![]() A proposal for a novel may include anywhere from three to six chapters and a synopsis of the remainder of the book. ![]() Some publishers will consider a non-fiction proposal instead of the whole book. It consists of a few chapters or spreads and an outline of the rest of the book. The publishers and agents will then decide if they want to read the rest of your book.Ī: A proposal is a way of trying to get a contract without writing the whole book. Many publishers and agents prefer a chapter or two with a query letter as well. You should also include your credentials. Include the title and type of manuscript, the number of pages and a short, compelling description. Think of a query letter as a sales pitch. Agents usually do want query letters to see if they’re interested in reading the entire manuscript. They want you to send the novel or non-fiction book (or proposal), period. Other publishers are not interested in advance queries at all. Publishers do not want a shopping list of your other manuscripts–just choose one (two at most) and send it.Ī: Some publishers want advance queries about novels or non-fiction, but rarely about picture books. Introduce yourself, mention other things you’ve published or a few appropriate credentials (NOT a resume), include the title of the manuscript you’re submitting and, if you wish, a very brief description (“a middle-grade novel about a boy with a problematic nose”) and any special information (“an interactive non-fiction work that could include gatefolds and scratch-and-sniff panels”). A scene that worries you might be met without comment, while something you perceive as totally innocent can draw an adverse reaction.Ī: Keep it simple. Bear in mind that the response is not always something you can expect. Older YA novels are generally more appropriate for sophisticated scenes. But if a scene is true to your story and necessary, put it in. Q: What if my story needs a scene about sex, death, etc.?Ī: Don’t throw anything in just to flout standards or to shock the reader. If you can write brilliant verse, you’ve got a chance. The truth is that good rhyme is extremely hard to write. ![]() Q: Should I write my picture book in rhyme?Ī: It often seems to writers that children love rhyme–and publishers don’t. As long as the difficult words can be understood in context or through other clues, there is no reason not to challenge the reader a bit. One of the best ways for children to learn new words is by reading them. Q: Is there a good vocabulary list for beginning readers?Ī: Some writers and editors think the concept of restricted vocabulary is abominable and most trade publishers do not require a fixed vocabulary. There is NEVER a need for you to hire one. If a publisher accepts your manuscript, your editor will choose the illustrator. ![]() A few rare folks have done this and succeeded, but most have not. In general, the industry believes that only a rank amateur submits someone else’s art with a picture-book manuscript. Q: Should I send illustrations with my manuscript?Ī: Not unless you are a professional artist. If you have questions about specific series of books, do some research–read the books, check the catalogues, contact the publisher, etc. The typical range is 35-65 pages for a chapter book, 45-90 for a low-middle-grade, 90-120 for a middle-grade, 150-250 for a young, young adult, but these are just averages. A book can be shorter than Sarah, Plain and Tall, or longer than Hitty, Her First Hundred Years. Granted, it might be a bit tougher to sell a story that is especially long or short, but it is even tougher, if not impossible, to sell a book that has been padded or chopped for the sake of hitting a preselected length. Q: How long is a middle-grade or young adult novel?Ī: As long as it needs to be–mostly. Each page should be a “scene.” This is a useful exercise because it shows you whether or not the text has drama and is illustratable. Leaving space for titles, copyright, etc., your manuscript should break naturally into 28 to 30 pages, or 14-15 “spreads.” Some publishers appreciate authors “dummying” their manuscript–breaking the text into these spreads. A key issue is the fact that picture books are 32 pages (storybooks, which are often fairy or folk tales, are sometimes 48 pages). More important is whether or not your book READS like a picture book–succinct, musical, pictorial. Books range from several words to several thousand (compare Goodnight Moon to The Polar Express). A: The number of words is not the crucial issue.
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