VPL Panel: Writing and Illustrating for Children – Question #2
- Were you at the CWILL BC Panel at the VPL on Writing and Illustrating for Children?
- VPL Panel: Writing for Children cont’d online – Question #1
- VPL Panel: Writing and Illustrating for Children – Question #2
- VPL Panel: Writing and Illustrating for Children – Question #3
- VPL Panel: Writing and Illustrating for Children – Question #4
QUESTION #2 (asked by Lena)
I am writing and illustrating a children’s book, using water colors. I
was wondering if you have any specific advice as to what to do or not
to do in order to get your water colors published? and how do you
submit them? a sample or all of them? and originals, digitals, or
color prints?
ANSWER #2: (answered by Crystal)
Different publishers will have different preferences, but the guidelines are the same no matter what medium you’re working in (pastels, oils, watercolours, ink, digital).
If you are submitting your artwork to be considered for an illustration job, most people are viewing portfolios online, so you really should have your artwork available digitally. Often, people mail in a postcard with some of their artwork featured, and then on the back that includes their website address, contact info etc.
If you’re planning to submit your picture book manuscript with illustrations to a publisher for publication, then you should prepare a package with whatever the publisher has requested in their submission guidelines. Usually I would recommend:
- a cover letter with a bit about your story and introducing yourself and your qualifications as an author/illustrator
- your complete manuscript
- and separately, colour reproductions of a couple (2-3) sample illustrations. NEVER submit your originals! In many publishing houses, if they haven’t requested your material it will be recycled without opening it. Also, you never know if it will get lost or damaged in the mail, so your originals should always stay with you if possible – at least during the submission process!
- mention in your cover letter that additional illustrations are available for review upon request, but if you are willing to consider a different illustrator for your manuscript be sure to state that in your cover letter. This will increase your chances of success.
- make sure that the format of your submission is consistant. If you’re submitting a printed manuscript, then your illustration samples should be printed too. If the publisher states that they’re fine with email submissions, then you can email both mansucript and attached illustration samples.
If you’re planning to self publishing your book and are wondering about what format you’ll need the illustrations in, the final format you’ll need your work in is usually a high resolution tiff (or sometimes jpg) depending on the printer’s guidelines. 300 ppi at final size is standard, but if there’s any chance you’ll need to blow your images up, they should be scanned at a higher resolution so that they won’t be fuzzy and pixelated if you increase their size. Be sure to check with your printer about their guidelines and requirements BEFORE you get too far into your project. You want to be sure about bleeds, image sizes/shapes etc. to avoid doing unnecessary fixing down the road.
***SPECIAL THANKS to Laura Hana, wedding photographer who was on hand to take pictures at the event. She has generously given her permission for us to use her photos in our VPL blogging adventure to help keep the spirit of the event alive!
