7 Lessons I’ve Learned from Pitching My Children’s Books
What I’ve learned from putting my proposals out there (again and again)
Don’t forget! The Christian KidLit Pitch Kit comes drops in less than a week! Learn how to write an epic proposal and query letter that lands you a book deal. Sign up for the waitlist to be the first to know about the drop, here.
Every author dreams of holding their book in their hands, but between manuscript and bookstore lies a winding, sometimes confusing path. After years of walking it, I’ve collected a few insights—things that might save you a little frustration and give you a lot more clarity. Here are 7 lessons I’ve learned from pitching my children’s books.
Proposals grant clarity and help you know whether or not your book is a good idea for the marketplace.
Writing a proposal isn’t just a hoop to jump through—it’s a gift. A strong proposal forces you to dig into your book’s concept, positioning, and target reader. It helps you see clearly whether your story works in the marketplace and if it’s truly ready. Even if you don’t land a deal right away, the act of writing a proposal gives you direction, confidence, and language for your book.
There are a lot of great publishers outside of “The Big Five,” that produce incredible, high quality children’s books, win awards, and make bestseller list.
Everyone wants the “Big Five,” but I’ve never been published by one of them and yet my books can be found in every major bookstore, have hit the bestseller lists, and won the biggest awards in the Christian industry. Publishing with a Big Five house doesn’t have to be the goal—and honestly, it shouldn’t be. There’s an entire world of mid-size or boutique Christian publishers who can bring your book to life and put it in the hands of children around the globe. Indie and faith-based publishers often take chances on unique formats, niche audiences, or books that carry deep cultural or ministry value, and they often give a much higher-touch experience for a new author. Personally, I’d rather be a big fish in a small pond, than the other way around.
The pitching process usually takes a long time.
Whether you’re pitching to an agent or directly to a publisher, the journey from manuscript to contract usually takes months, not weeks. Publishing is slow by nature. Be patient. Waiting is part of the process, and rushing will only leave you discouraged. Use that waiting time to refine your craft, grow your platform, and work on your next idea.
There are still many Christian publishers that accept manuscripts directly from online query forms.
It’s a myth that you must have an agent to publish a children’s book. While many houses prefer working through agents, there are still Christian publishers and smaller presses that accept manuscripts directly through online query forms. If you do your research, you’ll find plenty of publishers still open to cold pitches. Your job is to prepare a strong proposal and deliver it well.
Many first-time authors get book deals through the right person hearing them at a speaking event or watching the work they’re doing online.
Many first-time authors get their break not by sending a query, but by being seen. Maybe it’s a talk they give at a conference, or a body of work they’ve been sharing online. An editor notices. A connection gets made. The manuscript still has to be pitched and a proposal still written, but the door opens in an unexpected way. Which is why I always encourage authors to keep showing up. You never know who’s watching.
Most children’s book advances are modest, even from larger houses.
Publishing is not a quick cash grab; it’s a long-term investment in partnership and reach. The real money is often in royalties (which we’ll talk about more this fall)! When you approach it with realistic expectations, you’re less likely to burn out or feel disappointed.
Rejections are normal, not personal.
I’ve had a lot of rejections with my books, even with awards and sales under my belt. Often, a “no” isn’t about the quality of the work but more to do with list balance, budget cycles, or competing titles. A rejection doesn’t mean you’re not talented; it might just mean “not now” or “not here.” Take the feedback you can, hold your head high, and keep moving forward. The right story finds its place in time.
The world of children’s books has so much room for new voices, and your story can be one of them. Keep writing, keep pitching, and keep showing up.
The right opportunity will come, and when it does, be ready. And how do you do that? I’m launching a brand-new course bundle called The Christian KidLit Pitch Kit. Dropping on August 25th, it’s filled to the brim with resources and learnings from pitching my own children’s books, and you can learn more about it here. Joining the waitlist is totally free and keeps you in the loop!