Saturday, November 10, 2007

The Illustrated Manuscript, though not Illustrated with Examples

I've just stumbled on to your blog and I'm really enjoying it. Thank you. I have a question: What does an illustrated children's book manuscript actually look like? I'm trying to picture it, but it's hard considering there aren't yet illustrations.

If you mean a manuscript that is meant to be illustrated by someone other than the author, it looks like a manuscript. It's up to the editor reading it to picture what would be going on in the art.

If you mean one of the manuscripts I get that's already illustrated, that varies a great deal. Simple pencil sketches, full-color art samples (photocopies, one hopes), the occasional manuscript with illustrations borrowed from someone else's book (instant reject) ....
Unless the author is a professional artist, including art of any kind is often a bad idea. See my previous post "Stick Figure Theater."
Is it possible to view actual manuscript submissions (strong ones vs. poor submissions)?

Is it possible for me to post submissions I get at work on my personal blog? Hell no. Those people sent their manuscripts to a publisher, who can be relied upon not to use their intellectual property in any way they do not explicitly agree to.

5 comments:

Chris Eldin said...

I posted a question on the SCBWI boards about whether people think children's book writers are behind the times (I specifically asked about blogging).

Judy Mammay posted your site, and I am so happy to find it. Yours is the first blog I've seen dedicated solely to children's book writers.

Thanks!!!!! :-)

P.S. I'm having an "Author's Weekend" on my blog, if you'd like to stop by. Since most of my blog links are with writers in other genres, that's who will be there. But Mary Cunningham was there yesterday. Today-Patricia Wood. Tomorrow-John Elder Robison.

Anonymous said...

Hey, Church Lady - we really have to stop meeting like this, it's starting to become unseemly.

I also found this in Judy's post on the SCBWI boards, and it took me about 20 seconds of reading to bookmark it. (actually, half of that, but the one is busted on my keyboard, and I'm sick of going and digging for one to copy/paste.

Anyway, thanks for a great site, packed with information. And now back to read the rest.

Better hide your wine when CL is in the room though... (just kidding :^D )

Wendie O said...

This is the first children's book writer's blog you found? (actually it's an editor's blog, but...)

If you-all can't find children's book writers who blog, all you have to do is go to www.asuen.com
then click on the Blog Cenral button and there you are -- hundreds of blogs from children's book writers, illustrators editors, agents, and book reviewers -- including this wonderful blog.

The only bookmark I need is her site. I don't need anything else.

-wendieO

Anastasia Suen said...

Yes, this is a GREAT blog! I have it on the Agents and Editors page at Blog Central.

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