Format for rhyming book

Jiggs · Sep 21, 2008

My WIP is a picture book with rhyming text (think "Today I Feel Silly" by Jamie Lee Curtis). It is currently written in a traditional poem format but I wonder how it should be written to submit as a manuscript. Do I single space the two rhyming lines and double space between stanzas? Do I use slash marks to indicate ends of lines? I'm anxious to finish this off and then embark on a Hollywood career so it can be published.

Can this be moved to another thread? I probably should have posted it in the "Writing 101" section. Thanks.

Madisonwrites · Oct 5, 2008

I'm in the same boat, Jiggs.

Madisonwrites · Oct 5, 2008

Hey, Jiggs, I found this in the Ask The Agent forum.

Quote:
Originally Posted by brittanimae
I've asked before but have never gotten a definitive answer (maybe there isn't one): What is the preferred format for submitting picture books? For the most part I've heard that they should be formatted just like anything else, but on the other hand suppose you have an important page turn in the middle of a sentence (for surprise effect) or something?

Plain text, just like anything else. Kinda like poetry, in a way.

If it is broken into rhyming lines, write it like that. If you have an important page turn in the middle of a sentence --

-- make that a new paragraph!

Whatever you do, do NOT paginate the text (ie, make it 32 pages with two lines on each). And illustration notes are frowned upon -- if there is an image that absolutely MUST exist for the story to make sense, you can add a note in italics. Agents and editors read a lot of picture books with no pictures and we are very very adept at using our own vivid imaginations to fill in the blanks.

wyntermoon · Oct 5, 2008

Hey Jiggs!
I think this is a great spot for this question so I'm going to leave it where it is. Thank you Madisonwrites for the answer, I bet a lot of people have been searching for it at some time or another!

Jiggs · Oct 9, 2008

Thanks, everybody! I've been away for a bit (I won't get into that here but it did involve palm trees and warm water). So, now I am refreshed and would like to add that I found this same question in a scbwi thread! In short, that person said to double space between every line. I would prefer to single space the two rhyming lines (I think it looks and reads better) but I'd also like to be published so I'll follow the rules. Of course, I would also like to hear Daniel Pinkwater read something I've written but that was just a good thought I had while under a palm tree. Thanks again.

Format for rhyming book

Jiggs

Madisonwrites

The Unicorn Writer

Madisonwrites

The Unicorn Writer

wyntermoon

Jiggs