Comments on: “I have an idea for a children’s book” http://drawn.ca/archive/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/ llustration, Comics, Animation, and Cartoon Art Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:52:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Patricia http://drawn.ca/archive/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/comment-page-1/#comment-576826 Patricia Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:23:47 +0000 http://drawn.ca/2008/02/14/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/#comment-576826 My favourite job offer was the guy who said to me that he taught a course in how to write a book in a week, and that anyone could do it. Using his teaching techniques, he had encouraged his six-year-old son to write a children's book, and wanted me to illustrate it. I gave him my price and that was the last I heard from him. When I am approached by people who want me to illustrate a story they have written, I just say that my policy is to not illustrate self-published picture books. Children's publishing is an extremely competitive business, and I tell it straight to these people that they would be doing themselves a disservice to either self-publish, or to send a manuscript to a publisher already illustrated. Publishers and editors want to pick their own artists. Yes, there are some occasions in which an artist can send in a story already illustrated, but in that case it's usually an artist who is already established in the field of illustration. If the struggling author is Canadian, I direct them to places like The Canadian Children's Book Centre or the Canadian Society of Children's Author's Illustrators and Performers. I also recommend the book the 'Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market', which is an excellent resource. Bob Staake is right. If you're really serious about getting into writing books for kids, you should be reading them on a regular basis. Writing for kids is not for the faint of heart. It's damn hard work. My favourite job offer was the guy who said to me that he taught a course in how to write a book in a week, and that anyone could do it. Using his teaching techniques, he had encouraged his six-year-old son to write a children’s book, and wanted me to illustrate it. I gave him my price and that was the last I heard from him.

When I am approached by people who want me to illustrate a story they have written, I just say that my policy is to not illustrate self-published picture books. Children’s publishing is an extremely competitive business, and I tell it straight to these people that they would be doing themselves a disservice to either self-publish, or to send a manuscript to a publisher already illustrated. Publishers and editors want to pick their own artists. Yes, there are some occasions in which an artist can send in a story already illustrated, but in that case it’s usually an artist who is already established in the field of illustration.

If the struggling author is Canadian, I direct them to places like The Canadian Children’s Book Centre or the Canadian Society of Children’s Author’s Illustrators and Performers. I also recommend the book the ‘Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market’, which is an excellent resource.

Bob Staake is right. If you’re really serious about getting into writing books for kids, you should be reading them on a regular basis. Writing for kids is not for the faint of heart. It’s damn hard work.

]]> By: Patricia http://drawn.ca/archive/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/comment-page-1/#comment-699076 Patricia Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:23:00 +0000 http://drawn.ca/2008/02/14/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/#comment-699076 My favourite job offer was the guy who said to me that he taught a course in how to write a book in a week, and that anyone could do it. Using his teaching techniques, he had encouraged his six-year-old son to write a children's book, and wanted me to illustrate it. I gave him my price and that was the last I heard from him. When I am approached by people who want me to illustrate a story they have written, I just say that my policy is to not illustrate self-published picture books. Children's publishing is an extremely competitive business, and I tell it straight to these people that they would be doing themselves a disservice to either self-publish, or to send a manuscript to a publisher already illustrated. Publishers and editors want to pick their own artists. Yes, there are some occasions in which an artist can send in a story already illustrated, but in that case it's usually an artist who is already established in the field of illustration. If the struggling author is Canadian, I direct them to places like The Canadian Children's Book Centre or the Canadian Society of Children's Author's Illustrators and Performers. I also recommend the book the 'Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market', which is an excellent resource. Bob Staake is right. If you're really serious about getting into writing books for kids, you should be reading them on a regular basis. Writing for kids is not for the faint of heart. It's damn hard work. My favourite job offer was the guy who said to me that he taught a course in how to write a book in a week, and that anyone could do it. Using his teaching techniques, he had encouraged his six-year-old son to write a children’s book, and wanted me to illustrate it. I gave him my price and that was the last I heard from him.

When I am approached by people who want me to illustrate a story they have written, I just say that my policy is to not illustrate self-published picture books. Children’s publishing is an extremely competitive business, and I tell it straight to these people that they would be doing themselves a disservice to either self-publish, or to send a manuscript to a publisher already illustrated. Publishers and editors want to pick their own artists. Yes, there are some occasions in which an artist can send in a story already illustrated, but in that case it’s usually an artist who is already established in the field of illustration.

If the struggling author is Canadian, I direct them to places like The Canadian Children’s Book Centre or the Canadian Society of Children’s Author’s Illustrators and Performers. I also recommend the book the ‘Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market’, which is an excellent resource.

Bob Staake is right. If you’re really serious about getting into writing books for kids, you should be reading them on a regular basis. Writing for kids is not for the faint of heart. It’s damn hard work.

]]> By: tim b http://drawn.ca/archive/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/comment-page-1/#comment-576315 tim b Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:45:29 +0000 http://drawn.ca/2008/02/14/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/#comment-576315 I can't believe no one has mentioned this yet so I will: you can also send these people to the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators: scbwi.org. At least by sending them along to a central information source you're not just stiff-arming them. There's a great blog called Editorial Anonymous that's also a must-read for newbies: not only for the excellent submissions advice but to give them a sense of how much editorial resistance they should expect on publishers' parts. I do kids' books pretty much full time so this issue crops up for me pretty frequently. I always add when putting people off that if they really like my work they're free to suggest it to the editors once the manuscript is accepted. 'Cause you never know... their idea might actually end up being brilliant. I can’t believe no one has mentioned this yet so I will: you can also send these people to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators: scbwi.org. At least by sending them along to a central information source you’re not just stiff-arming them.

There’s a great blog called Editorial Anonymous that’s also a must-read for newbies: not only for the excellent submissions advice but to give them a sense of how much editorial resistance they should expect on publishers’ parts.

I do kids’ books pretty much full time so this issue crops up for me pretty frequently. I always add when putting people off that if they really like my work they’re free to suggest it to the editors once the manuscript is accepted. ‘Cause you never know… their idea might actually end up being brilliant.

]]> By: tim b http://drawn.ca/archive/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/comment-page-1/#comment-699075 tim b Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:45:00 +0000 http://drawn.ca/2008/02/14/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/#comment-699075 I can't believe no one has mentioned this yet so I will: you can also send these people to the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators: scbwi.org. At least by sending them along to a central information source you're not just stiff-arming them. There's a great blog called Editorial Anonymous that's also a must-read for newbies: not only for the excellent submissions advice but to give them a sense of how much editorial resistance they should expect on publishers' parts. I do kids' books pretty much full time so this issue crops up for me pretty frequently. I always add when putting people off that if they really like my work they're free to suggest it to the editors once the manuscript is accepted. 'Cause you never know... their idea might actually end up being brilliant. I can’t believe no one has mentioned this yet so I will: you can also send these people to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators: scbwi.org. At least by sending them along to a central information source you’re not just stiff-arming them.

There’s a great blog called Editorial Anonymous that’s also a must-read for newbies: not only for the excellent submissions advice but to give them a sense of how much editorial resistance they should expect on publishers’ parts.

I do kids’ books pretty much full time so this issue crops up for me pretty frequently. I always add when putting people off that if they really like my work they’re free to suggest it to the editors once the manuscript is accepted. ‘Cause you never know… their idea might actually end up being brilliant.

]]> By: HaroldU http://drawn.ca/archive/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/comment-page-1/#comment-576313 HaroldU Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:36:28 +0000 http://drawn.ca/2008/02/14/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/#comment-576313 Adam, thanks for the mention of my book and your response to the poster who hadn't read it. As you said, my intention in writing the book, which draws on my experience as a children's book editor, was not to reveal "secrets" but instead to lay out the realities of the business. It's meant to be different from those other books, and I think it is. I also tried to include information that would be useful to beginners AND to those already published. A revised third edition will be out in a few months. Adam, thanks for the mention of my book and your response to the poster who hadn’t read it. As you said, my intention in writing the book, which draws on my experience as a children’s book editor, was not to reveal “secrets” but instead to lay out the realities of the business. It’s meant to be different from those other books, and I think it is. I also tried to include information that would be useful to beginners AND to those already published.

A revised third edition will be out in a few months.

]]> By: HaroldU http://drawn.ca/archive/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/comment-page-1/#comment-699074 HaroldU Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:36:00 +0000 http://drawn.ca/2008/02/14/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/#comment-699074 Adam, thanks for the mention of my book and your response to the poster who hadn't read it. As you said, my intention in writing the book, which draws on my experience as a children's book editor, was not to reveal "secrets" but instead to lay out the realities of the business. It's meant to be different from those other books, and I think it is. I also tried to include information that would be useful to beginners AND to those already published. A revised third edition will be out in a few months. Adam, thanks for the mention of my book and your response to the poster who hadn’t read it. As you said, my intention in writing the book, which draws on my experience as a children’s book editor, was not to reveal “secrets” but instead to lay out the realities of the business. It’s meant to be different from those other books, and I think it is. I also tried to include information that would be useful to beginners AND to those already published.

A revised third edition will be out in a few months.

]]> By: darren72 http://drawn.ca/archive/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/comment-page-1/#comment-575895 darren72 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:22:22 +0000 http://drawn.ca/2008/02/14/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/#comment-575895 How refreshing to read about this common problem. I don't know why people think ANYONE can write a children's book. All the manuscripts I end up reading are so awful - cloyingly sentimental, poorly written or painfully un-clever in their attempts at cleverness. The worst thing about these proposals is that they usually come from the nicest people in the world. That makes it so hard to turn them down. But regardless of what so many people here from all the pop-psychology mumbo jumbo out there, it takes so much more than effort, a positive attitude and a go-get-em spirit. It takes talent - not tenacity - to create a great book. Hard to believe with all the crap that actually does get published. How refreshing to read about this common problem. I don’t know why people think ANYONE can write a children’s book. All the manuscripts I end up reading are so awful – cloyingly sentimental, poorly written or painfully un-clever in their attempts at cleverness. The worst thing about these proposals is that they usually come from the nicest people in the world. That makes it so hard to turn them down. But regardless of what so many people here from all the pop-psychology mumbo jumbo out there, it takes so much more than effort, a positive attitude and a go-get-em spirit. It takes talent – not tenacity – to create a great book. Hard to believe with all the crap that actually does get published.

]]> By: darren72 http://drawn.ca/archive/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/comment-page-1/#comment-699073 darren72 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:22:00 +0000 http://drawn.ca/2008/02/14/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/#comment-699073 How refreshing to read about this common problem. I don't know why people think ANYONE can write a children's book. All the manuscripts I end up reading are so awful - cloyingly sentimental, poorly written or painfully un-clever in their attempts at cleverness. The worst thing about these proposals is that they usually come from the nicest people in the world. That makes it so hard to turn them down. But regardless of what so many people here from all the pop-psychology mumbo jumbo out there, it takes so much more than effort, a positive attitude and a go-get-em spirit. It takes talent - not tenacity - to create a great book. Hard to believe with all the crap that actually does get published. How refreshing to read about this common problem. I don’t know why people think ANYONE can write a children’s book. All the manuscripts I end up reading are so awful – cloyingly sentimental, poorly written or painfully un-clever in their attempts at cleverness. The worst thing about these proposals is that they usually come from the nicest people in the world. That makes it so hard to turn them down. But regardless of what so many people here from all the pop-psychology mumbo jumbo out there, it takes so much more than effort, a positive attitude and a go-get-em spirit. It takes talent – not tenacity – to create a great book. Hard to believe with all the crap that actually does get published.

]]> By: AndyJSmith http://drawn.ca/archive/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/comment-page-1/#comment-575803 AndyJSmith Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:08:59 +0000 http://drawn.ca/2008/02/14/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/#comment-575803 Also, good to ask, "Do you read children's books? What are your favorites?" If they can't answer or answer with books from 20 years ago... not gonna work. But my favorite, "You want to do this as a career or a hobby? -Andy Also, good to ask, “Do you read children’s books? What are your favorites?” If they can’t answer or answer with books from 20 years ago… not gonna work.
But my favorite, “You want to do this as a career or a hobby?

-Andy

]]> By: AndyJSmith http://drawn.ca/archive/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/comment-page-1/#comment-699072 AndyJSmith Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:08:00 +0000 http://drawn.ca/2008/02/14/i-have-an-idea-for-a-childrens-book/#comment-699072 Also, good to ask, "Do you read children's books? What are your favorites?" If they can't answer or answer with books from 20 years ago... not gonna work. But my favorite, "You want to do this as a career or a hobby? -Andy Also, good to ask, “Do you read children’s books? What are your favorites?” If they can’t answer or answer with books from 20 years ago… not gonna work.
But my favorite, “You want to do this as a career or a hobby?

-Andy

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