Planning to self-publish your children’s novel? Whether you’ve written historical fiction, realistic fiction, or fantasy, self-publishing the book can be an attractive alternative to spending months or years trying to win over a traditional publisher. But don’t be fooled; the road to self-publishing success isn't easy.
Children’s novels cater to a serious and choosy group of readers, who don’t rely on pictures to keep them interested. And a well-written story isn’t the only thing self-publishers have to worry about; presentation and marketing matter, too.
In fact, what a self-published author does after the manuscript is written can determine the novel’s fate. So before getting started down the do-it-yourself path, consider these important pointers to ensure that your children’s novel gets the attention it deserves – and into the hands of eager young readers.
Hire an Editor
Self-editing is important. That said, no one’s perfect, so don’t expect to catch every typo and grammatical error in your manuscript. Get another pair of eyes to take a look. In fact, why not ask several people to read what you’ve written? Just make sure that one of them is a professional editor.
Editors range from copyeditors, who mainly check for spelling and grammatical errors and problems with style, to substantive editors, who review work for organization, plot inconsistencies, and overall readability. Editors’ fees vary according to the complexity of the job.
Good places to find a children’s book editor include children’s writing organizations, children’s writing newsletters, and professional editing groups, such as the Editorial Freelancers Association, which provides a directory of editors by region and specialty.
(Note: Remember to thank the editor formally. Like traditionally published books, a book that you publish yourself should include an Acknowledgments section listing and thanking those who helped you complete your children’s novel.)
Create an Eye-catching Book Title and Cover Design
Forget the expression, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Kids do it all the time. Although what’s inside a book counts most, covers and titles are what readers see first. And if kids don’t like what they see, the book won’t have much of a chance.
For titles, aim for something short and snappy, but make sure it’s relevant. Books that don’t deliver what the title suggests will be a letdown. Book covers don’t have to be loud or extravagant; however, a dull cover won’t do either. Not sure what’s dull and what’s not? Browse through book stores for examples and ideas.
If you know exactly the kind of cover you want, you can hire an illustrator to design it for you. Book cover design companies and print-on-demand publishers can also help you create the ideal book cover. One final tip: consider “trying out” your cover on a child before finalizing it. Then tweak and refine as necessary.
Research Publishing Options for Your Children's Novel
Finding the right company to help you publish your book is probably the most important step in the self-publishing process. Once you start your search, you’ll soon discover that many companies are willing – and eager – to help. So how do you choose one?
First, decide which method of self-publishing you wish to use. Probably the cheapest way to self-publish a children’s novel is through an ebook publisher. Ebooks are not only inexpensive to produce, they’re easy to publish, update, and distribute. But ebooks have their disadvantages, too – one being that many kids don’t like to read novels on a screen.
If you want your children’s novel to appear in print but don’t want to order lots of books to store yourself, consider using a print-on-demand publisher. POD publishers provide other benefits and services to authors, including ISBN numbers, UPC codes, editing, marketing, ebook conversion, and (as noted above) book design – often for a price, though.
Authors can also set up their own publishing company and hire a printer to print the books. This method gives authors more control over their product, including the book size, price, and inventory. But expect to put more time and work (not to mention money upfront) into the publishing effort.
Whether choosing an ebook publisher, printer, POD publisher, or another type of self-publishing company, make sure you research several possibilities. Gather quotes and look at sample work. Most important, read a publishing contract very carefully before signing it.
Create a Book Marketing Plan
No matter which company you choose to help you publish your children’s novel, you will have to do much of the selling yourself, even if you get a book distributor to help. Self-published children’s novels aren’t an easy sell, either, which is why creating a workable, useful book marketing plan is essential.
A marketing plan consists of the ways you intend to sell your book. Many self-published authors focus their efforts on online marketing, like selling through Amazon or personal websites. But there are many other avenues for marketing a children’s novel, such as book reviews, book signings, school visits, interviews, and book fairs.
Self-publishers often have better luck with local markets, but don’t rule out regional and national venues. Midwest Book Review, for example, routinely reviews novels by self-published children’s authors. Advertising in newsletters, catalogs, and magazines directed at kids is another way to get the word out about your novel.
Finally, sending out flyers or postcards announcing the book can turn into numerous sales – as can donating a book, with purchasing information. Some places to do either include:
- school libraries
- public libraries
- historical societies, for historical fiction novels
- museum shops
- independent book stores
- children’s clubs
- church youth programs
- local gift shops
- friends and family
Self-publishing a children's novel takes plenty of work and careful planning. But by following the above pointers, you can create a quality product that sells – and one that makes your decision to do it yourself worthwhile.
Susie Yakowicz - Susie Yakowicz is a Minnesota freelance writer whose work has appeared in dozens of publications for children and adults.
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