How To Submit A Picture Book for Publication

So, you have a story you think would make a great picture book. You're an illustrator, too . . . or not. Either way, you have no idea how to submit your picture book to a publisher. Okay, you know where the post office is, - you just can't figure out in what form to send the project. There is an industry standard. It's called a dummy. Even if you aren't an illustrator and you're submitting text only, a manuscript might read better in dummy form. I’m not talking about you putting in stick figures or do any drawing. Just place the text on the pages you feel it belongs. This can help enormously during the writing process. Suddenly the whole story will flow differently. My first editor told me it sometimes helps her evaluate a picture book manuscript because it can slow her down when she's reading it – that’s a good thing! They don't necessarily expect it from a writer, but it can really help.