Knowledge Base
Find Answers to Your Self-Publishing Questions: Search Our Knowledge Base and Master the Terminology
Starting
Introduction To Childrens Book Publishing
Creating The Ideal Writing Environment For Childrens Book Authors
The Importance Of Crafting An Effective Book Summary
Brainstorming And Conceptualizing Ideas For Your Childrens Book
Planning
How To Plan Your Story Using Flow
How To Plan Where Your Story Begins
How To Plan Distribution Options For Your Selfpublished Book
How To Plan And Choose The Right Genre For Your Book
How To Write A Captivating Book Blurb For Childrens Books
How To Enter The Author Name For Your Book
How To Define The Time Setting For Your Story
Should You Establish Your Own Publishing Company
Setting Your Title And Author Name Before Applying For Copyright
How To Write An Impressive Author Bio For Your Book
How To Plan The Plot And Key Conflict Of Your Story
Understanding The Differences Between Fiction And Nonfiction
Ideal Word Count For Illustrated Books Based On Age And Book Type
How To Choose The Right Book Type For Your Story
How To Develop Engaging Characters For Your Book
How To Conduct A Competitive Analysis For Your Book
How To Plan Your Narrative Pointofview Pov
How To Plan The Ending Or Resolution Of Your Story
How To Plan The Plot Climax Or High Point Of Your Story
How To Plan The Theme Of Your Book
Typography And Text Design In Illustrated Books Best Practices
Understanding Book Types Formats And Sizes In Childrens Publishing
Structuring Your Childrens Book Plot Climax And Falling Action
Your Childrens Book Tone Theme And Point Of View
How To Define The Place And Setting For Your Story
Registrations
How To Officially File For Copyright Protection As An Author
How To Secure An Isbn For Your Book A Global Guide
How To Enter Your Isbn In The Section
How To Set Up And Modify Your Copyright Information In Made Live
Writing
How To Plan Page Turns With Spread Breaks In Made Live
Crafting A Compelling Plot In Childrens Books
How To Add Tags To Your Manuscript In Made Live
The Milestone Of Completing Your First Draft
How To Selfedit Dialogue In Your Book
Overcoming Writers Block In Childrens Book
How To Plan The Language And Tone For Your Book
Effective Techniques For Childrens Books
Designing
How To Create A Title Page For Your Illustrated Book
How To Generate Or Import Placeholder Images In The Storyboard Workspace
How To Delete Extra Spreads To Avoid Blank Pages In Your Book
How To Use Visual Storytelling In Your Illustrated Book
How To Modify Text Blocks In The Storyboard Workspace
How To Check Your Storyboard And Design For Continuity
How To Transfer Your Manuscript To The Storyboard
Choosing The Right Fonts For Your Book
How To Design The Back Cover Of Your Book
Revising Your Books Design And Layout For Optimal Flow
How To Import Final Illustrations For Your Illustrated Book
Adding A Dedication Or Acknowledgements To Your Book
How To Insert Copyright Information Into The Storyboard
How To Check The Visual Appeal Of Your Book For The Target Audience
How To Add Your Barcode To The Back Cover
How To Set Up And Select Color Choices For Your Book In Made Live
Basics Of Book Illustration Style And Color In Childrens Books
How To Create Effective Pacing In Your Illustrated Book
Creating A Physical Book Dummy For Your Illustrated Book
How To Design A Book Cover For Your Book
How To Add Back Matter To Your Illustrated Book
Prioritizing Accessibility In Childrens Book Design
Selfediting Your Book Layout Fitting The Story To The Format
Choosing The Right Illustration Style For Your Childrens Book
How To Find And Hire A Professional Illustrator For Your Book
Editing
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Redundancy
How To Review The Cover Design For Your Illustrated Book
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Story Structure
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Illustrations
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Vocabulary
How To Edit With A Final Read Aloud Before Sending To An Editor
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Your Audience
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Pacing
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Clarity
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Theme
Self Tips And Techniques For Aspiring Authors
How To Selfedit For Punctuation In Dialogue
How To Selfedit For Flow By Reading Your Manuscript Aloud
How To Selfedit Your Manuscript For Consistency
How To Provide Clear Illustration Notes For Your Illustrator
How To Selfedit For Filler Words
How To Selfedit And Proofread For Grammar Punctuation And Spelling
Steps To Finalizing Your Manuscript For Childrens Book Publication
How To Find And Hire A Professional Editor For Your Illustrated Book
How To Get Feedback On Your Manuscript
Publishing
Choosing The Perfect Title For Your Childrens Book
Preparing For International Distribution Language Translations And Multiple Formats
Going Global Preparing Your Childrens Book For International Distribution
Understanding Isbn Pcn And Pcip For Childrens Book
Navigating Legal Aspects Of Copyright And Infringement In Childrens Book
Navigating Contracts And Rights For Childrens Books
Navigating Self Vs Traditional In Childrens Books
Marketing
Building An Author Brand And Online Presence
Navigating Book Reviews And Publicity For Childrens Books
Connecting With Key Players Engaging With Schools Libraries And Bookstores
Mastering Book Launches And Promotional Events For Childrens Books
Maximizing Your Reach Utilizing Social Media And Online Platforms For Childrens Books
Mastering Effective Strategies For Childrens Books
Community
Joining Writing And Publishing Communities For Childrens Book Creators
Enhancing Skills With Workshops Webinars And Learning Opportunities In Childrens Book Publishing
Maximizing Your Publishing Success With Made Live Resources And Support
Building Connections Networking With Other Childrens Book Authors
Business
Navigating Literary Agents And Query Letters For Childrens Books
Advanced Marketing Techniques And Analytics For Childrens Picture Books
Leveraging Technology In Childrens Book Publishing
Staying Ahead Keeping Up With Industry Trends And Changes In Childrens Book Publishing
Embracing Diversity Exploring Diverse Themes And Representation In Childrens Books
Mastering The Query Process In Childrens Book Publishing
How to Self-Edit Your Manuscript for Illustrations
How to Self-Edit Your Manuscript for Illustrations
Overview: Illustrations are an integral part of any picture book, and it's essential that your text leaves enough space for them to contribute meaningfully to the storytelling. When self-editing your manuscript, consider how text and illustrations will work together to create a richer, more engaging narrative. In this article, we'll guide you through how to self-edit your manuscript to ensure the illustrations can shine without being overshadowed by unnecessary descriptions.
Why Self-Editing for Illustration Matters
In picture books, illustrations aren't just complementary—they are part of the story itself. Over-explaining details in your text can take away from the visual storytelling that illustrations provide. By editing your manuscript with the illustrations in mind, you allow the artwork to do some of the heavy lifting, creating a more dynamic and engaging experience for young readers.
Key Considerations When Self-Editing for Illustrations
1. Leave Space for Illustrations to Tell the Story
Illustrations often convey elements that don’t need to be spelled out in the text. This is especially important for picture books, where the visuals are just as vital as the words.
- Avoid over-explaining details that could be easily shown through the artwork, like facial expressions, settings, or actions.
- Let the illustrations carry part of the narrative by leaving space for them to enhance the storytelling.
Questions to Ask:
- Are there sections of the text where I describe something that could be better shown through an illustration?
- Have I included visual details that the illustrator could convey without text?
2. Collaborate Between Text and Illustration
The most successful picture books are ones where text and illustration work hand in hand to create a seamless story. There should be moments where they complement each other, rather than simply repeating the same information.
- Think about how text and illustrations can work together to create a richer, more layered story.
- Plan visual storytelling cues where illustrations can add details that the text hints at but doesn’t fully describe.
Questions to Ask:
- Are there moments where the text and illustrations can work together to create something more powerful?
- Am I relying too much on text, when an illustration could convey the same idea in a more engaging way?
3. Ensure Visual Diversity
Children are drawn to picture books with dynamic and varied illustrations. Each page should offer something visually interesting and new, keeping young readers engaged.
- Consider whether each scene or page offers visual diversity and interest for the reader. Does the text provide opportunities for the illustrator to play with different scenes, characters, or actions?
- Plan a balance of quiet and busy pages, allowing for visual variety while maintaining the flow of the story.
Questions to Ask:
- Does each page or scene offer something visually diverse for the illustrator?
- Are there opportunities for the illustrator to bring creativity and variation to the book?
How to Self-Edit for Illustration
Step 1: Review Your Descriptions
Go through your manuscript and highlight areas where you may be over-explaining details that could be shown in the illustrations. Simplify or remove text that feels redundant with what the illustrations will show.
Step 2: Plan Text and Illustration Collaboration
Identify key moments in your story where text and illustrations can work together to create something richer. For example, can the text hint at a mood while the illustration shows the full emotion? Or can the illustrations depict a setting without needing much description in the text?
Step 3: Check for Visual Variety
Make sure each scene or page provides visual diversity for the illustrator. Do different scenes allow for a range of colors, settings, and characters? Are there opportunities for the illustrator to enhance the story with unique visual elements?
Step 4: Use Imagery Tags
Use Imagery Tags in your manuscript to plan how the illustrations will interact with the text. These tags can guide your illustrator on what scenes to highlight or what visual elements are important, without embedding those details into the text itself.
To add an Imagery Tag:
- Highlight the section where you want to include visual guidance.
- Use the Imagery Tag feature in the Made Live editor to note what should be visually depicted in the illustration.
Self-editing for illustrations is essential to ensure that your picture book tells a rich and engaging story without relying solely on the text. By leaving space for illustrations, balancing text and visual storytelling, and using Imagery Tags, you’ll create a manuscript that invites collaboration with your illustrator and enhances the reader’s experience.