Children’s books are one of the most important forms of fiction worldwide. They have been in high demand for decades as a medium for teachers and parents to teach their children about the world and cement good morals.
While many people may think that writing a children’s book may not be a struggle, only the authors can understand the challenges posed by this unique journey. The truth is that children’s books do not require any lesser effort than novels.
Once you are done with your manuscript, the hardships are not over. It is time to find the right ways to let your work reach the world. Among all the possible ways, self-publishing remains one of the most favorite among children’s book writers.
Here are the steps that can enable you to effectively self-publish your children’s book.
- Get Feedback on Your Manuscript
It is one of the most challenging tasks to create a manuscript and go through several rounds of revision. That is why writers take months, and even years, to finalize their manuscripts. However, every writer can agree they cannot gather the courage to kill their darlings and critique their work objectively.
Hence, every children’s book writer needs to get unbiased feedback on their work. You can start by asking for the opinion of your close friends or family about the work. However, they may be too polite to point out any inconsistencies.
Therefore, it is important to consider hiring an editor for more constructive criticism. Professional children’s book editors have years of experience and can point out any room for improvement in your work. Hiring a professional children’s book editor becomes especially important if you have a rhyming manuscript.
You may also want to consider the services of a book editor if you are writing in a second language or have an accent. The words that rhyme for you may not be read out loud the same in different regions. Hence, you can increase your chances of improving on mistakes you may have never caught on to otherwise.
- Plan a Layout
Most major and minor decisions rely on you when you choose to self-publish a children’s book. Every novice writer needs to learn how to self-publish a children’s book by themselves. The first thing that needs to be done is to hunt for a reliable printer.
Different printers have different requirements and varying book sizes. You need to know about guidelines and restrictions beforehand. The number of pages and binding quality must also be considered in a book layout and discussed with the printer.
When it comes to design, it is always recommended to work with a professional, especially if you do not have any design experience. They can help you avoid many mistakes with illustrations and cover posts for your books.
In addition, it is also important to consider the right font choice for your children’s book. Unlike with a novel, fonts in children’s books give you more room to play. You can look for a font complimenting your characters, story, and tone.
It is best to ensure that your text is not dangerously close to the edge of your page. Instead, leave plenty of room to focus on making it balanced. The key is to not obscure the text, the images, and the other way around. After all, the last thing you want to do is to overwhelm the reader.
- Set a Budget
Writers who choose to self-publish their children’s books very well understand that they must bear all the expenses. From hiring an editor to getting quotes from different printers, it all goes from your pocket. Hence, setting a budget must come as a priority for self-publishers.
It is important for every aspiring writer to dedicate some time to decide on an appropriate budget for self-publishing. Make sure that you add at least 10-20% contingency for any unexpected costs. This way, you will not have to face any unexpected surprises on the way.
After all, no one wants to go too far down the road only to realize that they have run out of fuel. This practice will only leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere. Hence, it is best to sort out the matters of money before setting on your journey. Here are some expected expenses you may face on the way.
- Editing Services
- Professional Design Services
- Illustration Services
- Printing Services
- Book Marketing
- Hire an Illustrator
Every children’s book writer understands that it can be hard to be satisfied with their work unless they have seen some samples. One of the common things that you may have noticed in every sample is that children’s books always have illustrations.
These illustrations have a big impact on children’s books. Therefore, you need to hire a professional children’s book illustrator to help improve your book. Good illustrations can increase the chances of your book’s success manifold.
Once you are done with your manuscript, it is best to research some famous art styles. From layered digital art to watercolor art, there are so many options available for you to explore. After you have finalized the art style, you can start looking for an illustrator that suits your needs.
You can explore several platforms to look for the right illustrators for your book. You can start by creating a list of illustrators that have experience working in the same art styles as your preference. Further, you can ask them for samples.
- Negotiate the Prices
It can be hard to determine the right budget for a self-publisher. After all, self-publishing writers have to bear all the costs at every step. They need to try their best to stay within the budget without having to compromise the quality of their work.
It is best to discuss the fee and payment schedule with the professionals beforehand. Whether you are hiring an illustrator or looking for the services of an editor, it is important to remember that you can always negotiate the price of a product or service.
