Top Tips for Self publishing a Children's Book

1. Top tips for self publishing a children's book Where traditional publishing fails and why self publishing is a better bet. The traditional publishing industry is a tough place right now. It seems every publisher wants a ready-made bestseller before they'll even look at a manuscript, and most of those that are lucky enough to be read at all have been submitted by skilled literary agents. Unless there's already a demand before pen is put to paper, it's unlikely a traditional publisher is going to take a glance. That might seem like very bleak news, and for those who are putting all their eggs in the basket of finding a traditional publisher, it is rather bleak. But the good news is that there's never been a better time to self publish and make a profit from it.

2. The top reason has to be complete creative control. Traditional publishers run every title they accept through a gamut of reviewers, editors, proofreaders, artwork managers and commissioners, artists, designers and typesetters. It's not unusual for a manuscript to be subjected to the red pens of six or seven people in its journey to publication. With decades of experience in both traditional publishers and self publishing service publishers, the most common complaint from authors is, “But that isn't my book anymore!” Sadly, it isn't. Not only has the author lost creative control, the end product is sometimes not something they want to put their name on. Traditional publishers need to make large profits to cover high staff costs and other overheads. They've carefully studied their niche of the market and made business decisions on what sells most, and simply put, that's what they're looking to produce. They're not out to destroy the original work of authors, but they do need to follow strict business-based guidelines based on market research. Self publishing, by contrast, leaves complete creative control in the hands of the author. The author covers the set-up costs and so no difficult yes/no business decisions need to be made about a manuscript and its production. This is ideal for children's books where the author may also be the illustrator or where a particular style is important to the appeal of a unique or original production.

3. The second reason has to do with manuscript development. With a traditional publisher, manuscript development is usually handed over to an editor who will make the changes they deem necessary. In self publishing, should an author want manuscript development assistance, they will be guided through making their own book better and more appealing. The important aspect there is choice is left in the hands of the author. They can choose whether or not to amend their work after they have completed the manuscript or they can choose to have a service that will allow them to improve the quality and appeal of the work without sacrificing core artistic or literary elements. The next reason has to do with marketing. Traditional publishers expect their authors to do their own marketing. This includes building social media platforms, attending book fairs, networking and promotional communication such as interviews or radio appearances. If all this effort is put in by the author, they may as well be doing it for themselves and enjoying higher profits for their efforts. Related to marketing is the issue of royalties. Authors get paid a percentage of sales as a royalty on an annual basis. Unless a book is a massive JK Rowling-style hit, it is unlikely this amount will add up to much. Generally, children's books sell in smaller volumes, so marketing that is targeted and intelligently designed is more likely to yield higher profits than a royalty from a traditional publisher that does not market the title effectively – or at all. It seems like self publishing, then, is the way to go. But there is one caveat. Know the market and work intelligently to capture it. This is a process that begins with the first draft and continues through the entire life cycle of the book. A good self publishing publisher, particularly for children's books, will know the market and the opportunities and how to best to capture them. In the end, what authors want is creative control but with appropriate guidelines to make the best use of their work, time, energy and investment. A properly advised and talented author can expect to recoup the costs of their self publishing service and make a profit over and above their expenses.

4. Rownvale Books is an independent, UK self-publishing company passionate about helping authors reach their potential. Rowanvale Books is based in the UK, but works with authors from all over the globe and offers self-publishing packages as well as traditional route options. Authors can choose from a wide variety of self-publishing packages and services that are tailored to suit their needs. Rownavale's professional and dedicated team enable authors to achieve their publishing dreams from concept to distribution and marketing in the UK and worldwide. To find out more, visit: www.rowanvalebooks.com