Publishing Your Teaching Ideas - Tips by 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?

Bemiss-Jason Carson Dellosa 2244 Hilltop Drive Redding, CA 96002 (530) 221-090 Games, flash cards, calendars, stickers	The Learning Works PO Box 6187 Santa Barbara, CA 93160 Environmental activities
Creative Teaching Press we.listen@creativeteaching.com P. O. Box 2723 Huntington Beach, CA 92647-0723 800-287-8879, Fax: 1-800-229-9929 Reading, language arts, Spanish, music, math	Learning Resources 380 N. Fairway Drive, Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061 1-800-333-8281 \| info@learningresources.com Construction toys, language, phonics, science
Chicago Review Press 814 N. Franklin St. Chicago, IL, 60610 Teaching idea books	Learning Wrap-ups 1660 West Gordon Ave #4 Layton, UT 84041 800-992-4966, Fax: 801-497-0063 info@learningwrapups.com Basic math, pre-algebra, vocabulary, ESL
Didax Educational Resources 395 Main Street Rowley, MA 01969 (800) 458-0024, fax (800) 350-2345 info@didax.com Spelling, phonics, math, social studies	Little Brown & Company 34 Beacon St. Boston, MA, 02108 Children's activities
Evan-Moor Educational Publishers 18 Lower Ragsdale Drive Monterey, CA 93940-5746 1-800-777-4362 Arts/Crafts, early learning, science, writing	McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company 431-B East College Street Granville, Ohio 43023 800-233-8787 (voice) 740-321-1141 (fax) mwpubco@mwpubco.com Posters, Brainy Borders, Drama guides
Fearon Teacher Aids 500 Harbor Boulevard Belmont, CA, 94002 Resource idea books	Milliken Publishing Company 501 E. Third St, Box 802 Dayton, OH 45401 USA (800) 444-1144, Fax: (314) 991-4807 info@millikenpub.com Supplemental products for K-12
Frank Schaffer PO Box 141487 Grand Rapids, MI 49514-1487 800.417.3261, Fax: 888.203.9361 Bargain books, activity books	Pearson Learning Group 135 South Mount Zion Road P.O. Box 2500 Lebanon, IN 46052 1-800-526-9907
Frog Street Press 308 East Trunk St. Crandall, TX 75114 (800) 884-3764, Fax: (800) 759-3828 Foreign language, awards, music, planners	Remedia Publications 15887 North 76th Street, Suite 120 Scottsdale, Az 85260 1-800-826-4740 Fax: 877-661-9901 Reading, science, math skills, social studies
Good Apple PO Box 299 Carthage, IL, 82321 Teacher books/ all subjects , charts and posters	Rock 'n Learn P.O. Box 3595 Conroe, TX 77305-3595 (936) 539-2731 fax: (936) 539-2659 info@rocknlearn.com Audio/video programs to help kids learn
Grace Publications LLC 605 Wesinpar Road Johnson City, TN 37604 423-434-2983 Fax: 423-434-2993 Bible Fun, Chart Pack Plus, Clip Art Books	Simon & Schuster - Books for Young Readers Rockefeller Center 1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY, 10020 Craft and hobby
GMG Publishing Corp. 25 W.43rd St. New York, NY, 10036 Science/Smithsonian	Small World Toys 5711 Buckingham Parkway Culver City, CA 90230 (310) 645-9680 Fax: (310) 645-7903 Constructive/creative play, infant and toddlers
Gryphon House, Inc. PO Box 207 Beltsville, MD, 20704 Early childhood activities	Teacher Created Resources 6421 Industry Way Westminster, CA 92683 888-343-4335, Fax: 800-525-1254
Incentive Publications, Inc. 2400 Crestmoor Road, Ste. 211 Nashville, TN 37215 fax to: 615-385-2967 Grade Book series, ESL and Spanish	Teacher Created Materials 5301 Oceanus Drive Huntington Beach, CA 92649-1030 800-858-7339, Fax: 714-230-7070 Art, geology, math, technology, thematic units
Instructional Fair PO Box 141487 Grand Rapids, MI 49514-1487 800.417.3261 fax: 888.203.9361 Foreign language, geography, library skills	Teachers Friend Manuscript Editor Scholastic Professional Books 555 Broadway New York, NY 10012 Arts and crafts, language arts, teacher resources
J. Weston Walch, Publisher 40 Walch Drive PO Box 658 Portland, ME 04104-0658 207-772-2846 / 800-558-2846 Instructional materials, math, special education	Teaching and Learning Company P.O. Box 10 1204 Buchanan Street Carthage, Illinois 62321 800-852-1234, 217-357-2591 Language arts, science, math social studies
Judy Instructo Educational School Supplies for Teachers/Parents 2244 Hilltop Drive_ Redding, CA 96002 , (530) 221-0902 Giant Floor Puzzles, Clocks, Games, Desk Tapes

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

Questions? Ideas? Write to Bright Ring Publishing