writing a book

[gucciman]

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?

[bushbaby_de]

if you're hoping to sell the idea to a publisher, a lot of them have in-house illustrators so i wouldn't worry about that for now, just write the book and send it out to publishers.

[Buenchico]

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

[gucciman]

thanks everyone

would it be possible for me to sell the idea for my book to a publisher and then they get someone else to write the book?

i.e i know what characters would be in the book and i have thought of their names etc

[Buenchico]

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

[gucciman]

i shouldn't have to worry about that too much, this books gonna be for 5 yr olds!

[steve @ home]

Oh yes you do! Unless your story hits ALL the buttons: character, situation, sympathy, storyline, satisfying resolution, no five year old I teach would give it a second look. The children's picture book market is as crowded as any other but there is always space for an original, engaging new writer

[steve @ home]

As an example of what I mean, have a look at
The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan
The best children's picture books say something to all ages
Try reading 'Once there were giants' by Martin Waddell, and NOT have a tear in your eye by the end!

[Peter Pedant]

Hahaha Good Luck BuenChico

In terms of hinky summaries, do you know ofthe website which I cannot find which has 10 word summaries of Famous Books?

Chekov: Three Sisters

'Three sisters wonder whether to go to Moscow. They dont go.'

I mean God you could sell that to a publisher !

[ace63]

maybe consider having a peek at the bbc website, bbc raw. I had a story for five to ten year olds published in a collective story book twelve months ago. the book is "once upon a time in newport." the story is "the rainbow box." bbc raw are crying out for story writers. good luck.

[jno]

try this, Peter

http://www.rinkworks.com/bookaminute/classics. shtml