How to Submit Picture Books
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- James was excited to tell you all about how picture book creators (authors, illustrators, and author illustrators) can submit their work to literary agents.
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Jessica Faust’s love for books is what first brought her to open BookEnds Literary Agency. It is her desire to be an advocate for all authors that pushed her to create her blog, the BookEnds UA-cam channel and to maintain a vibrant presence on Twitter.
Jessica is proud to have grown BookEnds to an agency that represents authors of all genres for children and adults, allowing her to reach more readers and help more authors and illustrators achieve their dreams.
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Since interning at BookEnds as an undergrad in the summer of 2015, James has (basically) never left. He's just continuously level-up-ed inside of BookEnds. Now he is the Literary Assistant and Social Media Manager for the team. He’s been a reader since his mom gave him the first A Series of Unfortunate Events book and ordered the sequels regularly through Scholastic book orders.
James is currently growing his own list and is actively seeking submissions in adult literary and upmarket fiction, mystery, thrillers, and suspense. He is also accepting submissions in all sub-genres of Young Adult fiction, and is actively looking for Picture Books that make him laugh.
Connect with BookEnds!
Twitter: bookendslit
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Website: www.bookendsliterary.com
Connect with Jessica: bookendsjessica
Connect with James: jmcgowanbks
As a 'rare' author/illustrator, could I send a finished pdf of a completed book? The file size would be around 6MB. Is that acceptable? Easier than 'selected at random' pages.
That was my question, too: how to submit a dummy. PDF? Query Manager?
When you receive a picture book submission package, are you looking for all the manuscripts to be of the same style? Are you more likely to offer representation if the author has a clear brand? Or are you okay with a submission package containing a variety of manuscripts, such as one humorous, one lyrical, and one nonfiction? If you do prefer one style, once you offer representation and the author has been published, are you okay with them branching out or do you feel like they should stay in one lane?
Thanks so much, I’ve been waiting for a picture book video 🤗. How do the advancements and royalties work for picture books? What is the shelf life of a picture book? What can cause a picture book not to sell well? If a picture book doesn’t sell well, is it harder to sell the next picture book to a publisher? What happens if the royalties doesn’t pay off the advance on picture books... sorry I have so many questions. Basically I would like to know more of the difference in selling them. 😬
Adding some of these to our list!
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How do you like to see a dummy? Digitally or do you want to see an actual paper dummy?
How do you pitch a picture book? The text is so short so what is the best way to do this. Plus how do you format the manuscript? One final question: what makes a good picture book submission 😊?
Thanks for these videos.
a 2-3 line pitch would work great for a picture book. Get your set up and conflict in there, and tease a main problem or potential solution. (Fiction)
Hello James and Jessica,
Thank you for sharing your focused, uplifting advice!
I am a writer, singer and teacher who lives in NYC. I'm working on a series of children's books that would include my music that kids can listen to and sing along with.
I'm getting ready to send out my first query letters and will utilize your tips of the trade!
I would love to partner with an agent in the near future.
thank you for this video. i'm almost finished with my illustrations for my first book. now i know a little more about how to submit it :)
With all the respect in the world, one who is genuinely serious about succeeding MUST research on their own. Because I am rooting for you, here: bookendsliterary.com/submissions/
This was super helpful, Thank you! Subscribed!
Please, please... more videos about picture books. I'm interested in writing picture book fiction and nonfiction. For nonfiction (specifically history and biography), do you want to see the notes/timeline/bibliography, or just the manuscript?
Great question! Back matter should be included with the manuscript.
Yes, I agree! Would love to know all the things about PBs.
Great information! I'd like to hear some advice on picture book word count. I believe I read that an average word count for picture books is between 500-600 words. Would you say that's accurate? So if a word count is double that, will an agent most likely dismiss it? I realize a good query letter will be a factor as well. I appreciate any wisdom you can throw my way. Please keep the picture book videos coming! Thank you!
They discussed this in a recent video. Top reasons they reject queries
Sorry, can you also explain if and how, is a correct way to write a bilingual picture book? Is it okay to write a story with the translations included. Or should it just be written in English and do the translations later?
Bilingual meaning you want both languages in the book? You should include them. Check out how some published folks do it!
As an author-illustrator, I’m stumped by how to write the manuscript when the story is so dependent on the pictures. Sometimes I imagine the manuscript only for some famous picture books and try to understand how the story was ever picked up in the first place separate from the images.
Example:
Today I will fly
You will not fly today
I will try
Etc.
Or wordless picture books like David Wiesner?
In QM, what do author illustrators even paste into the manuscript box for these types of works?
Thank you for this video!!!!!
Thank you very much for this very helpful video. We are a pop-up book team. would you please give some advice about submit a pop-up book.
I was wondering if pdf is standard for submitting a picture book dummy?
Thank you! This is exactly what I wanted to know!!
At what point does an unpublished writer contact an agent? Do writers always need an agent?
I thought publishers choose the illustrator for the book. How does that work? You mentioned submitting a few illustrations with the text.
Hi,
For a dummy picture book (author/illustrator) that i wanna do the sketches on the procreate, how should i know the size of the pages? I mean the publisher might be interested in different size than the one that i have my sketches. In this case i cant change my electronic sketches
A late comment, but I would also LOVE more videos on picture books as well! Graphic novel advice would be incredibly helpful too. I listen to your video as I draw, so it's quite inspiring!
I know I'm late to seeing this video, but it helped a ton. I queried when I only had 2 manuscripts ready for query and lost out when an agent asked me for more. I'm going to get more ready before querying again. Thanks!
Thanks so much for this video. I was wondering about the format you prefer for submitting picture book text. Everything I had read suggested that it should just be in paragraphs with no indicated page breaks, but a published author I am working with recently told me that her agent told her to format with page breaks. Thoughts? Thanks again!
Definitely format it with page and line breaks. That improves your vision for the book, and also pacing and tension, etc.
@@BookEndsLiterary Thank you!!
@@BookEndsLiterary this answer surprises me . My thoughts would be that you would initially just give the text along with a query letter and if they had interest then they would request another with page breaks. If this is the case then would you also describe your vision for what should be illustrated ? Seems like this would be messy and confusing.
@@zenclover8468 It's normal and expected for authors to include art notes. It's not messy or confusing at all, so long as the manuscript is properly formatted and clean.
@@BookEndsLiterary Hello. Need to get in on this discussion. So I have been sending out text only. No page breaks or art description. I need to be putting clear breaks where page turns would be. And it's ok after each page break to include my thoughts on what the art is looking like, page by page?
Ummm as an artist and author I don't think an illustrator will capture my imagination
Ooh I'm one of the rarer kinds? Cool! (author/illustrator) :) And this is incredibly helpful, thank you so much! I was wondering what to include in a book dummy I'm working on - now I know!
Great video! You guys make this industry FUN. Something I didn't quite understand. I have four PBs ready to go. Do I query them all at the same time or do I only query one and the other three are something I have in my back pocket for when James asks me to see more?
I am learning so much from these videos...thank you! I would like to submit my query for a picture book that I wrote and illustrated but I am confused at to what you want. My book is complete with drawings and handwritten text paper clipped together. Should I write my query letter and also send a photocopy of my whole book to you just like it is?
When writing the picture book, would adding the graphic notes be helpful in the manuscript? For example the graphic note would detail what is happening on that pages’ illustration.
Yes, this is common! Just be aware that if you are not the illustrator, if the book sells, there's a chance that the illustrator brought onto the project might have different ideas for how to create the art and might not follow your art notes! But this would be a conversation between author, illustrator, and editor. But for the purposes of querying, art notes can be very helpful for getting across your vision.
Is it okay to send in a dummy book but like an ebook mock up? I don't have the money or materials to make a physical item. I have a the book fully written and the art is almost complete, it just needs coloring.
Hi! Most agents these days are electronic submission only, meaning that they don't expect any copies to be sent via snail mail. So don't worry about getting a physical copy of the dummy made!
Is that a passion planner I spy?
If you want to submit as an author illustrator, how many illustration spreads (that is two page spread) should you have done before you submit?
Your full book dummy should be done in sketches, with the cover, one spread, and one page full color
I love this video, thank you for the information. I'm looking forward to see more content about picture books. :)
Your info was helpful. Thank you. Can I submit a book that's already self published?
Hi! We did a video on querying self-published books that you may want to watch. You *can* query them, but we usually don't recommend it-a self-published book has already begun to dip into its own market, so most publishers won't see it as profitable to take on unless it's going to hit the market in a big way. Therefore, most agents see them as a hard sell and are less likely to take them on. We see it happening with more frequency in the romance space these days, but typically by time a romance book is popular enough that a traditional publisher still thinks it will earn out despite already having been purchased in the self-pub market, an agent or editor might already be reaching out to the author.
Thank you so much for making this video! It is SO helpful!!
I've always been curious about picture books. Thank you for the info,please keep it coming.
Thanks so much for this video! When you request more manuscripts, would you rather see consistency or diversity in the voice / subject / themes of the additional manuscripts? Similarly, for illustration, is it positive or negative to showcase very different styles and mediums, provided they are all professional and engaging? Last question: how do you handle an author who writes PBs and YA? Do authors need to focus on one age / style to build a brand or can they diversify? Thanks so much!
Good question. Diversity if you have it and IT IS STRONG. If you're really good at one thing (humor v lyrical, fiction v non-fiction) then just send that. that's fine too. Means you have a brand!
Insightful video.
Love love love that you did a picture book specific video. Keep 'em coming! Also, for curiosity's sake, how many PB manuscripts do you typically have to fall in love with to offer rep? I know you mentioned having at least 4 ready, but if you like 2 and the other 2 are not your taste, is there still a chance? Or do you have to personally love them all? I'm guessing it all just depends, but still curious. Again, thanks for the great video! I really love watching BookEnds videos (kudos to you all) and was super excited to see a PB one!
This totally depends on the agent/manuscripts. I have offered on some picture book authors that I loved most but not all. --James
@@BookEndsLiterary Follow up question: should the additional books be different or part of a series?
Thank you for these amazing tips, Is it worth doing Animated/ aumented reality illustrated kids books? speecially when it comes to time & effort?
Wow didn’t like hearing about how many books you have written before querying lol. Is that how all publishers work?
Confused: Author has to wait till they have 4-5 PB MS before submitting, in order to be prepared for the request for other MS from agent. Yet, Jason you then said that is considered a “Submission Package” and an author ought to have another “Submission package of 4-5 MS ready if agent asks for it. Isn’t that contradictory?
What if the author needs an additional collaborator? Let's say it's a kid's learn-kitchen-skills cookbook but the author isn't a chef able to come up with perfect and non-copyright recipes? Or let's say it's a textured picture book incorporating unique fuzzy, bumpy, and crinkly non-toxic materials but the author isn't a seamstress? How would that query work?
Hi there. I wrote a children's book. I have two questions. Did you copyright your book through @t? If so, did you have to use form TX for text and form VA for your pictures to copyright for both texts and pictures? Also, where did you go for an editing service for your book? Do you recommend an editor who is very good and reliable, but not too expensive? Please advice. Thanks.
Thank you Guys,
When will u open queries submissions again?
I am doing a pic book series, so u need to see the first 4 sequential manuscripts? in addition to illustration of the 1st one .. Is that enough?
Pls help me with ur kind reply. Thank u
You know, I have read some really great books and then when I searched for more books by the same author, I was really disappointed. My personal opinion is that an author should be able to submit one book and then be able to wait til inspiration hits again instead of forcing mediocre ideas.
Have you talked about illustrations in books that aren't picture books? It seems very common for MG novels to have images in them. What is the process for those like?
Nice video. If I want to write the book in two languages, would I send both? (English & Japanese) Or just submit to an English company and submit to a Japanese company?
Hopefully people realize, his comment about having at least four manuscripts ready is something specific to his individual requests as an Agent. Other agents will be different.
Hello! I am currently working on my first book, as an author illustrator, about a little girl named Peppa Boe Bink, who during her bath starts to shrink. This video helped me so much!! Thank you.
Good to know multiple manuscripts should be ready to go
Have a Great idea for picture book focusing on ' HUGS' Do you think it's pertinent with Corona Virus?
In the adult world? What does that mean?
One of the primary ways publishing is broken down is by age group. "Adult world" just means agents/editors/authors working on books for adults. There is also the Young Adult (YA) sphere, the Middle Grade (MG) sphere, and the children's sphere of publishing.
@@BookEndsLiterary Okay. So its actually the publishing company working on the books. Why can't you say publishing company? Adult world sounds like video game. Already knew about the age category, thanks for the information.
I have a question about a poem I have written wich could be converted into a picture book. It is written about a kind of literary journey through a major organization. I don't know if I should contact the organization to possibly collaborate for advertisement or change the name. But with a name change It will still make sense and be a pleasant story but less impactful.
I'm unsure of whether or not the organization would collaborate on advertisement but you could likely still include the name in your draft and then discuss with your agent once you're represented!
Thank you for this! This was very helpful!
I have self published three picture books and now plotting out fourth. I never want to give up my artist cause we’ve became a team. These are great tips.
If you query as an author only with no illustrator attached, like you mentioned, what if you don't like the type of illustration that the Agency chooses for your book? Are you taking a chance with not choosing your own illustrator to create something for you before hand - one who is willing to create something for you - specific to your desires as opposed to submitting your book and hoping that the Agency picks the type of illustration that I would have liked to have seen? Are you at their beckon call then?
Great questions. Your publisher usually picks the illustrator, not the agency, and the process is typically very collaborative, where they'll share a short list (3-5/6) choices and you could offer your feedback on who you like or don't like.
When you've requested more manuscripts from a picture book writer, are you looking for books with a consistent voice, or do you want to see variety from the writer? For example, I have been playing with various plot styles. I have one manuscript that's a retelling, one that's a meta book, one that's very heartfelt and another that's more snarky. The thing that makes them all me is that they're fun. Does that work, or does that seem too inconsistent?
We want to see your best work! If they vary a bit, that should be okay. Some agents may have a different feeling towards that but you should only be sending your best manuscripts.
Is this channel still making replies
Great video. I've wondered for author/illustrators, do you often find they're stronger either on the story or art, or is someone talented at one usually talented at the other.
And, James, what is that notebook I've seen you use in multiple videos?
Okay, for the query do you give a description of the book sample you are giving or should you mention the other books in your package? Anything you can tell me about the picture book query would be appreciated
Good question. Just the one you're querying.
Would love to see a video on how to submit non-fiction picture books. Thank you!
Thank you! This was super duper interesting and helpful.
How do I go about things if I believe a specific visual aid is integral to the story, as in some sentences are vague and confusing without them.
Art notes! Short parenthetical descriptions that are usually right justified, and explain how you envision the art. Note: these should only be used when absolutely necessary and should leave the illustrator room to work.
A submission package? Are you saying I should query three or for more books all at once? Or query one book at a time and have the other books ready to go?
Query one and have others ready to go!
Thank you so much! More, more, more☺️
Thank you for this video, very helpful. After many webinars, turtorials, memberships to various organizations, critique groups, and revisions, I have five manuscripts ready to submit in a submission package. Does each MS have to have its own query letter? And, all five MSs wil be in the body of the email?
It doesn't hurt to have a query letter for every manuscript, in case you decide to query one or another to any particular agent.
Thank you! I have been following your videos and reviewing the books your agency has accepted for submissions. Your videos are extremely helpful.
Hthis may be a bit of a stupid question, but when they say 'maximum of three texts' what do they mean?!
Three different manuscripts
@@BookEndsLiterary thank you 😳
This is interesting, but this is why I choose to self publish. I write children's books with characters based on my very mixed family. If I sent them to be published without illustrations, ou can be sure they would put a white middle class face on my stories.
I’m glad that’s working for you, though it should be noted that you can submit the work with illustration notes for important things like that which aren’t evident in the text. Whichever works for you
@@BrittanyArtPoetry That's good to know. I heard that you weren't supposed to give them any instruction at all and to let them be the boss. If you show any sign of bossing them, they will reject you.
@@grandma.p it’s true that you won’t be in charge of the illustrations, so there is some risk, but illustration notes are a common practice, generally they are to convey important information that isn’t obvious from the text but is crucial to your story. If you want to traditionally publish, submit it and if you get an offer for representation ask these questions before you accept. You have the right to ask questions and if that agent isn’t for you, you have the right to turn them down before signing a contract, It’s up to you though.
@@BrittanyArtPoetry Good advice.. Thanks. The funny thing is, I have the story written but haven't had time to illustrate beause I'm taking care of my grandson more than 1/2 day and he's not old enough for me to teach him art. I'm going to think about going this route.
I don't know how I missed this. I'd heard that publishers didn't want illustrations with books, but they're my own, so this was very good info. "Full dummy" made me laugh. My question is, I have the "dummy" made, but I'd love to know the best website that shows the ideal finished copy page size, ideal number of pages, etc.
the dog said, "'wrote a picture book then took out the pictures, my memoir Thank You for Being at tenderbastard.com. my boy's books are there too."