timeline

Finding a Capable and Affordable Illustrator

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

Find an illustrator who can bring great visuals to your children’s book may end up costing you between $2,000 and $10,000 depending on how many illustrations you need and how well-known your illustrator may be.

This is a big investment in time and money, so you’ll want to find someone who is a perfect “fit” for your project. REEDSY, Upwork, and Fiverr are good places to look for your illustrator. Or, browse through children’s books on Amazon “LOOK INSIDE” feature, or visit your local bookstore, looking for ones which fulfill your vision. Their work will be credited somewhere inside each book.

Contact a few illustrators, making time to discuss your vision for your book and get their ideas, too. Send them examples of illustrations you have seen that are similar to what you’d like. Ask to see examples of their work.

Ask how soon they will be free to work on your project and how long it will take to finish the work. (It can often take up to three months). Share your timeline. 

Draw up a contract between the two of you, stating beginning and ending dates, how you will communicate, and how the fee will be paid. Some will want payment in intervals, some at the end. Be sure to discuss this upfront. 

You are doing the hiring, so choose someone you feel you will be able to work with easily. 

You are in control. You set the pace. You assess the quality of the work. And it is you who will pay the bill.

However, don’t base your decision on money alone or you will be unhappy with your final product. Remember, you get what you pay for.

Are You In Editing Mode?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

39017956125_29104d6f1e

 

At it stands, now, I have gone through the editing process with six books. I learn more each time I get to this step in the publishing process. So, for what it’s worth, I recommend you use these people, in this order:

Do an ongoing edit of your manuscript, as you share your submissions with your critique group, chapter by chapter, from Prologue thru Epilogue.

When your book is finished, edit your manuscript yourself (at least a couple of times—more, if you are a perfectionist, like me).

Send it to your Beta Readers. They will catch a few things, too.

Send it to your Editor and make the suggested corrections.

Finally, let your Critique Group Read it in its entirety. Note: This is a new step. Here’s why I am suggesting taking the time to do this: my group accepts submissions from each other twice per month.

Often the chapters are out of order. And, because this process can take upward of one year, it is not like reading a book, chapter by chapter. They miss the flow and this especially affects the understanding of the timeline. (It isn’t their fault. These two factors make it almost impossible for them to give good feedback in this area).

If your critique group agrees to read each other’s work–all the way through, one last time–they will be able to experience your story from beginning to end and catch any glitches.

Yes, it is a bigger commitment and not for the faint of heart, but if you are truly committed to help each other be the best you can be, then the results can be of great value.

In talking with my group, they were positive about trying this approach—at least once.

I suspect it will be time well spent.