Childrens book coach and bestselling authoreditor emma walton hamilton gives a stepbystep lesson in how to write a pitchperfect query. If the query letter stands alone, its your only chance to sell the editor on your book. I have also had stories published in childrens magazines. Secrets of successful childrens book authors parents. Query letter basics for the childrens book market book editing.
Remember the old saying, there is more than one way to skin a cat. You also have your picture book query letter, and, well, the most important thing. Simple query letter for picture book tips and a sample so you can publish a picture. How to draft proposals to childrens book publishers dummies. If you dont make a good first impression, your childrens book manuscript will likely get sent right back to you accompanied by one of those dreaded rejection letters. Consult a written or online guide to childrens book publishers. How to write a darn good query letter ny book editors. A query letter is a onepage letter sent to literary agents in an effort to get them excited about your book. For example, agent x may be one those with a rampant distaste for queries beginning with a rhetorical question. After all, there are now more publishing options than ever. Write a killer picture book query to hook a literary agents. A query is a business letter asking permission to send the project described.
It is either sent without an accompanying manuscript, or with two or three sample chapters the publishers guidelines will state which form the query should take. Ive had a book by katie van camp and illustrated by lincoln agnew called harry and horsie on my recommended reading list for a while. Editors see a gazillion manuscripts every day, and the sight of certain common errors makes them sigh with impatience. I know an editor who says if you cant tell me what your book is about. How to write a picture book query letter in 6 simple steps. Read aloud eat your peas childrens book by kes gray. Picture books queries are a different animal from mid grade and ya. You would never do a proposal for a board book, for example unless for some strange reason thats how the publisher youre targeting wants board books. Query letters for childrens book fiction harold underdown. How to format a picture book manuscript for publishers. The children s book eat your peas, written by kes gray, is narrated by characters from the red apple reading program.
Picture book format and how to format your manuscript kidlit. Query letter basics for the childrens book market book. This vid is a nononsense guide to submitting a picture book or a longer piece of fiction or nonfiction to a children s book publisher. If you read the sample query below, and check out the information sources offered in this. How to draft proposals to childrens book publishers. Doo doo doo doo doo doo paperback at walmart and save. But dont try to plump up your bio with irrelevant details or tell them about your dream of being an author. Wow children book publishers with perfect query letters. Tips include formatting the manuscript, finding publisher. Traditional publishing, for example, requires an agent and read article. A query letter is meant to elicit an invitation to send sample chapters or even the whole manuscript to the agent. You have one page and 300 words or less to woo a literary agent into falling in love with your story and then requesting your manuscript.
Query letters that worked a childrens book editors. Dont focus so much on picture book manuscript format that you lose sight of character, plot, and writing style. Its an example of a great picture book with an outsidethebox friendship hook. There are lots of query howtos out there, but im hard to educate. How to format your childrens book manuscript dummies. I am a member of scbwi and the author of a childrens picture book. If youre hoping to secure a traditional publisher for your next great american. And if its your first book, dont be embarrassed to say so. I have a picture book manuscript that would target children up to three years of age. If you read the sample query below, and check out the information sources offered in this article, you will realize there are many different ways to write a successful query letter. In my role as coadmin for the query critique forum on 12 x 12, i recently wrote a post on writing a picture book query.