A Look Back at 10 Initial Publishing Questions - Part 1
Authoring a picture book requires different skills from publishing and marketing books. I'm a member of two great author/publisher Facebook groups that are highly active and full of many independent publishing experts (I list both groups on this page). Many members author, publish, and market their own books. Other members include illustrators, book designers, editors, and other experts who jump in to answer questions or are available for projects. These people are terrific resources.
I went back and looked through all the questions I posted when I first joined these groups (and I posted many, many questions!). Below, I summarize five of the first ten questions I asked and provide answers - as I know them today - for others in the early days of publishing books. The answers here are short compared to the details we could go into, so I provide links to experts or other resources if you want more information (I am not affiliated with any of the links). This post covers questions 1-5; the next covers questions 6-10. These questions are in no particular order.
"What is the best way to select an illustrator, and what is the common payment structure?"
Choosing the right illustrator for a picture book is crucial as it is a partnership. Look at the illustrators portfolio and past books. Consider their creative ability to enhance your script. Sometimes, the script will need to evolve based on the illustration ideas. Does their style align with the genre, writing style, or characters in the story?
I recommend having a contract with the total payment amount, copyright info (do they keep the copyright, or do you hold all rights once paid), deadlines, and payment terms. Most illustrators working with smaller independent publishers or authors prefer a flat rate instead of a royalty structure. It makes sense because its hard to know how successful the book might be or if the author/publisher will spend a lot of effort marketing it.
An experienced illustrator will cost anywhere from ~$4K-10K (sometimes more or less). The overall cost can vary significantly based on the number of full spreads vs spot illustrations, etc. The price can also vary if the illustrator formats the book, designs the cover, creates printed end sheets, or packages multiple files. Some illustrators do these other things. Many prefer to focus just on the illustrations. They are happy to have you take the illustrations and send them to a designer who will design the entire book, including the typesetting (selecting and placing the text on pages).
Other things to discuss with a potential illustrator are time zones and communication considerations/preferences/channels, currency preferences (if you are in two different countries), and alignment on what you will provide to them up front (just the script, script, and illustrator notes, script and sketches, etc.). Ask them to share their general process - are they requesting approval during different phases such as storyboarding, sketches, etc., or are they working through multiple steps before sharing for feedback? Understand how they approach the work and if it meshes well with how you are comfortable collaborating. You can find great illustrators in the Facebook groups or resources I listed here.
"What format and size is best for a picture book?"
Picture books are made for ~0-8 years old. A subset of picture books is board books. These books have a hard cover and hard individual pages to make them sturdy because they are geared toward the youngest children (think babies and toddlers who still want to bite on books). Board books usually stick to simple concepts and only have a few words. Board books tend to be small and square.
Beyond board books, other picture books come in hardcover and paperback. They can be geared to slightly older children within the age range and contain more words and complexity. In the US, most consumers prefer hardback without a dust jacket, but paperbacks are cheaper and are more widely available through print-on-demand (POD) companies.
Common shapes for picture books are square or rectangular. Sizes can vary, and there is no right or wrong size or shape. I prefer square books. They are often 8x8, 8.5x8.5, 9 x9, 10x10, or even larger. Beyond what is available based on the publishing platform you are using, other factors to consider when determining the right size for your book include word count, the style of illustrations you want (simple vs. complex), and printing (larger will cost more to print). I like this post about trim sizes by Brook Vitale.
"What is POD vs. offset printing, and what vendors are available?"
POD, or print on demand, requires no upfront cost. Your book is printed when there is demand (i.e., you or a customer buy a copy). Offset printing is when you print a larger volume of books at once. This route requires having funds available upfront. You will also want to create a plan to store, market, and fulfill this inventory. The quality can vary significantly between offset and POD (offset offers better paper quality and more cover enhancements such as foiling, debossing, glitter, etc.)
Amazon KDP and Ingram Spark are two POD vendors that can work in tandem. There are several others. This Reedsy article offers a good overview of platforms and rates them. Offset printing is often done in China (there are also printers in Korea, India, and other countries). Many large American publishing houses print in China. The cost is low relative to printing in North America, and the quality is good. For context, a hardcover book printed overseas costs ~$2.00 to $3.50 (including the shipping cost). This cost varies based on the number of books printed. A few North American companies serve as liaisons to printers in China. This route is a more comfortable experience for some folks who want overseas pricing, but don’t want to find and then work directly with an overseas company. IAPC is one of these liaisons. If you do want to work directly with a company in China, there are several, so do your research (look for reviews, ask for references, etc.).
"Should a separate business entity be established?"
Considering an LLC for your publishing business is wise if you plan to turn your books into a more serious business. It's not legal advice, but here are some general thoughts: 1) an LLC separates personal and business finances; 2) the limited liability feature helps protect your assets in case of legal trouble; 3) an LLC also suits expansion plans - if you're into marketing, merchandise, or want diverse income streams. It gives flexibility for collaboration and various business activities under one umbrella. Another consideration for having an LLC is that it signals commitment and dedication. Please discuss this question with a lawyer for more specific guidance.
"How long does the publishing process take?"
This question is a tricky one. When I originally posed this question in the group, I meant, "How long does it take to get a book into the world once you have a final script"?" Assuming you have a near final script (and "final" is even a tricky word as scripts often evolve as the illustrations come to life), at least six months (if you are pretty focused) or more is reasonable. Many illustrators prefer at least 3-4 months to go through the creative process. You want to provide them adequate time. A very skilled illustrator will have a process they like to follow, getting your input at different points (aligning on the process is something to discuss before signing a contract).
Once illustrations are done, the book still needs to be designed. Selecting fonts and arranging the text is another skill set. Your illustrator may do this while they are illustrating, or they may only do the illustrations. Then, a book designer would select and lay out the text. The illustrator or a cover designer may do the cover design early on, so you can promote it early. Final files are packaged differently depending on if you are doing POD, offset, or ebooks. A book formatter, yet another skill set sometimes, can package the files. You don't always need a separate book formatter, as a book designer may also do this part. If you are using a book designer (which I recommend), bring them in early before illustrations are done.
The final files are the beginning. To sell your book beyond family and friends, you must create a marketing and promotion plan that starts early (before finishing illustrations). For example, you could post in-process photos of your illustrations to get people excited leading up to the launch. If you want to launch the book with reviews, allow time between when you finish a book and when you release it for sale. This means you can send nearly final or final copies to advanced readers on platforms like Netgalley and Edelweiss. The gap in time could be a month to several months, depending on how many reviews you would like to gather. Also, if you submit for specific editorial reviews, they may want to see the advanced copy instead of receiving it post-launch.
Phew! If you are still interested in reading more, check out Part 2 of this post. Thanks for reading!
