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Publishing books seems
Publishing books seems complicated. And two of my friends (not Alexa) want to publish there 2, 3? book series. When they finish, of course. We're in grade 5-6 and they plan to finish and publish by grade 8. I don't think they know the whole "editing" process, and how publishing works. Anyways, can anyone help me help them by explaining the publishing process? Or just recommending a book or website (or any type of "media") that could help. By the way, I heard that it's harder to publish books when you're kids, and tweens, and possibly teens. Is this true? Sorry about all my questions. I just want to make sure my friends do it right and don't get plagarized or something. Please help.
~The Olive Oddity~
Many, many people want to publish books. It is a long, hard process for even the most talented writers. Few companies will even look at a book manuscript from a student. A writer of any age should be sure to read submission guidelines from any company before submitting a manuscript of any length. At Cricket, we encourage young writers to enter our Cricket League contests. Winning entries are published in Cricket. Teens fourteen and up can submit work to Cicada, our literary magazine for teens and young adults. Be sure to check out Cicada's guidelines first at www.cicadamag.com.
Old Cricket
submitted by Olive, age 12, Home of the Oli
(January 29, 2010 - 10:07 pm)
(January 29, 2010 - 10:07 pm)
Hi there! I've been wondering about this for ages, and it's good to have some insight. Thanks Old Cricket! I also have a cousin who wrote a comic book (politics, mostly) and did self-publishing on some website (he's way older than me, in his thirties now). He's trying to get me to do it too, but I don't have a completed book. I just write two-nine pages and start something else. I really need to buckle down and write. Ah well. Thanks for the thread, Olive!
~Leaf
(January 30, 2010 - 12:38 pm)
Your welcome, Leaf. Thanks, Old Cricket. Here's a smile. I'm going to try to make it big.
Ah, oh well. I tried. By the way, what do you buggies think of the title, Left Alone? My friends (not Alexa) might name it that. But what do you think? *whispers* I kind of think it's kind of cheesy, but then, I'm not really a critic-type person.
~The Olive Oddity~
(January 30, 2010 - 3:54 pm)
I'm approaching the end of my novel. I do want to *eventually* get it published. What I heard is that you have to send the publisher a letter asking if they want to see your manuscript, rather than just send it.
(January 30, 2010 - 4:51 pm)
If you research on line, there are lots of magazines (including Cricket) that allow you to send in work. Some, such as Teen Ink and Stone Soup, are made only for tweens/teens. It may help to start at someplace like these, instead of going straight for publishing a book.
Yes, but remember to check the guidelines for each magazine before sending something. For example, Cricket League usually specifies a specfic theme for entries and there is a word limit. And if you're age 14 or older, check out www.cicadamag.com. Cicada is Cricket's older sibling!
Old Cricket
(January 31, 2010 - 3:35 pm)
Just a note about stone soup because i subscribe to it: don't try to send long stories, but it's a good magazine.
(May 15, 2010 - 11:43 am)
One book that might help is The School Story by Andrew Clements. Also, when sending a book to a publisher you have to send a query letter with only a few chapters of your book unles it's a short book. A Query letter is a note you send with the story that kind of advertises your book. You have to put who will want to read it, where you want to send it and why your book is good. If they send a letter back saying they want more of your story send the rest!
(February 3, 2010 - 9:18 am)
Thanks! I'll be sure to tell my friends. Alexa says Hi.
(February 3, 2010 - 4:56 pm)
Adina has been doing reasearch and reading publishing blogs. Adina is now going to share her knowledge:
To get your book published, first you need an agent who will then present your book to the publishing company and try to get you a better deal. The agent gets paid a percentage of what you earn if you get a book deal but it is nearly impossible to get published without one. Most publishing companies (especially the big ones ) will not even look at the book if it is not represented by an agent.
To get an agent you send a query letter, which pretty much markets your book. It is very important to have a good query letter that stands out since agents get hundreds a day. If you google it you will find websites that help you write one.
You have to pick the agent carefully since some are only interested in certain genres and others are con artists, so you have to check online to see if they are honest and what you are looking for. Send your query to many agents at once. If more than one agent likes you they will have a fight over you and it will be awesome.
After you have an agent they will help you make your book more marketable and take care of most of the rest.
I know this is true for adults, but the author of Swordbird emailed her book to a publisher and she was lucky and since she was twelve the publisher thought that her age would sell books. So she got a book deal. This usually does not happen.
That is all Adina knows. You can do your own research too. Google is a wonderful thing.:)
(April 22, 2010 - 9:00 pm)
Wow, Adina! That's super helpful! Thank you so much. And yes, Google is a wonderful thing. :D
~Leaf
Spamboy says, "veaf." Only one letter away from becoming me!
(May 27, 2010 - 9:28 pm)
Thanks!
(April 23, 2010 - 2:05 pm)
Old cricket, just a question on what you said. Does Cricket take stories by young people aside from in the contests?
thanks for any reply.
No, only in the contests. The editors read and reject hundreds of stories by authors before accepting one for Cricket, and then they need to work back and forth with the adult author to get the story perfect.
OC
(May 16, 2010 - 11:04 am)
That's not fair, Old Cricket!! You don't even CONSIDER work by young people?! I don't understand it! Tell the editors that you should give kids a chance if you want to make a kids' magazine!
I can send you a more detailed reply if you send me an email at: mail@cricketmagkids.com.
Old Cricket
(May 27, 2010 - 4:38 pm)
You should go to scbwi.com. They have really good stuff on publishing.
(May 21, 2010 - 6:36 pm)