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FAQ:
- I've written a book. How can I get it published?
It isn't that easy. After making sure your story is the best it can be, you'll need to research publishers. You can find them at the SCBWI site (www.scbwi.org), at Children's Book Council site (http://www.cbcbooks.org/), or look in Children's Writers and Illustrators Market (a book you can buy). Read their guidelines and send it exactly how they say to submit. They'll contact you if they want to buy it.
- Why do some publishers want the author to pay to publish their books?
Self-publishing is different from having a book published by a trade book publisher. It's gotten easier to self-publish and many companies do it. The author pays the company to make their book and the author must sell it himself/herself to get back the money. Trade publishers pay YOU and advance and you receive royalties as it sells. Often the author finds and pays the illustrator and pays for editing. Trade publishers find and pay the illustrator and do all the editorial work themselves. They want the book to sell well! They take all the risk and responsibility for producing the book and for getting it in the stores, too.
- I've published a book with a traditional trade publisher. Do I need to promote it myself?
Yes! Books publishers have many authors and the more do to get your book in front of the public, the more copies will sell. Book fairs, book festivals, conferences where books are sold, speaking engagements, and bookstore appearances all help keep your book in print. Large publishers must sell books or they go out our print quickly. You can help.
- How do I find places to market my books?
You have to hunt and volunteer. Look at web sites and search for conferences and book festivals. Volunteer to present at them. Contact your local library and offer them a free copy and to do a story time or summer presentation. Mail postcards to school districts letting the librarians know your book is out. Contact district library coordinators. Librarians can't buy your book if they don't know about it. Set up your own web site. I use Jivani & Pham, LLC. (www.JivaniPham.com)
- I want to do school visits.
Prepare two or three good school programs talking about your books and what it can do to help teacher use it in the classroom. Write a teacher guide to accompany your book. Let your publisher know you do school visits.
- I'm a student and I've written a story. Where can I get it published?
Check out Anastasia Suen's site (www.asuen.com). She has a section that lists places children can send their stories.
- Where can I learn more about writing for children?
Join SCBWI. Local chapters are everywhere. The Dallas-Ft.Worth chapter, North Central/Northeast Texas SCBWI, meets in Arlington. Join a critique group. Take a class. Read lots of books. Attend children's writing conferences.
- Isn't it hard to get published?
Yes. Almost impossible. If you write well and have the tenacity to stay with it, however, you can have a good chance at being an author with a published book. That's the best feeling in the world!
More about Shirley:
I grew up in Dallas. From the beginning, I loved to read. I sat in trees and read, I stayed up late reading, and I’d read a page or two between classes changing. When I was older and read Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, I stopped on page 25 to ask a question: Scarlett had gone to a party, lost her love, married Charles, and was widowed. What else could happen?
Reading always interested me, even before I decided I’d like to try writing. I liked words and liked using vocabulary. Without realizing it, I was a good writer from the start and always made A’s on my papers in school. It wasn’t until after I wrote curriculum, lots of tests, and other school related writing that I noticed people saying I had a way with words.
Working in the Wardrobe Department at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington was my first job. I handed out clean uniforms to the rides and concession workers and took their dirty ones to send to the cleaners, then put away clean uniforms back on the racks. Sometimes I even ironed! At my lunch break, I could hurry and eat, then go ride one of my favorite rides before going back to work.
Another fun job I had was working on a BMW oil and air filter factory assembly line in Ohringen, Germany. I put filter paper into the oil filters as they moved along and fitted hooks onto the air filters with pliers. Each filter had seven hooks. After the first week, I had seven blisters on my right hand.
I’ve traveled lots, in the United States and Europe. One summer I hopped on a plane and went to see the Price is Right show with Bob Barker. It took all day, standing in line after line, just to get in to see the show. I didn’t get picked, but it was a day I’ll never forget.
My most recent trip was to Eastern Europe. My husband and I rented a car in Germany and drove through the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland, then back to Germany to visit Berlin. We voted for President at the American Embassy in Prague. We ate lots of pork, sausage, and potatoes on that trip. The languages were difficult, but we learned please, thank-you, and hello in each different language and those words will take you far. People kept thinking we were German.
My stories come from what I see around me. I love to watch people and sometimes I even listen while they are talking. After I get a new idea, I start writing. When I slow down on the writing, I make my storyboard and plan. Then I finish the book. Guess what comes next in writing? Revision. I revise lots and lots. To me, it’s the hardest thing to do.Then I send the book to a publishing house and wait.The most exciting time is—Never mind! Each step in writing and getting a book published is exciting!
You know something about me. Now you can tell me something about you and your writing. Write me at:
Shirley@shirleysmithduke.com
Have any questions? E-Mail them to me, and if many other people have the same question, I will answer it here!
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