I have a manuscript about ready for me to work up a proposal. It’s another children’s book, and the largest hurdle, as always, will be image ideas. What amuses me some is how I have my husband read it through for theological concerns and then my oldest daughter for readability. 🙂 This time she had me add back a few words I’d crossed out! LOL Not all but some.
She’s a great comfort and resource to me. She’s not my targeted age group anymore, however, and I can hardly think of her as typical of her own age either. She’s . . . so smart, conversant in “Mary speak”, and such a good reader.
My oldest is nine-years-old and I feel like my “easy audience” of young children is not longer at my fingertips. 🙂 Ah, parenthood! Ah, growth for parent and child!
If you have any ideas or insights to help me determine early manuscript readers, let me know.
Wishing you well and a very merry continuation of the Christmas season!
Greetings.
I could read through your manuscript and offer ideas.
Thanks, MaryAnn!
What is your target age group?
It’s another picture book, probably for four and under.
Ah! Mine are all too old, too!
Congratulations on having another book almost ready to propose. That’s always exciting!
If by image ideas you mean illustrations/pictures, then you can relax a bit. Unless the illustrations are essential to telling the story (like when they are telling a secondary story also, contradicting the text, or making a very specific point that would likely not occur to the illustrator) most publishers don’t expect the author to give illustration ideas for every page (CPH is usually fine with it either way). In fact, I’ve heard from many, many agents and editors that they prefer for you to keep the art notes as minimal as possible. I have two manuscripts (one pubbed and one not) that are exceptions to this, but usually that’s the way of it.
Oh, and I agree–finding readers who will give the feedback you need in the way you can digest it is challenging indeed, especially for kids’ materials. Good luck and God bless!
Thanks and thanks for the tip, too, Jonathan! 🙂 Wishing you well, also!
I have two girls ages 3 and 5 who would probably be willing to offer feedback 🙂 Let me know!!
Woo hoo! Thanks for the offer! You’ll hear from me. 🙂