How to use this Page

The final days are approaching until we start picture book submissions. Based on some of the questions and emails I've been getting, I can tell that people are starting to get nervous. To help reduce some of that stress, I've compiled a handy little checklist to go through before you hit the send button submitting your manuscript to us. Admittedly, this list is geared for this particular submission, but you can use it for just about any submissions (both online and off) that you make.

For a printable version you can check off yourself (that does not have my colorful commentary of each item), click here.

• Correct Editor/Agent Name and spelled correctly -- getting this wrong will get our backs up every time
  
• Correct Publishing House/Agency and spelled correctly -- ditto
  
• Correct Address/Email address -- or it might not get to us at all
  
• Formal salutation -- remember, this is a professional introduction
  
• Introductory paragraph providing context (why you are submitting, where you met editor, etc.) -- tell the truth, after all we don't really care that much, this just helps us jog our memories
  
• Pitch paragraph(s)
• Title of manuscript -- amazing the number of people that forget this
  
• Manuscript’s genre -- useful
  
• Age range for manuscript -- granted, we can tell when we read the manuscript, but this helps us in the beginning know whether or not its even something we are looking for and whether or not you know
  
• Summary of manuscript -- this is where you really sell us on the work
  
• Series paragraph (optional)
• Title of series -- a bad tentative title is better than nothing
  
• Projected number of books in series -- if you're working on an extended plot series (think Harry Potter) you should know, otherwise, the number you want to write
  
• Biography paragraph
• Publishing experience -- do not list every instance. Send a CV for that. Hit the relevant highlights here
  
• Relevant education
• Trade organization memberships (SCBWI, etc.)
• Thank you for allowing submission/Request to send manuscript if a query -- word politely, after all there's no point in alienating the editor/agent by demanding
  
• Signature -- remember to actually sign a physical letter (I forget all the time!)
  
• Your correct contact information
• Email -- if it's wrong I won't be able to reach you
  
• Phone -- ditto
  
• Website -- if you have one. If you don't, it's not necessary.
  
• Blog -- if you have one. If you don't, it's not necessary.
• Address -- optional in electronic submissions
  
• Proofread letter -- missing words in letters happen, but it can be annoying and make for strange sentences
  
• Spell-check -- computer should do it, but always double check
  
• Have someone else read & critique letter -- you will never find all of your own errors. This is very important to have someone who is honest with you do this
  
• Professionalism -- making sure it isn't too casual
  
• Coherence -- nerves can come out in writing leading to odd sentences (or sometimes a word is missing or its homonym was used)
  
• Interesting portrayal of pitch paragraph(s) -- did it interest your reader. If not, it probably won't interest me either.
  

• Formatted Properly -- seriously, folks do this right. It's such a little thing but so frustrating when wrong. And it makes the things very hard to read.
  
• If printed or attached as document:
• Double spaced
• 12 point font (Arial, Times)
• 1 inch margins
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