Publishing

I found an interview with the Editor of Maverick Arts publishing where she talks through 10 tips to sue when creating a children's book.

1- The title is king, every book needs a good title and it is the first thing a editor sees.

2- Guidelines, it is important to follow any guidelines set by the publisher, if they have set them then there is a reason that they have. One main guideline is the word count.

3- Make the manuscript as easy to read as possible, don't use different colour or fonts. The manuscript should be plain text with 1 1/2 or 2 line spacing.

4- Try to be original, something that is very difficult these days. Try to come up with something that will grab the attention of the person reading it.

5- Don't rush in to submitting your book straight after finishing it, take time and think what changes could improve it. Could try joining a critique group or attend workshops.

6- Know your audience, make sure the language you use is appropriate for the age range.

7- Rhyme or prose, some publishers prefer prose to rhyme as it can be translated to other languages without any problems.

8- Research other children's books. This is very important, try to gain a good understanding of the children's book market.

9- Get to now the publisher. When submitting your text it is important to know who you are submitting it to. Your book could be well written and be based on a brilliant idea but may not be the kind of book that the publisher is looking for.

10- Be prepared to make changes. Don't be precious about your manuscript. You need to be aware that you will be asked to make changes.