How to Self-Publish a Children's Book

You probably won't get rich with self publishing, but self publishing a children's book is a great option for people who want to bypass traditional publishers. Self publishing lends itself well to those who want their book quickly, to share their story with family and friends, or would like to sell their book on their own terms. These steps will help you get started with self publishing, avoid scams, and have the best experience possible.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An editor
• An illustrator
• A reputable self publisher

1. Find a good editor to edit your book to professional quality. Many people skip this step and that is why self published books have the reputation of being of poor quality. Buck that reputation and make sure that your book is a quality piece of work.Go with an editor that is not affiliated with a self publisher and does his work freelance. This will ensure that you will be charged a fair amount for the services.

2. Find a good illustrator and have her illustrate your book. Just like with your editor, make sure that your illustrator is not affiliated with a self publishing house so that you can get the best rate. You may find that going to sites like Guru.com and Elance.com is a great way to find dependable freelance illustrators.

3. Finding a reputable publisher can be a challenge. Vanity publishers such as Publish America require clients to sign very restrictive contracts that are not in your best interest. The best way to find a reputable publisher is by asking questions on forum boards such as the Bewares and Background Check at the Absolute Write Water Cooler or the highly respected The Writer Beware Blog run by the published authors Victoria Strauss, Richard White and A. C. Crispin.

4. Before you sign the publisher's contract, make sure that you retain all rights to your story. You want to be able to change publishers and use your words any way you want, so retaining all rights is important.

5. Last, be willing to shell out some money. Publishing a book yourself isn't cheap. Try not to go into debt to produce the children's book, though. Most self published authors are lucky to break even by selling their book. Only buy what you absolutely need to produce the book, and order only a bare minimum of copies.

Tips & Warnings

• Print-on-demand publishers are good way to go for those unsure of the quantity of books they will need.
• Try to avoid publishers that require you to purchase illustrators and editors only through them.

[ceholmes]

on 6/25/2009 illustration is essential. Simple is sometimes best when it comes to children's books.

[AlinaBradford]

on 9/27/2008 No problem. :)

[skaake]

on 9/26/2008 Thanks for the advice and the links you mentioned!