Picture Book Manuscript Format: What Should Your Manuscript Look Like?
- Chelsea Tornetto
- 17 minutes ago
- 3 min read
As a freelance editor, I’ve opened picture book files that were...
😕 40 pages of white space
😕 submitted as Canva slides with clip art
and—I kid you not—
😕 even a story sent in a spreadsheet.
If you're just trying to get your book out of your head and onto a page, that's totally fine! Heck, you can jot your very first draft down on a napkin if you have to. (We’ve all been there!)
But, there comes a time when you have to dress your manuscript up for the big leagues. If you’re ready to pitch an agent or an editor, there are some general guidelines to follow.
The "Golden Rule" of Picture Book Manuscript Format
Before you listen to a word I say, check the specific submission guidelines of the person you’re submitting to. If a literary agent says they want your manuscript typed in Comic Sans (unlikely, but hey!), do what they say. Their house, their rules!
But in general...here's how to make sure your manuscript doesn't stand out in a bad way.
1. The "Clean & Classic" Look
Think of your manuscript as a blueprint, not the finished house. You want it to be boringly easy to read.
The Vibe: Use Times New Roman, 12-point font. It’s the "little black dress" of fonts—it never goes out of style.
The Space: Always double-space. Editors need room to breathe (and leave notes!).
The Page Count: While a fully illustrated and published picture book will usually end up being about 32 pages long, the manuscript should NOT be. Page breaks should be indicated like the image below, so a properly formatted picture book manuscript is usually only 3 to 5 pages long.
⭐Pro-Tip:⭐ If an agent or editor asks for "the first 10 pages" and your masterpiece is only 4 pages long, don't panic! Just send the whole thing. They know how picture books work.
2. Headers, Footers, and Cover Pages—Oh My!
Here’s a secret: Most agents just want you to copy and paste your text into an email or into a text box in an online submission form. If that’s the case, your fancy headers and footers will disappear anyway.
If they do ask for an attachment, just make sure your Title, Name, and Word Count are clearly at the top.
3. Cut The Personal Stuff
When you're already envisioning your manuscript as a beautiful, physical book, it's tempting to include things like a personal dedication or your author bio in the manuscript document. But remember, the agent or editor reading your manuscript isn't thinking that far ahead. They're only interested in the quality of the story itself, so anything else will just be skipped or considered a distraction.
Save that information for your query letter!
4. Master the Art of "Art Notes"
Since you aren't providing the pictures yet, you might need to tell the editor what’s happening in the "invisible" parts of the story.
Put your art notes in [brackets].
You can make them italics or even gray if you want them to be extra subtle.
Keep it brief. You don't need to write "Art Note:" every time. The brackets do the heavy lifting for you.
5. Speaking in Bubbles
Do you envision your characters talking in speech bubbles? Instead of using standard quotes, format those parts like a movie script.
MOM: (from the kitchen) "Did you brush your teeth?"
KID: (hiding the candy) "Totally!"
6. The "Amateur" Red Flags (Avoid These!)
To keep your manuscript looking professional, steer clear of the "fun" stuff:
NO ALL CAPS (unless someone is literally screaming).
No rainbow colors. Stick to classic black.
No "personality" fonts. Let your words show your personality, not the typeface.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, your manuscript is just a vehicle for your amazing story. Keep the formatting simple so your creativity can shine.
Ready to turn that draft into a real, hold-it-in-your-hands book? We’d love to help! Come hang out with us at At Home Author and check out our Profitable Picture Books program. We’ll take the guesswork out of the process so you can get back to what you love: writing!
