I’m an unabashed ‘indie’ author. If you’re not familiar with the word indie, this means that I’ve chosen to publish my own books. People who choose to self-publish do it for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons is that some authors are passionate about very niche topics that a traditional publisher might not be interested in. Some want to maintain full artistic control. And some prefer a slower sales launch that yields a higher overall profit. For me, I want to publish as often or as rarely as I want while also having full artistic control.
Before publishing, I spent a year doing my utmost to ‘research’ how to publish properly. I found Facebook groups, read articles, talked to professionals in the sector and tried to find online courses that could tell me the ‘right’ way to do it.
While I did my best to do my research, there were many things I got wrong, and I was gratified to know that I wasn’t alone.
As I stayed active in the indie author community, I discovered that every indie author, particularly in the children’s book community, had a dirty secret: they all had a book, usually their first, that they’re slightly embarrassed to call their own.
Many don’t even credit these books in their collections, a luxury you can have when you self-publish. Many call these books their ‘learning’ books, particularly since mass producing a children’s book can be extremely expensive.
Since these flops happen to even successful authors, I think it’s worthwhile to spend some time talking about the worst mistake you can make since there are plenty of articles, webinars, and books written about how to achieve success. If you can accept that your first book will be flawed, avoiding this particular trap might help you stay in the game long enough to write your masterpiece.
What not to do: Hire an illustrator too early (or decide to do it yourself!)
Pro tip #1: The worst thing you can do is hire an illustrator too early.
I can see it now. You wake up in the middle of the night, and suddenly, inspiration strikes. You have an idea for a children’s book so good it’s going to be the next Runaway Bunny! So you spend the next few hours writing it, go back to bed, and when you wake up… it’s still really good! So you take the next logical step and contact your friend’s cousin who’s an AMAZING graphic artist (I chose this example for a reason; stay tuned) and ask them to bring your story to life.
This is the way most first books begin, and there are more than a few traps hidden in this scenario.
Alway get professional editing BEFORE YOU ILLUSTRATE
Pro tip #2: Every book, no matter how amazing, MUST receive professional editing.
Typically, this editing occurs over 6-8 weeks, with the editor tearing apart your story and ensuring it makes sense. From word choices to story structure, this is a step you absolutely, positively cannot skip. If you do, it’s like building a house on a sinkhole. You don’t know when it’s going to collapse, but it’s inevitable.
While pricing varies, this process costs around $500-$750 for pictures in total. A professional illustrator typically costs anywhere from $3,000-$10,000. Compared with the cost of hiring an illustrator, this is an extremely small investment that will pay dividends.
It is also extremely important to do your editing NOW. Some authors will decide to engage their illustrators before they’ve done the editing, and that is one of the worst mistakes you can make.
If you’ve found a really good illustrator, they will get pretty tired of creating a spread and then being told to change it later because you put off the editing process. Put yourself in their shoes – how would you feel if you were digging a hole and someone a few feet away kept tossing their dirt into your hole? Frustrating, right?
I cannot believe how many people hire an incredible illustrator and then, frankly, abuse them in this way. It’s not only unprofessional, it’s irresponsible. Plus, it’ll likely have repercussions in a delay of product delivery or in that illustrator refusing to work with you again.
How to find the RIGHT illustrator for your children’s book
Pro Tip #3- you need to hire a professional children’s book illustrator with experience.
This can be really hard to find, especially if it’s your first book. First, let’s define what I mean by a professional illustrator:
- You are not your illustrator’s first book project
- This person uses professional tools to create their craft and know how to provide files in a way that will transfer to printing
- This person’s professional experience is specifically children’s books, and they can provide multiple references
Many new authors opt for a friend or family member for their first project, often identifying someone who has graphic design experience. While this is a wonderful skill to have, it doesn’t translate to picture books as cleanly as you might think. Professionals can tell; whether it’s the illustrations looking a little off or the words not being organically tied to the illustrations, there is a nuance only illustrators can master.
New Children’s Book Authors Never Take Enough Time
Final pro tip: do not rush your first book. The more time you take, the less you’ll be embarrassed by your first book.
This brings us to the last trap– new authors don’t take enough time. A traditionally published book will have a two or even three year timeline to ensure it’s just right, while some authors will try to squeeze book creation into 1 or 2 months so their book is ready by the holiday rush. Trust me– you WILL try to rush the project, but if it’s your dream, isn’t it worth a little more time? Your book will be better for it, and most holidays happen every year.
If you take your time, hire professional editors and illustrators, and wait to illustrate until your manuscript is great, your first book will be 1000% better. Given the fact that most first books are passion projects, take a breath and remember: the world will always be ready for your book if you do it right.
