Learn To Write What Publishers of Children's Books Want to See!

Wow, the story you have stayed up nights creating is finally finished. Your main character has been refined and developed to bring life to the story. The magic of the words you have written are printed on the page and are marching to a designated plot created from your heart. Have you taken the time to relish in your achievement?? You have done the hard yards and now your desire to write stories that will touch the heart of children has almost become a reality. All that is left to fulfill this dream is to submit it to the publisher. In searching for a publisher, it is important to research what it is exactly that the publisher wants to see and then learn to write around these requirements.

One of the first things a children's book publishers will be looking for is if you have followed the publishing guidelines. These guidelines spell out specifically what they want to pay for. If a publisher says it does not want stories where animals talk and you present them with a talking Lassie as the main character, your manuscript will automatically be rejected, no matter how good the plot is. The guidelines will tell you exactly what the publisher is looking for when it comes to accepting unsolicited material, how many words they are looking for as well as what type of stories they will be looking for. It is imperative that you learn to write and follow the publisher guidelines exactly. To make sure you receive the guidelines, simply request a hard copy from them. Send this letter with a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope). Some guidelines are on the web others request that you write for them.

As well as these guidelines, a children's book publisher will be looking for the cover letter. It should be the very top page. The cover letter should give interest. I should invite the publisher to read your children's book. The editor should know from reading the cover letter, what you are sending, who the target reader is and why you are sending it to that particular company. It should also include a little bit about you. This information should be fairly straight forward but interesting. It should prepare him to want to read the rest of your work that is on the following pages.

Proper format is the next thing a publisher will be interested in seeing. You can find many sites on the web that can teach you the proper format to write in and you can also learn to write by picking up books specifically written to help you write a children's book. Primarily it should have good margins all around, top left-hand margin with your your identifying information, center the title midway down first page, followed by your name. Make sure it is double spaced throughout. It is a given that your manuscript be checked and double checked for grammatical correctness. Editors look for good sentence structure with lots of variety and dialogue. Good writing is usually written in active voice and describes the character doing the activity. Try to form your sentences with this type of action. Always have someone else proof read your work before it is mailed.

Learn to write what the publisher wants to see by following these very important suggestions before sending your children's book to the publisher. Each children's book publishing house receives hundreds or thousands of manuscripts in any given month. This advice will give you a strong chance at seeing your story in print. Pay attention to these ideas and you may be the next new children's author.