Think you’re ready to submit your children’s book manuscript? Not so fast. One of the biggest mistakes writers make is being too hasty about submitting their work. A children’s book manuscript that’s polished and in the proper format has a much better chance of grabbing an editor’s attention than a book package peppered with problems.
If you’ve already spent eons of time writing and preparing your masterpiece for kids, one last look won’t hurt – and may turn out to be a story saver. So before grabbing an envelope, go through the following checklist of finishing touches and formatting guidelines and make sure your manuscript is really ready to submit.
Is Your Children’s Book Manuscript Polished?
What many children’s book editors look for are those finishing touches that make a manuscript stand out. And when it comes to writing for kids, finishing touches can affect readers too. Here are some things to look for in your children’s book manuscript that will give it polish. (Note: Some items in the following checklist depend on whether the work is fiction or nonfiction.)
- A sense of order, including a beginning, middle, and end
- An introduction and conclusion
- An engaging opening; a hook for young readers
- Current, accurate, and fact-checked material
- No irrelevant information, unnecessary dialogue, or text that doesn’t add value
- A title that fits the story
- No spelling or grammatical errors
- An acceptable word count
- A list of resources or bibliography
- An accompanying cover letter introducing your book idea
- A writing sample or published clips, if required
Is Your Children’s Book Manuscript in the Proper Format?
Besides polishing your children’s book manuscript, making sure it's in the proper format before submitting it is key. Here’s what to look for:
Most children’s book manuscripts are double-spaced with one-inch margins. The first page contains the writer’s name and contact information as well as the manuscript’s word count. Whether the book submission is children’s fiction or nonfiction can also be noted.
The manuscript title is usually placed in capital letters about halfway down the first page, with the content to follow. Consecutive pages start at the top margin, with a header for your last name and book title (or partial title) on the left and page numbers on the right.
A quick word about fonts. Fancy fonts may be fun to use, but editors don’t like them. Stick with a basic, easy-to-read font, like Times New Roman or Arial, 12-point.
To ensure that any publisher-specific formatting rules are followed, be sure to double-check writer’s guidelines before submitting a children’s book manuscript. And always make certain the manuscript is packaged properly. For information on mailing a children’s book submission, click here.
Finally, verify the publisher’s contact information before submitting your children’s book manuscript. Is your submission addressed to the right book division? How about the appropriate editor? Is the contact information up-to-date? A phone call to the main receptionist of a publishing house may be necessary to confirm information.
With the finishing touches checked off and the formatting in good order, it really is time to submit your manuscript. What happens next is hard to predict, but one thing’s for certain: A children’s book manuscript that’s polished and properly formatted will have a much better chance of winning over an editor than one that’s submitted in haste.
Susie Yakowicz - Susie Yakowicz is a Minnesota freelance writer whose work has appeared in dozens of publications for children and adults.
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