22 Jun You Must Supply Illustrations When You Submit a Manuscript. True?
So you finally finished writing your children’s book. Now you have to worry about finding your own illustrator. Right?
No. Most publishers do not want a manuscript submitted with illustrations unless the author also does the drawings. So don’t search for someone to illustrate your manuscript and make an agreement with them. Most publishers hire an illustrator after a manuscript has been purchased.
However, there are a few houses that do want to buy from a team–a writer and an illustrator. When you research publishers in Writer’s Market and in Book Markets for Children’s Writers, the guidelines will let you know what a publishing house requires. With educational nonfiction, some publishers ask writers to locate photographs that go with the story. Then the publisher will buy the rights to use the photos in the book.
For historical fiction and nonfiction books, it is always helpful and professional for writers to keep a list of sources that have photos or pictures that can help an illustrator. The list would not be submitted with the manuscript. If the story were to sell, the writer would let the editor know that useful sources are available to pass along to the illustrator. For my Man o’ War, Best Racehorse Ever, I provided website links and picture sources to the editor which showed Man o’ War’s racing colors, an old video of the horse running and photos of his owner and trainer.
So don’t worry about illustrations. If you’ve written your story, submit it.