10 Ways to Be a Professional Children's Book Creative

10 Ways to Be a Professional Children's Book Creative

 I became an author quite by accident. Bored at my job as a bookkeeper for a major craft chain, I started looking in the classified ads to see what was out there in the way of jobs. I saw a listing for an Editor. Halfheartedly, I sent in my resume not expecting a call at all.

Much to my surprise and delight, I got called in for an interview and actually got the job. While there, they published my first book. My career was off, and it was WAY more work than I had originally thought. Had I not had that series of opportunities that I jumped on with both feet, I would not be where I am today. Traditional publishing is brutal on newbie authors and illustrators. Did you know that J.K. Rowling had her manuscript for the Harry Potter series turned down by all of the major children’s book publishers, including Scholastic Inc, who picked up the publishing after a bit of success in the UK.

The world of children’s book publishing is tough. Everyone thinks that it’s easy to write or illustrate a children’s book. That's because professional writers, illustrators, and editors make it look easy. If you want to be seen and heard as a children's book creative (whether Indie or Traditional), you need to be professional, too.

Here are some quick tips for Children’s Book Creatives:

1. Use the Children’s Writers’s & Illustrator’s Market Guide.
Not only can you get names of editors and art directors, but submission guidelines and articles about the industry, too. It also gives you website addresses, so you can check out what the publisher is publishing. If your style or genre isn’t what the publisher is interested, don’t waste your time. It will simply be sent back because you didn’t do your research.

As an editor, there were many times I simply sent manuscript back without reading past the first paragraph because it wasn’t what we published at all. Do your research if you want to be seen as a professional. BONUS TIP:  In your query letter, mention the books you found on their website as being similar to your style.

2. Join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
The organization is for both beginners and professionals.You’ll get the news you need about the industry, plus information about what publishers are needing for the future, contests, and a lot more. If you want to be seen as a professional Children’s Book Creative, it is a must to join the Society.

3. Read newsletters and magazines about the industry.
If you want to be a professional in any industry, it is beneficial to know as much about it as possible. It’s a great way to have a leg up on others who aren’t will to put in the time to research the industry. Here are a few good ones to start:

•     Children’s Book Insider
•     Children’s Writer
•     SCBWI Bulletin - comes with your membership to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
•     Publisher’s Weekly Children’s Book edition

   
4. Read submission guidelines.
This is a big one and one of my pet peeves as an editor. If a publisher went to the trouble of putting submission guidelines out there for you to find, do them the courtesy of following those guidelines.

There are many opportunities to work with publishers and gain credibility for your creative work. However, if you don’t follow the guidelines on how, when, where, and who to submit to, you probably won’t get your foot in the door. I sent back a lot of manuscripts simple because they didn’t send what I had asked for.

5. Request catalogs from publishers.
Another way to find out more about a publisher and know which ones you want to work with, ask them for a catalog. Most publishers would be glad to send you a print catalog or you can save a tree and find them online, too. This will give you a chance to really go through the recent titles as well as their backlist. Do an analysis of their list. What did they publish in the past? What are the publishing now? What is missing from their list? Does your style fit with this publisher?

6. Visit Bookstores.
This is a biggie! I know there are a lot less bookstores today, but find one and go to it. If you can’t find a bookstore, go to your local library. Look through children’s books. Look at how they are put together, word count, language for different age groups, page count, characters, and grammar. This is necessary research if you want to be a professional children’s book creative.

This is not to say copy what you see. It simply gives you some industry standards.

7. Read, Read, Read, and Read some more!
This is another biggie! If you don’t read children’s book or look at the illustrations, how do you know if this is what you want to do? The more you read, the better a writer you will be.

8. Consider attending a conference.
SCBWI offers conferences in many different locations year round. Some conferences offer manuscript and portfolio critiques giving you feedback from seasoned professionals. Hint: So does Wild Hare Creative!

9. Network Baby!
Don’t work in a bubble! Meeting other children’s book creatives is fun and can help you hone your skills as a writer or illustrator. If there isn’t a group in your area, form one. Put out the call that you're looking to meet up with other children's book writers and illustrators. Set some simple guidelines and boundaries for the group. Are you going to offer critiques? What kind of feedback do you want and need?  How many pages can you comfortably read for others? How often will you meet? Does everyone need to bring a written piece or are you going to write at the meet up?

10. Practice, practice, practice.
Perfect your craft, and don’t submit until your work is at its best. In his book, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell said that it takes approximately 10,000 hours of practice to become a master in any field. There are many manuscripts in my dead file. I look at them as practice. Occasionally, I’ll resurrect one to rework. It also shows me how far I’ve come in my writing.

11 BONUS: Be patient!
Learn from rejection and don’t give up! Thousands of manuscripts land on editor’s desks, thousands of illustration samples line the art director’s file drawers. Keep in mind that you might not hear back from a publisher right away. Read about the 6 P’s of being a Children’s Book Creative.