July 2004

Can You Give Me Some Feedback On My Children's Story?

I am sending you a story I wrote for children. I would like some general feedback to see if I'm on the right track. I welcome your suggestions

Every week I receive several emails from writers with similar requests. While I'm flattered to think that so many writers value my opinion, with my already full editing and writing schedule I simply can't spare the time for all the requests. Aside from that, I'm probably not the best person to consult.

The best way to get feedback on your work-in-progress is to join a critique group, either online or locally. Consider joining the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). They have local chapters all over the US. Once you join, look up your regional director at the web site and contact him/her for more information about online or local critique groups, or manuscript exchange programs. There is also a manuscript exchange program available to members through the web site. By seeking feedback through SCBWI, this will ensure that you find valuable feedback from writers who are familiar with the children's publishing industry.

Crits International is an international online email critique group for children's book writers that gives you the opportunity to hone your craft and get the opinions of other children's writers before you submit to editors or agents. Each member has his/her work read by other members, and each makes suggestions, comments or asks questions that might be helpful in rewriting or polishing your work so you can make it the best it can be. For more information contact Michael Thal at: writinghigh@adelphia.net

Can I Use The Three Little Pigs In An Activity Book?

I am working on activity books that are based on traditional stories, including The Three Little Pigs. Is it a violation of copyright to use these stories? How do I go about submitting them to a publisher?

Generally speaking, traditional stories such as "The Three Little Pigs" are in the public domain, meaning the length of copyright has expired, so they can be adapted, abridged, and otherwise reprinted and published in new formats. However, using a well-known folktale also requires some research. In her article "Copyright and Fair Use of Published Materials", Heather Forest points out that printed and recorded versions of folktales are copyrighted and writers and storytellers are not free to use the exact text of those versions without permission. To avoid using copyrighted text, Aaron Shepard recommends researching the copyright before using any version of a folktale. For a list of references, read his article "Researching the Folktale".

Publishers of activity books usually have their own specific guidelines for submission. Visit your local bookstore and library. Look for books that are similar to the ones you are working on. Jot down the name of the publishers of those books, then get a copy of the Children's Writers and Illustrator's Market look up the publishers and follow their guidelines for submission. Be sure to check the publishers' web sites for updated submission guidelines, or requests for specific projects. For more information about marketing your project to publishers, you will find several helpful suggestions in my article "The Elephant in the Room: Marketing Your Children's Manuscript".

How Can I Sell The Rights To My Out-Of-Print Books?

My publisher is no longer going to publish children's books and has offered me back the rights to nine of my children's novels. How can I sell the rights to another publisher? Thank you for your help.

It's customary for rights to revert to back to the author when a book goes out of print, or as in your case the publisher quits publishing children's books, or goes out of business. Most publishing contracts include a clause to that effect.

You have two options. You can query publishers to see if they are interested in publishing your books. Or you can publish them yourself. Either way has advantages and disadvantages. If you decide to query publishers, consider small POD publishers. They tend to keep their books in print longer, because of POD technology. And they are more likely to consider reprints. The disadvantage is that the books can still go out of print.

The publisher for my first book, "Carly's Ghost" went out of business in 2002. According to my contract, the rights reverted back to me. I received a signed agreement from the publisher granting my rights back to me. In 2003, a small POD publisher, picked up "Carly's Ghost", plus my new title "Harpo Marx is Seeing Things" and combined them into a 2-book anthology, The Road to Weird. In the process of finding a new home for my out-of-print book, I was also able to bring out a brand new title. In your case, perhaps an independent POD publisher would be open to combining some of your titles into series anthologies, combining 2 or more titles into one book.

Another option is to use a publishing service, such as Xlibris, iUniverse, and AuthorHouse to self publish your books. It's much easier, and less expensive to self-publish than ever before. The advantage is that your books will remain in print for as long as you want.

Write4Kids publishes an interview with Joi Nobisso that you might find this interesting. She obtained the rights to her out-of-print picture books and self published them.

For more information:

Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators

http://www.scbwi.org

Copyright and Fair Use of Published Materials

http://www.storyarts.org/articles/copyright.html

Researching the Folktale, By Aaron Shepard

http://www.aaronshep.com/storytelling/A65.html

The Elephant in the Room: Marketing Your Children's Manuscript

http://www.writing-world.com/children/elephant.shtml

Interview with Joi Nobisso:

http://write4kids.com/joi.html

iUniverse

http://www.iuniverse.com

Xlibris

http://www1.xlibris.com

AuthorHouse

http://www.authorhouse.com

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