To Art Note or Not to Art Note
Every Question You've Ever Had About Art Notes in Picture Books: ANSWERED!
It's such an age-old question. Perhaps even Shakespeare asked it--should I include art notes with my manuscript or not?
For picture book authors, particular those who are not also illustrators, the question is thorny.
On the one hand, we're trying to minimize words in our manuscripts and leave room for the illustrator, so without any notes, the manuscript might be difficult to understand.
On the other hand, many agents, editors, and illustrators are opposed to seeing an abundance of art notes in a manuscript, claiming it's the illustrator's job to manage the visual portion of the storytelling in a picture book.
What's an author to do?
FIND OUT in this comprehensive course, where you will learn:
- What Art (Illustration) Notes Are
- The Purpose of Art Notes
- The Function of Text in Picture Books
- The Function of Art Notes in Picture Books
- Types of Art Notes
- Art Notes Do's and Don'ts
- How to Know Whether or Not to Use Art Notes
- What Professionals Have to Say About Art Notes
- Examples of Art Notes in SIX Manuscripts that went on to be Published
- How to Format Art Notes
- Plus Q & A
Your Instructor
Julie Hedlund is an award-winning children's book author, the founder of the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge, which boasts more than 1,700 members. She is a co-founder of Picture Book Summit, an annual online conference, and the co-creator (with Emma Walton Hamilton) of The Complete Picture Book Submissions System.
Julie's picture books include OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE? (Philomel), MY LOVE FOR YOU IS THE SUN (Little Bahalia Publishing) and A TROOP IS A GROUP OF MONKEYS (Little Bahalia Publishing). Her picture book biography SONG AFTER SONG: THE MUSICAL LIFE OF JULIE ANDREWS is slated for release in Fall 2023.
Julie lives in Boulder, Colorado with her son and daughter and one hound dog high-maintenance enough to be considered a third child.