How perfect does a manuscript have to be when you send it to a children's publisher, will they edit it anyway?

Question

I'm writing a children's book and wondered if anyone else has sent anything off - and if so, what was the reaction you got - good or bad - did you have to completely re-write whole chapters or did the publisher only want word perfect material?

Answer 1

Childrens' books are the hardest market to break into. 40% of childrens' books today are being written by celebs (Madonna, Jamie Lee Curtis etc) and another 40% are being written by established childrens' authors such as Eric Carle etc. Another percentage is reprints of classic childrens' books. That leaves less than 20% for new authors. It is almost impossible to break in the childrens' market, so if you injtend to try, your material should be exciting, original and perfect.

In fact, anytime you send a manuscript off, it should be perfect - free of spelling errors, grammar and punctuation erors. Otherwise, it will never make it onto an agent's desk. You will get rejected by an assistant or even someone in the mailroom in a form letter. It is YOUR work and you should want it to be perfect.

An editor's job is to suggest changes and to go over your work, but an editor is not supposed to be your assistant and fix all your mistakes and sloppy work.

The way you present your material is a reflection of you. I would never turn in a sloppy manuscript. My reputation as a writer is always on the line.

Also - you don't just "send a manuscript off". You must follow the submission guidelines of the publisher or agent to the letter. Usually that means a query and a summary first. Unsolicited manuscripts are very rarely accepted. Most head right for the trash compactor. Pax - C.

Answer 2

You absolutely need to have a pristine manuscript. Don't take any chances because you do not get to submit a second time.

If the publisher accepts your work an editor will work with you. This sort of editing is not going to be fixing spelling mistakes, but will be strengthening you work.

These days publishers have less money to spend on editing, so it is even more important than it was before to submit excellent work. If a publisher thinks the text needs many changes, the text will not be accepted.

Answer 3

I always do word perfect material so I don't look like some amateur.