Self-Publishing Hint for Authors: A Wake-Up Call
Here’s the big hint: It doesn’t cost “Less than $500″ (thank you, Elance) to illustrate a full-color, 32-page picture book with a one-month turnaround. Do you folks think we have nothing but time on our hands–or that we’ve been licking to many cadmium-laced paintbrushes? The same goes for websites. If you’re going on a site and hiring a freelancer, be aware that this isn’t “fun money”. This is what we do. For. A. Living.
I recently got this email from a solicitor (there is no website or google information for this “company”). I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: Is this really where the market is being driven–to the complete undervaluing of a skill that takes years to hone? This isn’t punching numbers into a computer or stamping metal on a die machine. It’s months of full-time work, requiring at least 4 years (in my case, 8 ) of expensive conservatory education. OK. Here goes:
I am J., from P. Books. We are starting a publishing program for Children’s Book authors, and we need illustrators for hire.
The way it will work is we will accept stories from authors, and will charge them a publishing package. Right now, we are thinking the package will run $650. Of this amount, $450 would go to the illustrator for the book illustrations and cover. $200 would go to P. Books for the set up of their files, submitting for publishing and the publishing itself.
We figure each book will be around 32 pages, but we are expecting the illustrators to do illustrations that cover both the left and right side pages of the story…
*Hold up, he doesn’t even know how to articulate what a *spread* is? First clue.
….so only 16 images and the cover will need to be done for each book. So, the $450 you would be paid will cover this. Porterlance Books would receive the money upfront for the job, and pay you when the illustrations are complete.
The way it would work, though, is an accepted author would first pick an Illustrator from our site to do a sample cover image. They would pay you $50 for this image. IF they elect to go with you as the illustrator, this $50 would be deducted from the $450 you would receive. If they elect not to use you, you still received the $50 for the cover image. It must be a finalize/full color file (unless you plan on your illustrations for the book to be in Black and White, which you will need to disclose).
You would receive credit as the Illustrator on the book cover, but would grant the Author and P. Books the rights to the illustrations for that book. This way, we have the right to create posters, or other promotional material for the book…and sell the book in any form we decide.
We would expect a 30-day turn around time, from the time you’re hired.
I know $450 for 16 illustrations is not a lot for some of you (I’m emailing a few of you at once), but in these harder economic times, it is still income, for what you love to do. And, besides that, you will likely rack up a few $50 payments just for the cover images.
If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, email me back. We will expect EVERY illustrator we use to design a finished cover image for a story we will send to all of you. This way, the Authors that come to the site, can read the story, and see what your version of the cover for that same book would be compared to the other Illustrators. This will give them a better idea of your styles (for the same story), and make it easier for them to pick who to pay the $50 to for their cover design. And, it’ll make it more likely that they will like your illustrations, and decide to use you to do the entire book.
You will not be paid for the sample cover of our story. This is something that’s required to be accepted on the site.
I have personally hand-picked only the illustrators I think will work best, while providing many different styles.
I hope to hear back from you.Sincerely,
X
Oh, so because of these “tough economic times” we should be boot-licking grateful to make the same as a Barista’s weekly take-home pay? And we are expected to do work on spec just to be on the site? AND then do full color final cover illustrations…for $50? Because “this is what I love to do”? Yes, I love it. But there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Or a free children’s book.
I’m really trying to give these folks the benefit of the doubt. It’s one thing if it’s a grandmother with a cute story idea. It’s another if it’s a predator trying to get thousands of dollars of work for free.
As for me, I’ve decided to go the traditional publishing route. Booyakacha.
