So let's review some of the topics we discussed last week.

* You need to get a good editor, someone to proof and make any necessary suggestions. Keep in mind, their ability to edit and revise are more important than someone who is just into punctuation. Sign up with Google Grammarly... this is a basic FREE package. The FREE package is fine for your preliminary draft but as you get closer to final version, step up to the PREMIUM package. You can pay for it by the month. But if you wait towards the completion of your book, you can sign up for the monthly package, take the month to check you manuscript and you can cancel it before the 30 days is up.

Try and find an editor that has some experience with children's books. Finding someone who may have a close tie to children will be a bonus. (a teacher, a parent with small children, etc.) Be open to revisions on your copy. If the changes make sense and are relevant to the content....go with it.

Don't forget to bring your editor back in to review your printer's proof when it comes back from the press.

* Decide whether you want a HARD cover OR SOFT cover book.

If you have a limited budget soft covers are the way to go. Hard covers cost twice as much, and there is generally a minimum print quanity required. So let's say you order the minimum quantity — can yo sell them all?

One thing I've learned is that most schools and libraries prefer HARD COVERS. (because of all of the handling). You can convince schools and libraries to take your book, just be prepared to offer them replacement copies in a few months. You can't loose going this direction, you still come out ahead because your book is getting exposure. Also, if you happen to get into bookstores and boutiques, people are thumbing through books before they buy them. The solution is to shrink wrap your books and leave one for the display that is not shrink wrapped.

If you sell your books via your website or online bookstores, you will encounter mailing costs. The great thing is that books ship via a MEDIA RATE. All single books the same rate. At this date about $2.75 each book as oppose to $7.00 each with a varying distance rate.

Create book pages in multiples of FOURs. This sample is 16-pages INCLUDING COVER. Make a quick thumbnail of your book's page layout. This is an important roadmap to where you are going. These thumbnails will help you see how to separate your text. Once you separate your text, this will be your guide for illustrations. I prefer to design and layout text and illustrations as SPREADS (across the entire width (2-pages) It leaves room for creative illustration and visually telling the story.

Generally the text on the page will determine what the visual will be. This will also give the illustrator and idea of how much text is on the page. They can then illustrate according to the text. By laying out your pages like this with the text, you will be able to price out your illustrations.

For a soft cover, indicate your front and back cover first and continue with the rest of the text placement. The indication shows from 3 - 4 lines per page.

If you have more text, just add pages. KEEP in MIND in multiples of FOUR. Try not to force or cram your text on any page.

You can decide the style of your font and size when you drop in your illustrations.Make sure there is a good relationship between your text and your illustrations.

We will come back to this.

* Laying out your book...determining your number of pages.

Consider the placement of your type in relationship to the illustration and vise-versa.

You can stay on the safe side for your first books. Use a SERIF font. NEVER use all upper-case letters, as it it too difficult to read.
Use a legible font size averaging 18 pts with a leading (space between lines) of double the point size (36pt). So 18pt/36pt)
Keep in mind with the internet these days, it is very easy to get information. Do some research on children's picture book type.

SAMPLE BELOW:

You can decide the style of your font and size
when you drop in your illustrations.Make sure
there is a good relationship between your text
and your illustrations.

Next week I’ll follow through to the next steps of preparing your INDIE book.

If you find yourself with questions, feel free to email me at kidsshelfbooks@gmail.com

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