The only stupid question...

Ms.rachel · Aug 15, 2011

I am a YA writer, but a friend of mine is sitting on a pretty amazing picture book that I want him to pursue publishing with. Problem is I don't really know how you format for a picture book. He's just written the text. Would he type it as it would appear in print (with only a couple lines per page)? Or does he just put it all on one page but label it (e.g., pg. 1 etc.)?

Sorry if this is a foolish question or if there is an easy way to find the answer...this isn't really my avenue so....

Thanks!

Flur · Aug 16, 2011

You format it as you would any other MS.

If it's picked up by a publisher, they'll determine the layout for print.

Smish · Aug 16, 2011

What Flur said.

The publisher will determine page breaks, etc. Direct your friend to AW and tell him/her to read the stickies in this section.

Ms.rachel · Aug 16, 2011

Thanks folks. Did do some poking around and I think I actually figured it out. I am helping edit for meter and I believe I would have it all written on one page (or however many) but chunk it into mini paragraphs like I would...a poem... it's a rhyming book so meter and chunking are pretty important for the reader to get the feel. I will sit down with him and read the info you suggested too!

Inkblot · Aug 16, 2011

Yes, it's fine to "chunk it into mini paragraphs" like a poem -- even if it doesn't rhyme. And meter is very important in a PB.

It can be helpful to make a picture book "dummy" -- in which the text is distributed over about 13 double-page "spreads" (leaving empty pages for the Title page, etc.). But that is only to help a writer write -- it isn't something a writer would normally send to a publisher.

Lineykins · Aug 31, 2011

I think if the story is right, the publisher won't mind too much how it is presented.

I like your idea of on the one (or two) pages, but chunked. It shows you have some idea of how a picture book works (24 or 32 pages).

Best of luck.

The only stupid question...

Ms.rachel

Flur

Smish

Reads more than she writes.

Ms.rachel

Inkblot

New kid, be gentle!

Lineykins