According to a market report, the market size for children's books in 2023 was USD 660 million and is projected to reach USD 962 million by 2032, so if you are an author and have just finished writing a children's books then congratulations because you have just entered a very lucrative market.
But before you can think about counting your earnings, you need to first publish your book so it can reach your target audience. To learn how to publish a childrens book and what steps you should take for publishing your book, keep reading this article.
3 Ways to Publish a Children’s Book
Before you can become the next Dr. Seuss, you need to first publish your book to reach your target audience. But what are your choices? Well, basically there are 3 ways to publish a children's book. Let's learn what those are:
1. Traditional Publishing
Traditional publishing is the old way of publishing a book which involves securing a publishing contract with a traditional publishing house. While they shoulder the financial burden of editing, cover design, synopsis, ISBN, and printing, they claim a share of your book's earnings. Many authors still consider Traditional publishing as the only legitimate option.
2. Independent or Indie Publishing
This method allows you to hire a smaller independent publishing firm that welcomes new authors as well as seasoned authors. They will take unsolicited manuscripts which means you don't need a literary agent and they might let you choose your illustrator, or somewhat give you control over the publishing process.
3. Self Publishing
Self-publishing is when you take the reign of publishing your book. This method might be tough but it's more lucrative than the traditional method. You'll have to research your target audience, hire your own illustrator, and self-market your book. In short, you'll have to do a lot of hard work to self publish a children's book.
There is a hidden fourth way of publishing which is when you hire a company to publish your book such as Ace Book Writers for a small fee and let them do all the hard work while keeping all the earnings and royalties you make out of selling your book.
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Should you professionally publish or self-publish your children's books?
Many authors publishing children's books get stuck while making the decision between traditional and self-publishing because it's a hard decision to make and requires proper guidance. Choosing between the two depends on various factors, including your end goal, budget, and level of control.
To make a proper decision, let's compare the pros and cons of both publishing firms:
Traditional Publishing
When you publish a book using the traditional publishing method, you'll have to hire a literary agent to submit your manuscript. Then that agent will reach out to big publishing firms like Hachette, HarperCollins, Scholastic Corporation, or Penguin Random House Audio.
Usually, traditional publishing firms don't accept unsolicited books, and getting a contract with 2 top publishing firms like Scholastic Corporation and Penguin Random House Audio is a challenge on its own.
Pros:
- Using a traditional publishing approach, you get wider distribution and marketing reach.
- Big publishing firms have higher credibility and prestige which will increase your book's appeal.
- With wider reach, your book will get a higher royalty.
- It's a time-saving approach once your script gets selected by a traditional firm, you won't have to worry about editing, marketing, or distribution.
Cons
- This method will require you to reach a literary agent first.
- If you are using the Traditional Publishing method, you'll have to self-market your book as well because big publishing firms keep their marketing budget for their bestsellers.
- Even though traditional firms pay you an advance publishing amount they don't usually offer high royalties on your book.
- If you want creative freedom for your book, you will not get that with this publishing method.
Self-Publishing
The self-publishing method is a lot more complicated and time-consuming than the traditional publishing method and it also requires some serious investment. But thanks to Amazon’s KDP service self-publishing has become a lot easier than before.
Pros
- Using this method, you can earn more royalties as KDP offers up to 70% royalties for self-published books.
- You will have the right to choose your own illustrator, editor, and distribution method.
- You will not need any literary agent to represent your book.
- You don't have to make any changes to your original manuscript if you don't want it.
- If you have a team working on your book, you can get your book published in no time using this method.
Cons
- This method will require more marketing and distribution efforts.
- You'll have to invest money and time to hire expert help in this method.
- You might lose a lot of your money and effort if you are unsuccessful in reaching a wider audience using self-publishing methods.
- Finding an illustrator for a quality product won't be easy.
What's the verdict?
After exploring all the pros and cons of traditional and self-publishing, you should know that it's not a one-size-fits-all decision to make. You'll have to make a decision based on your end goal and your personal preferences.
While the traditional publishing method has its golden points, it's still very hard to get your manuscript accepted by a traditional firm and according to research, being unsuccessful in finding a publisher is a strong motive for authors to go for the self-publishing method.
But what most authors don't know is, that they can try a different approach to publishing which is extremely easy and effortless. It's when you hire a company like Ace Book Writers to handle your whole publishing process, whichever you choose traditional or self-publishing, you will have control over your creative decisions and your earnings while you just pay an affordable upfront price to them for doing all the hard work for you.
Step-by-Step Guide to Publish a Children’s Book
Publishing a childrens book might seem easy but in reality, it's very hard. You'll have to make a proper plan first and then research the best way to execute your plan. Here are the steps to publishing a children's book:
1. Write a Compelling Story
- To write a compelling story, you'll have to develop a strong plot first and create a captivating storyline with engaging characters and a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- Tailor your writing style and vocabulary to your target audience.
- Consider using illustrations that can attract your target audience.
2. Edit and Proofread
- The second step to publishing your book is to carefully edit and proofread your book to check if it is easily readable, has clarity, and is free of grammatical errors.
- Or you can hire a professional editor to provide expert feedback and suggestions.
3. Design Your Book
- The third step in this process is to design your book.
- A book with no visuals is a hard sell for kids, so to attract your target audience you need to design and format your book.
- Choose a book format by deciding on the size, and paper type if the format you want is paperback.
- For an ebook, you need to format your book according to epub file requirements.
- Design your book cover smartly, so it should stand out but also fit your storyline and genre.
- For example, if you are writing a book for kids, your book cover should be simple but colorful.
4. Get copyrights for your book
- Make sure to understand copyright laws and ensure you have the necessary permissions for any copyrighted material.
- If you use photos of people, make sure to obtain model releases.
How to find an Agent for Traditional or Indie Publishing
If you don't want to get into the complex process of self-publishing and want your book to be published by a renowned publishing firm, finding a literary agent is very important especially for traditional publishing methods because it can increase your chances of getting a publishing deal. Follow the steps given below:
Do your research first
- The first step is to look for an agent who specializes in children's literature and has years of experience in this work.
- You can use the internet or build a network among fellow authors to hire an agent.
- You can look for an agent in this directory as well.
Contact different agents
- Narrow down a list of agents and start contacting them to finalize one.
- You can start by writing query letters that highlight your book's unique selling points to attract an agent.
Stay patient
- The most important thing is to stay positive and patient because finding the right agent for your book can take time and some serious effort.
Submit Your Manuscript to Publishers
There are indie publishing firms that accept books without any literary agent. You can sign up with an indie publishing company by following these steps:
Step#1 Research publishers
Search for childrens book publishers on the internet that aligns with your goals and specific needs.
Step#2 Follow submission guidelines
Every company has its own publishing guidelines so make sure to follow them exactly when you submit your book.
Step#3 Be persistent
Even though it's hard to face rejections for a book you have written with love, don't get discouraged by these setbacks and keep being persistent in your efforts and if this method doesn't work, think about choosing a different publishing method like self-publishing.
Expert Advice on Self-Publishing a Children’s Book
Writing a children's book is just the beginning. If you want to take the initiative and publish your book then you'll need proper guidance to successfully self publish children's book. Here are some useful tips to help you in this process:
Choose a self-publishing platform
- First, you'll have to select a reputable platform like Amazon KDP or Barnes & Noble Press to publish childrens books.
- This is very important because this decision will determine your future success.
Invest your money in professional editing and design
- High-quality editing and design can significantly improve your book's appeal, so choosing a professional editor and illustrator is extremely important.
Market your book
- Once your book is published, make sure to create powerful marketing strategies.
- You'll need to market your book smartly making sure your target audience, which is not children actually but their parents, gets engaged.
- You can use techniques like book reviews, social media, and author events to promote your book.
Print-on-demand
- To be extra safe, print your book on demand.
- This will help you in avoiding extra costs in case your book doesn't do so well.
4 Ways to Market a Children’s Book
Whether you are Self-Publishing or using the traditional publishing method for getting a children's book published, you’ll have to come up with an effective marketing strategy. Here are 4 effective strategies that you can follow easily:
1. Social Media Marketing
- Use SEO techniques and place relevant hashtags and keywords to reach a wider audience.
- Create engaging social media profiles to introduce yourself to your audience.
- Share your book excerpts, author insights, and behind-the-scenes content to create a buzz among your readers.
2. Email Marketing
- Build an email list of potential readers and start emailing them with interesting snippets and attractive pictures of your book.
- Send regular newsletters with book updates, author news, and special offers.
- You can provide them with early bird reading discounts or special offers to make them sign up for your email list.
3. Paid Advertising
- Use online advertising platforms like Google Ads and social media ads to reach your targeted audience efficiently.
4. Book Reviews and Author Events
- Request reviews from book bloggers and professional reviewers.
- Organize author events at schools, libraries, and bookstores.
- Participate in book fairs and conventions.
Are you ready to publish your children’s book?
Now that we have equipped you with all the knowledge to publish a book and make it a favorite among your young audience. You should get ready to publish a children's book. Publishing a children's book is a very rewarding experience. By following these steps and using the power of effective marketing, you can bring your stories to life and captivate young readers. Just remember, that persistence, creativity, and a passion for storytelling are key ingredients for success.
Frequently Asked Questions
To know how to get a children's book published and write it successfully, do these:
- For writing children's book you need to determine the age group first, create a captivating plot with engaging characters, and convey a positive message or lesson through your writing so parents will buy your book.
- Edit your book and work on refining your book using feedback from others.
- If you're artistic, create your own illustrations, or hire a professional illustrator.
- Choose a publishing path based on your specific needs.
- Format, market, and distribute your book.
Choose the right publishing method, among traditional, indie, or self-publishing.
Traditional Publishing
- Find a literary agent.
- Submit your manuscript to publishers.
- Negotiate a publishing contract.
Self-Publishing
- Choose a self-publishing platform.
- Format your book.
- Design a cover.
- Market your book.
Brainstorm Ideas
Think about your own childhood experiences, interests, or current events.
Develop Characters
Create relatable and memorable characters.
Outline the Story
Plan the beginning, middle, and end.
Start Writing
Begin with a rough draft, focusing on the story's core.
Revise and Edit
Polish your writing and ensure clarity.
Hire a Ghostwriter
If you have a great children's book idea but don't have the time or expertise to write one, hire a professional writing company to write a children's book for you like Ace Book Writers.
Even though children’s book is a lucrative market to enter, the earnings from selling children's books depend on many factors, publishing cost in case of self-publishing, royalty share, advance payments from publishers in case of traditional publishing, total book reach and sales, earnings by licensing characters for merchandise and other publishing costs can significantly impact an author's total earnings.
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