The Writer's E-Zine Home

Writers' Village University - F2K: Free Fiction Writing Course - ePress-online
Writers' Village University Membership Information

Craft of Writing

Judy Simpers

Researching Children's Publishers

So I've finished writing a children's book. What do I do now?
Do I just pick a popular children's book publisher and mail it to them?
Aren't they all the same?

Selecting a children's publisher using the 'eeny meeny miny moe method' will probably get you a rejection letter quicker than Jack jumped over the candlestick. To give yourself and your story a fighting chance, spend some time researching children's publishers.

Children's writers market guides are a necessary first step in your research. The market guides can be purchased at bookstores, can sometimes be found at your local library, or may be purchased over the Internet. Guidelines are updated annually so make sure your research is up to date.

Within the market guides are handy tips, website addresses, writer's guidelines advice and more importantly an A through Z list of children's publishers. Read through the market guide. Become familiar with its symbols and abbreviations. Then find four publishers inside the market guide that fit your basic criteria such as:

1. The publisher accepts unsolicited manuscripts.
2. The publisher accepts unagented submissions.
3. The publisher is interested in fiction or nonfiction, whichever your story may be.
4. The publisher publishes your targeted age group.
5. The publisher publishes your format such as picture book, chapter book, novelty or whichever your story may be.
6. The publisher publishes your story's theme such as adventure, nature/environment, animal, and so on.

The information that you gather from the market guide is the publisher's generalized profile. Once you have selected four publishers who meet your criteria, you need to take your research a step further and become better acquainted with your prospective publishing house.

For publishers with websites, the address is sometimes offered in the market guides, check their websites for writer's guidelines. For publishers without websites, write and ask for their writer's guidelines. Make sure you enclose a SASE.

Sample Letter 1

Your next step is to obtain a publisher's catalog. Tempting as it may be to skip this step, don't. This step is your path to successfully placing your manuscript in the right publishing house.

A catalog is a publisher's list of their past, present, and future book titles. It's important to know what the publishing house is presently releasing so you can find a publisher who publishes books similar to the one you've written.

In addition, the catalog contains valuable information for you as a children's writer. Each page will contain an excerpt from a book, the story's targeted audience, the book's format, and its theme. By reading the catalog, you'll be able to zero in on the publisher's specific interests and find those books that compliment your manuscript.

For example, say I have a picture book manuscript and my targeted audience is ages 4 - 8, it's fantasy fiction, written in verse, with nature/environment as its theme. I'm researching a publisher who I think is a good candidate for submitting my manuscript. I see in their catalog that a few of their current books fit my criteria except for one aspect. They use facts with citations either in the back of the book or on each page. My picture book manuscript does not fit their interests. I must move on, save my postage, and research other publishers.

To obtain a publisher's catalog, you have three options. Occasionally, their catalog is available on their website. Another option is to mail a catalog request.

Sample Letter 2

Note: Two separate letters, one requesting the publisher's writer's guidelines and one requesting their catalog, can be sent together in a 9 x 12 envelope. On the bottom corner of the envelope write Guidelines and catalog request. Be sure to include a self-addressed and stamped [suggested amount of stamp $2.00 unless otherwise suggested by the publisher] 9 x 12 envelope.

Or you can go to www.amazon.com to view a publisher's catalog.

1. Go to http://www.amazon.com.
2. At the top tabs, click on BOOKS.
3. Under SEARCH BOOKS click ADVANCED SEARCH.
4. Type in publisher's name. Example: Tricycle Press.
5. Scroll down and in PUBLICATION DATE type 2004.
6. Then ENTER.

You'll find a list of books the publisher has released in 2004.

Ask yourself three questions to assure you have thoroughly researched a publishing house.

1. Why are you sending your manuscript to that particular house as opposed to another?
2. What niche can you fill in their house?
3. Can you list the publishing house's books that you've read which fit your manuscript in comparison?

Also, your answers to theses three questions will help you write your cover letter that accompanies your manuscript submission.

Following through on your research after reading a market guide may not guarantee an acceptance and an offer for publication but it will give you and your manuscript a greater advantage.


About the Author
Judy Simpers is a member of the SCBWI, a professional organization for writers and illustrators of children's literature and a member of the Writers' Village University, an online membership site. She has developed and currently facilitates children's writers' courses at WVU. Along with being founder and coordinator of the Annual Round Robin Study Group Challenge, Judy is a site guide for new WVU members. She has had writers' tips offered in the WVU newsletter and is on staff at ePress Online publishing. In between writing projects and submitting manuscripts, she finds time to be the playground attendant in the Children's Hour study group and participates in a Reading Children's Books club that she formed. Judy Simpers resides in coastal North Carolina.

Your Name
Your Address
Town, State 11111
 
January 1, 2005
 
Publishers House
222 Writer's Road
Print Town, NY 22222
 
 
Dear Sirs
 
I am writing to request your writer's guideline. I have enclosed a SASE for your convenience.
 
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Sincerely
 
 
Your Name

Your Name
Your Address
Town, State 11111
 
January 1, 2005
 
Publishers House
222 Writer's Road
Print Town, NY 22222
 
 
 
Dear Sir
I am writing to request your catalog. I have enclosed a SASE for your convenience.
 
Thank you. I'll look forward to hearing from you.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
 
 
Your Name