Formatting Picture Books

When you're ready to send your picture book out on submission, using the correct format is important. There are standards you need to follow, although things can vary a bit. Here's how I format mine:

• Standard 8 1/2 x 11" paper size
• Set margins to 1 to 1 1/2 inches
• Times New Roman 12 point font
• Black ink only

Single Space for:

• Header - 1st page, left:

Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone number
Email address

•  Header - 1st page, right

Word count: (enter number)

• Drop down 14 spaces (you  generally want do be about halfway down the page)
• Enter Title
• Drop down two spaces and put by (so there is one space between Title and by)
• Drop down another two spaces and put your name
• Drop down four spaces

Switch to double spacing

• Begin manuscript

You want your manuscript in paragraph form. Don't break it up into published book pages as you see them. Agents and Editors who know picture books have a keen eye for page turns and illustratable images.

Header for the rest of the manuscript pages (use the option for different first page when formatting your header)

• Left - In Italics Last Name/Manuscript Title 
• Right - Page Number (also in italics, use the option for page numbering and it will automatically put the correct number on your page)

That's it! Pretty simple once you get the hang of it. You could even get all fancy and make yourself a template if you wanted to.