There are many pathways to take you along your journey to publication. Let’s be honest, we all dream of that fabulous contract with one of the big major publishers. A contract that will see our book being sold in books stores to millions of people worldwide. In reality, overnight success is a long and bumpy road full of ups and downs, rejections and successes, big and small. It’s how we choose to enjoy that journey that counts.
Most of us, (including me) will tell you we are in this for our readers. If I help one child enjoy reading a story, then I have succeeded. That’s why I don’t chase the big publishers, even though that would be nice, what is more important, is finding ways to get my stories published so that my words are out there for readers to find.
Building literacy and a love of reading so that children become life-long readers and learners is the most important issue to me. That, and telling a good story that they want to read over and over again.
I have been a children’s author for eight years now. In that time, I have self-published four books, had two traditionally published, one published for a non-for-profit organisation and had seven short stories published in five anthologies.
My collection of published books. Cyclone Kayla, A Lighthouse in Time, Secrets Hidden Below, Alien Shenanigans, Gingerbread Aliens, Frazzled Freya, Emma the Eager Emu.
Short stories published in Anthologies. The Dead Centre of Town in Spooktacular Stories, The Thumping in Things That Go Bump, Save it for a Rainy Day in Enchanted, A Whale of a Christmas Time and Asters Aussie Christmas in Creative Kids Tales 1, and A Renovator’s Delight in Satan’s Holiday. Note: Drop Bears Hate Vegemite is in the Ebook Deep Within the Forest.
So where do you start?
Start with writing a blog. Did you know that by writing a blog you are published? Your words are out in the public domain for all to read. You can write anything you like, maybe start with a short story or two, a poem or simply random thoughts of the day. It’s entirely up to.
Don’t feel confident sharing your work with everyone? Find a critique group. There are many online, just google critique groups in your genre. I made my start with wriitng.com then moved on to more specific children’s book critique groups. I moved around a bit until I found a good fit.
Once you build your confidence, start submitting to competitions and anthologies. I won entry into my first ebook anthology in 2015, and I’m still winning entries into print edition anthologies in 2020. These are a great way to get your name out to readers with only a minimal competition entry fee. Plus I love a fun book launch when all the authors get together to celebrate. Last year I went to four book launches in one month.
This year, I entered my story, Peek-a-Boo Echidna in the Share Your Story anthology competition, ‘Tell Em Their Dreaming- Bedtime Ballads and Tall Tales From The Australian Bush. It was one of those stories I had been trying to write as a picture book for years. It had many versions, none of which worked. When this theme was announced and I now had 1500 words to write a short story instead of a 500 word PB, the story came to life. My little echidna has found a home and a publisher. It will be published in the anthology this October. I love this theme, ‘tell em ‘es dreamin’ is such an iconic part of our Aussie language after the absolutely wonderful mid 90’s movie ‘The Castle’ was produced, the saying became commonly heard throughout our house as it is many others I’m sure.
One of the things I love about the Share Your Story anthologies is that proceeds always go to a worthy charity or cause. Last years Spooktacular story collection donated books to sick kids in hospitals all around Australia. This year, the Bush Ballads will donate sales to raising funds for the NSW Rural Fire Service. After the horrendous Summer we had and the devastating bush fires, which came very close to us losing our home, I am forever grateful to the NSW RFS and so pleased to help support them with this collection of tall tales from the Australian bush.
Being connected to the wonderful people at Share Your Story also lead me to the amazing organisation, Library For All. Early last year they put out a call for proposals to write stories for their natural disaster series. The stories would be made into graphic novels for low literacy learners in Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific islands. With this in mind I put in a proposal and was accepted to write a story on cyclones for them. I found writing to someone else’s brief much more difficult than I expected. In 1500 words I was asked to write a fiction story that included facts about cyclones and how to prepare to survive a cyclone. The language had to be simple for low literacy and contain plenty of onomatopoeia. My story came in at 1700 words. I submitted hoping for the best. The reply came back to cut 500 words! It was now to be reduced to 1200! To my determination and surprise, I did it, and the story was better for it too. I am very proud to say Cyclone Kayla has now been published and is available for free via the app store at Library For All.
Cyclone Kayla, a graphic novel written for Library For All.
Inside ‘Cyclone Kayla,’ a graphic novel written for Library For All.
Inside ‘Cyclone Kayla,’ a graphic novel written for Library For All.
You won’t make any money being published via any of these options. It’s all about branding, getting your name out there and building an audience. Then you can consider whether you want to self-publish your stories or start submitting to publishers. Either way, at least you have a profile, and a collection of work.
The choice to self-publish or traditional publish is another story. Too long for one blog post. Whichever you choose, know there are plenty of groups that will help and support you. As a member of the Story Creators Community we are here if you have any questions.
How do you want to publish?
Why do you want to publish?
What do you want to publish?