Would anyone have advice on marketing a picture book manuscript? I’ve been searching for either a publisher or a literary agent for about three years. My background is as a writer and editor for newspapers and magazines. As a free-lance writer for more than 20 years, I understand how to query publications, and deal with deadlines and assignments. I’ve attended the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference (for poetry), have had poems published in university quarterlies, and have a certificate from the Institute of Children’s Literature. I didn’t just think, “Wouldn’t it be fun to write a picture book!” I don’t believe writing for children is any different or easier than other kinds of writing. I’m aware of the ins and outs of submitting, that tenacity is necessary, that looking at results are important, and changing strategy is needed when a manuscript has been out for a certain amount of time, with no results. I don’t take criticism personally, and am open to making what I have better. That being said, I’ve received form rejections, as well as personal responses to this manuscript. After six months of submitting, I sent first the manuscript, then the query letter to a Writer's Digest critique service. The response to the manuscript was brief — “What a simple, yet original idea. This book will be an illustrator’s dream.” That’s it. No corrections, no changes. Obviously, I was surprised and relieved, so I thought the query must be the problem. When I submitted that to the same service, I was told that it was a good query, but it needed some tightening and smoothing over. I changed the query, according to the suggestions, and saw immediately, that it was 100 percent better. Then, off went the new query, and continues to go. So, that’s where I am, tho I’ve continued to get input from other places/people along the way. One piece of advice I read constantly is to find books similar to what you’re writing and check out those publishers and/or agents. The majority of books like this are by publishers that won’t accept unsolicited manuscripts. I see two problems with my manuscript. First, I understand that there’s a definite bias in some quarters to stories told in rhyme, which mine is. I get it, and notice in references such as the Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market, that certain agents and publishers will actually refuse to look at such manuscripts. That’s fine. I don’t send it to those places. That in itself tells me it may be an uphill battle, but I think it’s still worth it. The second problem is that it’s what is usually described as a “list” book. I understand that it would be easier to sell if it had a character on which to hang its hat. That this manuscript may indeed be a second book, if I can get an agent interested in one of the other three manuscripts I’ve written, none of which are in rhyme. I wondered if any of you would have advice based on either your own experiences or other information. I would be so very grateful to hear what you have to say.https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,118367,118367#msg-118367Tue, 26 May 2026 00:31:53 +0100 Phorum 5.2.22 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,118367,118382#msg-118382 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,118367,118382#msg-118382I've been self publishing for several years now, and I'm happy to chat.]]> Sarah Waldock Tea RoomSun, 04 Oct 2015 19:03:24 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,118367,118381#msg-118381 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,118367,118381#msg-118381
I’ve recently been researching self publishing, but will have to put more time into it before I can decide. Because it’s something with which I’m not familiar, I tend to feel a bit overwhelmed until I can get a handle on it.

Again, thank you both for your input. I really do appreciate it!]]> Terri Elizabeth Tea RoomSun, 04 Oct 2015 18:35:38 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,118367,118377#msg-118377 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,118367,118377#msg-118377
If it's in colour it WILL cost more per copy; and I don't know how much more that may cost than trad publishing, or, indeed if it is less because of being print on demand. Having run a greetings card company at one point, I know there are economies of scale with traditional printing, but then, since I was involved in that, computer run printers have soared in efficiency and dropped in price, so...
And the beauty of it is, once you've shelled out for colour in the internals, that can be on every page; because you pay for a colour book whether it's 4 pages of maps in the middle or full colour graphic novelisation.
I presume you've got all your illustrations? If not, now is the time to be looking into illustrators and asking for samples of work based on a portion of the m/s]]> Sarah Waldock Tea RoomSat, 03 Oct 2015 23:22:47 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,118367,118374#msg-118374 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,118367,118374#msg-118374 Rae Elaine Tea RoomSat, 03 Oct 2015 21:06:22 +0100 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,118367,118367#msg-118367 https://www.dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?4,118367,118367#msg-118367
I’ve been searching for either a publisher or a literary agent for about three years.

My background is as a writer and editor for newspapers and magazines. As a free-lance writer for more than 20 years, I understand how to query publications, and deal with deadlines and assignments.

I’ve attended the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference (for poetry), have had poems published in university quarterlies, and have a certificate from the Institute of Children’s Literature.

I didn’t just think, “Wouldn’t it be fun to write a picture book!” I don’t believe writing for children is any different or easier than other kinds of writing.

I’m aware of the ins and outs of submitting, that tenacity is necessary, that looking at results are important, and changing strategy is needed when a manuscript has been out for a certain amount of time, with no results. I don’t take criticism personally, and am open to making what I have better.

That being said, I’ve received form rejections, as well as personal responses to this manuscript.

After six months of submitting, I sent first the manuscript, then the query letter to a Writer's Digest critique service.

The response to the manuscript was brief — “What a simple, yet original idea. This book will be an illustrator’s dream.”

That’s it. No corrections, no changes. Obviously, I was surprised and relieved, so I thought the query must be the problem.

When I submitted that to the same service, I was told that it was a good query, but it needed some tightening and smoothing over.

I changed the query, according to the suggestions, and saw immediately, that it was 100 percent better. Then, off went the new query, and continues to go.

So, that’s where I am, tho I’ve continued to get input from other places/people along the way.

One piece of advice I read constantly is to find books similar to what you’re writing and check out those publishers and/or agents. The majority of books like this are by publishers that won’t accept unsolicited manuscripts.

I see two problems with my manuscript. First, I understand that there’s a definite bias in some quarters to stories told in rhyme, which mine is. I get it, and notice in references such as the Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market, that certain agents and publishers will actually refuse to look at such manuscripts. That’s fine. I don’t send it to those places. That in itself tells me it may be an uphill battle, but I think it’s still worth it.

The second problem is that it’s what is usually described as a “list” book. I understand that it would be easier to sell if it had a character on which to hang its hat. That this manuscript may indeed be a second book, if I can get an agent interested in one of the other three manuscripts I’ve written, none of which are in rhyme.

I wondered if any of you would have advice based on either your own experiences or other information. I would be so very grateful to hear what you have to say.]]> Terri Elizabeth Tea RoomFri, 02 Oct 2015 20:30:08 +0100