Hi all...
I am in the process of writing my first childrens story book. I have plot, story line, theme, characters, chapters, market research done, target age range executed, I have even written chapters one and two. I am now wondering what I do next, whilst wanting to complete the book, how do I get publishers to take on my book, How do I get an agent? Any advise would be very helpful
It takes more than plotting and outlining to write a book, Nicholas. Never underestimate the amount of editing you'll need to do. You've done the background, but without a book to sell, how are you to attract an agent or a publisher? If you contact one who is interested, and they say, send us your mss, you have nothing to give them - and they won't wait on your convenience. There are a lot of writers chasing a very few agents, and you would need to be in a position to jump fast if called.
Check out publishers and agents here, and elsewhere; make a shortlist of those who would be interested in your type of novel. Then do your research into each of them. Are they taking on new authors? Lists can go out of date between compilation and the time you need to use them.
Are they actively seeking unsolicited mss, or are their lists closed? Work on your elevator pitch; you are going to have to sell the book for all you are worth, because you're in competition with a lot of other writers. Check their websites, their FB pages - do your homework. Then, when your mss is ready for their inspection and only then, you can approach them. By ready, I mean polished and word-perfect, no typos, well-formatted, and pretty much ready to hit the presses.
Be prepared for questions like, 'How will you publicise your book, Mr B?' Because they won't pay to do it for you if you are an unknown. (Yes, I know -- it's in their interests to do so, but budgets are tight.) Get yourself a public profile that's better than anyone else's. You have to make them sit up and beg!
And then, if you are very lucky and you've done it all right, you may (and we can all dream!) have more than one interested in your book. Good luck!