Writing a Children's Book

Lesson 8: Polishing and Editing.

Setting Out and Pro Tips 1.

Setting out Your Manuscript

When you’re preparing your final draft, you should make sure it is properly set out. There are several ways of setting out manuscripts, but the one I am describing is acceptable to most publishers unless they specifically state that they require something different.

Use A4 paper.

Use double spacing.

Use Times New Roman in Size 12.

Use indented paragraphs.

Do not leave blank lines unless you are marking a scene break.

Begin each chapter on a new page.

Number each page.

In the header of each page, put the title (or a word from the title), plus your full name or surname.

If my name is “Alice Prentiss” and I have written a book called “The Dragon’s Cloud”, the header could look like this:

Dragon’s Cloud / Prentiss

Or like this

Dragon / Prentiss

Or like this

Dragon’s Cloud/ Alice Prentiss.

This, combined with the page numbering, helps keep the ms pages in order if (heaven forbid) two or three mss get mixed up.

On the cover page of your ms, put the title of your book, the approximate word count, your name (or pseudonym), your postal address and contact details. If you are using a pseudonym, your real name should appear as well.

THE DRAGON’S CLOUD

(35,000 words)

By Finn Feric, (real name Alice Prentiss).

OR

THE DRAGON’S CLOUD

(35,000 words)

By Alice Prentiss (writing as Finn Feric).

Most publishers don’t want you to staple your pages together. Some don’t like any kind of binding. Paper clips or bulldog clips or string are usually OK, and so is a folder or cardboard box.

Always enclose return postage.

Covering Letter

Keep your covering letter brief and professional.

Try to address it to a specific editor (you can find out his/her name by telephoning the company and asking). If you can’t find the name, or if there is an editorial team, address it to “the Children’s Book Editor”, Dear Sir/ Madam.

Introduce the book as a high concept.

Briefly sketch the anticipated readership.

Give any relevant details from your CV.

If you have had books published before, mention that. If you have won awards for writing, mention that. If you are a teacher or librarian or bookseller, that might be relevant to reinforce your interest in, and knowledge of, children and their books.

If your children or grandchildren or other relatives or writing group enjoyed your story, that isn’t deemed relevant.

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