Frequently Asked Questions
From the websites of Maurie J. Manning and Interactivebooks

  1. What advice would you give to an new children's book illustrator?
  2. I wrote a great story: how do I find an illustrator?
  3. So where do I send my story to get published?
  4. What is great/awful about being an illustrator today?
  5. I've just written my first children's book. I can't draw. How do I find an artist to illustrate my book?
  6. But I have specific ideas on how I want Penelope Pony to look. How will I be able to direct the artist?
  7. But, WHY can't I find my own artist?
  8. I am an artist who has written a book. Can I send my illustrations in with my manuscript?
  9. What is a picture book dummy?
  10. I'm a writer, not an illustrator. Do I need a dummy?
  11. I'm an illustrator, but don't feel confident in my writing skills. Should I do a dummy?
  12. Speaking of copyright, how do I copyright my work so no one steals my idea?
  13. I'm a writer with a picture book manuscript. What should my submission package include?
  14. I'm an illustrator, but don't feel confident in my writing skills. Should I do a dummy?
  15. How long until I hear from the publisher?
  16. What is in the future for illustration?
1. What advice would you give to a new children's book illustrator?
I would say start with the books themselves! Go to the library or bookstore and look at what is out there. Study the award winning books and try to learn why they are the best. Become familiar with the publishers. Take note of who publishes what kind of books. Become familiar with the reference books of the trade. (How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books, Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market, etc.) Learn that research is the key to success. And lastly, but most importantly, keep drawing and don't give up!top
2. I wrote a great story: how do I find an illustrator?
Unless you plan to self publish your story, there's really no need to look for an illustrator. In fact it could hurt your chances! Most publishers prefer to work with their own stable of talent. They would much rather pair up a proven illustrator with a first time writer to give a book name recognition. Editors also prefer to choose illustrators based on their style of artwork. They match up a particular style of art with what fits the mood of the story. top
3. So where do I send my story to get published?
First of all, recognize that publishing a book is a business. In order to succeed in any business you must be knowledgeable about that business and adopt their professional practices and procedures. Publishing houses receive thousands of stories each week, yet most sit in slush piles or get returned without being read. Why? Lack of research! Of course it starts with your story. Before even considering where to send your story make sure it is worthy of the time and effort it takes to submit to publishers. I suggest taking writing classes or joining a critique group of some kind. Don't rely on your relatives or close friends to judge your work - if you want to succeed you have to accept criticism and send an exceptional story. Some things to think about? Over 5000 children's books are published in the United States each year. What makes your story different from what is out there? Has it been done before? Do we really need more talking animals or rhyming books? I challenge you to be different. Be original.top
4. What is great/awful about being an illustrator today?
Hopefully, if you are a working illustrator, you love drawing and thus you enjoy your work. You gain a great sense of satisfaction seeing your work published, knowing that other people are viewing it. It's also very rewarding to solve problems in a creative way. Not everyone posses that talent. (A talent like any other that requires hard work and practice if you hope to improve.) The down sides to being an illustrator can be many. It's a tough field to break into. You have to start out small and work your way up, which could take years. It's not a field for the easily discouraged. If you want to think in practical terms, it's very hard to survive as a freelance artist. Succeeding has just as much to do with marketing yourself and business savvy as it does with your ability to draw. Unless you have an agent, you are responsible for selling yourself to new clients. This in itself can be a full time job. Remember that after submitting art samples to prospective clients, interviewing with art directors, doing pro bono work just to get published, and working your second job that actually pays the bills, you still haven't made any money from your art and you still have to wade through the rejection slips hoping to find a paying assignment. Being a freelance artist also means owning your own business. Working independently can be appealing but you are also responsible for book keeping, taxes and paying your own insurance. My last comment on the subject is this: Wanting to be an illustrator is an admirable ambition, but succeeding at it takes persistence and a strong work ethic. top
5. I've just written my first children's book. I can't draw. How do I find an artist to illustrate my book?
Answer: You don't. After a publisher accepts your manuscript, THEY find, hire and pay an illustrator. top
6. But I have specific ideas on how I want Penelope Pony to look. How will I be able to direct the artist?
You will not be able to direct the artist. In a trade picture book, the publisher picks an artist they have faith in; an illustrator they feel will add a complimentary creative voice to your text. After you have had several books published you may be able to suggest an illustrator. top
7. But, WHY can't I find my own artist?
You can if you self-publish - and sometimes if you work with a very small, independent press. But established publishing houses like to pair their own writer/artist teams. For instance, if this is your first book and you haven't yet made a "name" as an author, a publisher would probably choose an illustrator for your book who DOES have a name. What it all comes down to is, the reason a publisher chooses to accept your book is because they believe it will make them money. (Most first books do not even earn back their advances.)top
8. I am an artist who has written a book. Can I send my illustrations in with my manuscript?
Yes. Most publishers are open to seeing picture book dummies by illustrator/writers.top
9. What is a picture book dummy?
A picture book dummy is a mockup of the finished book. (Of course, this is your chance to impress the editor and get a great portfolio piece. Don't hold back on your book-crafting skills!) It should be done at about the size you envision the finished book. It can be black and white or color sketches and must be the correct number of pages. Most picture books are 32 pages including front matter (title page, copyright and publishing information.) You should paste or type the text onto the pages. A publisher will use this dummy to see how well your book flows. There are many helpful books on creating picture books that include sections on making picture book dummies. My favorite is Uri Shulevitz's "Writing with Pictures."top
10. I'm a writer, not an illustrator. Do I need a dummy?
A writer should NOT include one in their submission to the publisher, however I often recommend a writer make a very rough dummy for their own information. It's a good way to see if your story has enough "tooth" for a 32-page picture book. If the text seems too light for a book, perhaps you should consider submitting it to a magazine as a story instead.top
11. I'm an illustrator, but don't feel confident in my writing skills. Should I do a dummy?
If you wish to illustrate other people's books, you should send sample packages to art directors instead of the editor. Do not send originals. Send 5-10 samples of your best work. Most art directors like to see examples of how you would carry a character consistently through several scenes. A child should not look six years old on one page and twelve on the next. Some art directors suggest making a dummy of an old folk or fairy tale. (Do not use a copyrighted work.)top
12. Speaking of copyright, how do I copyright my work so no one steals my idea?
First of all, ideas may not be copyrighted, but writer or artist's original work is automatically copyrighted on creation - no lawyer, no paperwork. Secondly, no reputable publisher would steal your work. Believe me, in their stacks of manuscripts waiting to be read, your idea is represented a dozen times. You just should hope you have the most original and timely take on the idea! If you want to copyright your work you can always mail the manuscript to yourself and remember not to open it when you get it back. The postage will have a date so you can prove your case incase your work is stolen. You can also send it to the copyright office and get it copyrighted for a fee.top
13. I'm a writer with a picture book manuscript. What should my submission package include?
If the publisher accepts unsolicited manuscripts you will need a brief cover letter, the manuscript and a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for the return of your manuscript if it is not accepted. You may also include a self-addressed stamped postcard requesting notification that the publisher has received your package. If the publisher accepts queries only, you will need to send a letter with a description of your story and a SASE. Make sure you have done your research. Check the Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market or a similar publication so you know which publisher and which editor there to send to.top
14. I'm an illustrator/writer with a picture book manuscript. What should my submission package include?
If the publisher accepts unsolicited manuscripts you will need a brief cover letter, the manuscript, a copy of your dummy, one or two color copies of sample finished pages and a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for the return of your material if it is not accepted. You may also include a self-addressed stamped postcard requesting notification that the publisher has received your package. If the publisher accepts queries only, you will need to send a letter with a description of your story and a SASE. Make sure you have done your research. Check the Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market or a similar publication so you know which publisher and which editor there to send to.top
15. How long until I hear from the publisher?
Generally 3-6 months. If you haven't heard from them by then, it's okay to give them a call or send a note to ask if they received your manuscript. The best thing to do while waiting is to try to forget about the manuscript under consideration and work on your next project.top
16. What is in the future for illustration?
Coming from a fine arts back ground, I'd like to think there will always be a need for a certain amount of traditional illustration, however the computer has proven to be a major creative tool in the hands of a trained artist. Like any drawing tool it requires practice before you feel confident enough to use it, but after that initial fear is conquered, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. It wouldn't hurt to be well rounded in your education and art training. One nice thing about art and design is that everyone has different tastes so there will always be an audience for your work. For every person who loves mega multimedia, mind blowing graphics, there is another person who prefers an old fashioned paper book with simple line drawings.top

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This page is from the websites of Maurie J. Manning and Interactivebooks