Has anyone had a book published before?

[SideWinder]

...specifically a childrens book.

Myself and my girlfriend have a pretty good idea for a childrens book series out of curiousity, i was wondering what the next step would be in making an idea into a published book.

 

[G|mp]

I reckon you should write it up before anything

Then send out to Childrens book publishers, Penguin if they're still around.

 

[Nix]

Writing it would be a start.

 

[SideWinder]

Obviously after writing it i mean.

We could probably write around 5 different plots or so without too much trouble but just wondering what the next step would be. G|mp mentions childrens publishers...so its just a matter of sending it off and seeing what they say? Sounds too simple.

 

[G|mp]

Obviously after writing it i mean.

We could probably write around 5 different plots or so without too much trouble but just wondering what the next step would be. G|mp mentions childrens publishers...so its just a matter of sending it off and seeing what they say? Sounds too simple.

You may have to copyright it an all that jive as they may just nick your ideas

 

[Nix]

Sounds too simple.

You'd think so, wouldn't you?

 

[SideWinder]

You'd think so, wouldn't you?

This is why i asked OcUK!

 

[GinG]

I did...tbh hasn't done too bad, not sure if you have ever come across 'the karma sutra'?

Just get it written, get a few hard copies printed up and send out to the various book publishers (google is your friend)

 

[regulus]

...specifically a childrens book.

Myself and my girlfriend have a pretty good idea for a childrens book series out of curiousity, i was wondering what the next step would be in making an idea into a published book.

Write it, send it to publishers and see what they think.

 

[cb_linus]

I have a friend who's written an as yet unpublished children's book - very competitive market and he's already had a few rejections. If you're serious about getting a book published write it first - write it for the joy of writing and don't be afraid of feedback no matter how constructive it us

edit: you may also consider looking at getting an agent to promote your book for you.

The other advice I would give is you need to read a lot - make sure you know what's out there, no matter how obscure, and don't end up unknowingly repeating other ideas.

 

[jp_bl_68]

I think someone here wrote a series of guides for the NHS. Can't remember who it was though.

 

[bigsharn]

I've been self-published... It's probably a better idea to get a local fanbase going and see where it goes from there, just get 20 or so to start off with

 

[Castiel]

The childrens book market is the most competitive. For every 5000 manuscripts submitted only one gets published.

You can try a self publishing company such as Authorhouse or submit to all the publishing houses and literature agencies such as Scott Meredith.

Be prepared for hundreds of rejections, don't take it personally as most would not have even read the submission. Include a synopsis in your submission and send it by registered mail.

Good Luck.

 

[Castiel]

You may have to copyright it an all that jive as they may just nick your ideas

copyright in written form is automatic as soon as you put pen to paper. You can register at the UKcopyright office, but as long as you send any manuscripts by registered mail for a record and keep the original yourself there is no problem.

 

[scorza]

I remember hearing someone from Harper Collins on the radio saying that they don't read unsolicited manuscripts from authors as it leaves them open to allegations of copyright theft. He said they only really read manuscripts from authors forwarded onto them via an agent.

 

[semi-pro waster]

I think someone here wrote a series of guides for the NHS. Can't remember who it was though.

dmpoole is probably the man you are thinking of.

SideWinder: Good luck with writing your book, as already mentioned there's a strong chance that you'll have a lot of rejections before you get anything accepted, if it is at all so my advice (not having written a book) would be to write something that you enjoy rather than going for something you think will be popular.

 

[DampCat]

Only tip i have is from watching a show about getting a book published.. and the only bit i can remember is not to use one of those publishers where you pay them to handle the publishing... cause it screws up ownership rights or something.

 

[Castiel]

I remember hearing someone from Harper Collins on the radio saying that they don't read unsolicited manuscripts from authors as it leaves them open to allegations of copyright theft. He said they only really read manuscripts from authors forwarded onto them via an agent.

The smaller publishers are more open than the mainstream ones, I would send manuscripts/synopsis to all the Agencies as a matter of course.

I would look again at the choice of genre though, childrens books are almost impossible to get published unless you are renowned or famous in some way.

 

[Castiel]

Only tip i have is from watching a show about getting a book published.. and the only bit i can remember is not to use one of those publishers where you pay them to handle the publishing... cause it screws up ownership rights or something.

Reputable ones like Authorhouse are ok, and you will retain all rights. It's worth getting their free guide to publishing at the very least.

 

[Nix]

The smaller publishers are more open than the mainstream ones, I would send manuscripts/synopsis to all the Agencies as a matter of course.

I would look again at the choice of genre though, childrens books are almost impossible to get published unless you are renowned or famous in some way.

That's it then! You need to become a socially dysfunctional amoral member of society, preferably having a drug or sex addiction which the paps can lynch on to.

Alternative, get your girlfriend to flash her boobs Sidewinder, it worked for whatsherprice.