Last week, I talked about why you shouldn’t self-publish a young children’s book. I gave 5 reality-check tips. You can check that article out here:
Is Self-Publishing a Children’s Book the Way to Go? 4 Realities
For this article, let’s go over the reasons why taking the self-publishing path for your children’s book may be a good choice.
1. You know it’s getting more and more difficult to get signed on with a traditional publishing house or literary agent.
Publishers are businesses. They want as sure a thing as possible to ensure a profit on their investment. Unagented authors or authors without a huge social following don’t stand a chance.
In an article at Huffington Post, the author noted, “Nowadays, most publishing houses only read manuscripts submitted by agents. Finding a literary agent is as difficult as finding a publisher, unless you are a celebrity, of course.” (1)
You know the odds – they’re super-slim. So, instead of spending lots of time and effort on research and submissions that could go on for years without any results, you’d rather invest in yourself.
If you believe in your story, go for it.
Keep in mind here that although you’re bypassing the gatekeepers of traditional publishing, you still need a quality story. Self-publishing isn’t a free pass.
2. You really, really, really want to be the author of a children’s book.
If this is what you want, then go for it.
There are a couple of things to do first, though:
A. Have a GOOD story. This means having all the proper elements needed for a good story: structure, grammar, punctuation, formatting, and so on.
Please take the time to do it right, even if you need help to get it done.
B. Have QUALITY illustrations. Unless you’re a professional illustrator or exceptionally good, don’t create your own illustrations. Don’t self-publish a substandard book. Be proud to be the author of that book.
You don’t have to break the bank, but you will need to make an investment to create a quality book. I know illustrators who do good work and charge $80-$125 per interior illustration.
Know what your expenses will be before jumping in. If your budget allows, go for it.
3. You know the chances of becoming rich or famous are slim to none.
In an article at Jane Friedman.com, author Brent Hartinger said, “I actually think it’s easier to land a traditional deal right now, especially in children’s books, than it is to successfully self-publish.” (2)
Going into something realistically helps you avoid major letdowns and expenses. The market is oversaturated, so keep your expectations in check.
If your purpose for a book is to share something or say something, then by all means, go for it. But again, keep your expectations in check.
If your purpose is to write a story for the children in your life, go for it.
Maybe there’s a story in your family that’s been passed down from your great-grandfather, and you want to get it in a book. Again, go for it.
There are lots of reasons people may want to write a children’s book and not expect it to be more than they intended.
Whatever your purpose, if you’re going to write and publish a children’s book or any book for that matter, please create a quality product. Don’t add to the inferior self-published books already out there. Publish a book you’ll be proud of.
4. You have a middle-grade or young adult story.
Upper middle grade and young adult stories don’t usually include illustrations, although the upper middle grade might have a sketch at the beginning of each chapter. Because of this, they’re less expensive to self-publish.
As with any book, you want a quality book cover and back cover. And, you want the interior design done right. You can get this done with self-publishing services.
Helpful sites to get your story published:
Services that will take your Word document or PDF and format it for upload to sites like Amazon, Createspace, Smashwords, Ingram Spark, and so on, include:
- Writers on the Move Self-Publishing Service
- Digital2Digital.com
- FormattingExperts.com
- Word-2-Kindle
- EbookLaunch.com
Some of these services will format your manuscript and upload it for publication and distribution (Writers on the Move Publishing does). Some will only format it. Some only do ebooks. You’ll have to review their services.
If you want a bigger pond to fish from, you might do some research and hire someone on Upwork or Fiverr to design and format your book for uploading.
But be careful here. There are so many scams in the self-publishing industry. Look for people you’re familiar with, or have been recommended, or you’re comfortable with.
If you have experience self-publishing a children’s book, it’d be great if you would share some tidbits of advice or services you found helpful.
References:
(1) https://www.huffingtonpost.com/sue-shanahan/four-reasons-to-selfpubli_b_6757278.html
(2) https://www.janefriedman.com/childrens-book-self-publishing/
I’m a working children’s ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach. I can help turn your story into a book you’ll be proud to be the author of, one that’s publishable and marketable.
OTHER HELP I OFFER:
HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S FICTION BOOK
A 200+ page book that will help you write your own children’s book.
FICTION WRITING FOR CHILDREN eCOURSE
4, 8, or 12 Weeks / 9 Sections / Instructor Guided Self-Study Program
You can contact me at kcioffiventrice@gmail.com.
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