Thanks for these James and Jessica! Would love it if you could talk about author notes for diverse books. What you expect to see and how much detail should be included
This is a great question, and I'd love more details on what you mean here? I'm a fan of art notes, and I think it's better to be explicit in how you envision the books. PBs are a visual art form, so if something visual is important to your readers understanding of the book in manuscript stages, I say share it. It could always be removed or streamlined. But at least you got your point across. (Of course, I wouldn't make them paragraphs long! Be as concise as you can)
As usual, great video! I wonder if you could cover the various types of picture books that are viable right now. I understand that James only takes on 300-800 word style picture books, but as I research the market, the term picture book has many different interpretations and forms. Thanks in advance if you have time to address this confusing issue!
Yes, this would be helpful! Libraries, teachers and publishers may also have slightly different definitions of genres (fiction categories like middle grade vs. chapter book vs. easy readers; expository, non-fiction, narrative non-fiction, informational fiction), so this would be great for clarification purposes.
Thank you. Should I submit package based on reading level, age appropriate level, subject of interest? I have 40 completed that are a wide range. As a former school teacher, I understand the importance of a varied reading level in each classroom. Yet some lower reading level books are definitely written for preschool/thru first grade levels. Does the agency decide or publisher? Some books are topic driven or character driven. Should they be grouped by topic driven? Thank you
Super informative video, thanks! Question: If I have a query pending with one agent at Bookends, would it be okay to query another agent with a different manuscript? Thanks for your time!
I have the manuscript written for a picture book and what I have imagined for the illustrations is what gives the text humor, but I'm not an illustrator. How do I communicate that message in my query?
Although after realizing this podcast has passed it's due date, I am hoping one of you continue to browse through the comments. My question is this....As an author/illustrator having completed two books in their entirety with both verse & hand-painted illustrations, do I then have to create a dummy format to submit? Is it possible to submit a finished product either in examples, with dialogue included, or in its entirety? Thank you...
Hi! If you have the full book, you can submit that the same way you would submit a dummy! Dummies are just a way to give an idea of what the book would look like. However, it's important to note that part of the process of preparing a book for submission with an agent is editing the book with your agent, and that can also mean taking feedback on the art. So there's a chance an agent who signs you might want to change some of your pages after the fact, which is why dummies are helpful: they help lay out potential compositions and show off the general style of the book in a more editable/sketchy fashion so that you aren't spending time finishing illustrations that might need to be changed down the line.
@@BookEndsLiterary Thank you so very much for your reply. I understand changes may be necessary & am open to an agent's professional direction regarding the quality of the piece. Thank you again....:)
Thank you James and Jessica for this video! Two questions please: 1) Some agents guidelines state that they recommend two manuscripts to be submitted when you query them. Is there a standard query letter format for multiple manuscript submissions? Do I need to write blurbs for both manuscripts along with comp titles? 2) When agents request for more manuscripts, do we need to write a query letter or blurb for each one? Or just email as attachments? Thank you!
Hmm, it may depend on the agent requesting. BookEnds agents only ask for one manuscript at a time, so it's hard to say what others might want. It might even be worth directly asking the agent whether they want two separate query letters or one, and whether they want two synopses or just one of them.
This is the first I have heard of submitting a PB package rather than querying an individual story. Honesty, I like this idea. Is this becoming the norm?
Hi James! Can you clarify please for me, If I am querying a picture book as author/illustrator, Am I only submitting one manuscript and picture book dummy and have others ready if you request or am I sending the 3-4 PB dummies in the first query?
Another question... If an author signs with an agent who is willing to sell certain manuscripts but not others, is it okay to submit those "unliked" manuscripts on your own? If you believe in them?
Hi, I have a question. In this video, James explains that a picture book submission package is 3-4 books. Towards the last quarter of the video, James says that "your query should be focused on only ONE book," and that you can put an additional note saying that you have more manuscripts available upon request. Does this mean that the first picture book submission does not include a package of 3-4 books, only one book? Or does it mean that you send the package of 3-4 picture books in your submission, but only QUERY directly about ONE of those 4 books?
I believe that the standard is a submission of one book, and having other manuscripts ready so if an agent reaches back they know you'll be a good investment for them!
This has me a little worried. As a picturebook author, how many picture books am I supposed to be writing a month/week? You guys mentioned that the authors write faster and more, are they cranking out like 20 books a month and submitting all those to the agents and then the agents concentrating on 4-5 of them???? 😳
There is an organization, www.12x12challenge.com, that encourages members to write 1 picture book a month for a year, which is do-able but -- as the name suggests -- a challenge.
I only usually have 2 I'm working on at a time, although I might have more I've put aside. I think you have to work on your own schedule and not pressure yourself to churn out manuscripts by the numbers because those won't be your best work. PBs may be easier to finish because they're short but they can still take as long to revise and perfect. I have PB manuscripts I've been working on for several years. I think he's saying to not query until you have a few of them ready to go, but that doesn't necessarily mean you need to be a Picture Book factory.
Hi, I tend to take a long time to work and perfect my picture books so at any given time, I might have maybe 2 I might be working on, plus I'm also in the process of writing two middle grade novels. If one is an experienced/established picture book author (I have published 6 picture books with a new one releasing in December 2020 from Charlesbridge Publishing), would I still need 2 - 3 PB manuscripts in my submission package? Or can I submit one and point to my canon of published works?
@@lolalee2301 Yes, I did! Thanks for the kind words, Lola, but James did turn me down on a picture book I sent him. No matter how many books you've published, it still comes down to whether the one you sent is the right fit for them.
Dear Jessica and James... I just recently found your videos and must say I'm finding them very helpful as well as funny. James, you had me at Frida Kahlo. ;) Just a quick question. When submitting a picture book package, can we lump all the titles, hooks together in 1 Query? If this is acceptable, then if I am going the writer/illustrator route, should I be sending the dummies in one big- fat- swoosh? Or, wait to see if you are even interested and only send along my on-line portfolio? Sorry... that was 3 questions and not so quick. Help!! I'm a newbie.
Thanks. I had wondered about “do you need to love every story in the package”
Great info as always. Thanks! Different package = another chance to submit = YAY!
Thanks for these James and Jessica! Would love it if you could talk about author notes for diverse books. What you expect to see and how much detail should be included
This is a great question, and I'd love more details on what you mean here?
I'm a fan of art notes, and I think it's better to be explicit in how you envision the books. PBs are a visual art form, so if something visual is important to your readers understanding of the book in manuscript stages, I say share it. It could always be removed or streamlined. But at least you got your point across.
(Of course, I wouldn't make them paragraphs long! Be as concise as you can)
Thanks for the videos. It’s really nice to hear the agents’ side of things. I can really use these tips!
As usual, great video! I wonder if you could cover the various types of picture books that are viable right now. I understand that James only takes on 300-800 word style picture books, but as I research the market, the term picture book has many different interpretations and forms. Thanks in advance if you have time to address this confusing issue!
Yes, this would be helpful! Libraries, teachers and publishers may also have slightly different definitions of genres (fiction categories like middle grade vs. chapter book vs. easy readers; expository, non-fiction, narrative non-fiction, informational fiction), so this would be great for clarification purposes.
Thank you. Should I submit package based on reading level, age appropriate level, subject of interest? I have 40 completed that are a wide range. As a former school teacher, I understand the importance of a varied reading level in each classroom. Yet some lower reading level books are definitely written for preschool/thru first grade levels. Does the agency decide or publisher? Some books are topic driven or character driven. Should they be grouped by topic driven? Thank you
Super informative video, thanks! Question: If I have a query pending with one agent at Bookends, would it be okay to query another agent with a different manuscript? Thanks for your time!
I have the manuscript written for a picture book and what I have imagined for the illustrations is what gives the text humor, but I'm not an illustrator. How do I communicate that message in my query?
Although after realizing this podcast has passed it's due date, I am hoping one of you continue to browse through the comments.
My question is this....As an author/illustrator having completed two books in their entirety with both verse & hand-painted illustrations, do I then have to create a dummy format to submit? Is it possible to submit a finished product either in examples, with dialogue included, or in its entirety? Thank you...
Hi! If you have the full book, you can submit that the same way you would submit a dummy! Dummies are just a way to give an idea of what the book would look like. However, it's important to note that part of the process of preparing a book for submission with an agent is editing the book with your agent, and that can also mean taking feedback on the art. So there's a chance an agent who signs you might want to change some of your pages after the fact, which is why dummies are helpful: they help lay out potential compositions and show off the general style of the book in a more editable/sketchy fashion so that you aren't spending time finishing illustrations that might need to be changed down the line.
@@BookEndsLiterary Thank you so very much for your reply. I understand changes may be necessary & am open to an agent's professional direction regarding the quality of the piece. Thank you again....:)
Thank you James and Jessica for this video! Two questions please: 1) Some agents guidelines state that they recommend two manuscripts to be submitted when you query them. Is there a standard query letter format for multiple manuscript submissions? Do I need to write blurbs for both manuscripts along with comp titles? 2) When agents request for more manuscripts, do we need to write a query letter or blurb for each one? Or just email as attachments? Thank you!
Hmm, it may depend on the agent requesting. BookEnds agents only ask for one manuscript at a time, so it's hard to say what others might want. It might even be worth directly asking the agent whether they want two separate query letters or one, and whether they want two synopses or just one of them.
These videos are so helpful! Thank you. I do have a question: If an author has published outside of kid lit, would it be better to adopt a pseudonym?
This is the first I have heard of submitting a PB package rather than querying an individual story. Honesty, I like this idea. Is this becoming the norm?
I am doing a series on one of my characters and was wondering if James accepted chapter books with illustrations.
Hi James! Can you clarify please for me, If I am querying a picture book as author/illustrator, Am I only submitting one manuscript and picture book dummy and have others ready if you request or am I sending the 3-4 PB dummies in the first query?
Another question... If an author signs with an agent who is willing to sell certain manuscripts but not others, is it okay to submit those "unliked" manuscripts on your own? If you believe in them?
Hi, I have a question. In this video, James explains that a picture book submission package is 3-4 books. Towards the last quarter of the video, James says that "your query should be focused on only ONE book," and that you can put an additional note saying that you have more manuscripts available upon request. Does this mean that the first picture book submission does not include a package of 3-4 books, only one book? Or does it mean that you send the package of 3-4 picture books in your submission, but only QUERY directly about ONE of those 4 books?
I have the same question!
I believe that the standard is a submission of one book, and having other manuscripts ready so if an agent reaches back they know you'll be a good investment for them!
If you have modified a previously submitted manuscript, is it okay to include as part of a submission package?
This has me a little worried. As a picturebook author, how many picture books am I supposed to be writing a month/week? You guys mentioned that the authors write faster and more, are they cranking out like 20 books a month and submitting all those to the agents and then the agents concentrating on 4-5 of them????
😳
There is an organization, www.12x12challenge.com, that encourages members to write 1 picture book a month for a year, which is do-able but -- as the name suggests -- a challenge.
@@andynordvall626 ahhh. Thanks. I'll look into it. :)
I only usually have 2 I'm working on at a time, although I might have more I've put aside. I think you have to work on your own schedule and not pressure yourself to churn out manuscripts by the numbers because those won't be your best work. PBs may be easier to finish because they're short but they can still take as long to revise and perfect. I have PB manuscripts I've been working on for several years. I think he's saying to not query until you have a few of them ready to go, but that doesn't necessarily mean you need to be a Picture Book factory.
Hi, I tend to take a long time to work and perfect my picture books so at any given time, I might have maybe 2 I might be working on, plus I'm also in the process of writing two middle grade novels. If one is an experienced/established picture book author (I have published 6 picture books with a new one releasing in December 2020 from Charlesbridge Publishing), would I still need 2 - 3 PB manuscripts in my submission package? Or can I submit one and point to my canon of published works?
I'd say anyone would be lucky to have you! Did you do Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas?
@@lolalee2301 Yes, I did! Thanks for the kind words, Lola, but James did turn me down on a picture book I sent him. No matter how many books you've published, it still comes down to whether the one you sent is the right fit for them.
Dear Jessica and James... I just recently found your videos and must say I'm finding them very helpful as well as funny.
James, you had me at Frida Kahlo. ;) Just a quick question. When submitting a picture book package, can we lump all the titles, hooks together in 1 Query? If this is acceptable, then if I am going the writer/illustrator route, should I be sending the dummies in one big- fat- swoosh? Or, wait to see if you are even interested and only send along my on-line portfolio? Sorry... that was 3 questions and not so quick. Help!! I'm a newbie.
Hello! Only include one book in your query blurb. And only send one dummy, unless you're asked for more. Good luck!
Just in case if I send the whole story what if the publisher steals the idea of my books?😢
I noticed a lot of pic books illustrations looks like kids drawings, is this a trend? is it a growing need by target market?