MC-Guide
Content Writing
Website 12: Penguinrandomhouse.com
How Can You Earn Money Writing For “Penguinrandomhouse.com” Website
This guide shows you, step by step, how a beginner can learn to pitch and sell stories to Penguinrandomhouse.com.
You will learn what Penguinrandomhouse.com wants, how to test your idea, how to write a pitch, and how payment roughly works. You can use this like a small SOP.
Guide: How to Publish & Earn with Penguin Random House
This guide helps you understand how to navigate the massive world of Penguin Random House (PRH). We specifically focus on Graphic Novels and Children’s Books—two areas where beginners can actually break in.
You will learn the difference between “writing a blog post” and “pitching a book,” how to find page rates for comics, and how to use the PRH Affiliate program to earn money even if you aren’t ready to write a whole book yet.
Section 1 · The Landscape
Understand what you are pitching to
Unlike tech blogs (like SitePoint) where you submit one article and get paid $200 quickly, Penguin Random House is a traditional book publisher. They don’t typically pay freelancers for single blog posts. Instead, they pay you for:
You write a book, graphic novel, or children’s book. They buy the rights to publish it.
- Payment: An “Advance” (money upfront) + Royalties (percentage of sales later).
- Timeline: Slow (18–24 months).
- Goal: Career building.
They hire you to illustrate a cover, color a comic, or write a specific IP book (like a LEGO or Minecraft tie-in).
- Payment: Flat fee or “Page Rate.”
- Timeline: Faster (months).
- Goal: Immediate income + Portfolio.
This guide focuses on the divisions most open to new, visual, or younger voices: Random House Graphic and Penguin Workshop.
Section 2 · The Graphic Novel Path
Focus: Random House Graphic
Random House Graphic (RHG) is an imprint dedicated to graphic novels for kids and teens. This is a massive growth market. If you can draw or write comics, this is your target.
Author-Illustrator
You write AND draw the book.
- Pros: You keep the full advance. Creative control.
- Cons: Huge workload. Takes years.
- What to pitch: A synopsis + 5-10 pages of finished art.
Writer Only
You write the script, RHG hires an artist (or you partner with one).
- Pros: Less labor intensive.
- Cons: Harder for beginners to break in without an artist attached.
- What to pitch: A full script proposal.
Section 3 · The Kids Market
Focus: Penguin Workshop
Penguin Workshop creates books for children, including the famous “Who Was?” series, board books, and picture books.
Short, visual books for ages 0–5.
- Length: 200–800 words max.
- Style: Rhyme (hard to sell) or quirky prose.
- Opportunity: High competition, but open to new diverse voices.
Writing stories for existing characters (e.g., Bluey, Minecraft).
- How to get this: You usually need an agent or a portfolio showing you can write in specific “voices.”
- Pay: Often a flat fee (work-for-hire).
Section 4 · The Money Details
How much do they actually pay?
Book publishing pay is opaque. However, tools like the Creator Resource Page Rate Finder help us estimate standard rates for graphic novels and books.
| Role | Est. Advance / Rate | Royalties? |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Novel (Solo) | $15,000 – $50,000+ | Yes (usually 8-10%) |
| Penciler/Inker (Gig) | $75 – $150 per page | Sometimes (if huge sales) |
| Colorist (Gig) | $35 – $60 per page | Rarely |
| Picture Book Text | $3,000 – $10,000+ | Yes (split with artist) |
Section 5 · The “Blogger” Shortcut
How to earn money without writing a book
If you are a beginner and not ready to write a 200-page graphic novel, you can still use PRH to earn money by writing about their books.
Join the Affiliate Program
Penguin Random House has an affiliate program (often via networks like ShareASale or Impact). When you link to a book on their site and someone buys it, you earn a commission (usually 4–10%).
Start a Niche Book Blog
Don’t just review “books.” Pick a niche that fits their imprints:
- “Graphic Novels for Middle Graders” (Targets RH Graphic)
- “Best Biographies for Kids” (Targets Penguin Workshop)
Write “Best of” Lists
Write articles like “The 10 Best Graphic Novels Coming from Random House in 2025.” Use your affiliate links. This is a legitimate way to “write articles and earn money” using PRH content.
Section 6 · The Process
Step-by-step: How to pitch a book idea
Ready to pitch a real book or graphic novel to Random House Graphic or Workshop? Here is the industry standard workflow.
The Concept & Script
Do not email them just an “idea.” You need work done.
- Novels: Finish the whole manuscript.
- Graphic Novels: Finish a “Pitch Packet” (Synopsis + 6-10 finished art pages + character designs + full script).
Find an Agent (Crucial)
Big publishers like PRH rarely accept “unagented” submissions (except during contests).
- Search for “Literary Agents looking for Graphic Novels” on Manuscript Wish List.
- Write a “Query Letter” pitching your project to the agent.
The Submission
If an agent signs you, they take your packet to the editors at Random House Graphic. The editor reviews it, takes it to an “Acquisitions Meeting,” and if they like it, they offer an advance.