Publishing Your Teaching Ideas –

Tips from MaryAnn Kohl

Your Book – the idea –

• Clearly define your idea
  • Assemble, narrow, and sort material and research
  • Find a system to begin
  • File cards
  • Dummy pages
  • Tape recorder
  • Suggestions from this group
• Research your unique idea (do not skip this step)
  • Check other books for formats
  • Talk to bookstore owners
  • Talk to teachers
  • Talk to librarians
  • Talk to other authors and publishers

Great Advice from a Publisher – Abigail McAden, Asst. Editor at Avon Books

• Look through new books to find some that resemble what you imagine for your book. If you picture your book looking like an Eric Carl picture book, then it is Harper Collins. If you picture a middle grade adventure, it is an Avon. McAden says, “We get many submissions clearly inappropriate for our company. People think that because their book is so good, we are going to clear off our list and make room for their great picture book. But we don’t do picture books.”
• “Submitting a manuscript to a publisher who doesn’t do the kind of book you’re writing is a waste of time and money. It gets rejected immediately and makes the author look foolish. You want us to publish you, but you have no idea about our line of books.”
• It is important to be persistent, but don’t remain ignorantly persistent. Newsletters and conferences for writers are a great help because they’re educating people. That way, you’re learning how to do this.

Writer’s Guidelines – the smart way to begin

• Send a request for “writer’s guidelines” to each potential publisher (you must find out who publishes the type of book you are writing)
• This will give you ideas for:
  • what to expect
  • how to tailor your style or book format
  • what exact particular submission process the publisher is looking for

Resources to help you publish your teaching ideas –

• The Children’s Writer’s and Illustrators Market
• Literary Market Place (LMP)
• The Author-Publisher Handbook, Aztex Corporation
• The Self-Publishing Manual – Dan Poynter, Para Publishing
• The Simple Guide to Self-Publishing – Mark Ortman, Wise Owl Books
• 1001 Ways to Market Your Books – John Kremer
• Book Publishing Resource Guide – John Kremer
• Children’s Writer Newsletter of Writing and Publishing Trends – 95 Long Ridge Road, West Redding, CT, 068960-1124

A Few Publishers of “Teacher Books” –
Look at your own teacher books and see who published them. Which one is a good fit for your book?

Write the Book –

• Choose: handwrite, type, computer
• Rough draft stage
• Rewrite stage: omit, add, refine
• Verification stage: check facts
• Proofing stage: fine tooth comb by you and others

Preparing to Submit the Manuscript –

• Refer to writer’s guidelines
• Simple, double spaced
• Large margins
• Copyright on each page (“option-g” on a Mac) ©2001 Susie Smarty
• Number each page
• Name and address on each page
• Hand-designed pages
• To illustrate or not to illustrate
• Suggestions for presentation of manuscript
  • No errors. None. Not any.
  • Leave white space – not overcrowded.
  • The “look” of your submission
• Dummy book?
• Folder?
• Plastic sheet protectors?

Submitting the Manuscript –

THE MANUSCRIPT PACKAGE

The First Impression – Cover Letter
– Query first, or send in entire manuscript (see guidelines)
– Short and direct
– “This is my book about whatever, and do you want to publish it?” approach
– Give the age or grade intended for ( or for adults)
– Give your “credentials” – why you are qualified to write the book
– Give a summary page about the book

The Second Impression – The Manuscript
– Sample of manuscript, or entire manuscript
– Other materials included to complete the package
– Include a SASE for return of materials
– Include a postcard for receipt of materials
– Simultaneous submission or one-by-one?

Sending in your manuscript package –

• Call first?
• Get the name of the editor
• Find out if they need your type of book idea
• Check out their publishing “line”. Be familiar with the company and the books they carry.
  • Query letter?
  • Unsolicited submission?
• Include a SASE for return of materials
• Include a postcard for receipt of materials
• Simultaneous or one-by-one?
• Waiting for reply (how long?)
• Follow-up call

The Wait: What to Expect

• Replies
• Rejections (when publishers say, “No”)
• Personal letters/impersonal letters
• Length of time (weeks to months)
• Call if wait seems too long
• Sometimes a resubmission is necessary
• After the rejections come in –
  • Send out more manuscripts to new companies
  • Be tough and resilient. Rejections are the norm.
  • Refine your submission according to any suggestions that may have come in from editors, if you are that lucky.

The Acceptance! What to Expect

• Contract
  • Advance on royalty
  • Common royalty amounts and how paid
  • Author copies
• Your input as author
  • Text
  • Illustrations
• The Wait
• Publication
  • Be the best author in the world
  • Help with publicity
  • Help with Marketing