Proper Format for a Children's Book Manuscript

Angelic<3 said:

Hi All,

Oh, how I wished I had known about this forum a little sooner.
I posted this question on another forum, but haven't generated any responses thus far. I'm hoping to get some answers on this one

I'm basically confused about the proper manuscript format for a children's book. The format seems different from one for a novel. I know that the name and address goes on top left side of page, approximately word count on right, and the whole thing is double-spaced.

However, since a children's book is a lot shorter, and it's illustrated, would I, on the actual manuscript, write page 1, page 2, page 3, etc. and separate it out or should the whole manuscript just be essentially one big, double-spaced paragraph?

1.) How do I format my manuscript so as to make it clear that, for example, sentences A and B would be on the first page in an actual children's book, sentences C and D would be on the second page, etc.
2.) Or should I just not do that?
3.) Should I indent and start a new, double-spaced paragraph for my manuscript to indicate a different page?

I know these questions sound redundant, but any answers are greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone!

Click to expand...

If it's a novel for children, then you use the same format you would use for any other novel. You break it into chapters just like you would any other novel.

As for illustrations, these are often not up to the writer, but to the publisher. Whethert to have illustration at all, what they should look like, who should draw them, and where to place them, is very seldom left up to the writer.

If you're talking about a picture book for children, most publishers only want to see the text, not the pictures, and format is up to the publisher.

But some want to see a dummy book, I think. Check with individual publishers' guidelines.

http://http://www.verlakay.com/

If you go here and do some homework, I'm sure you'll find your answer. I wouldn't just post the question, but search the threads, THEN if you have any questions, you'll be armored with some information that will help you understand the answers you get.

Good luck.

Unless you're an illustrator as well as a writer, publishers don't want to see a book dummy. SOME picture book writers create a dummy for their own revision process to be sure there are enough illustration possibilities...but they don't mail them unless they are submitting both their own text and their own illustrations for publication.

You don't break up the text page-by-page. Some writers who have sold a lot of picture books *do* -- I think Rick Walton does, but a first-time picture book writer isn't Rick Walton. If the text will work for a picture book, the editor and illustrator will work out the pagination that will work best with the illustrations.

So, you just use the same format that a magazine writer would use. No cover sheet...just contact information on the upper right, drop down 1/3 to 1/2 before beginning the manuscript and double space. Most picture book manuscripts fit on two pages. That's the format my agent used for all the houses he submitted to -- it's standard. As the author, you just worry about whether your words make a complete and compelling story...if they have a strong forward momentum...and if you have plenty of potential in illustration (change of scene, lots of action implied, that sort of thing).

dummy books

There are writers who use dummy books, but most dummy books are reserved for pop-up formats, or books with gizmos and gimmicks enclosed, such as a clock with moving hands, etc.

Thanks guys... I don't do picture books, but had heard mention of the dummies. Actually there's a seminar on making them at the summer SCBWI conference. Yeah, it's in LA, so I'm not going.