{"id":12391,"date":"2024-08-01T08:46:05","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T14:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.printingcenterusa.com\/blog\/?p=12391"},"modified":"2024-08-01T08:47:23","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T14:47:23","slug":"self-publishing-childrens-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.printingcenterusa.com\/blog\/self-publishing-childrens-books\/","title":{"rendered":"Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Publishing Children’s Books"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have a great idea for self-publishing children’s books but not sure where to start? You\u2019re definitely not alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Publishing can feel like a maze, with so many choices that can get overwhelming pretty fast. But here’s the thing\u2014you\u2019ve already handled the hardest part: the million door book idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, let\u2019s break down what you need to do next, step by step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Traditional vs Self-Publishing <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To understand publishing you need to know the difference between self-publishing and traditional publishing. In simple terms: you either own your book rights, royalties and creatives or a company does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditional publishing<\/strong> is when a publisher offers an author a contract and then prints, publishes and sells your book through retailers and bookstores. They buy your rights and give you a portion of the royalties from the sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a great option if you are releasing 1-2 books a year and don’t want to be too hands-on. This process can be lengthy, anywhere from 12-24 months or longer. Each publisher has a different submission process but typically it needs to be a proposal along with a manuscript of your book. This can vary from 1-5 chapters with a synopsis or very rarely the whole book. You can face a lot of rejections along the way until someone wants to pick up your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self publishing <\/strong>is when you publish your own material without the help of a publisher. This allows you to keep your material rights, control all creative aspects and keep all royalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-publishing children\u2019s books gives you much more freedom. This is a much shorter process but you will have little to no support with this route. Because there is no one helping you along the way, the costs will be upfront-out of pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting Started <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After you landed on your initial idea for self-publishing children\u2019s books, I bet you did a quick Google search. It’s easy to feel swamped with all that information, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Clear your head<\/strong>: Don’t let the loads of information you read about overwhelm you. Take a moment. Breathe and clear your head. Take a walk or meditate to get in the right headspace for your project.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Gather your ideas<\/strong>: Start with what you know- your main concept. Write down your initial thoughts. A brainstorming session can help. You can do this alone or with friends or family.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Writing & Editing for Children’s Books <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Before starting to write your story, you need a foundation. Ask yourself these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Who is my reader? <\/strong>This will guide the language, themes, and characters. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Will it be a book that parents feel good about sharing with their children?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Are there any moral or learning lessons in this book?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. What sets your book apart from others?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      To really hone in on your audience, you need to know that children book ages are categorized this way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Early\/Simple Picture Books: 2-5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Picture Books: 5-8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      First Chapter Books & Graphic Novels: 6-10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Middle School Chapter Books & Graphic Novels: 8-12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Young Adult Books: 12 & up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Online communities like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and local writing groups are perfect for finding people willing to read your work and provide constructive criticism. This is also a great way to start networking and building a community! Try to read your work out loud. This can reveal a lot about how your story flows, how engaging it is, and any awkward phrases.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Affordable writing & editing platforms:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n