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Next, only send your manuscript (ms) to a publisher who is interested in your type of book. In other words don’t send picture book fiction to a publisher who only publishes non-fiction. If in doubt, ring and ask for their catalogue or look at their website. This advice may seem blindingly obvious but unfortunately every non-fiction publisher receives mountains of picture books stories every week...and they all go in the bin. If you were them, you'd do the same.

When you send you ms out, present it professionally. I devote a large section in my book 'How to Write a Children's Picture Book and Get it Published'  to this - I even show you one of my own picture book texts exactly as I set it out when submitting it... but the absolute basics would be:

• Use a font like Times New Roman 12, double spaced
   
  
• Check spelling and punctuation carefully. No mistakes!
  
  
• Put contact details on every sheet of your ms. 
  
  
• Send a covering letter with your manuscript but never say things like, "My children love it.” That's not professional.
  
  
• Put the correct postage on the letter and always enclose a SAE.
  
  
• For picture books send the whole text. Don't send 3 sentences. Don't say it's great, here's my telephone number! Send the whole thing.  For longer fiction send a synopsis and example chapters.
  
  
• Remember picture books are mostly 32 pages (including the covers). My book gives you a proper layout template so you can see exactly where to begin and end your story which is invaluable for planning plot contents and length and reducing text.
  
  
• Keep the word count short. Picture book editors like 500 or less.
  
  
• Avoid witches, religion, swear words, racism, gender bias, sexism, scary stuff and dangerous situations such as kids trying to fly, fire, candles, fireworks and weapons.  When they say they want 'edgy and different' they really mean play it safe!
  
  
• DO NOT PAY A VANITY PUBLISHER. A vanity publisher is a company who pretends to love your manuscript and promises to publish it – and then asks for a ‘contribution’ towards their costs. That's not publishing, that’s being conned. On the other hand, if you’d like to self-publish there are bone fide companies providing ‘one-stop’ resources to help you create a book
  

REMEMBER

• Keep writing. Successful authors produce a lot of work.
• Rejections are normal. Don't give up.
• Never send your only copy of a text.
• Don't leave your manuscript in the filing cabinet; SEND IT OUT!