November 2002
What Is Paper Engineering?
I'm working on a story that would make a good novelty book. My research indicates 80% of published novelty books have the author (or spouse) doing their own paper engineering. What is paper engineering and how does one get the training for this?
Paper engineering is the art of making pop-up books and paper sculptures. Usually paper engineering would be required of the illustrator, or author/illustrator. Unless you are planning on illustrating, it's probably not necessary for your text to be submitted with a paper engineered dummy. Be sure to check the guidelines for publishers of novelty books to find out their submission requirements.
If you're interested in writing for the novelty book market, it would be a good idea to learn how to do paper engineering. It will help you visualize the finished product and write stronger text. There are several books on the subject, such as Paper Engineering: For Pop-up Books and Cards by Mark Hiner. Also you can find inexpensive software, such as "Paper Engineering and Cool Paper Toys."
I found some excellent online resources. Joan Irvine has written several how-to books for kids about paper engineering. Her web site includes a tutorial, "How to Make a Pop-Up." The Explorers web site contains step-by-step illustrated instructions for making a pop-up book that would be suitable for submission to novelty book publishers.
Good luck with your novelty book project!
Where Can I Find a Publisher For My Personalized Children's Story?
I have written a personalized story where I use the child's name for the hero/heroine, family members as characters, and have sold many copies at the daycare where I work. I have sold about 200 books this past year so I know there is a market but I don't have the equipment to do volume in a timely fashion. I'm wondering if there are any publishers who would be interested?
As I searched the Internet, it looks like several of the personalized children's booksellers write and publish their own books and sell them from their web site. However I found several sites for small companies selling personalized children's books among other products and services: That's Me! Personalized Children's Books; Stories About Me; Personalized Children's Storybooks; Expressly Books; Story Book About Me; Storytime Personalized Children's Books; Hatchling Books; RWR Innovations; The Giggle Pitt. You will find links or submission forms to email them on all their web sites.
Query first to ask if they would consider your story submission. Briefly describe your story, include a sample sentence or paragraph that shows how you can personalize the story. Be sure to tell them about your experience with marketing your own version locally.
Even if you can't find a publisher among them, you might find some of these publishers would be willing to advise you about ways to sell more volume on your own, such as printing methods and distribution.
Sounds like you've found a local niche for a great idea. I wish you continued success!
What Is The Average Payment For Selling a Story?
Regarding children's books, is there an average amount of payment that one can expect for selling a story to a publisher?
Depending on the publisher they offer three types of contracts:
Standard advance royalty: For new writers advances can be anywhere from $100 to $3000, but seldom more than that. A common advance figure is $1000. That's what I received for my children's mystery novel, Carly's Ghost. Royalties are usually 7% of net sales, but sometimes lower.
Royalty only: No advance, the publisher pays royalties on net sales, anywhere from 2% - 7%.
Flat fee: Anywhere from $500 to $5000. With flat fee contracts the writer is often asked for all rights.
I wish I could say there's a reasonable across-the-board standard, or average, in children's publishing but there isn't such a thing. Publishers differ. And I can't really point to any trends in children's publishing contracts, except to say the income for children's writers hasn't improved much over the past 20 years. Many published children's authors keep their day jobs, or if they don't, find they can only maintain a steady income by doing regular school visits, or speaking at conferences.
The Business Side of Children's Publishing is a new email newsletter, which covers the business aspects of the children's publishing industry for authors and illustrators. Each issue contains an article about a business issue, such as a contract term or phrase and what it means for an author or illustrator. You will find more information at Rita Cammarano's web site, Smart Writers.
For more information:
- Paper Engineering and Cool Paper Toys CD-ROM
- http://www.ubah.com/catalog/papercd.htm
- Joan Irvine: How to Make a Pop-Up
- http://www.makersgallery.com/joanirvine/howto.html
- Explorers: Pop-Up Book Directions
- http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/pershing/explorers/popup.htm
- That's Me! Personalized Children's Books
- http://www.thats-mebooks.com
- Stories About Me
- http://www.stories-about-me.com
- Personalized Children's Storybooks
- http://www.stpbooks.com
- Story Book About Me
- http://storybookaboutme.com
- Storytime Personalized Children's Books
- http://home.att.net/~storytimebooks/storytimebooks.html
- Hatchling Books
- http://www.hatchlingbooks.com
- RWR Innovations Personalized Children's Books
- http://www.rwrinnovations.com
- The Giggle Pitt
- http://www.thegigglepitt.com
- The Business Side of Children's Publishing
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheBusinessSideofChildrensPublishing/
- Smart Writers.com
- http://www.smartwriters.com
Peggy Tibbetts has been a professional writer, editor, and full member of the Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators for the past 26 years. She offers courses in children's writing and has edited several successful children's manuscripts. She is the author of the children's novel The Road to Weird, as well as the adult novel Rumors of War. Peggy also moderates the The Write List discussion list at Yahoo.
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