If you'd like to become an illustrator,
or a children's book author or illustrator, this
page is a treasure sack of everything that I have
found most wonderfully helpful. There's also some
information for parents or teachers. Most other
websites give USA information, so if you're in
the UK, this will be especially useful to you.
If you'd like to learn some tips from my experience
of writing and illustrating my first picture book,
select from My Books on the menu or click here.
If you're wondering whether to ask me to illustrate
your manuscript, check out the bottom of my page
on Ordering illustrations
from me.
Note: Although the book pictures
link to Amazon.co.uk, do order from your local
bookshop!
To
help you write, illustrate, and publish children's
books
I get quite a few emails from visitors
asking me how to get started in children's books,
or where/how to submit their manuscript, or whether
they need an illustrator before they submit a story.
I was at that stage not that long ago and I learned
tons from the following books. Don't send anything
off before reading some of this information!
Writers and Artists Yearbook (for
the UK) for addresses and the odd useful
article. Get the current year's, or check
out previous ones in the library for different
articles.
Children's Writers' & Artists'
Yearbook (for the UK, with a small
international section). I read the 2006
one cover to cover, and I presume other
years will be just as good: it's full
of of useful articles to answer all your
questions on preparing for submission.
And lots of publishers' and agents' details.
Children's Writers and Illustrator's
Market (loads of USA publishers'
addresses and specialisations, and
many useful articles - the 2002
edition was the first book I ever
picked up on the topic and it was
a real eye-opener. The 2004 edition
has an article on myself, as a first-published
author/illustrator! The 2004 edition
has taught me more things... I haven't
checked the latest edition. For
the UK, the Children's Writers etc
Yearbook is probably your first
choice.
The Insider's Guide to Getting Your
Book Published, by Rachael Stock.
Fantastic. I read this when I already
knew quite a lot about this topic, and
still found it full of practical, clear
information. Rachael Stock is a commissioning
editor in the UK. Which publishers to
approach? Do you need an agent? What about
multiple submissions? What to send? What
about the contract? Explains pros and
cons and gives examples. Not particularly
for children's books but you should still
get it.
And when I bought it from the publishers
www.whiteladderpress.com
they included a chocolate. So I'll admit
it, I've been bribed.
It's a bunny eat bunny world,
by Olga Litowinsky (it's for the USA and
for writers more than illustrators, but
still a favourite book to understand the
whole business side from start to finish).
You can probably learn similar things
from my other online sources below, but
if you're like me you might prefer to
sit down with a book. Click on picture
to find this at Amazon
Writing for children,
by Linda Strachan, is the book new writers in the UK should start with to get an overview of the process from idea through to writing, submission, publication and publicity.
Nicola Morgan's blog "Help, I need a publisher" is exactly what you need if you're a writer: everything about getting published, and it's funny. From there, you'll find more blogs from others, and then more, and more... Nicola also offers individual advice, manuscript appraisals, submission help, and writing tuition, through her consultancy Pen2Publication.
'Preditors
and Editors' is a website listing (mostly, but not exclusively) USA publishers
and agents and any known scams. Also advice on
copyright and submitting your work. If you get
approached by a publisher or agent you've never
heard of, check them out there.
A great website for UK children's
writers, illustrators and parents is www.wordpool.co.uk.
Interesting articles, book reviews, etc. The articles
are, I believe, more for writers than illustrators.
There is a concise FAQ
page for new children's illustrators, and
another FAQ
page for new writers, on manuscripts, submissions,
do you need to find an illustrator before you
submit a manuscript etc. There is also a page
of reviews of books telling you about writing
and getting published.
For information on anything to do with writing
in the UK (courses, festivals, events, funding,
organisations, advice), the Literature
Training site has it all. I recommend signing
in to their monthly emails to avoid missing any
opportunities.
The Purple
Crayon is full of advice for chidren's writers
and illustrators. Things like 'Complete idiot's
guide to publishing', and 'Getting out of the
slush pile'.
An agent
gives children's book writers and illustrators
tons of useful advice.
Loads of practical and fascinating links for children's
writers and illustrators at the British branch of
the Society
of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Includes FAQ on how to get published and loads more.
Children's writer Aaron
Shepard gives writing and publishing advice.
In the UK, the Arvon
writing courses have an excellent reputation, though if you're a very experienced writer, they might not be ind-depth enough for you.
But it's sure to be stimulating, fun, and a great holiday. It's hugely dependent on who the tutors are, so do your research.
I've found useful articles in Writing
World newsletter, for instance the punctuation
to use for dialogue.
When you're writing or illustrating stories,
think of including people with disabilities. If
you think that's just about being terribly PC,
then read about it on ChildrenInThePicture.org.uk.
You'll also find examples of illustrations
and stories, and pictures of equipment. These
days, I often phone or email them to double-check
an idea or picture with them, and they're always
most helpful.
My experience of getting a children's book published
may be useful to you - it's on the 'Hamish
- The story behind the story' page of this
site.
And finally, reach out for another chocolate and watch this short video entitled "Imaginary Writing Process", covering not only writing, but contacts with agents and publishers too.
There's a difference between self-publishing and paying a vanity publisher. (A proper publisher pays you, not the other way round). If you're tempted by an advert, or if you're approached by an outfit telling you you're a genius and they'd love to publish you, read about the good and the bad in http://www.vanitypublishing.info . Check if the publisher is on the listing of 'Preditors
and Editors'
To
comment on (or edit) your manuscript
You've written a story. Now you need someone to check it for you. To comment on it, edit, help you get it at a standard ready for submitting to publishers. Or to reassure you it already is brilliant. (Ha! Lucky you!)
An agent would do this, but if you're a new writer you need to make your manuscript as good as possible in order to get an agent interested in you in the first place. And of course publishers have editors who will, hopefully, edit your manuscript, but they won't even look at it if it's not pretty good to start with.
So there are two ways: you find competent friends (choose very carefully), or you pay an expert. (Please don't ask me, by the way: I am neither competent nor expert, and I don't even do this for friends.)
.There are writers or agents or ex-editors from publishing houses who offer reading or criticism services. I don't know how good most of them are, so have a good look at what they offer. Here they are, in no particular order:
Pen2Publication, Nicola Morgan's consultancy: individual advice, manuscript appraisals, submission help, and writing tuition. I know Nicola and admire her generosity to writers, vast knowledge of the writing business (she was an energetic Chair of the Society of Authors in Scotland), and clear thinking. This is the same Nicola Morgan who writes the witty and informative blog: "Help, I need a publisher!"
If you're looking for a literary agent to represent you, agent Julia Churchill gives advice on how to go about it here.
Writing
books I've found useful
There are hundreds of books out there with advice
on how to write. I've learned a lot from some of the
ones I've read, and I find they also motivate me to
drop everything and write. I also find it useful to
browse through some of them when I've finished drafting
a story: it stimulates ideas for detail and improvements. And when they don't tell you anything new, at least it's reassuring. So
I'll share with you those books I've found useful,
in case you haven't yet explored this vast field.
At this stage, I'll just add books one at a time as
I remind myself of them. Come back for more!
"Dynamic characters" by Nancy Kress is packed full of advice, not just on imagining full, interesting characters, but on making them come alive in their dialogue, thoughts, in the plot, and the use made of the point of view. I have other writing books on "characters" but this one is by far the more rich.
"Conflict, Action & Suspense"
by William Noble. It took me a while to get
into this, but by the middle of the book I
was underlining things on every page.It gives
you the nuts and bolts of what makes readers
avid to keep turning the page. I particularly
liked the points on how to pace a story, build
up the tension, and ways of ending it.
"Deep Writing" by Eric Maisel. Liberating, unblocking, stimulating. Half-way through reading it I'd worked out massive changes to one of my stories. Eric Maisel trains creativity coaches, one of whom I used and can heartily recommend. This is Marion Barnett, who has helped me leap to the places I wanted to get to. It can be done by
or by phone.
I find some writing books a little too pious for my taste. This one, on the other hand, is full of spirit and subversiveness, while stimulating you to write and enjoy it: "Bird by bird - Some instructions on writing and life" by Anne Lamott.
To help you draw and
publish cartoons
"Your career in the comics" by
Lee Nordling is full of business information
from dozens of big American cartoonists, syndicates
and newspapers. It also gives you an insight
into the lives and loves of these cartoonists.
More specifically on syndication and self
syndication, including a lawyer's detailed
comments on contracts: "Successful Syndication:
A Guide for Writers and Cartoonists"
by Michael Sedge.
For kids and adults. There are so many "How
to draw cartoon" books! Drawing on
the funny side of the brain by Christopher
Hart is probably the best I've seen, as it
covers every aspect of cartooning. So not
just drawing characters (people, animals,
eyes, hands, attitude), but also writing jokes
(pacing, number of panels, punch lines, choice
of words), layout and design (angle shots,
speech bubles), and a little about the way
to go professional.
In the UK, the Association
of Ilustrators' hotline helps members with fees.
Members can also consult their online pricing guide and various guides,
and download a sample commissioning form to use with clients. I believe non-members can buy some of these guides too. I highly value my membership.
The equivalent for writers (still in the UK) is the Society of Authors. You'll find a wealth of guides on the website.
For the USA - but I'm told it's useful
here too - the main reference for fees and contracts
is Graphic Artists Guild handbook: pricing and ethical
guidelines. You can buy it straight from the Graphics
Artists Guild in the USA, or in the UK: click here
to see it on amazon.co.uk)
Lawyer Ivan
Hoffman has really helpful and comprehensive advice
on copyright, contracts and zillions of related legal
topics. I like the way it seems quite balanced, since
it is for both writers/illustrators and for publishers.
There's specific info on contracts
for children's publishing.
My own page on Terms
and Conditions gives you a quick overview about
copyright etc, if you're new to this.
If you're an illustrator and have had
any work published in books, magazines. TV etc, however
long again, you're entitled to an annual payment in
the UK (included photocopying rights). Visit DACS
payback for info and to make a claim. Register with
them too for Artists Resale Rights (you get money every
time your paintings get re-sold by someone).
If you've got your name on the title
page of a book, in the UK you're also entitled to an
annual payment for Public Lending Right (i.e. libraries).
Visit PLR for info and to make a claim.
If you're wondering about getting an
agent for your illustration work, take a look at Janee
Trasler's very useful advice.
To give you business or friendly support
For UK illustrators, the Association
of Illustrators is fantastic. Services I treasure
include checking over your contracts, and advising
you how much to charge. Well worth the subscription
fee. Anyone can also look up the discussion board,
a directory of UK illustrators, and image directory
of thousands of illustrations.
If you live in Scotland, you MUST
contact Scottish Enterprise's Business Gateway. Sorry, it's not a legal duty,
what I mean is, it's not to be missed! Other regions
or countries are bound to have similar public bodies
to help businesses, but this website has loads of
advice that will apply anywhere. There are grants,
loans, advisers, training, mentors and so on, all
for free. They might even help you with your website.
If you are a shy and modest illustrator (isn't everybody?),
they are a must. If you're female you get extra care
via www.scottishbusinesswomen.com.
What more could you ask for?
If you live in Scotland, you MUST
contact Scottish Enterprise's
Business Gateway. Sorry, it's not a legal duty,
what I mean is, it's not to be missed! Other regions
or countries are bound to have similar public bodies
to help businesses, but this website has loads of
advice that will apply anywhere. There are grants,
loans, advisers, training, mentors and so on, all
for free. They might even help you with your website.
If you are a shy and modest illustrator (isn't everybody?),
they are a must. If you're female you get extra care
via www.scottishbusinesswomen.com.
What more could you ask for?
Writers, illustrators and artists
in Scotland have another free information resource:
the Cultural
Enterprise Office. They offer seminars, training
and networking events. You can book an advice session
to focus on your business needs. At the very least,
get onto their mailing list.
To understand tax, VAT in the UK, the
Small Business Service and the Department for Trade
and Industry have a website
to help you start,
improve or grow your business.To understand UK tax you
could read info on "Taxaid".
Finally you might get some motivation or business skills
from this
online library.
As a practicing illustrator, you
could join an extremely friendly newsgroup, IllustratorsUK.
Chat ranges from "I've been offered £1/hour
to illustrating a book - is that good?" to
"Why doesn't my website work?" to "How
long do I have to watch oil paint dry?" Most
- but not all - members are from the UK.
As a writer the UK has the Wordpool
group for friendly, supportive chat. More USA oriented
and less active is the children's
writers group, also on Yahoo.
Children's authors and illustrators
in Scotland, do get in touch with Scottish
Book Trust. They run courses, mentoring, and
schemes for author visits. I worship them.
And if you'd like individual support (if you're blocked, or want to enjoy your writing or your art more), I can recommend Creativity Coach Marion Barnett, who trained with Eric Maisel, and has helped me leap to the places I wanted to get to. It can be done by
or by phone.
Marion Barnett has written a book you can order direct from her or from Amazon: "Finding your creative focus". If you're a writer or artist who is dithering, holding back, blocked, it will boil down to the lack of (or excess of) ideas, materials, techniques, space, time or support, and this book will help you identify the thing that will get you going again.
Books in
the UK: resources for parents, teachers and librarians
The Scottish
Book Trust is the place for information about children's
books and authors in Scotland, grants for events, and
anything to promote reading.
The previously mentioned UK www.wordpool.co.uk.
Interesting articles, book reviews, etc.
Doodle
Books are becoming quite common and are great alternatives to those
creativity-draining, soul-sapping colouring-in books
children are given. Children are invited to draw
things from their imagination. While The Doodle book has the most attractive
cover, I think the Anti-Colouring book is the better
one inside. I like the drawings in the books to be quite rough, so that the child feels free to draw their own way. The principles are similar to those
in "Drawing for the artistically challenged",
featured below.
Drawing for the artistically challenged by
Quentin Blake and John Cassidy, is full of ideas to
stimulate young and old and get you relaxed about
drawing - you're supposed to draw straight onto the
lovely paper, but I can't bring myself to do that.
How to be a brilliant writer, by Jenny Alexander. On the whole I'd be wary of telling kids how to write (or draw)- plenty time to get hangups about it in later life. Let them enjoy themselves, write to their heart's content, and never mind if their "point of view" keeps changing. But Jenny Alexander is very much into creativity and playing with ideas, and doesn't believe in perfectionism or being seen as "brilliant", so this one's a safe bet. I use it for myself as well.
Help with
websites, search engines, FTP and so on
I believe nowadays there are plenty
sites to help you build your own website easily.
I've heard good stuff (but it's just hearsay, mind)
of www.MrSite.com
. A common bit of advice, if building a website seems to hard, is to have a blog.
If you're an illustrator in the UK, the Association of Illustrators can provide you with your own online portfolio and domain name for an annual fee.
My web hoster is Fasthosts.co.uk
and it works well for me. I used to be with a
USA web hoster, who would send emails full of
jargon to tell you they were changing this or
that - and I'd find myself without email facilities
while I struggled to understand what I was supposed
to do. Fasthosts is a lot cheaper, yet has a totally
pleasant and efficient phone helpline at normal
phone rates. Another one that's been recommended
to me for the UK is supanames.co.uk
.
The menu at the top of each page
of this website is made with a java applet called
'Livewire' from Coolfocus.
Even for someone who thinks java is something to
do with coffee, it's not hard to use, and Coolfocus
have been very prompt in responding to a query I
had when something didn't work. But I'm going to get rid of it because too many people don't have the Java applet, so they can't see the menu.
If you need to send someone a huge
file, email is not the answer.I love www.yousendit.com (the free service will let
you upload one file at a time from your computer to a secure webpage of theirs, where it will stay for 7 days. An email goes out to you and your customer with a link to its
location). I've also used Yahoo
Briefcase: this gives me space to upload several
files at at time, and they don't disappear after
a week. I copy the URL (www.whatever...) and send
it to my customer, where they can see or download
the file.
I
f you're a bit braver, the free program CoreFTP is easier to use than others I've tried, and will allow you to upload files so that others can download them. Publishers tend to have FTP sites (on which illustrators they're working with can load their work): ask your publisher for details. Or if you have a website, you can make a page there for customers to download from.
Back your files up, in case your
computer lets you down, or even if you just want access to an earlier version of your work. Among the
variety of methods I've used, the best I've found is GenieSoft's Genie Backup Manager Home Edition. You set it to backup selected files at selected intervals to a place of your choice (an external hard disk, CDs, the internet). It doesn't need to back everything up every time (which is time-consuming): you can set it to do "incremental" backups, i.e. to only backup files changed or created since the last backup.
Because I can't bear the idea of losing any of the writing or illustrating I'm presently working on, I've set GenieSoft to backup specific folders every 2 hours onto an external hard disk (Western Digital MyBook) which is plugged in at all times. These backups happens without me noticing. Sometimes I hate a change I've made to my work, and I can go to the hard disk and retrieve an earlier version from there.
Then every two weeks I plug in another hard disk and backup all my files, including Outlook and Favorites stuff. I keep that hard disk somewhere VERY safe. If your files aren't huge, I'd recommend using the online service: that sounds like the safest system to me.
I believe you can use your Flickr or Googlemail
space, if you have some, or one I've used: BT
Digital Vault.
All sounds easy now, doesn't it? If this page of advice changes your life, tell me of your successes, buy my books, write a comment on my Amazon book pages. Good luck to you all.
