The Big Picture, part 2: where we edit and submit a picture book for publication

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 In Season 3, Episode 3, Beth McMullen and Lisa Schmid, the co-hosts of Writers with Wrinkles, continue their Big Picture series. They delve into the process of writing and trying to sell a picture book, sharing their journey in real-time with listeners. The episode covers a variety of topics, including the challenges of the book publishing process, the importance of organization in querying, and practical advice on pitch preparation and manuscript submission.

 Key Highlights:

1. Revise. Revise. Revise: Lisa shares what work they’ve done to get the manuscript to where it’s as good as they can make it. 

 2. Querying Experience: Lisa shares her experiences with querying, emphasizing the need for organization and how untracked submissions can lead to awkward situations.

 3. Emotional Aspects of Publishing: Beth talks about the emotional side of waiting for feedback and the strategy of distancing oneself from the process.

 4. The Pitch for Cat's Rule: The hosts reveal the summary of their picture book, Cat's Rule, focusing on themes of friendship, acceptance, humor, and its appeal to both children and parents.

 5. Crafting a Pitch Email: Beth outlines the structure of a pitch email, including author backgrounds, market positioning, and adherence to submission guidelines.

 6. Research and Preparation: The episode stresses the importance of researching publishers, choosing appropriate comps (comparative titles), and understanding the market. Bitsy Kemper’s wonderful publishers list is discussed.

 7. Role of Illustrations in Picture Books: Lisa and Beth discuss how illustrations complement the text in picture books and the balance between text and art notes, and provide a trick for how to see the balance.

 8. Advice on Pitching and Querying: The co-hosts provide practical tips on preparing pitches and understanding the nuances of the query process.

 9. Collaboration and Motivation: The episode concludes with a lighthearted discussion about their collaborative dynamics and upcoming projects, including a website launch.

 

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