The day that you send your manuscript off to a potential
publisher is an exciting one. A lot of dreams ride along in the envelope, as
well as some anxiety. While there is no gimmick guaranteed to get your story
published, the following suggestions will help you get it read:
Research every publisher you submit to--Many publishers
post their writer's guidelines on their website, and almost all will send you a
copy if you mail a request. Market guides such as the Children's
Writers' and Illustrators' Market, or websites like the Society of
Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, www.scbwi.org, also provide
information about what the different publishers are interested in. If you use
all of the information you can find, you'll avoid wasting six months for a
rejection from a publisher that only publishes certain type of books.
Mail your manuscript to the right person--The publishing
world has a high turnover rate in its top positions, so it's possible that the
person listed on the website is no longer in charge. The only time it is
acceptable to call the publisher is to find out the name of the person in
charge of submissions.
Include an SASE--In the days of typewriters, an author
included a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with a manuscript so that he
or she wouldn't have to retype the 500-page book if the publisher didn't want
it. Computers make the return envelope seem obsolete, especially with 1000-word
stories. Editors still want to see them, though. Some publishing houses will
even throw away manuscripts that are not accompanied by an SASE.
Submit to magazines--Picture books are definitely where the
money is, and many authors never submit to magazines because they are chasing
the elusive advance. That's a mistake; children's magazines are not quite as
competitive as the picture book market, so unpublished authors have a better chance
of breaking into magazines. Also, cover letters that list a couple of clips
from big-name children's magazines are more likely to catch an editor's eye.