If you write for children, self-publishing your children’s book can be a great option. Increasingly accessible and with a faster response time than traditional publishing, self-publishing is becoming more and more attractive.
so let’s get started. Here’s how to self-publish a children’s book in 7 steps:
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1. understand the process of self-publishing a book
There is no such thing as 100% good. Self-publishing takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but the potential rewards are great. Before you commit to any publishing route, it’s always good to know what you’re on.
advantages
- you have complete creative and artistic control 🎨
- you are not limited to industry standards (eg typical 32 page picture books) 📖
- the ability to publish quickly ⏳
- no need to rely on a ‘keeper’ to offer you a book offer ✅
drawbacks
- you will likely pay the bills for editing, illustration, printing, distribution and marketing 💸
- you have to find reliable tools and professionals while avoiding scams 🔍
- no you will have the influence of an editor to strengthen your release 📣
If this all sounds reasonable and you’re ready to board the desktop publishing express, let’s move on to the next stop on this line.
2. identify your target audience of young readers
Ideally, you would have done this before writing your children’s book, though it’s easy to get carried away by that moment of illumination of an exciting story idea. By researching the market, you’re essentially identifying your target audience, their preferences, and their habits, all of which can help you improve your book and strengthen your reach.
If you’ve already done your research, now is the time to review and refine it before moving on. If you haven’t done much more than revisit your own favorite childhood stories, here are some things to ask yourself.
what kind of children’s book have you written?
Categorizing your book is the foundation for all the work that follows, from editing to design to marketing. what you don’t want to do is stray too far from the conventions of your niche market while producing and promoting your book.
The main categories of children’s fiction are summarized in the following table.
what are some recent popular titles in this niche?
Look for books at your local bookstore or library, or even online at amazon, to see what new children’s titles are like, what kinds of stories they tell, and what topics they cover. for example, children’s books about diversity are on the rise, as are those about famous historical figures.
Trends like these should in no way dictate your work, but they do reflect the tastes of children, as well as the concerns of the parents and educators who will actually buy your book. keep them in mind as you go.
how much does it cost to self-publish a children’s book?
The fact that children’s books are generally shorter than books for adults doesn’t automatically mean that they’re cheaper to produce. In fact, the illustrations for children’s picture books alone can cost anywhere between $2,000 and $10,000, though they generally don’t exceed $6,000. Each author’s circumstances will alter the costs incurred in the process: a more polished manuscript, for example, will be less expensive to edit. For that reason, we’re a little wary of giving estimates when individual cases differ so much.
That said, though, if we were to give a ballpark figure for the cost of self-publishing a children’s book, we’d say you should expect to spend at least $5,000, and probably more than that if we’re talking children’s picture books. .
3. edit the manuscript
As with any other type of book, you must edit your manuscript. there are many types of editing, but at this stage, you’re probably most interested in development and copy editing. Questions to ask yourself throughout this process include:
- Does it have a clear story that appeals to young readers?
- Are the characters memorable, with distinct voices?
- Is the language too complex or too simple for your target audience?
Proofreading your manuscript on your own, at least initially, is key! Perhaps this free course on how to self-publish can be useful to you. And once you’ve done all you can to refine your book, it’s time to get an outside perspective.
work with a professional editor
As a freelance author working on children’s books with shorter texts, you may be tempted to do all the editing yourself to minimize costs. however, since these stories are so short, editing fees are usually quite affordable. More importantly, the insights publishers have can transform your book.
if you’re still undecided, let the roald dahl story convince you. even in the second half of his career, he worked closely with his publisher to cater to his young audience. Stephen Roxburgh helped Dahl extensively revise the BFG, The Witches, and Matilda manuscripts, addressing everything from major plot points to whether Dahl should use “candy” or “candy” in his writings. If this legendary children’s author benefited from the help of a publisher, so will you.
See Also: Nicholas Sansbury Smith – Book Series In Order
While you’re searching for a children’s book editor, it’s crucial to know your own vision, your own needs, and, of course, where to look.
contact some beta readers
Beta readers, while not publishing experts, can give you a very useful idea of how your story might be received. They won’t be able to represent your entire target audience (unless you intend to post to a small group, like your family or classroom), but they will bring you closer to your readers.
Have a combination of children and parents or caregivers as a test audience. younger readers can tell you how enjoyable the story is, while the adult audience can comment on your themes and other more complex elements of your story.
4. hire an illustrator for children
once you’ve perfected the words, the most exciting part of the story begins: visualizing the narrative!
Animated illustrations are obviously a standout feature among the best children’s books, though genres like middle grade and young adult don’t need them. That said, every book needs a good cover at a minimum, and for younger children’s picture books, illustrations are essential. as such, the answer to the question “how can I self-publish a children’s book?” almost always involves working with an illustrator.
If you’re curious about how much an illustrator might cost you, we first recommend taking the 10-second quiz below which will give you an estimate based on real data.
and if you want to see in detail the process of selecting a suitable artist for your story, see the next post in this guide, which is about how to find a children’s book illustrator.
5. create illustrations that complement the story
Although the story is paramount, a good book also provides an enjoyable reading experience, a fact that is especially true when it comes to children’s books. put together text and illustrations in the same way you would do a powerpoint presentation, although it is easy and fast, it is not the way to keep children interested.
In fact, every design element of your book layout (aka typesetting), from the size of the margin to the font, will be extremely important in capturing the fleeting attention of young readers. so make sure you do it right!
format text based titles
If you’re writing a middle grade novel or already, this process can be simple. With book formatting tools like the Reedsy Book Editor (available for free!), you can create a pristine book interior that’s ready to export to an eBook or print-ready pdf file.
Of course, if you want to customize your typeface or add fun chapter headings, this standardized format may not be satisfactory. For that, you’d have to look for a professional designer.
designing picture books
If you are working with more illustrations, as is the case with children’s picture books, things will be more complex. Amazon has tried to make things easier by introducing a formatting tool called the Kindle Kids’ Book Creator, but it doesn’t guarantee that the products will look professional. Ultimately, to produce a unique and engaging children’s picture book or chapter book, you’d still need some design expertise.
Here are some resources to help you better understand the many aspects of interior book design. dig in and find out for yourself, though we highly recommend working with a professional to ensure a high-quality, thoroughly enjoyable book.
- what is typesetting? your guide to interior book design
- what is typography and how can you get it right?
- what are the standard book sizes in publications?
💡 Top Tip: Review your book with an editor once it’s formatted. This expert can provide a thorough review of the text and presentation of your book, thus assuring you if it is ready for publication or not.
6. self-publish your children’s book
Congratulations, you’ve finished creating your book! now it’s time to determine how you will share this beautiful volume with the world.
Do you want printed or electronic books? Should I print on demand or in bulk? Which printing company and distribution channels should I use? what about your isbn? Let’s discuss these problems one by one.
ebook versus print
Whether e-books really help kids read is an ongoing debate among researchers, educators, and parents. the electronic format makes books easier to buy, transport and interact with (thanks to audio extracts or animated images). for an author, it provides the opportunity for a broader reach at a lower cost.
See Also: Vivien Chien – Book Series In Order
On the other hand, eBooks mean more screen time for kids, are often more distracting, and studies have shown kids retain more information through reading print. Then there’s the indisputable fact that most of us grew up reading physical children’s books and may have a hard time imagining one that isn’t in print.
That said, certain types of children’s titles seem well-suited for e-book distribution. For example, language learning books that schools can use to build children’s vocabulary are more convenient to use and store in digital form. novels for older children, who are more likely to have e-readers, are also good candidates for e-books.
In any case, you can produce printed and ebooks if there’s a market for both. (Note, however, that the two formats will have different ISBNs — you can read all about that here.)
print on demand vs. offset printing
If you’re determined to get your book into print, the next question is how it will happen. A freelance author can choose between pod and offset printing services, although more companies offer the former. however, we’ve provided a table here, breaking down the pros and cons of both types of printing to help you decide.
amazon kdp
There are many desktop publishing companies that can print and distribute books for independent authors, and Amazon is a common choice. As unsettling as the growing ubiquity of Jeff Bezos’s empire may seem, it’s undeniable that Amazon provides substantial exposure to a wide audience.
In addition, its publishing division, Kindle Direct Publishing, invites anyone, regardless of experience, to publish their own book. the process of publishing on amazon is quite simple: create a kdp account, upload your book, fill in the product details and hit publish.
Our Amazon Self Publishing Guide offers a full tutorial for those interested.
7. get book reviews to increase sales
You might be wondering if we’ve strayed from the main question of how to self-publish a children’s book in this step, but rest assured we haven’t. Marketing is an integral part of publishing, even when you’re taking the traditional route, but especially when you’re doing it all yourself!
As an author, you not only want to increase your book’s exposure, but also present a friendly face behind your stories. this is how you connect with kids and parents alike.
This is not an easy task. Fortunately, bestselling author Eevi Jones has put together a 10-day course on how to market a children’s book, available for free through Reedsy! It covers everything from getting book reviews to taking advantage of social media, and it’s definitely not something you should overlook.
That said, here are some crucial marketing strategies in children’s literature.
📚 Take your book to libraries. Parents and educators trust such an institution to support valuable titles; being on the shelf of a local library is an impressive seal of approval.
🏫 take tours of schools (in person or virtually). why not go directly to your readers? if you can’t physically visit a school, email them and ask if they would consider virtual events.
⭐ Get positive reviews early. “Good reviews” don’t just mean five-star reviews, they also include comments from reputable blogs, sites, or newspapers. If you’re wondering how you can improve your book’s profile, check out our step-by-step guide on how to get book reviews.
With good marketing, your carefully crafted children’s book can touch the hearts of young readers anywhere.
In the next post, we’ll talk about how to find the right illustrator to make your children’s books shine.
See Also: William Gibson – Book Series In Order