





Sorry I couldn't offer much encouragement.





If you had money, you could try self-publishing and market it yourself in your local area but, again, it's a long-shot and you'd stand a big chance of loosing your investment.





Sympathies,


James
Reply:If you need an income right away, find a job because even if you're an excellent writer it could take years to get published.
Reply:I know this isn't what you want to hear, but unfortunately the odds are heavily stacked against you. You have chosen the most difficult thing in the publishing business - getting a children's book published.





First of all, a publisher selects an illustrator and that illustrator makes a lot more money on the book than the author does.





Let me describe for you the current nature of the children's book market. I just finished ghostwriting eight children's books for a very major sports figure - already sold to a very major Top Two NY publisher. The first is due out in Spring. I am currently working on my 9th one for him with others to follow. This information was given to me by a Senior Editor at the publisher I write for (one of the top 2 publishers in the country) ...





This is how the children's market breaks down.





40% of children's books published today are by celebs like Madonna, Jamie Lee Curtis etc. Celebs can get anything they want published. Their names sell.





40% are written by existing, established children's authors like Eric Carle.





15-20% are reprints of children's classics like Curious George.





That leaves at best 5% for new authors and most, if any, who are selected are by adults. It is very rare for a 13 year old to make any inroads. It is very rare for ANYONE to break through the children's market.





And that percentage is being cut into by adult authors like Carl Hiaasen and Mary Higgins Clark entering the childrens' market recently. Most recently Snoop Dog started writing kids books!! HIs name sells books - yours doesn't unfortunately.





To that, add the fact that most of the large publishing companies are backlogged with children's books they have under contract but havent gotten out yet. It takes about a year for a children's book to make it out. It usually takes an artist about a month a page to illustrate. So most publishers have their production schedules for children's books filled out for the next few years.





As a result, most A list publishers aren't even reading childrens' books right now, which means agents arent either. Agents only read what they can sell.





There is very little room to break into the children's market. Only books that are extremely exceptional and have huge appeal stand a chance. Forget any holiday related books - the selling season is too short to make money.





Take a walk through any major childrens' book department and you will confirm what I am telling you. Getting a childrens' book done is almost impossible - and getting an advance for it is virtually out of the question anymore. Unless you fall into one of those categories above. I am fortunate to have the backing of a very major sports star to get me in the door with kids books. I write adult novels, but believe me I have tried with kids books before and failed for exactly the reasons I list here.





Ghostwriting has gotten me in through the back door, and now I will be able to sell some of the children's books that have my name on them. For now, someone else's name is on the cover. Someone whose name sells books - big time. Don't ask me how you can get a ghostwriting deal for a major sports star ... I really backed into this. It was a gift from Heaven really and it is a blast working with this person too!!! My mantle is now covered with sports memorabilia worth a fortune!! I love presents. It has also led to 3 other ghostwriting jobs.





That is the nature of the beast. You might get a copy of Writers Market and search for some small publishers who are reading childrens' books, but searching through the agents section, you will see that almost NO agents are reading childrens' books. Try for some small publishers that read without going through an agent. Expect a lot of rejection. Develop a really thick skin and learn to advocate for yourself.





There is one shot you have. As you are searching through that book department, look for something that isn't there. Research. Some kind of a topic nobody has written about. It would be something that teaches a lesson to kids in a fictional way, but that hasn't been done before. Believe me - there are topics. I found one recently. I did a teleconference with the publisher I work with and he was thrilled. He wants te book yesterday. No such book exists. If you can find a topic nobody has covered before and write an exceptional book. you have a shot. Jamie Lee Curtis has been very successful with that.





Always remember that before you send anything to anyone, check them out. Preditors and Editors, Absolute Write Water Cooler's Bewares and Background Checks, Writers Weekly.com and Writers Wall are all great sources and totally free - although if they help you, it is nice to contribute a donation. Someone has to pay for running the sites. If you do not see information on the publisher or agent in question, write to Dave K at Preditors and Editors, Victoria Strauss or James Macdonald at Absolute Write or Angela Hoy at Writers Weekly. They are happy to pass along any info they have to help you.





Also remember that the top ten publishing houses like the ones the answerer mentioned above do not deal directly with authors. They only deal with agents. If you send anything to them directly that is unsolicited (meaning they did not ask you to send it to them) it will get tossed into the slush room, a form rejection letter will get mailed to you and your material will be destroyed. They only deal with A List agents.





As for self publishing it with someplace like Lulu - it will get you nowhere. Self published books dont make it to bookstores. It is a financial black hole to self publish. I recently read about a woman who refinanced her house and spent over 70 thousand dollars publishing and promoting her children's book. She has recouped less than 10% of her money and is in danger of losing her home.





The newest news in the world of self publishing is that Amazon is refusing to sell any books not self published by Book Surge - which they own. They are removing people's BUY buttons. That just made selling self published books 5 times as hard. Publishers are fighting it with the government but I fear they will lose. Amazon is a company and has the right to sell whatever it wants.





Childrens' books are impulse buys. What is out on the tables for kids to see is what sells. Kids don't shop at websites for things like books. They have to hold them in their hand and nag Mom to buy it. The only way to achieve that is through a good traditional publisher. Self publishing will do nothing for you but take money.





I have starred a lot of great Q and A regarding writing on my profile. You can access it and print out the pages. Start a notebook you can refer to. There s a lot of good information here and I add more as I see good ones. I am doing it to help others. Feel free to use it. Add me as a fan and get the regular updates. Keep writing. Remember you have to need to grow a hide as thick as a herd of elephants. There will be rejection letters. That is inevitable. Gone With the Wind was rejected 37 times. Never forget that.





As for greeting cards, it also is a tough nut to crack, but you can contact some companies and inquire. If you are broke, I would suggest that you get a regular job for now. Nothing happens quickly in the publishing industry. It could take years and years to make a sale.





Just keep writing. Be exceptional!! Pax-C