Crosswords0 min ago
writing a book
11 Answers
i have an idea in my head for a childrens book along the lines of thomas the tank engine, budgie the helipcopter etc. i would need to get illustrations done as i can't draw to save my life.
how do i go about finding someone to do the illustrations? where do i start turning my idea into reality? how do i approach people who could help me without them stealing my idea?
how do i go about finding someone to do the illustrations? where do i start turning my idea into reality? how do i approach people who could help me without them stealing my idea?
Answers
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The advice which is always given in publications such as the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook is that unless you (or someone you know) can produce illustrations which are better than the ones which are produced by the people who're employed directly by publishing companies, you should simply submit your text to potential publishers and leave them to find suitable illustrators.
However, if you're determined to team up with an illustrator before approaching a publisher, look through the websites of the illustrators who are members of SCBWI. (Use the alphabetical index on the left of the page and then click on links marked with an asterisk, which indicates that the member is an illustrator):
http://www.scbwi.org/links/mem_links.htm
Chris
However, if you're determined to team up with an illustrator before approaching a publisher, look through the websites of the illustrators who are members of SCBWI. (Use the alphabetical index on the left of the page and then click on links marked with an asterisk, which indicates that the member is an illustrator):
http://www.scbwi.org/links/mem_links.htm
Chris
If your names was J K Rowling, any publisher would leap at the chance to publish a story 'based upon an orignial idea by J K Rowling'
However, for us mere mortals, the chance of getting just an idea accepted is zero. The synopsis for the book I'm writing could be expressed on about half a page of A4. There's no chance that any publisher would be interested in it without a great deal of further development. For example, a summary of the first chapter could simply be 'a boy hears some strange sounds in the woods and struggles to decide whether he should investigate or just go home'. The 1700 words that develop that theme examine the thoughts that go through his head and the conflicting advice which his parents and teachers keep giving to him. Most importantly, they're extremely funny but with a feeling of tension as the boy weighs up the risks involved. Storyline is easy. It's character development and getitng the reader to empathize with the central character which is the hard part.
Chris
However, for us mere mortals, the chance of getting just an idea accepted is zero. The synopsis for the book I'm writing could be expressed on about half a page of A4. There's no chance that any publisher would be interested in it without a great deal of further development. For example, a summary of the first chapter could simply be 'a boy hears some strange sounds in the woods and struggles to decide whether he should investigate or just go home'. The 1700 words that develop that theme examine the thoughts that go through his head and the conflicting advice which his parents and teachers keep giving to him. Most importantly, they're extremely funny but with a feeling of tension as the boy weighs up the risks involved. Storyline is easy. It's character development and getitng the reader to empathize with the central character which is the hard part.
Chris
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