“Even Children’s Comic Book Makers Do It…”
Well, in Japan, anyway.
Comic book makers for schoolgirls and boys in Japan offer different fare to boys and girls…so that BOTH groups buy those comics like crazy, not just the traditional boy market.
In their June “Japanese Schoolgirl Watch,” Wired magazine notes, “Anyone who thinks schoolgirls and boys enjoy the same fantasies needs to bone up on shojo manga.” The Japanese comics for gals are the antitheses of typical boy titles, they write.
“In the series for guys, Dragon Ball Z, for example, robots are death machines and sound effects of pitched battles (bwa-whoom!) are common. In the series for girls, like Absolute Boyfriend, bots (=robots) are cute guys…stories get interspersed with shopping tips on clothes and cosmetics…”
Note that even the titles fit the gender preferences – so that each group will buy them. Dragon Ball Z, vs Boyfriend. Dragons versus friends. Pitched battles versus caring for the bots (guys) and the giving of tips to look better. And they sell so many comics to both groups that they’re translated into English now.
The different marketing approach designed for schoolgirls versus the boys was the focus of the piece in Wired.
Don’t such preferences grow stronger inside most children as they become adults?
The recruiting and sales training practices of nearly every company I know focuses on the male style and idolizes the accomplishments that only full time men or women can attain (read: big money). Rather than developing approaches to fit women, who are 80% of our sales force and customer base, and most of whom are 5-10 hours per week, I guess they figure the male way is enough.
How we doing so far? Well, does the 95% drop out rate tell us anything? Remember that 80% of the people IN the business are women, so we know who’s dropping out, yes?
Madison Avenue is trying to catch up, too. Women, 51% of the US population today, are suddenly the majority. There are BOOKS about marketing to this new majority “Marketing to Women”.
Shall we catch up, too, for the benefit of the 10.4 million women trying to create something of their own in network marketing?
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Go to the library and read the book “Writer’s Market 2006” or 2007’s. The first few sections have genre-related testimonies. The index will direct you to relevant publishers. The appendices shall guide you to book conventions and workshops where you can meet up with other aspiring writers. That book shall answer everything you need to start. The next step is to get a book on composing a “writing proposal”. Make sure to also learn about Writer’s Guilds, copyrights, and licensing contracts. The government website on copyrights shall help you in that regard and direct you to the proper resources.
If you want to skip all of that, self publish online at lulu.com or something of the equivalent. It is cheaper and faster to do so. It also involves less hassle. Before you submit it, make sure to have a dozen or so people look over and proofread your work. Get a second opinion on formatting your book as well. If you need illustrators, place an add on Craigslist.com.
Good luck.
What is the process for getting a children’s book published?
Thoughts on traditional publishing vs. self publishing would be great.
Thank You
What is the process to getting a children’s book published?
I’m thinking about writing a children’s book. Aside from getting book actually written, does anyone know the steps about getting it published?
It takes much time to publish through self publishing. This means many months and even many years. It all depends on the the story you submit and how fast the publishing house reviews and accepts it.
When accepted, you get paid for the rights and then they publish your book according to how they want it packaged. In case your manuscript is rejected, you can move to another traditional publishing and go through the same process.
In self-publishing, you have full ownership of the whole publishing process. You can have your book packaged according to what you want and you can have it published in a period of 5 to 6 weeks.
You may check this site for more information of the whole publishing process:
http://selfpublishingjourney.wordpress.com/
I hope you find this answer useful and relevant to your writing journey.
You have chosen the most difficult thing in the publishing business – getting a children’s book published.
Let me describe for you the current nature of the children’s book market. I just finished ghostwriting two children’s books for a very major sports figure – already sold to a very major NY publisher. The first is with artist now and due out in Spring. I am currently working on another one with others to follow. This information was given to me by a Senior Editor at the publisher I write for …
40% of children’s books published today are by celebs like Madonna, Jamie Lee Curtis etc.
40% are written by existing, established children’s authors like Eric Carle.
15-20% are reprints of children’s classics like Curious George.
That leaves at best 5% for new authors.
And that percentage is being cut into by adult authors like Carl Hiaasen and Mary Higgins Clark entering the childrens’ market recently.
To that, add the fact that most of the large publishing companies are backlogged with children’s books they have under contract but havent gotten out yet.
As a result, most A list publishers aren’t even reading childrens’ books right now, which means agents arent either. Agents only read what they can sell.
There is very little room to break into the children’s market. Only books that are extremely exceptional and have huge appeal stand a chance. Forget any holiday related books – the selling season is too short to make money.
Take a walk through any major childrens’ book department and you will confirm what I am telling you. Getting a childrens’ book done is almost impossible – and getting an advance for it is virtually out of the question anymore. Unless you fall into one of those categories above. I am fortunate to have the backing of a very major sports star to get me in the door with kids books. I write adult novels, but believe me I have tried with kids books before and failed for exactly the reasons I list here. Ghostwriting has gotten me in through the back door, and now I will be able to sell some of the children’s books that have my name on them. For now, someone else’s name is on the cover. Someone whose name sells books – big time. Don’t ask me how you can get a ghostwriting deal for a major sports star … I really backed into this. It was a gift from Heaven really and it is a blast working with this person too!!! My mantle is now covered with sports memorabilia worth a fortune!! Presents.
That is the nature of the beast. You might get a copy of Writers Market and search for some small publishers who are reading childrens’ books, but searching through the agents section, you will see that almost NO agents are reading childrens’ books. Try for some small publishers that read without going through an agent. Expect a lot of rejection. Develop a really thick skin and learn to advocate for yourself.
Always remember that before you send anything to anyone, check them out. Preditors and Editors, Absolute Write Water Cooler’s Bewares and Background Checks, Writers Weekly.com and Writers Wall are all great sources and totally free – although if they help you, it is nice to contribute a donation. Someone has to pay for running the sites. If you do not see information on the publisher or agent in question, write to Dave K at Preditors and Editors, Victoria Strauss or James Macdonald at Absolute Write or Angela Hoy at Writers Weekly. They are happy to pass along any info they have to help you.
As for self publishing it – it will get you nowhere. Self published books dont make it to bookstores. Childrens’ books are impulse buys. What is out on the tables for kids to see is what sells. Kids don’t shop at websites for things like books. They have to hold them in their hand and nag Mom to buy it. The only way to achieve that is through a good traditional publisher. Good luck. Pax – C
Well, some people have been known to obtain income from writing childrens’ books. It is not exactly a cakewalk, though. The main trouble is you must write for _two_ audiences — the children, of course, but also the parents, who do the book buying! You can write your text and send it to publishers (who will have illustrators if your book requires them). Probably best these days to get an agent, which isn’t totally impossible but it’s also not easy with the current recesion. Publishers are being VERY picky about what they publish because the recession has cut into their sales drastically. That means agents are also being very picky, because the only way they make any $$$ is if the author(s) they represent can actually produce something that will look like $$$ to a potential publisher.
To get an idea of what sells these days, take a look at the Lemony Snicket books (that is the author’s name, believe it or not.)
Good luck!
How do you get a children’s book published? How much does it cost? What is the step by step process?
Well, it greatly depends on how you do it.
You can submit your manuscript to a publisher yourself or through an agent, and hope they accept it.
Or, you can self publish, do your own marketing, have more say in your books.
Check out
http://www.writersdigest.com
http://www.write4kids.com
for more resources.
Good Luck!
How to start on getting a children’s book published?
I have recently written a children’s book. I have no idea how to even start the process of getting it published. Any suggestions??
Is it possible to write children’s books for income? How would the process go? The publishing process?