Selecting a publisher for manuscript submission
I want to re-visit the subject on how to select the publishing companies you submit your work to begun in Dec 2nd’s post, because this was rather tricky to address as this choice is so individual and particular to YOUR work.
I don’t think it’s entirely fair to leave this all-important decision to the hungry, idealistic, aspiring author/illustrator. All publishers are trying to publish a Caldecott winner. Who within the organization has the final say is highly variable. Publishing companies have such different editorial hierarchies; we have heard assistant editors speak about how many levels they themselves in their organizations that they must push a book through to a deal. Then there are other editors where the buck stops with them. Know the hierarchy before you submit; SCBWI membership gives you an inside scoop on this.
Publishing companies are inundated with submissions, a lot of them are from those who do NOT do any homework into the company, submit sloppy work or unsolicited when they only accept solicited. These are among the many reasons why submission guidelines have become so voluminous and strict.
To begin, target maybe 5 publishing companies that publish the books you personally like. Chances are, the artistic or writing style you gravitate to may already be in line with the types of books on a publisher’s book list. Go directly to their submission guidelines on their official website, and look for 2 main things: whether they accept un-agented (unsolicited, unless you have an agent) manuscripts; and if they will accept a multi-submission or want an exclusive submission.
SCBWI conferences will put your in a room with these editors whom you can then approach (beware that hundreds of others will have the same idea as you). Try an agent to get your book in front of those companies that do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. But frankly, NOTHING replaces knowing the industry. You should know what the top 5 best selling books are, as well as which ones won Caldecott the previous year. You should be able to rattle off the movers and shakers in this industry, just as you would for any professional industry you aspire to, or already in.
I don’t think it’s entirely fair to leave this all-important decision to the hungry, idealistic, aspiring author/illustrator. All publishers are trying to publish a Caldecott winner. Who within the organization has the final say is highly variable. Publishing companies have such different editorial hierarchies; we have heard assistant editors speak about how many levels they themselves in their organizations that they must push a book through to a deal. Then there are other editors where the buck stops with them. Know the hierarchy before you submit; SCBWI membership gives you an inside scoop on this.
Publishing companies are inundated with submissions, a lot of them are from those who do NOT do any homework into the company, submit sloppy work or unsolicited when they only accept solicited. These are among the many reasons why submission guidelines have become so voluminous and strict.
To begin, target maybe 5 publishing companies that publish the books you personally like. Chances are, the artistic or writing style you gravitate to may already be in line with the types of books on a publisher’s book list. Go directly to their submission guidelines on their official website, and look for 2 main things: whether they accept un-agented (unsolicited, unless you have an agent) manuscripts; and if they will accept a multi-submission or want an exclusive submission.
SCBWI conferences will put your in a room with these editors whom you can then approach (beware that hundreds of others will have the same idea as you). Try an agent to get your book in front of those companies that do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. But frankly, NOTHING replaces knowing the industry. You should know what the top 5 best selling books are, as well as which ones won Caldecott the previous year. You should be able to rattle off the movers and shakers in this industry, just as you would for any professional industry you aspire to, or already in.
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