Things You'll Need:
- Computer
- Scanner
-
Step 1
Choose a software to write your children's book that is ubiquitous and used in most children's book projects. Microsoft Word is, by far, the one used by most people and companies.
-
Step 2
Make sure you use just one program to write your children's book. If you find that you do not like the program you are using, choose another, then convert your children's book to that new format and continue writing it.
-
Step 3
Use just one computer that has the software you have chosen. Or, if you are able, you can use more than one computer as long as both have the exact same version of the program you have chosen to use to write the children's book you wish to publish privately.
-
Step 1
Read over the children's book you have written many times to make sure it is as completed as you can make it.
-
Step 2
Ask someone else to read the children's book for you. After a while, you may find that you are unable to see any mistakes as you are too close to the book.
-
Step 3
Have a third person read the children's book you wish to publish privately. It is important to have other people (plural) read your book to have a truly objective person is a must. Never do your own final editing, for you run the risk of having your book published with errors. If necessary, hire someone to read your children's book if you are unable to find someone to read it for you.
-
Step 1
Ask to see the portfolio of any illustrator you are considering.
-
Step 2
Discuss or create a contract before any work begins on the children's book you wish to publish privately. You want to avoid any disagreements, demands for more money or any other issue to arise between you and the illustrator that could jeopardize the project. Settle on an amount for the illustrator's fee.
-
Step 3
Hire a lawyer if you need help creating a contract for yourself and the illustrator. These can be found in the phone book. There may even be some lawyers whose firm has an arrangement where a certain number of cases having to do with the arts (a book would fall into this category) are pro bono, or without pay.
-
Step 1
Choose any format you wish and design your book around this style.
-
Step 2
Pick out fonts for you children's book when you wish to publish privately. You can have the main text be one font with the headings being another. The fonts should compliment each other.
-
Step 3
Make sure that the fonts you choose are already in your computer. This will avoid the step of the font you choose being changed or showing up in two different forms when published.
-
Step 1
Apply for a copyright for the children's book you wish to publish through the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress Copyright Division (see Resources below).
-
Step 2
Obtain an ISBN number for the children's book you wish to publish privately (see Resources below).
-
Step 3
Acquire a CIP, or a Library of Congress Control Number, for the children's book through the Library of Congress (see Resources below).
-
Step 4
Include all of the above information on the copyright page.
-
Step 1
Scan the illustrations. The illustrations need to be in a digital format for reproduction into book form. The scanner needs to scan the illustrations as either JPEG files or 300 DPI TIFF.
-
Step 2
Use your own scanner and touch up the illustrations, if necessary, in a program like Adobe PhotoShop.
-
Step 3
Hire someone to scan and touch up the illustrations if you do not wish to do this yourself.
-
Step 1
Create a design for the cover of the book. This is something that both you and the illustrator can do. Try to make it as eye-catching and inviting as possible.
-
Step 2
Save your work on a CD so that the files will be easily transferable into book form.
-
Step 3
Look for companies that will publish your book for you. These companies can be found online or in the phone book (see Resources below).
Comments
jmom1 said
on 3/13/2009 Very helpful information.