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- Apr 2, 2012
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As the title asks. I know, I know, I've been told before that it's best not to include any illustrations with a submission, and let the publishers decide both whether or not the book even needs them, and if yes, what they will look like. However, for my purposes, I don't want to do that. My goal, you see, is to try and get an OEL light novel published traditionally, so I can pave the way for more OEL light novels to be published in the same way. Issue is that light novels are currently published by manga publishers, rather than book publishers, and these manga companies do not even look at western submissions. They only translate hugely popular titles from Japan that often have accompanying animes....there are lots and lots of Japanese titles that don't even get touched, let alone something written in English from the start. As a result, I can't submit to the manga publishers straight out like I could if I was making a manga...so I'm having to go in roundabout ways.
At least some of the manga publishers that put out light novels(Yen Press jumps to mind immediately) are connected to and/or have dealings with book publishers. Even further, in Japan, light novels are published by book companies rather than manga publishers(as they should be), and many English publishing companies have dealings with their Japanese counterparts.
So, basically I'm looking to pitch an illustrated book to the publishers that are connected/have dealings with either manga companies or Japanese publishers that produce light novels, and see if they either like it enough to publish it themselves, or perhaps go to the manga companies and/or Japanese publishers they have dealings with and go "hey, I know you guys don't usually touch this kind of thing, but I got a light novel submission that I think you should consider..." By doing this, I make it so my work is not automatically binned because it's not from Japan...but there is an issue: I'm not making kidlit, or even MG. My target audience would be the same audience that currently consumes light novels; young adults and adults.
Even further, due to the fact I'm trying to distinctly publish a "light novel" the illustrations would be done in anime/manga-style, and would need to be included with any query to agents, and submission package to publishers, precisely because if I want them to take it to their associated manga publishers after deciding it's good, but too illustration heavy to publish themselves, I'm going to need those illustrations as well as my partner artist already established. Manga publishers do NOT, under any circumstances, provide/hire artists themselves; so I'd need to have an artist, and illustrations, already done and made up for this scheme to work. Thus, I'd be paying an artist myself, and already have somebody I'm communicating with to that end.
So, my question is, since I am DEAD SET on doing this despite what I've been told, how in the world do I put together a submission package to both agents, and eventually publishers, that includes illustrations I payed for myself? Are there industry standards for illustrations and if so, what are they? How do I include said illustrations in the submission package and, more importantly, should I mention my stubborn determination to have these illustrations included in the book and my desire to make traditionally published OEL Light Novels a thing in my query? Should I also put the fact I'm willing to take a Japan localization only deal in my query if publishing in the US would not be possible?
Also note that, "self-publish" is not the answer I am looking for. I refuse to ever self publish because I want to write, not advertise...and successful self publishing is 90% marketing/promotion, 10% actual content creation.
Anyway, any clarity on all of this would be great!
At least some of the manga publishers that put out light novels(Yen Press jumps to mind immediately) are connected to and/or have dealings with book publishers. Even further, in Japan, light novels are published by book companies rather than manga publishers(as they should be), and many English publishing companies have dealings with their Japanese counterparts.
So, basically I'm looking to pitch an illustrated book to the publishers that are connected/have dealings with either manga companies or Japanese publishers that produce light novels, and see if they either like it enough to publish it themselves, or perhaps go to the manga companies and/or Japanese publishers they have dealings with and go "hey, I know you guys don't usually touch this kind of thing, but I got a light novel submission that I think you should consider..." By doing this, I make it so my work is not automatically binned because it's not from Japan...but there is an issue: I'm not making kidlit, or even MG. My target audience would be the same audience that currently consumes light novels; young adults and adults.
Even further, due to the fact I'm trying to distinctly publish a "light novel" the illustrations would be done in anime/manga-style, and would need to be included with any query to agents, and submission package to publishers, precisely because if I want them to take it to their associated manga publishers after deciding it's good, but too illustration heavy to publish themselves, I'm going to need those illustrations as well as my partner artist already established. Manga publishers do NOT, under any circumstances, provide/hire artists themselves; so I'd need to have an artist, and illustrations, already done and made up for this scheme to work. Thus, I'd be paying an artist myself, and already have somebody I'm communicating with to that end.
So, my question is, since I am DEAD SET on doing this despite what I've been told, how in the world do I put together a submission package to both agents, and eventually publishers, that includes illustrations I payed for myself? Are there industry standards for illustrations and if so, what are they? How do I include said illustrations in the submission package and, more importantly, should I mention my stubborn determination to have these illustrations included in the book and my desire to make traditionally published OEL Light Novels a thing in my query? Should I also put the fact I'm willing to take a Japan localization only deal in my query if publishing in the US would not be possible?
Also note that, "self-publish" is not the answer I am looking for. I refuse to ever self publish because I want to write, not advertise...and successful self publishing is 90% marketing/promotion, 10% actual content creation.
Anyway, any clarity on all of this would be great!
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