How To Self Publish a Children’s Book the Correct Way
It goes without saying that although there are certainly some similarities between publishing a children’s book and a book for adults, you’ll likely run into some problems if you follow the same process for both. One of the main rules of writing is to know your audience, so it helps to apply this saying to all aspects of book publication. It is also a mistake to assume that just because the work is a children’s book that it means the project will be easy. While it’s true that some kid books do nothing more than teach ABCs or introduce children to popular songs and rhymes, the most memorable children’s books often hold an enriching story with a unique lesson to tell. If working on a self publishing child book, there is a right and wrong way to get young readers interested in your book.
Identify the Audience
Simply labeling your book a child’s book is not enough to determine a good marketing plan and get your story in the hands of a child who will appreciate it. You should have a good idea of what specific age group your story is geared towards as this will help guide you along for the next step in the process. When publishing books for young children, it is also important to consider who is really picking and purchasing the book. Storytime is often a shared experience between the parent reader and the young child, so marketing strategies need to capture the attention of both parties.
Focus on Illustrations and Cover Art
Illustrations play a huge role in children’s books, especially stories designed for very young children. Not only do the images need to be appealing and artistic in nature, but the pictures themselves should also have a story to tell. While some children’s books authors may be both writers and artists, many have to find an illustrator. Since paying an illustrator costs money, it is often best to wait until the story is fully written before starting with this step. Similar attention needs to be paid to the cover, which is your main opportunity to get people to buy your book. Make sure it appeals to the correct age group and uses an appropriate font for the general mood of the story.
As a self-publishing author, you will need to do much of the work a large publishing house would typically do for you. From marketing your book to handling distribution, there are a lot of factors to consider. However, if your content is worth reading, then you simply need to work on getting noticed.
