December 2002

Do I Need To Submit A Proposal?

Do I send my children's manuscript and copies of illustrations to a number of publishers in hope of acceptance, or do I need to contact publishers and ask for a proposal form before sending in the work?

You can find publisher guidelines in the Children's Writers and Illustrator's Market, and also The Colossal Directory of Children's Publishers Online.

If you are not a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, I strongly recommend joining. Many publishers who do not consider unsolicited, unagented manuscripts will look at manuscripts from SCBWI members. They also publish an annual market survey of publishers and their guidelines for submission, which is free to members. SCBWI also has regional activities, conferences, critique groups, and the opportunity to meet other children's writers in your local area.

Good luck with your search!

Do You Know Where I Can Find A Grant?

I'm trying to get a grant to do some story collecting in rural Ireland next summer. I'd like to publish a middle reader book (either collection or larger story) of the tales I can find. Any sources you know of that I can search to find such a grant?

According to Children's Writers and Illustrator's Market, the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators has the most grant programs for writers: Work-in-Progress Grant, Barbara Karlin Grant, and Kimberly Colen Memorial Grant. If you are not a member, consider joining.

The PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship of $5,000 is offered annually to an author of children's or young-adult fiction. However writers must be published and nominated by an editor or fellow writer.

Consider applying for grants with an emphasis on culture or research, as opposed to specifically children's literature. Funds for Writers is a good place to check periodically for grant information. Hope Clark maintains an ongoing list of grants available to all writers. The International Reading Association is another good resource for grants and awards in several categories.

Have a great trip to Ireland and good luck with your grant search!

Do You Know Any Paper Doll Publishers?

I need to know if you would have any suggestions of what publishing companies are interested in a unique form of children's book. Not the paperback. But I need a company that will include paper doll characters that go along with the story of an Amish family from the central part of Illinois. It has a Biblical lesson in the story. So whom do I get in touch with?

First of all, do your market research by spending some time at an independent religious bookstore. Look for children's activity books and paper dolls. Make a note of the publishers, then look them up in 2003 Children's Writers and Illustrator's Market,, at the Colossal Directory of Children's Publishers Online, or do a Google search for the publishers name to find out their submission guidelines.

Cook Communications Ministries publishes Games with a Message and other religious education curriculum. At their web site you'll find an online book proposal submission form to fill out and send electronically. This would be a good way to find out if they'd be interested in your idea. Go to the CCM web site, click on "About Cook, " then click "Publishing Proposals" in the left margin.

The Writers Write web site publishes links to religious and spiritual publishers. You'll need to search each one to find out which ones publish children's activity books. Zondervan is one publisher on the list I recognized but is not found in many children's publisher directories. According to their submission guidelines, writers must first post their proposals at the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association web site. The fee for a 6-month posting is $79, so if you find you have a hard time finding religious publishers that will consider your paper doll book proposal you might want to consider this route.

Don't forget to check out Writing World's Book Publishers links! Look for religious publishers.

There are a couple non-religious publishers you might want to query, as they publish materials that are found in religious bookstores. The Pleasant Company publishes activity books, and the Creative Teaching Press has a few products for the religious educational curriculum market. Both publishers post submission guidelines at their web sites.

Sounds like you have a unique novelty book idea for a niche market. Best of luck with your search for a publisher.

For more information:

Who Draws the Pictures? by Harold Underdown

http://www.underdown.org/cig_ch14.htm

The Colossal Directory of Children's Publishers Online

http://www.childrens-publishers.com

SCBWI

http://www.scbwi.org

PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship

http://www.pen.org/awards/naylor.htm

Fund for Writers/Grants

http://www.fundsforwriters.com/grants.htm

International Reading Association

http://www.reading.org/awards/

Cook Communications Ministries

http://www.cookministries.com/fun/

Writers Write Book Publisher Directory

http://www.writerswrite.com/books/bookpubs/relig.htm

Zondervan Publishing submission guidelines

http://www.zondervan.com/desk/subguide.asp

Evangelical Christian Publishers Association

http://www.ecpa.org/

Book Publishers

http://www.writing-world.com/links/bookpubs.shtml

Pleasant Company submission guidelines

http://www.americangirl.com/corp/guidelines/index.html

Creative Teaching Press

http://www.creativeteaching.com/ideas.html

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