Most beginning children's writers are curious about their chances
of ever seeing their work in print. Editors have told me that a
mid- to large-sized publishing house gets upwards of 5000
unsolicited submissions a year. About 95% are rejected right off
the bat (most get form letters, a few promising authors get
personalized notes stating why the manuscript was rejected). Of
the 5% left, some are queries for which the editors request entire
manuscripts. Others are manuscripts submitted in their entirety,
and these go on to the next stage of the acquisitions process (get
passed around the editorial department, presented at editorial
meetings, perhaps looked at by sales staff to get a sense of the
market for the book). The end result is that 1-2% of unsolicited
submissions are actually purchased for publication.
But, you ask, if so few manuscripts are bought from the slush
pile, why are so many new books are published each year? The
unsolicited "slush" comes from authors the editors have
never worked with before: new writers and those who don't have
agents. Experienced writers and those who have already published
with that house make up the rest of the list.
Before you trash your computer and take up knitting, let's put
this all in perspective. Most manuscripts are rejected because
they're just plain bad. The stories are trite, the characters
wooden, the endings predictable. The plots may smack of
didacticism or patronize the young reader. Authors who don't
understand the basic rules of grammar or who can't send a properly
formatted manuscript won't get a close look. Those who submit
their work to every publisher listed in Children's Writer's &
Illustrator's Market instead of taking the time to target
publishers appropriate for their work add substantially to the
glut of publishers' mail (and the eventual banning of unsolicited
submissions by some houses).
If you take the time to learn how to write a strong story with
multifaceted characters, your manuscript will rise to the top. If
you study the age group for which you want to write, and keep the
length and content appropriate for your audience, your work will
stand out. If you watch the current market and find a niche you
can fill, an editor is more likely to give you careful
consideration.
One more point: General fiction is the most competitive genre in
any age group of children's books. It's also the most subjective,
meaning your manuscript has to appeal to exactly the right editor.
If you have any interest in nonfiction and can approach a topic in
a unique, entertaining way, you'll be a bigger fish in a much
smaller pond. Or, try narrowing your niche so your work stands out
from the ocean of fiction: write historical fiction for beginning
readers, funny mysteries for middle grades, science fiction for
young adults. Stretching your writing beyond general fiction will
give you a "hook" and also help you zero in on
publishers who want exactly what you've got.
Laura Backes is the author of "Best Books for Kids Who
(Think They) Hate to Read" from Prima Publishing. She's also
the publisher of Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for
Children's Writers. For more information about writing children's
books, including free articles, market tips, insider secrets and
much more, visit Children's Book Insider's home on the web at http://write4kids.com
Have comments you'd like to send the author? Please e-mail Laura
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