PICTURE BOOK MANUSCRIPT & PORTFOLIO

SERVICES

Do you have  story you need help with?

Are you preparing a manuscript to send to a publisher?


Christina offers a picture book manuscript assessment service, helping you to  pull your story together when you have hit a wall or feel it needs a professional eye prior to sending to a publisher.
It is said that writing a picture book is the equivalent of writing War and Peace in five hundred words. Never has a truer word been spoken. The art of telling a good story in very few words is not as easy as it sounds.
Manuscript Assessment
1 x 1000 words or less MS: $75
With written notes: $100
with illustrations: $110
2 x 1000 words or less MS: $130
With written notes: $180
Christina will read your work and consider options and discussion points (this will take up to six weeks depending on the wait list). You will be contacted  to set up a Zoom meeting (or other suitable online platform) to have a one hour, face to face session online to brainstorm and work through your story.

Getting help with your story:

You have written a picture book. Well done. So many talk about writing and never get around to it. You have taken the first brave step. 

Perhaps you have shared it with your partner, parents, children or grandchildren. They love it so you want to send it off in a nice package to a publisher and with any luck your new fortune will roll in.

Here's the bad news. It doesn't quite work like that. I don't want to discourage you, you are heading in the right direction but  sadly when we  read our clever words to those  who love us  they  love it as well. This doesn't mean it's bad or there isn't hope, it means it is time for
professional help.

Before you rush with your heart in a large envelope and kiss it goodbye at the post box it pays to have it critiqued by an experienced writer or assessor. Christina is available for constructive critiques of your work.

Hints & Tips before you send:

  • Please, be aware that rhyming stories are very hard to write properly, read it out aloud first, get someone else to read it to you. Very few people can manage to write well in rhyme & few publishers will publish them.
  • Publishers are not interested in stories of pets or loved ones that have died, family celebrations etc., unless they have a very unique and new approach to how they are written. As sad or happy as these event are, they get hundreds of manuscripts about these topics and few ever make it to publication. How can you make yours unique and universally appealing?
  • Consider whether your story has universal appeal or is it just suitable for your family and friends.
  • Christina will assess picture book manuscripts under 1000 words. If possible, try to edit your own work to less than this (depending on the style of picture book) as the average picture book text is around 500 or less words. (Pretending you have to pay one dollar per word you send to a publisher helps!)
  • Check your spelling and punctuation thoroughly. Christina will pick up editing issues but this is not a corrective editing service.
  • Try to avoid using visual words. These are descriptions that will be shown in the illustration, for example, colours or actions. If important, write them as an illustration note.
  • Every word needs to be powerful and have purpose. If it doesn't change or empower the story, remove it.
  • Don't begin with 'once upon a time', it was used once upon a time, but not anymore.

How does it work?:

If your question is not answered below, please contact Christina directly.

How do I send my manuscript?
Email your manuscript through when you make your enquiry. That way Christina can check that it is ready to be assessed and you have met the guidelines. All manuscripts will need to be in an editable format and preferably no less that 12point regular style font and double spaced. No hard copies can be accepted.

How long will it take?
Christina will endeavor to assess your manuscript as soon as possible. The time frame will depend on how many manuscripts she has ahead of yours and her own deadline schedule. It should not take longer than six weeks. Christina will communicate with you if the time frame will be longer when you enquire.

Can you recommend me to a publisher?
Sorry, no. This service is for assessments only. There are agencies that deal with  recommendations. Recommendations do not guarantee publication. Many publishers are happy to accept unsolicited work.

What do I do once I have had my work critiqued?
Keep working at it. While you are waiting for your assessment, write another story. Often, putting your work away for a while and working on something else helps you see your work with a fresh eye. Most publishers say they can tell when work is freshly written or allowed to mature in the drawer for a while, they prefer
the latter.

How do I pay? 
Christina will send an invoice with direct debit details when you send  your manuscript. Once you have paid she will begin work on your masterpiece.

What do I get?       
Christina will discuss her notes, ideas, thoughts, suggestions and correction examples for you to consider and use as you edit and re-write your work, via a one hour on-line face to face session.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND SHORT STORIES
OR NOVELS.
PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS AN ASSESSMENT SERVICE AND NOT AN EDITING  SERVICE. EDITING SUGGESTIONS WILL BE MADE BUT SPECIFIC CORRECTIVE EDITING IS
NOT INCLUDED.

CHRISTINA BOOTH
AUTHOR