Publishing a children's book is not just a matter of imagination or simple "good writing". A children's book is a memory for life. Here’s how to write it and how to present it to a publisher.
Who do you tell your
story to?
Children are not all the same and so books are different
based on the age of the child, which is the first factor to consider. A
children's book can also be written for children who still cannot read, that
is, for the preschool phase. You can write a book for first-grade children.
You can write a book for children up to 11 years old. After
this threshold, we are already talking about preteens. Children develop
different skills during their growth stages.
Based on age, you will need to calibrate your story, but age
isn't the only factor. The message you want to convey to the little ones must
be original and universal at the same time. Of course, your message doesn't
have to be racist, homophobic, inspired by violence or sex.
Basing your story on childhood memories can work, but be
careful: you have to write to today's children, not those of the eighties,
simply because time passes and, to be timeless, you have to think about the
future.
Your reader doesn't necessarily like to be an explorer or has
already read tot. Books, therefore he will also be able to understand the
sophisms of the most archaic origin. So first choose your message, what you
want that child to remember for his entire life.
Put this message in a proverb and never write it in the book.
It will be your starting track to define your story. Finding a message is
really difficult. Many children's writers read from peers of all time, while
others look for an easy way to help children reflect on life and the world
around them.
The proposal to the
publisher
The proposal to the publisher must be addressed if and only
if the publisher publishes books for children or children. A basic rule that
applies to all books: do not send a book of a different genre to the genres
that the publisher already publishes, because the publisher trashes it.
Having said this, it is important to agree with the
illustrator: he must be paid for his work, but you can also think of dividing
the copyright in half if the text is published with an editor, or if you choose
the path of self-publishing.
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