Comments on: Picture Book or Short Story?

By: Mary Ann Duke

Mary Ann Duke — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 22:18:17 +0000

I don’t get it. Why is maple syrup in Vermont too regional or too niche and not for a wider market? As an educator I think the entire world (or at least the U.S.) should want to read and know about other states and their products. If it’s a well-written picture book, why not?
I am from Florida. I know about alligators. I wrote a PB about them and was told by a publisher that it was “too regional.” Don’t children in New York want to know about the swampy, alligator poacher-infessted Glades of Florida?

By: Putting the Value in “Value-Add” | Kidlit Apps

Putting the Value in “Value-Add” | Kidlit Apps — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:48:49 +0000

[...] the picture book arena, I am always asking myself the $50,000 question. Does this need to be a full-color illustrated, expensive picture book? The investments and [...]

By: Your First Customer « Write Up My Life

Your First Customer « Write Up My Life — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:40:43 +0000

[...] goes into much more detail about this topic in her post, Picture Book or Short Story? That post is a good place to start if I’ve confused you more than helped [...]

By: A Picture Book is Worth MORE than 1000 Words « Write Up My Life

A Picture Book is Worth MORE than 1000 Words « Write Up My Life — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 23:14:38 +0000

[...] “dead” format. Mary Kole, an agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, devoted an entire post to the economics of producing picture books. Short version: it’s not [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:49:21 +0000

I’ve written what I believe is a picture book for pre-school and kindergarten which is a humorous look on loosing a tooth. I’ve laid it out for 29 pgs. of text (approx 950 words) and pictures including placement for double spreads. Besides my normal critiques I have also had a kindergarten teacher read it to let me know if it is appropriate and with enough context to appeal to that age range. Is there anything else I am missing or should consider before researching for a publisher?

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:57:31 +0000

My comment is for Joan… First of all, congrats on winning 1st place in the 2008 Cheerios contest. I’ve entered the 2010 contest. Wish me luck!

In re: to your comment about whether you should write a rhyming PB… I’ve written two adorable rhyming PB, and they never get published. I recently delved into the meter issue and realized why they probably didn’t get published. I can read the same sentence 10 times and get a different meter count five times. If meter is hard for you, maybe you won’t want to try your hand at rhyming just yet. My stories rhyme, but I’m not sure the meter is correct.

Good luck! I’m going to go find your 2008 winning entry now.

Lori

By: julia

julia — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:03:12 +0000

Very interesting post. I definitely don’t think that what I’ve done is worth $50,000. I’m sure it would be considered too “regional” as well. The more I learn about the way things work in publishing the more frustrated I get. It doesn’t seem like enough to have a great idea and product.

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:01:17 +0000

Illustrator usually gets 60 percent and author 40 percent, I believe, when it comes to picture books. Picture books cost a lot because they’re usually hard cover and four color, and you need art for every page. It has to be really good (great) and it has to be exactly what they’re looking for. Magination Press spent three months reviewing my PB ms, but in the end, the editorial committee declined it because even though they liked the humorous story, it didn’t have enough psychological depth for what they publish for kids. It just wasn’t their thing.

By: christine tripp

christine tripp — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:07 +0000

It’s certainly not hard to believe that PB start up costs (prior to print etc) would come to at least $50k. An illustrators advance could easily be over the $10K mark, and the Author? not sure what a typical advance for an Author would be. Of course, if they are both well known and published, I am sure the advances would be much, much higher. (then there is all the in-house overhead. So, it would certainly add up fast.
I’m wondering if this is all translating to publishers taking on even fewer first time Authors and Illustrators then even before Mary?
Are Publishers tending to stick with and even approach name Authors/Illustrators to work up a pic book?
I could be imagining this but it seems there are more “fabricated” pic books on the store shelves then ever before. I’m getting a sense that Editors are approaching Authors or more so even the Illustrators, to do a pic book, as opposed to taking on a submitted pic book?
As for new Pic Book ideas with universal appeal, or at least new twists on an old idea… rats, “Fancy Nancy” has already been done (to death:) I guess I will have to go back to the drawing board!

By: Jean Hall

Jean Hall — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:50:36 +0000

Very interesting.

Is this a $50,000 story? Yikes! Is anything I’ve written worth a $50,000 investment?

Jean